Can’t wait for Sunday! Ordered my new away kit too, went with Hargreaves.

Its not the drawing that makes the tactical structure awful/attractive, or Offense/defence oriented. Its the strategy imbedded in the structure. Inter played 4-3-3, dry, rough, Ibra dependent…But Barcelona also plays a 4-3-3. And believe me, that’s the last team to label as defensive.

It may look defensive because in principle you are investing two midfielders for defensive duties. But that will end up releasing the majority of your players for the offense dance. Its the argument that use everyone for something specific rather than making everyone doing everything.

when the two Fullbacks open the field continuously on both flanks in your opponent third, with no worries as they left 3 CBs Behind. they practically create an advanced line with carrick in-between orchestrating the show, while Rooney and (Owen?) rooming around the opponent box and penetrating inside to receive the fullbacks crosses with Berba camping as a target man (his quality to play with his back to the goal will make Rooney and owen movement toward the box lethal). I don’t see that as a defensive approach. Specially if you push your lines up with the 3 CB camping near the half line and the forward trio making continuous pressure on the opponent defence.

As for anderson, he convince me more as a Box-to-Box midfielder, than being a Holding mid. Still understudy, but his potentials meet more the Box-to-box profile.

ramzi, although i’m not doubting that pique would make an excellent DM, i would have to see him there consistently before i make my mind up about something like that. he seems a lot more suited to CB than anything else (although he’s probably one of the better attacking CB’s on the planet)

But…say we were to do that, who do you see in that role? The name that immediately comes to mind for me is Veloso.

And I think Anderson will be a great player for us. He’s not a goalscorer but he’ll pop up everywhere in an offensive position and he has great vision. He’s only 19 don’t forget.

I believe its there where Man Utd problem is. A holding mid who can also act as a CB. Specially if Da silva proved being the quality expected on the RB. With him on the right and evra on the left, there is a need for a DM who can act as a 3rd CB while the team is doing the transition from Offense status do defence status. Keeping in mind that most teams will try to hunt Man Utd by counters. Put this kind of players with Fletcher in the midfield, Offer Carrick more comfort to run the show upfront with less defensive contribution needed. With Rooney, Berba, and Valencia/Nani/owen upfront. It will also create a strong platform for both fullbacks to contribute on the flanks at the same time, opening the field. You will always have a 3 CB (2 CB and the pique like player)+Fletcher as 3/1 to guard the space behind.

Andersson is not the answer.

Carrick in my opinion will be lethal playing just behind the offense trio mentioned above, than being a second midfielder with Fletcher in a 4-4-2. Thats the answer for the After-Scholes era.

But may be its only me who do not like the 4-4-2 in principle.