Manchester United are dealing with a mini sticky patch and attention continues to be turned onto Jose Mourinho and how he'll change his team around to obtain his side purring again. United lost away at Newcastle, because of Matt Ritchie's lover winner, to condemn the Red Devils to back-to-back away defeats - following Tottenham's 2-0 victory at Wembley - leaving Liverpool breathing down their necks within the battle for FIFA 19 Ultimate Team Coins second place. Romelu Lukaku's early season golden touch has faded somewhat with two goals in the previous eight Premier League appearances, with Alexis Sanchez still bedding in after his switch from Arsenal. Paul Pogba has lost his mojo likewise, with early withdrawals against Spurs along with the Magpies plus a place for the bench against Huddersfield. Manchester United are lost two of these last three matches.
Lukaku is struggling for goals and Sanchez hasn't settled yet. Manchester United's Marcos Rojo insists they are '100%' willing to help ease their central defensive woes Suddenly there is definitely an identity crisis at United. The 4-2-3-1 formation is now problematic, Chris Smalling still struggles to feed, Pogba is from form, Nemanja Matic is struggling and Anthony Martial is playing within the right. United's shoddy shape is very troubling since they prepare because of their most pivotal period with the campaign. Huddersfield inside FA Cup fifth round on Saturday precedes Sevilla away inside Champions League on Wednesday week prior to a February 25 visit of Chelsea within the Premier League. Chelsea have beaten United 3 times in a final four however the one failure continues to be outstanding performance by Mourinho's side. He benched the in-form Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, switched to 3-5-2 with Jesse Lingard in advance and schooled Antonio Conte. United won 2-0 in what remains to be the Old Trafford highlight of Mourinho's reign.
Pancake Day Victor Lindelof sends message to Jose Mourinho about his role at Manchester United Mourinho's tailored formations are his tactical calling card and that he did it again at Arsenal in December, where United were dangerous at both ends because captivating 3-1 triumph. Mourinho hasn't used a back three since and United have conceded three within their last nine. The United manager might have considered a defensive tweak had Eric Bailly not suffered an ankle injury. Victor Lindelof has struggled to regain the trust of your manager who was simply prepared to pay ￡30.9million for him and Marcos Rojo was this sort of grave danger to his very own side he collected five yellow cards within his first five domestic games. Chris Smalling receives a unanimous thumbs down from the experts.
Does Paul Pogba should play inside a three-man midfield?
Man United target Gareth Bale is worth as often as Neymar and definately will win the Ballon d'Or, claims Real Madrid star's agent The FA Cup and Champions League represent United's only probabilities of silverware this term and also the upcoming ties intensify the advantages of Mourinho to be in on an even more fluid formation. The best players don't invariably make for your best team and switching to 4-3-3 could withdraw Jesse Lingard or Anthony Martial through the XI. Here is what the Manchester Evening News' United reporters and Mirror Football think.... What would you do if you've been Jose Mourinho?
Samuel Luckhurst City have proved that in a era where managers are opting for different teamsheets for various occasions the most beneficial way to assemble a fluid side is to possess a settled XI. United have arguably seven untouchables (when fit) in David de Gea, Bailly, Antonio Valencia, Matic, Pogba, Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku. How Mourinho complements them between now and May could possibly be the difference between an effective and unsuccessful season. Luke Shaw contains the pace and adventure to develop in to a fine wing-back or winger. Ander Herrera's form has plummeted this term but, as mentioned previously, the very best players don't invariably make for that best team. Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard can be aggrieved but Herrera may very well be the ideal supplement for Matic and Pogba up against the elite. Sanchez is this sort of live wire he could well be wasted within the wing and deserves a free role behind Lukaku.
Ciaran Kelly Personnel wise, there have been few complaints when the group sheets dropped in at St James' Park around 1.17pm on Sunday. Clearly, Jose Mourinho renders up his mind in terms of his strongest line-up after fielding a similar team for tough trips towards the north-east and Wembley 11 days previously. And, yet, both times, United were well short. Worryingly, too, there have been few options around the bench to change the action when they went behind in matches.
But this year is far from lost, within the cups no less than, as we type in the business end in the campaign and there undoubtedly are a couple of stuff that could shake things up once Eric Bailly returns from injury. Alexis Sanchez struck up a fearsome relationship with Antonio Di Natale while playing like a No.10 at Udinese understanding that role would supply him with even more freedom to complete all that roaming he loves. Ideally, it could be great to create a defensive midfielder to the fold to present Paul Pogba the working platform to really shine but that can have to wait until the summer months when a consistent option opens up.
Charlotte Duncker If there's any real debate for being had over United's best XI construction decisions don't come in the back. Performances so far this coming year have shown if Mourinho fielded a back four there is not much debate to get had on the four best players to adjust to those positions. Valencia might well be United's only right back option while Shaw's shown in recent weeks why he ought to be given a good run to produce the left back position their own before the end on the season. United have missed Bailly because's been out injured and Jones is often a far more solid choice to accompany him at in between. Recent performances show Mourinho has to ditch the 2 main man midfield plus the way to have the best beyond Pogba is usually to play in a very 4-3-3. Matic would be the obvious answer to learn alongside Pogba even so the third options a below obvious pick.
This is where Mourinho has to strengthen most inside the summer nevertheless for now Herrera, despite a under inspiring season, would have to search in that midfield three. United's attacking line poses the most significant problem with Sanchez and Martial both wanting that left hand role. But, Martial's shown he really should not be playing along the right and Sanchez's versatility means he should start for the right using the option to float inside behind Lukaku. Conor Mummery This is Mourinho's best option. It fits in most his best players and uses them in the most beautiful way. Martial and Sanchez offer goal scoring threats from both flanks and gives a fluidness to United's attacks. Pogba basically has to possess two other midfielders playing alongside him allowing him to walk around the pitch and affect both going forward along with defence. Luke Shaw is starting to demonstrate why he was once one of the most expensive teenager in football and it has earned the trust Mourinho is showing in him - he offers slightly a lot more than Ashley Young at this stage.
Thomas Bristow The back four picks itself at this time, with Jones and Smalling at risk of errors together, the latter has proven himself within a defensive line with Bailly. Pogba would need to train himself to sit with a leash in midfield instead of forcing Mourinho to sacrifice an all-important forward to provide him safety in midfield - for ￡90million it will be the least you expect. The pace, and threat, of Marcus Rashford and Martial on either wing to go while using trickiness and guile of Sanchez along with the goal-scoring ability of Lukaku plus the side incorporates a nice attacking balance. What's more, MMOAH pledge to sell cheap FIFA 19 Coins to gamers from around the world.
