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There is no doubt that Manchester United have endured a less than ideal start to the season. However, all is not lost yet. They are still only four games into the new season and as much as the season has not been going as expected by the fans, the team still has time to change course.
Jose Mourinho has been known to be a manager who thrives when he has settled on a first eleven from his previous teams. That's why it usually takes him around one season to settle and bring in his guys and start winning the season after. At United, it hasn't gone as expected as he has taken more time to settle on his starting eleven. In fact, it is public knowledge that Manchester United under Mourinho does not have a settled starting eleven. It is only two or three players which one can predict to start most of the matches in a season.
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When the season began, Mourinho said that he expects the season to be a tough one and by the look of things, he has been proven right. One can argue that the board didn't back Mourinho during the just concluded summer transfer window, however, the Portuguese has been backed adequately throughout his tenure but the results have been below than what was expected.
Manchester United have made heavy investments in almost every area of this team but still, the manager can't settle on a preferred eleven to bring about the consistency he craves. It is now time for him to work with the players at his disposal on the training pitch and avoid the off-field drama which has surrounded the club due to their slow start to the season.
Looking at what Mourinho has at his disposal at the moment, the Manchester United team is decent enough to mount a chase on the premier league title. They have retained the services of most of the players who helped them to second place last season. You can argue that other teams have strengthened but, United have an advantaged having gelled.
Here's how Manchester United should line up from now on-
Goalkeeper: David De Gea
If there is one position that United currently don't have a problem, it is the goalkeeping department. They have in their ranks one of the best if not the best goalkeeper in the world. Some would argue he's the only world class player currently at Manchester United. A solid and reliable keeper when called upon and has saved United numerous points over the past few seasons. David De Gea alone guarantees Manchester United up to 10- 20 points even before the season begins.
Defenders:
Fullbacks: Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw
As the club captain, Valencia is almost guaranteed to start the majority of United's games this season. If not for that, maybe because his closest challenger Matteo Darmian has struggled to get a look in by the manager for a while now and the next in line is a young fullback Diogo Dalot, a new arrival who still lacks the experience to start for Manchester United on a consistent basis.
Luke Shaw, on the other hand, means business this season. He has looked fitter and ready to fight for his spot in the starting eleven. Maybe the sting of being left out of the World Cup squad has got to him, in a good way. If he continues with the momentum he has been building over the last few games then, Ashley Young will struggle to get a look in into the starting lineup for the Red Devils this season.
Center Halves: Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly
Chris Smalling has not been any fan's cup of tea since he joined the club, but you can't argue that he has been the most consistent central defender at United since Jose Mourinho took over. If Mourinho is to build a strong partnership at the back he needs to trust Smalling more often than the other choices he has. If you look at the Brighton game, Manchester United would have done with his ability in the air to deal with Brighton's assaults. Though he's not free from an error here and there, he still represents the best prospect that United have.
Touted as the successor to the likes Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, Bailly was seen by most United fans as the defender the club has been craving for ever since the legendary dup departed. But that hasn't happened yet. Bailly appears to be rash and careless, every time he tackles a player near or around the box, one feels like a red card or a penalty will be the result. Having a steady partner like Smalling by his side will help him focus on his strengths and will have a calming influence on the Ivorian.
Midfielders:
Central Midfielders: Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba
Since Mourinho has always played his best teams with a midfield three, the best choice he currently has is Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba. Herrera is an out and out fighter who's passion alone has endeared him to the United faithful. He has the engine to run back and forth, to hunt down the ball wherever it is. Also, the Spaniard, hailing from the Basque region, has a very sophisticated technique on the ball. He can pick a pass and come up with a goal here and there.
Matic is the most experienced holding midfielder at United at the moment and the Serbian is one of the first names on the team sheet. Mourinho's experiment on Andreas Pereira didn't last long,and Mourinho can consider himself lucky as he has a midfield general in Matic at his disposal.
It hasn't gone as well as expected for Paul Pogba since his return to Manchester United. But, there is huge potential in him and the French midfielder needs to concentrate on his football and not let off the field drama affect him. He has all it takes to be one of the best midfielders in the world. His Physique, Stamina and technical ability plus his ability to beat opposition players is seamless when he in his groove. He has all that is needed to be a complete midfielder. All he needs to do now is show it consistently and he can be the driving force behind a great United team.
Forwards:
Forwards: Jesse Lingard, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez
Not many fans appreciate or see the kind of job that Lingard puts in for the team both at the club and international level. Believe it or not, Jesse Lingard is not one of the so-called overhyped English players, he's the real deal. He has an uncanny ability to be effective in tight spaces and also presses the ball very well when the opposition has it. One may wonder why he is trusted by his club and international managers but, he puts in the job every coach likes. Add his spectacular goals into the picture and then there is no way Mourinho is going to put him on the bench.
Lukaku is one of Mourinho's buys and as much as he has scored goals, he hasn't done it against the teams that really matter. Needless to say, if United are going to turn their season around and mount a challenge on the premier league, Lukaku will be vital. Especially against the so-called small teams where he will make sure united get the points.
Having benefitted from a free summer, this is going to be the season that Sanchez shines for United. In his performance against Burnley, his hunger to do well for his team was quite evident and the Chilean looked sharp. He also has something to prove to the United faithful who are yet to see his best for the club ever since he arrived last season from Arsenal.
Conclusion:
Jose Mourinho has the team and the players to make it work. He would do well to shrug off all the negativity surrounding his team and focus on improving the performances of his players on the pitch for that is the place where all the criticisms will be answered.
The final line-up which can improve United's prospects this season is as follows:
David De Gea, Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez.
The above team appears to be a pretty decent side that can mount at least a premier league challenge, nothing less should be expected from the side and their manager.
