Predict your team's opening day line up

[hbk4894]

lets go

Bolton

Amos
Moxey
Ream
Wheater
Dervite
Hall
Spearing
Medo
Feeney
M Davies
Madine

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Hart
Dani Alves
Thiago Silva
Sergio Ramos
Phillip Lahm
Xabi Alonso
Schweinsteiger
Iniesta
Bale
Messi
Ronaldo

 

[Stevencc]

 

[Gilly?]

-----------------Mignolet
Clyne---Squirtle---Sakho---Moreno
------------------Can
Henderson--------------Milner
----------------Coutinho
----------Sturridge---Firmino

 

[danbylfc]

-----------------Mignolet
Clyne---Squirtle---Sakho---Moreno
------------------Can
Henderson--------------Milner
----------------Coutinho
----------Sturridge---Firmino

Sturridge? Will be that line up with our new striker instead of Sturridge:

 

[Sideshow Bob]

Ours is actually quite difficult to predict for once. Assuming everyone is fit there is plenty of competition for places.

Both Bellerin and Monreal ended the season very strongly, but I think Gibbs and Debuchy are probably the better players overall. I think Monreal will keep his place to begin with which is deserved, with Debuchy replacing Bellerin who has plenty of time on his side. I can't see us signing another defender, so Per and Kos to start with Cech in goal.

Midfield is certainly interesting, at the beginning of last season Wenger put a lot of faith in Wilshere and Chamberlain who were regular starters and in good form, but injuries have disrupted that. Ozil and Sanchez are automatic starters, and I expect one of Coquelin/Arteta/new signing will play defensive mid.

The roles of Ramsey and Cazorla is the one I'm not sure on. Since the turn of the year Cazorla has been brilliant in central midfield, but I don't see him there long term and that's where Ramsey's at his best and there's no doubt sticking him out on the wing is to the detriment of the team. Maybe Ozil will be moved back onto the wing? Because it's hard to envisage either of them being benched.

Then there's the potential new signings as well, I haven't really been paying attention to the rumours but I doubt Cech is the end of our business.

 

[Gilly?]

Sturridge? Will be that line up with our new striker instead of Sturridge:

If he's fit, he starts. Probably a big if though.

 

[shane]

If he's fit, he starts. Probably a big if though.

I thought he was out until late September/early October?

 

[Gilly?]

I thought he was out until late September/early October?

Was it that long? I read it was much earlier. If that's the case, it'll either be Ings or whatever other striker we manage to get.

 

[NiallQuinnDiscoPants]

Our starting line up for the first game of next season = our starting line up for the last game of last season

minus James Milner, plus Raheem Sterling

 

[Smally]

Howard

Coleman
Stones
Jagielka
Baines

McCarthy
Barry
Barkley

Deulofeu
Lukaku
Pienaar if fit

 

[Eamonn]

De Gea/Valdes

Darmian---Rojo---Smalling---Blind
Carrick---Herrera
--------Mata----------
Di Maria--------------Depay
-----------Rooney------

I would be pretty thrilled with this side to be honest but a new centre back would be great, we will see with Schneiderlin if he can join but I would love to see that team line up.

 

[Stevencc]

I think we'll get Schneiderlin and I'm not sure where Mata fits into the formation unless Di Maria is off.

 

[johnnytodd]

Howard

Coleman
Stones
Jagielka
Baines

McCarthy
Barry wrong
Barkley

Deulofeu
Lukaku
Pienaar if fit wrong

 

[Bilbo]

-------------De Gea
Darmian---Rojo---Smalling---Blind
Schneiderlin---Schweinsteiger
------------- Mata ----------
Di Maria--------------Depay
-----------Rooney------

 

[Alf Stewart]

As it stands....

Jack Butland

Glen Johnson
Ryan Shawcross
Marc Muniesa
Eric Pieters

Glenn Whelan
Marco Van Ginkel

Peter Odewmingie
Bojan
Marco Arnautovic

Mame Diouf

 

[danbylfc]

4-3-3

Mignolet
Clyne
Skrtel
Sakho
Moreno
Hendo
Milner
Coutinho
Lallana
Benteke
Firmino

 

[GodsGift]

Krul

Janmaat
Coloccini (although he's clearly past it)
Mbemba
Haidara

Tiote/Anita/Colback
Sissoko
Wijnaldum
Cabella

Mitrovic
Austin

Don't even bother asking me how that midfield will set up.

 

[Tilbury]

Courtois
Ivanovic Cahill Terry Azpilicueta
Matic Fabregas
Willian Oscar Hazard
Costa

Easy.

 

[thespus]

Guesses at our CL rivals and ourselves:

Courtois
Ivanovic Cahill Terry Azpilicueta
Matic Fabregas
Willian Oscar Hazard
Costa

Possible Improvement: Partner for Matic and move Cesc into the Oscar role. I think Ivanovic is the liability of that defense. They could do nothing the rest of the summer and still be my title favourites.

Hart
Zabaleta Kompany Mangala Clichy
Sterling Toure Fernandinho Silva
Aguero Bony

Possible Improvement: Back four (including Kompany if he doesn't regain form) and formation. 4-4-2 will not work in Europe unless it's a Simeone side. Toure's highlights sway perception of his overall contribution. When he's on form, he's unplayable. Unfortunately, he struggled for form often this past season. He's erratic and is part of the reason they're defensively suspect. He and Fernadinho are both aging and I think they have the weakest center midfield of these 6 sides bar Tottenham. The bright side is that they once more should set the pace in goals scored. I expect Bony to settle in the side and Sterling is an improvement on Navas. Silva remains one of the best players in the league and Aguero is the best in the league.

Cech
Bellerin Mertesacker Koscielny Monreal
Cazorla Coquelin
Ramsey Özil Wilshere*
Walcott

Possible Improvement: Striker. Walcott is better at RW and Giroud isn't going to match our ambitions. Great player, but he isn't Aguero/Rooney/Costa. An upgrade on Mertesacker should be the next big focus. CDM if Coquelin doesn't sustain last season's form.

*Alexis will miss the first 1-2 matches due to the Copa America

De Gea
Darmian Jones Smalling Blind
Herrera Schweinsteiger Schneiderlin
Mata Rooney Young

Possible Improvement: Attack. Rooney is a wonderful player, but his physicality has been declining which isn't great in a league which is dominated by athleticism more than ever. It's difficult to see enough goals in that side to win the title. Depay could eventually be an Alexis or Hazard influence on their attack, but I don't see it in the short term. Di Maria, or the player whom replaces him, could be the wild card. That midfield triumvrate is well-balanced, but doesn't have the goals found in the midfield listed above or even at Liverpool. De Gea helped cover for a calamitious defense last season, but I think Darmian is a sound signing and I think Smalling will be one of the surprises of the season. Schneiderlin's energy in midfield will help cut out counter attacks.

Vorm
Walker Alderweireld Verthongen Rose
Bentaleb - Mason
Chadli - Eriksen - Lamela
Kane

Possible Improvement: Midfield. Bentaleb and Mason are decent, but neither would make the bench at any other side listed in this post. Eriksen is a good player, but it's still a position of weakness relative to the playmakers found in the sides above. Lamela and Chadli could both be improved upon. The defense improved with the signing of Alderweireld and Trippier (who might beat out Walker), but they're an injury to Kane away from missing out on the Europa League.

Mignolet
Clyne Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Can
Henderson Coutinho Milner
Firmino
Benteke

Possible Improvement: They don't have the elite attacker found in all of the above sides (unless Sturridge miraculously puts his injury problems behind him), but that is a well balanced side and they're having a good summer despite my belief Benteke doesn't suit their style. Firmino adds goals to their midfield, Milner is a much better player than Allen, and Coutinho is better when he plays deeper and is on the ball more often, similar to Cazorla. Can, similar to Smalling, is waiting to be one of this season's surprises. He's not a CB; he's a midfielder. I like Skrtel's passion and willingness to attack the ball, but defensively he is the weakest center back out of all 12 listed in this post.

 

[Stevencc]

I'd expect our full backs to be Valencia and Shaw on the opening day. In todays press conference Van Gaal said that Darmian was purchased as our second right back - by which I think he means he needs to prove himself before automatically being our first choice right back. Which should take about 45 minutes.

I'd also hope we have a new centre back purchased by the time the season starts - ready to slot next to Smalling.

 

[thespus]

I'd expect our full backs to be Valencia and Shaw on the opening day. In todays press conference Van Gaal said that Darmian was purchased as our second right back - by which I think he means he needs to prove himself before automatically being our first choice right back. Which should take about 45 minutes.

I'd also hope we have a new centre back purchased by the time the season starts - ready to slot next to Smalling.

Interesting; I missed LVG's comments re: Darmian. Valencia is a tremendous tackler and 1 v. 1 defender, but he offers very little going forward (particularly for a converted RW!) and his positioning is suspect. I was 50/50 re: Shaw and Blind but gave the edge to the latter due to his experience and relationship with LVG. I don't think it impacts my Manchester United verdict very much, though.

I also expect United to sign a new CB and a ST. I expect more business from all the CL contenders bar Liverpool, but my guesses above were only based on current squads. Given how close we are to the new season, I'd expect LVG would wait awhile before starting a new CB. Defending is more about cohesion than the individuals involved.

 

[Stevencc]

Interesting; I missed LVG's comments re: Darmian. Valencia is a tremendous tackler and 1 v. 1 defender, but he offers very little going forward (particularly as a converted RW!) and his positioning is suspect. I was 50/50 re: Shaw and Blind but gave the edge to the latter due to his experience and relationship with LVG. I don't think it impacts my Manchester United verdict very much, though.

I also expect United to sign a new CB and a ST. I expect more business from all the CL contenders bar Liverpool, but my guesses above were only based on current squads. Given how close we are to the new season, I'd expect LVG would wait awhile before starting a new CB. Defending is more about cohesion than the individuals involved.

You are right there - I think the only exception would be if he did manage to get Ramos (which is now doubtful), I think he'd trust him to go straight in.

 

[Bilo]

Mignolet
Clyne Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Can
Henderson Coutinho Milner
Firmino
Benteke

Possible Improvement: They don't have the elite attacker found in all of the above sides (unless Sturridge miraculously puts his injury problems behind him), but that is a well balanced side and they're having a good summer despite my belief Benteke doesn't suit their style. Firmino adds goals to their midfield, Milner is a much better player than Allen, and Coutinho is better when he plays deeper and is on the ball more often, similar to Cazorla. Can, similar to Smalling, is waiting to be one of this season's surprises. He's not a CB; he's a midfielder. I like Skrtel's passion and willingness to attack the ball, but defensively he is the weakest center back out of all 12 listed in this post.

I have literally never seen us line up 4-1-3-1-1. And though I disagree with your selection, that would almost 100% be a diamond with Coutinho as the most attacking midfielder and Firmino as the supporting striker.

I feel violated. 4-1-3-1-1, get out of here.

 

[thespus]

I have literally never seen us line up 4-1-3-1-1. And though I disagree with your selection, that would almost 100% be a diamond with Coutinho as the most attacking midfielder and Firmino as the supporting striker.

I feel violated. 4-1-3-1-1, get out of here.

That essentially is the same as the diamond with Firmino playing off Sturridge/Benteke.

Mignolet
Clyne Skrtel Sakho Moreno
Can
Henderson Milner
Coutinho
Firmino
Benteke

....looks a little odd on mobile, so I typed Coutinho with Henderson and Milner. What selections do you disagree with? Lucas over Can?

 

[Nilsson]

What I want:

--------------------De Gea
Darmian----Jones----Smalling----Shaw
---------Herrera Carrick Schneiderlin
Memphis-----------------------------Young
-------------------Rooney​

What I expect:

--------------De Gea
Darmian Jones Blind Shaw
------Carrick Schneiderlin
Mata---------------------Young
------Rooney Memphis​

​

I don't have that much of a problem with Mata starting as he is prone to game changing moments of pure brilliance, but I just feel Herrera offers far more to our overall play and we always seem to play better with him keeping things ticking in midfield. I do rate Blind and he is a very intelligent player, so for that reason I don't expect him to be a complete disaster at CB, but I do think he'll be a potential weak spot the opposition will look to exploit and I think he'll give the referee a few decisions to make regarding some iffy challenges in the box. I'd feel a lot more comfortable with Smalling alongside him rather than Jones anyway.

 

[SUTSS]

---------------------Ruddy
Whittaker - Martin - Bassong - Brady
--------------Howson - Mulumbu
Redmond - -- Hoolahan --- Johnson
------------------Jerome

 

[JaseTheVillain]

---------------------Ruddy
Whittaker - Martin - Bassong - Brady
--------------Howson - Mulumbu
Redmond - -- Hoolahan --- Johnson
------------------Jerome

I can't help but notice that's a weaker side than the last time you graced us with your presence..

 

[SUTSS]

I can't help but notice that's a weaker side than the last time you graced us with your presence..

Is it? It's virtually the same.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

Is it? It's virtually the same.

For me your fullbacks and up top don't look as convincing. Then again, van Wolfwinky didn't exactly do much, and look how he was rated!