Bettor.com analyzes who could feature in the Red Devils’ midfield, in the 3rd part of this feature series.
Midfielders:
Left-Wing:
Luis Nani, Ashley Young, Shinji Kagawa (multiple positions), Ryan Giggs (multiple positions)
United’s focus on play from the flanks has become a hall-mark of the club over the years especially during the Ferguson era, during which some illustrious names have plied their trade on the fabled Old Trafford pitch.
Last season it was Ashley Young, who warded off competition from Luis http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nani-c27299 to start as first-choice, proving to be a big hit during his maiden campaign at the helm.
The former Aston Villa man scored some scorchers from distance but his inconsistency and partiality to diving threatened to incur the wrath of the coach.
Nani, though, could return to his usual place in team courtesy of his performances during the summer. The ace attacker was a regular in the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Portugal-c2984 line-up that reached the semi-finals of the European Championships and after impressing onlookers, could
possibly be given a chance by Ferguson.
Other options are also available to the veteran tactician, with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Germany-c2904. United can also rely on Ryan Giggs to continue tearing opponents apart and despite his
age, the Welshman made history this summer becoming the oldest scorer in the Olympics.
What the club want from the wing is someone with the ability curl in pin-point crosses and someone who can score goals when required, making Young the likely choice given his displays last season.
Likely starter:
Ashley Young
Centre-Midfield:
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Darren-Fletcher-c10361 (long-term absentee)
The centre of the park was United’s Achilles heel last time out, as they struggled to create enough goal scoring opportunities and were often outclassed.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paul-Scholes-c29394 may still be the go to man for pulling the strings, but Shinji Kagawa is the new kid on the block and so far has made quite an impression on everyone involved with the club.
Scholes is nearing the end of his career, and thus won’t play much, leaving Fergie to sort out his options. Kagawa is likely to be deployed in an attacking role behind the strikers, while http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Carrick-c25282 is a certain starter in front of the defence, leaving
intense competition on the bench.
Tom Cleverley, one of the brightest prospects to emerge from the United academy, will be looking to cement his place in the starting line-up after making some headlines last time out.
Alongside http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Anderson-c5565 he could be on the bench, but any slipup from either of them will mean more chances for Nick Powell, the youngster who joined the Reds after lighting up League One but owing to his inexperience is likely to be given game time in less
important games.
Darren Fletcher, so far is the only injury casualty, and according to Mike Phelan is still far from making a return.
"Darren joined in for four or five days last week. We decided that, if he felt well enough and felt good, we'd bring him into a training session. That's developed a little bit longer than what we actually thought. I don't know what the position is but if
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Scotland-c756 want to take him, it's probably just to be part of the squad and to introduce him back into that.”
"But there's a long, long way yet for Darren Fletcher before we see him playing again,” he said.
Likely starters:
Michael Carrick-Shinji Kagawa
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are the writer's own and do not reflect the official editorial policy of Bettor.com
Tags: