14/07/2015 14:07, Report by Adam Marshall
Battle for places at United intensifies
A 26-man squad is stationed in Seattle as Manchester United prepare for the opening match of Tour 2015 promoted by Aon. As Louis van Gaal ponders his starting line-up for the International Champions Cup opener against Club America at the weekend, we assess his options…
Three goalkeepers were on the flight out to the United States with
David De Gea the undisputed no.1 after winning the club's Player of the Year awards last term.
Anders Lindegaard and
Sam Johnstone, back from a successful loan with Preston North End, provide reliable back-up.
Luke Shaw will be determined to nail down a left-back spot after his debut season with the Reds was hampered by injury problems. The England international's competition for the position could come from
Daley Blind,
Marcos Rojo,
Tyler Blackett,
Jonny Evans and
Ashley Young, who are all capable of performing the role.
Evans,
Rojo and
Blackett are also at home as left-sided centre-backs, while
Phil Jones,
Chris Smalling and
Paddy McNair are most comfortable in the middle. Although
Blind and
Michael Carrick are others capable of turning out at centre-half, it is fair to say there are six main choices for the two slots at the heart of the back four.
Matteo Darmian is to challenge regular right-back
Antonio Valencia and, of course,
Jones,
Smalling and
McNair have also played there before.
In midfield, there are plenty of questions to be answered, not least which system van Gaal will deploy. There has been a lot of talk the manager will opt for a 4-3-3 formation but the addition of
Bastian Schweinsteiger and
Morgan Schneiderlin to the squad provides a wealth of alternative scenarios. Both can perform the holding role perfected by vice-captain
Carrick with the versatile
Blind also able to use his intelligence and diligence in the position.
Youngster
Sean Goss has been promoted from the Reserves and will bring his qualities into the midfield mix with
Ander Herrera approaching the pre-season campaign on the back of a hugely promising first year at the club. The transfer activity may release
Herrera into a more advanced role but, again, the competition is just as fierce in this respect.
Schweinsteiger can play box-to-box,
Marouane Fellaini adds strength in this area, while
Juan Mata can operate out wide or in a no.10 role, and the same can be said of
Adnan Januzaj,
Andreas Pereira and
Jesse Lingard.
In terms of out-and-out wingers,
Valencia could revert to his former spot and new boy
Memphis Depay provides width.
Januzaj,
Lingard and
Young are also tailor-made to hug the touchline and attack defenders. Some pundits have reckoned United to be short of attackers but skipper
Wayne Rooney seems certain to be regularly utilised in the role after being asked to cover in midfield during van Gaal's first season.
James Wilson may be the only other out-and-out centre-forward as he enjoys his first tour experience but
Depay,
Fellaini and
Januzaj are alternative options, albeit each with individual styles. If a single spearhead is flanked by two other forwards in a three-pronged attack, one of these slots would ideally suit
Depay but there are a large number of his colleagues who would also enjoy the freedom this gives.
Hence, there are plenty of conundrums for the boss to consider as he formulates his ideal starting line-up for 2015/16. The squad is looking strong enough to handle any injury issues, even if they are as debilitating as last term, and also contend with the demands of European football. With enough options to change formation, even during games, master tactician van Gaal should be in his element and will be relishing the prospect of building a team capable of challenging on all fronts.
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