Jamesey:

I think every game except the city one we should try this, we need a solid team against city, experimenting can be done against smaller teams and then if we can get a tough tackler for next season 4-5-1/4-3-3 can be either our main formation or our European one.

The signings we make in the summer will be made with Europe in mind, IMO.

da.red:

I don't get why Cleverley isn't playing in the starting XI at all? He is fit for about five weeks now and was just once in the starting XI (how far I can remember in a 4-5-1 formation) . I also understand why Rooney seems so passionless to a few guys here it's hardly surprising if you consider that Rooney doesn't get any support from the midfield at all - most of the time we play with two holding midfielder, who "just" pass the ball to the next station all the time and hoping that something will happen. Particularly if the midfield is sitting in the back all the time we do need someone like Cleverley, who can hold the ball and create something up front and not that stupid long, high passes form behind to the 18 yard box, which is just effective in loosing possession like yesterday. Our game has become a bit too presumable. Without Cleverley we haven't a playmaker so Rooney can concetrate on being a forward, especially if there is such pressure coming from our opponent he is the much better choice than Giggs in the mitflied! Any thoughts? Sorry for my english maybe it's a bit strange but I hope you got the main point.

Tuor:

I agree that for next season, a tough tackling - high energy midfielder is a must; but for this season, I just think that playing that combination in CM will allow us to have more control of the remaining games - in particular, the game at the council shed.

garp01us:

The only thing I expected from Cleverley was to actually make it through a full season, which to this point in his career just seems to be an impossibility so all the skill and footballing knowledge in the world is useless if you can only play for 25% of the season. I'd like to see just once this season Rooney upfront with Young playing behind him, Nani on the left, Scholes and either Giggs or Carrick in the middle, and Valencia on the right, then Evra, Rio, Evans, and Rafeal for the back 4 with DeGea in goal. I think that is our best setup at the moment with the players we have and Fergie's refusal to use Berbatov.

Jamesey:

I am well aware of how great Rooney was when he played up front but himself, but since then when he has played there he has always looked isolated and come deep leaving us without and outlet.

I suppose Valencia could stay out wide.

Stil think this formation needs s tough tackler since Valencia and Nani won't be doing as much defensive work and that's creates a problem, as you have said Scholes and Carrick are perfect for this formation, but I can only see one of them being able to play in it, since neither have the tackling ability's or energy to make it work. If you don't believe me though try to look at all the sucessful teams who enploy a 4-3-3 and you will see that each will have one tough tackler and usually 2 out of three mids with good stamina and work rate

Tuor:

Rooney played his best season for United, playing predominately up front on his own. Scholes is still the best passer of the ball in world football. His football brain allows him to make space. Carrick is a holding player; his best assets being his range of passing. Cleverley has fantastic energy. He has a great football brain, and always looks for the quick incisive pass. Nani can play more central. He has done on numerous occasions for Portugal. Valencia can also move inside; but with such a system, he could maintain his position out on the right flank.

The team looks far more controlled when we play with another midfielder. Remember the Blackburn game? That same team would have seen off Wigan the other night. Alas, we ended with Giggs playing in a two man midfield. Such a system has the potential to come unstuck against even poor opposition.

I suppose Valencia could stay out wide.

Stil think this formation needs s tough tackler since Valencia and Nani won't be doing as much defensive work and that's creates a problem, as you have said Scholes and Carrick are perfect for this formation, but I can only see one of them being able to play in it, since neither have the tackling ability's or energy to make it work. If you don't believe me though try to look at all the sucessful teams who enploy a 4-3-3 and you will see that each will have one tough tackler and usually 2 out of three mids with good stamina and work rate

garp01us:

The only thing I expected from Cleverley was to actually make it through a full season, which to this point in his career just seems to be an impossibility so all the skill and footballing knowledge in the world is useless if you can only play for 25% of the season. I'd like to see just once this season Rooney upfront with Young playing behind him, Nani on the left, Scholes and either Giggs or Carrick in the middle, and Valencia on the right, then Evra, Rio, Evans, and Rafeal for the back 4 with DeGea in goal. I think that is our best setup at the moment with the players we have and Fergie's refusal to use Berbatov.

Jamesey:

Tuor:

I cannot see why the manager doesn't play Scholes, Carrick and Cleverley in the middle of the park, with Rooney, Nani and Valencia up front. Cleverley would naturally play off Rooney. The passing quality in the middle of the park would enable us to be more flexible with our style of play.

Because In a 4-3-3 Valancia would be too infield to influence the play as much as he does currently, also The three mids would have to do a lot of the defensive work that the more attacking wingers aren't doing, this problem is further increased when you consider scholes age and bad tackling, Carrick as well is great at interceptions, but not so great at tackling. And ofcourse finally, Rooney has had major difficulties playing alone upfront, especially when we don't have possession, he comes deep and leaves no outlet upfront.

The team looks far more controlled when we play with another midfielder. Remember the Blackburn game? That same team would have seen off Wigan the other night. Alas, we ended with Giggs playing in a two man midfield. Such a system has the potential to come unstuck against even poor opposition.

stretford77:

We have been doing the right thing by Cleverley, last time he had come back from injury he was pushed into the team quite early on and got injured again. I think we are now taking our time with him and easing him back into the team gaining his sharpness and match fitness along the way. I think it might not be until next season until we really see him flourish because in this part of the season there is no time for experimenting with different players.

Against Wigan he came on and increased the tempo, brought positivity to the attacking line and threaded the balls through. The link up player between him, Welbeck, Nani and Carrick was brilliant to see and I think this is the future of football we are leaning towards, Cleverley will be a focal point in this im sure as he like Scholes can dictate the play and play at a tempo to suit him, he is always on the move looking for space and its refreshing to see that type of player.

As to your suggestion I agree that a combo of Scholes and Carrick is far to patient in play, Giggs and Carrick doesn't work anymore with Carrick doing all the work covering two midfielders but Carrick and Cleverley could be a good combo with them interlinking and working hard together both in attacking and defending.

He certainly is a playmaker but we have cover for those areas Scholes and the upcoming Pogba can play that role, what we lack is cover for Carrick at the moment. Cleverley will feature alot more next season as long as he can keep fit which is looking promising.

Tom Cleverley has been here since he was a youngster and has grown up through the system, gone on loans to gain experience and learn, then coming through into the first team. He is a rare player because he is patient and he always puts the club before himself, he understands what is best for this club.

Like I say he will feature a lot more next season as SAF and the players all have faith in him, they know he is a great talent and I'd rather see him shine through than some of these so called 'world class' players.

I agree about us finally managing him properly. It's amazing that that tackle from Davies derailed Cleverley's season so severely. He's starting to get back into form and his football brain alone is something that people really underrate. His pass and move game is crucial to our tempo as he keeps it simple and keeps it moving. Maybe that's hard for some people to value but it's a definite plus when you're trying to break a team down that's parking the bus.

Tuor:

I cannot see why the manager doesn't play Scholes, Carrick and Cleverley in the middle of the park, with Rooney, Nani and Valencia up front. Cleverley would naturally play off Rooney. The passing quality in the middle of the park would enable us to be more flexible with our style of play.

gafjac:

Ramsey0929:

da.red:

I don't get why Cleverley isn't playing in the starting XI at all? He is fit for about five weeks now and was just once in the starting XI (how far I can remember in a 4-5-1 formation) . I also understand why Rooney seems so passionless to a few guys here it's hardly surprising if you consider that Rooney doesn't get any support from the midfield at all - most of the time we play with two holding midfielder, who "just" pass the ball to the next station all the time and hoping that something will happen. Particularly if the midfield is sitting in the back all the time we do need someone like Cleverley, who can hold the ball and create something up front and not that stupid long, high passes form behind to the 18 yard box, which is just effective in loosing possession like yesterday. Our game has become a bit too presumable. Without Cleverley we haven't a playmaker so Rooney can concetrate on being a forward, especially if there is such pressure coming from our opponent he is the much better choice than Giggs in the mitflied! Any thoughts? Sorry for my english maybe it's a bit strange but I hope you got the main point.

Because he is slow, injury prone and has not scored a single goal for us. Even Evans, Evra, Jones, Twins and Ji who hardly plays anymore have scored some critical goals. Overrrated and will take some heat for this I know and will gldly accept it. Some people are blinded with false hope on the lad. He is average player who would be slightly above average outside the Big4 but not an impact maker and likes of Scholes and Giggs. The sooner some of the muppets recognize this the better United will be.

Dont forget he can`t tackle or head a ball as well, defo not a United player now or in the future. to some of the others who have posted yes he is quicker than the two thirty +year olds but not with his brain. Both Giggs and Scholes are still better by far. Yes he played well early doors so did the rest of the team while he was in it, but I have never seen him dominate any game and never looks like scoring midfielder or not . The guy is to lightweight and injury prone even for someone so young and to top that struggled to get in the Wigan side last year. No sorry not for me,