United.

[rurikbird]

There are still obvious weaknesses in that team though, all over the pitch in fact. Even with Pogba (if you end up buying him) carrying them in midfield, Carrick (35, touching 36 by the season's end) is never going to be a consistent or regular starter (even last season he was regularly subbed off before the end of the match) and Schneiderlin is a problem having underperformed since his arrival. You'll be hoping Mourinho and Pogba can bring him back to form but in many ways he is too similar to Pogba, a ball-winning B2B player at heart.

There is also an awful lot of responsibility on two ageing (read: old) centre forwards (Ibra 35, Rooney 35) with really your only other option moving Martial inside. Even we have better CF options than that, and we will likely be playing at least 10 games less than you this coming season.

I also don't agree 433 is the best foil for the players you have either. Especially for Mkhitaryan who could be key to your style and form. I agree with Rurikbird's excellent OP analysis here #110 . 4-2-3-1 is more than likely your best formation for the players you have. If we are talking about a regular starting lineup then I can foresee :

------------------ De Gea

Darmian --- Bailly --- Smalling -- Shaw

-------- Schneiderlin ----- Pogba

Rashford ------ Mkhitaryan --------- Martial
(or Lingard or Mata)
--------------------- Zlatan

The United squad is already bloated and getting bigger, you haven't even mentioned the likes of ; Jones, Rojo, Januzaj, Mata, Blind, Memphis, Schweinsteiger, Young, Lingard, Pereira, Kean, McNair, Borthwick-Johnson or Valencia. Mourinho, despite all his blustering, is going to kill off those youngsters for a start. Maybe only Rashford will see any serious match time apart from possibly in early LC rounds.

I don't think Mourinho, based on his previous history, will put much trust in 18-year-old Rashford or 20-year-old Martial. Doesn't matter how talented those two are – just won't happen. So if he goes down the 4-2-3-1 route (like I said in the OP, probably his personal preference, but it will mean one of Rooney, Zlatan or Mkhitaryan has no starting spot), I would expect United's more experienced wingers to get most of the game time. Usually Mourinho rotates 4 wingers, so from current squad it would be Young, Valencia, Lingard and Depay (who will be constantly scolded and benched for lack of defensive contribution). No way Mata would play on the wing for Jose. They might still buy someone like Yarmolenko (no links so far, but it would make sense to upgrade on the wings).

Now that I think about it, this looks like by far the most likely route of action to me – surely Mourinho will find a way to convince the big egos of Zlatan and Wayne to rotate with each other (especially given both of their age) rather than compromise on his favored system. Having read Mourinho's book, I think I can even write the speech – it starts with (in think Portuguese accent) "I'm here to win. We're all here to win. But I'm. here. to win." Martial and Rashford will be 3 and 4th choice strikers. This doesn't sound like the most efficient use of resources and talent, but don't forget that Mourinho's teams are also usually better than the sum of their parts; he can make average players effective.

 

[Frogfish]

Sorry Rurik but we are going to have to agree to differ on Martial.

I don't think Mourinho's history has anything to do with it, He hasn't had a £50m youngster before but more than that Martial proved himself last season with his skills, pace and goals. And certainly none of Young, Valencia, Lingard or Depay are even better wingers, and certainly not a more consistent goal-threat or better link-up players, than Martial. He's a nailed on starter for me.

 

[ChastenedMUFC]

There are still obvious weaknesses in that team though, all over the pitch in fact. Even with Pogba (if you end up buying him) carrying them in midfield, Carrick (35, touching 36 by the season's end) is never going to be a consistent or regular starter (even last season he was regularly subbed off before the end of the match) and Schneiderlin is a problem having underperformed since his arrival. You'll be hoping Mourinho and Pogba can bring him back to form but in many ways he is too similar to Pogba, a ball-winning B2B player at heart.

There is also an awful lot of responsibility on two ageing (read: old) centre forwards (Ibra 35, Rooney 35) with really your only other option moving Martial inside. Even we have better CF options than that, and we will likely be playing at least 10 games less than you this coming season.

I also don't agree 433 is the best foil for the players you have either. Especially for Mkhitaryan who could be key to your style and form. I agree with Rurikbird's excellent OP analysis here #110 . 4-2-3-1 is more than likely your best formation for the players you have. If we are talking about a regular starting lineup then I can foresee :

------------------ De Gea

Darmian --- Bailly --- Smalling -- Shaw

-------- Schneiderlin ----- Pogba

Rashford ------ Mkhitaryan --------- Martial
(or Lingard or Mata)
--------------------- Zlatan

The United squad is already bloated and getting bigger, you haven't even mentioned the likes of ; Jones, Rojo, Januzaj, Mata, Blind, Memphis, Schweinsteiger, Young, Lingard, Pereira, Kean, McNair, Borthwick-Johnson or Valencia. Mourinho, despite all his blustering, is going to kill off those youngsters for a start. Maybe only Rashford will see any serious match time apart from possibly in early LC rounds.

Agreed still significant weaknesses in the team but there is no team in the PL without their own set of weaknesses.

Don't think you get the best out of Pogba by playing him as a B2B with defensive duties. He could do it but think he would be better with more of a free role further forward.

The two defensive midst behind him are you biggest weakness alright. Still have faith (maybe hope) that Schneiderlin will come good and then we need another partner for him.

Mkhitaryan has his best season playing as a RW and it is where we are weak. Think it would be an odd move to play him in the centre when he have more than enough competition for that spot.

Definitely going to be a cull of some of the others both to pay for this year's expenditure, trim the wages and reduce the size of the squad.

 

[ChastenedMUFC]

I don't think Mourinho, based on his previous history, will put much trust in 18-year-old Rashford or 20-year-old Martial. Doesn't matter how talented those two are – just won't happen. So if he goes down the 4-2-3-1 route (like I said in the OP, probably his personal preference, but it will mean one of Rooney, Zlatan or Mkhitaryan has no starting spot), I would expect United's more experienced wingers to get most of the game time. Usually Mourinho rotates 4 wingers, so from current squad it would be Young, Valencia, Lingard and Depay (who will be constantly scolded and benched for lack of defensive contribution). No way Mata would play on the wing for Jose. They might still buy someone like Yarmolenko (no links so far, but it would make sense to upgrade on the wings).

Now that I think about it, this looks like by far the most likely route of action to me – surely Mourinho will find a way to convince the big egos of Zlatan and Wayne to rotate with each other (especially given both of their age) rather than compromise on his favored system. Having read Mourinho's book, I think I can even write the speech – it starts with (in think Portuguese accent) "I'm here to win. We're all here to win. But I'm. here. to win." Martial and Rashford will be 3 and 4th choice strikers. This doesn't sound like the most efficient use of resources and talent, but don't forget that Mourinho's teams are also usually better than the sum of their parts; he can make average players effective.

I think it is incorrect to assume that Mourinho won't play young players if they are good enough.

His 2004-05 title winning team had the youngest average age of any title winning team at just 24, even younger than the United 1996 team.

Terry, Tiago, Cech, Cole, Robben, Johnson and Huth were all under 23 and mainstays of the team

 

[Frogfish]

Mkhitaryan has his best season playing as a RW and it is where we are weak. Think it would be an odd move to play him in the centre when he have more than enough competition for that spot.

Mkhitaryan - Bundesliga

[xtable=bcenter|border:1|cellpadding:0|cellspacing:0]
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{th=scope:col}
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{th=scope:col}
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{th=scope:col}
Assists{/th}
{/tr}
{/thead}
{tbody}
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{td}Attacking midfielder{/td}

{td}110{/td}

{td}46{/td}

{td}34{/td}
{/tr}
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{td}Right Wing{/td}

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{td}15{/td}

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{td}16{/td}

{td}16{/td}
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{td}Secondary Striker{/td}

{td}1{/td}

{td}0{/td}

{td}0{/td}
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[/xtable]


He may have played exceptionally well for BVB at RW but I think primarily he is seen as an AM. Flexible player wherever you want to position him, though you would be losing some of his substantial goal threat and he is by far a better AM than anyone else you have at the club. And I'd have thought United have enough wingers already with Lingard, Rashford, Young and Valencia ! maybe that's Mourinho not trusting youth again, maybe he sees Young/Valencia as not good enough (agree) or maybe he likes Mkhitaryan's adaptability.

 

[ChastenedMUFC]

Mkhitaryan - Bundesliga

[xtable=skin1|border:1|cellpadding:0|cellspacing:0|bcenter]
{thead}
{tr}
{th}
Position{/th}
{th}
Matches{/th}
{th}
Goals{/th}
{th}
Assists{/th}
{/tr}
{/thead}
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{tr}
{td}Attacking midfielder{/td}
{td}110{/td}
{td}46{/td}
{td}34{/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}Right Wing{/td}
{td}51{/td}
{td}15{/td}
{td}21{/td}
{/tr}
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{td}Left Wing{/td}
{td}40{/td}
{td}16{/td}
{td}16{/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}Secondary Striker{/td}
{td}1{/td}
{td} {/td}
{td} {/td}
{/tr}
{/tbody}
[/xtable]
He may have played exceptionally well for BVB at RW but I think primarily he is seen as an AM. Flexible player wherever you want to position him, though you would be losing some of his substantial goal threat and he is by far a better AM than anyone else you have at the club. And I'd have thought United have enough wingers already with Lingard, Rashford, Young and Valencia ! maybe that's Mourinho not trusting youth again, maybe he sees Young/Valencia as not good enough (agree) or maybe he likes Mkhitaryan's adaptability.

While we could play Mkhitaryan as an AM I think we already well stocked in that position.

Even if we switch to 4231 as many have suggested I think Pogba will be in the centre of the 3 rather than one of the 2. Leaving Martial and Mkhitaryan either side of him.

Lingard isnt great and Young and Valencia should be no more than squad players as definitely needed a new winger.

See Rashford as a CF rather a winger competing with Zlatan and Rooney if Rooney isn't sold.

Point above on the youth and Mourinho, if they are good enough he will play them and think Martial and Rashford will make the grade.