Manchester United look to bounce back from their midweek defeat to PSV Eindhoven on Sunday as Louis van Gaal renews his rivalry with Dutch compadre Ronald Koeman at St Mary’s.
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United travel down south to take on Southampton, four days after seeing their 1-0 lead turn to a 2-1 defeat in Holland and losing arguably their best outfield player this season in Luke Shaw to a double leg fracture in the same game.
The Reds looked assured in the defeat, even after the horror tackle on Shaw, but the age old problem of putting the ball into the back of the net reared it’s ugly head once again and United will welcome back their captain Wayne Rooney for Sunday’s game if he recovers as expected.
In goal, David De Gea has reclaimed his No.1 spot after signing a new four-year contract. The Spaniard is yet to keep a clean sheet this season in his two games, although he’s had next to nothing to do in either game and he could do nothing about either goal in midweek.
The defence has been sturdy all season but now will have an enforced change. Matteo Darmian and Chris Smalling will almost certainly retain their places on the right side but there are options for the left. While it’s a certainty that Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind will start, both players are capable of playing at left-back or left centre-back.
While I’m of the belief that Rojo is a better full-back than centre-back and Blind has formed a fantastic partnership with Chris Smalling this season, van Gaal switched them in midweek when Rojo replaced Shaw and the Dutch utility man moved to left-back – where he got the assist for Memphis’ opening goal. With that said, it’s likely that van Gaal moves Blind out to the left full-back position and brings Rojo into his favoured central defensive role.
In midfield, changes are likely once again. Schweinsteiger and Herrera started in the double pivote role during the week, with the German completing 90 minutes for the fourth time in nine days. With Michael Carrick rested for the midweek game, it’s likely he will return to the fold to offer more protection to a make-shift defence. Morgan Schneiderlin has been on the bench for the last two games but is almost a certainty to start against his former side.
Louis van Gaal revealed last season that he always selects players who are facing their former clubs and with Schneiderlin offering extra energy too, his inclusion makes sense.
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It’s possible that Ander Herrera could remain in the side in the No.10 role that he performed in well against Swansea and Liverpool but with Wayne Rooney set to return to the side he may lose his place this weekend.
Out wide, Juan Mata is likely to return to van Gaal’s favoured role for him. The Dutch coach tried Mata in his favoured No.10 role against PSV but the former Chelsea man struggled to make an impact centrally. With the options van Gaal has in that position, it’s unlikely Mata will get another chance so soon.
Memphis earned himself further time on the left wing with a fine performance on Tuesday night, a fine goal to add to his collection too. The Dutchman’s place had been under pressure from Ashley Young but the England man was put onto the right wing and struggled, so he’s likely to return to the substitutes bench.
The front two is an interesting debacle for Louis van Gaal. Anthony Martial impressed on his full debut against PSV despite not scoring, showing excellent link-up with Memphis, good hold-up play and excellent movement. His inclusion seemed to add some spark to the Manchester United attack for the first time this season – there seemed to be a swiftness to it.
If Rooney is fit though, he will return. The question for van Gaal is whether he will return in place of Martial or if van Gaal will try them as a duo with his captain playing in the No.10 role just behind the teenager. While it’s more likely that Rooney returns up front with Martial dropping back to the bench, the alternative options for the No.10 role don’t form nearly as attractive a partnership.
We’ve seen Herrera in the 10 role with Rooney and Fellaini’s inclusion brings a predictability to our play that the opposition seemed to have picked up on. Not only does Martial bring an unknown factor and some much needed pace, it allows Rooney to move between the lines and pick up the ball in deeper positions with players still ahead of him.
This extra space could mean we finally see the best of Rooney this season and his creativity flanked by Memphis, Mata and with Martial in front could be exactly what Manchester United to really kick-start their season.
