Improved service key to United success

I’ve started this series of weekly articles to illustrate my opinion on the team, manager, tactics and formations. I can only tweet 140 characters and this blog gives me a platform to release my frustration, and give my opinion on the club. We have recently seen some awful United displays, and something needs to change.

Tactics

So far this season, the team have relied on Rooney to bang the goals in, and Van Persie hasn’t been his usual self. However, their service has been poor, and the brightest playmaker in the team at the moment is 18 year old Adnan Januzaj. He was the one who scored the equalizer and winner against Sunderland. He also played a sensational ball which played a part in Van Persie’s goal against Sunderland. Rafael has also been injured which hasn’t helped us going forward. The likes of Valencia and Nani expect overlaps, but Chris Smalling is more defensive minded, meaning that we have less going forward. On the other wing, quite frankly Evra has had a poor season, providing poor crosses which do not even reach front post. There has been many different centre back partnerships this season, which does not help. Stability is one thing you need as a defender, and so far chopping and changing has not helped our 2013-14 campaign.

Lack Of Transfers

Man United aren’t a club like a Chelsea/Man City where they just buy big players and don’t really invest in youth. However, last season we signed Robin Van Persie for a bargain 24m. Without him, we wouldn’t have won the Premier League. This season, we were crying out for a midfielder and left back. Ed Woodward was new to the job, and done a terrible job. Yes, we did sign Fellaini, but Leighton Baines was needed too, and we ended up paying four million over the release clause of Marouane. As well having a big, tough tackling midfielder like Fellaini, a more of a flair player is needed in the midfield. If Moyes has chosen that Kagawa is not needed, and not good enough tp start then we should have invested in a player like Cabaye, or Modric. The poor window reflects a terrible start.

What I would do?

Spend big in January, spend very big. What we need is a left back, a creative/goal scoring midfielder, and a good striker who knows how to finish, alongside Van Persie and Rooney.

Left Back- Leighton Baines

This guy is superb, whether that’s going forward or defending, he does it all. Patrice Evra’s time is surely up, and Baines is definitely the right man for the job. His enthusiasm and determination to push up the line and provide crosses/through balls is just magnificent. He is a special player, and fit perfectly into the United set up. He would cost about 20m, we have the money, so why not spend it?

Centre Mid- Yohan Cabaye

If Kagawa is not in our plans, then Yohan Cabaye would be excellent alongside Carrick in the midfield. He has the vision to pick out 40 yard passes and has a great shot on him. Almost, a Paul Scholes figure in the midfield. Like Baines, 20m would probably be the right price, and Cabaye would be worth every penny. He is by far Newcastle’s best player, and should be playing European football.

Striker- Robert Lewandowski

Right so if Rooney’s contact was to end this season, and Man City were desperate to sign him on a free, how gutted would you be if he joined them? How about if a club like Real Madrid or PSG came in with a big bid in January, you would sell him. This prevents the chance of him joining your rivals, and gets the club money from the fee. This is the exact situation Robert Lewandowsi and Borrusia are in at the moment. If United offered 20m, could Dortmund resist accepting the offer? I don’t think so. Lewandowski would easily get 20-30 goals a season for us, and 20m would be a bargain.

Set Up & Tactics:

I would play a 4-2-2-2 formation with Cabaye and Carrick holding, Rooney and Kagawa attacking, with Van Persie and Lewandowski up front. I strongly believe this team is title worthy. In addition, the total costs of the players are about 60m, meaning that we would have the money to fund the transfers. Below is my (amateur) illustration of the team we could get together, and the way I’d play.