All depends on the opponent as I would imagine tweaks would be made.

Saying that I like the look and balance of that XI, the only change would be Carrick in for Bastian (for the time being anyway), he's still very important to how we operate as a team.

I'd also go for Jones, purely because I liked what little I saw of his partnership with Smalling.

DDG

Darmian Smalling Jones Shaw

Carrick
Herrera Schneiderlin

Mata Rooney Depay

OP, I largely agree with the team and with the issues you have highlighted. I think Carrick and Schweinsteiger should rotate a lot as well - Carrick still has so much to offer us and should arguably be first choice for the biggest domestic games.

-------------------------De Gea------------------------

Darmian--------Smalling-------Rojo----------Shaw

---------------Schneiderlin---Carrick------------------

--------------------------Mata------------------------------

Depay-------------------------------------------Di Maria

--------------------------Rooney-------------------------

Why would you play Depay on the right? His main strength has been cutting inside as is di Maria's you could argue.

Both would benefit from operating on opposite sides enabling both Darmian and Shaw to overlap to create space for them to attack.

All of those 4 attacking players can interchange

-------------ddg/new keeper---------
Darmain. Smalling. Jones/Rojo. Blind

-----schwein/crabbick ----Morgan-----

--------------------herrera---------------

----mata---------------------------deepay----
--------------------shrek-----------------

Does this interchanging fluid attack often work though?

I remember hearing similar things when we had Rooney, Kagawa and Nani and it never materialised and when you look at forward lines of Barca or Real players might occasionally move place but they will operate predominantly in their main role.

Rooney might move around to stretch defence but prolonged periods out wide would be a massive waste, as would di Maria central or Depay on the right.

Nice idea in principle but I wonder how realistic it really is?

DDG/Whoever
Darmian Smalling Jones Shaw
Carrick Morgan
Mata Herrera Depay
Rooney

Either way... Those 4 attackers are who I would start... I prefer Di Maria on the left, so put Depay on the right... But would be happy with several combinations of those players.

Fair enough. While I would love for di Maria to come good I think it seems likely he won't be a United player for much longer which is sad.

ADM in front of Mata for me- or assuming he is gone and replaced by Pedro - I'd tend to agree with the rest of the Team - Rojo has to be better than Jones surely?

De Gea------------------------

Darmian-----Smalling----Rojo--------Shaw

-----------Schneiderlin---Schweinsteiger---------

--------------------------Herrera------------------------

ADM/Pedro-------------------------------------------Depay

--------------------------Rooney----------

De Gea
Darmian/Smalling/Jones or Rojo/Shaw
Herrera/Carrick or Bastian/Schneiderlin
Mata/Rooney/Depay

4-3-3 with one player holding instead of two and our two other midfielders pushing up and helping the front line press the opposition which I would love to see both Herrera and Schneiderlin doing. Obviously I'm banking on Di Maria leaving soon.

If things however stay as is for Spurs, I suspect Pedro (if he arrives before the Super Cup) will come in and replace Young or Mata in the line-up.

TRS

Yeah that seems very likely.

Mata is a strange one, I feel like we've never really given him the best chances centrally where he is IMO a better player and the odd game he has played there he has been underwhelming although with our new signings it could allow him to improve. Lacks the mobility and energy levels of Herrera but I think is a bigger threat offensively.

I guess it's good we have these options though.

Guillem Balague ‏@GuillemBalague 5h5 hours ago
On Pedro: LE says he will only leave if United pays the buy out clause, but a source at FCB admits something is "being cooked"....

Guillem Balague ‏@GuillemBalague 3h3 hours ago
The di Maria deal to PSG was all done and dusted yesterday in Paris.

Guillem Balague ‏@GuillemBalague 3h3 hours ago
The di Maria deal agreed with PSG yesterday is for a €63m fee (£44.2m)

And before anyone scoffs, Balague was undeniably the first to break the news of Di Maria's move to United. I assume he has ties with people close to Di Maria.

Lacks the mobility and energy levels of Herrera but I think is a bigger threat offensively.

------------------------------------

Agree but while our defence remains such a problem area, Herrera's workrate, mobility and aggression is needed more I feel. The defence needs better protection.

£44m wouldn't be too bad, considering how poor he was and that he clearly wants out.

would love to see this, against some of the sides that will come to park the bus:

----------Schneidlin----------
------Herrera, Mata----------
Pedro*----Rooney----Depay

*Assuming Di Maria is out and Pedro is in.

I wouldn't mind seeing that Ji but I'm not sure we will because I think LvG views Herrera as more of a number 10 so I think it'll be one or the other if they're fighting for a central position.

http://www.manutd.com/en/Tour-2015/News-and-Features/2015/Jul/louis-van-gaal-confirms-preferred-manchester-united-formation.aspx

Van Gaal has confirmed we'll be playing 4-3-3 next season, but Depay will be part of the advanced midfield position..

De Gea------------------------

Darmian-----Smalling----Rojo--------Shaw

-----------Schneiderlin---Schweinsteiger---------

--------------------------Herrera------------------------

ADM/Pedro-------------------------------------------Depay

--------------------------Rooney--------

_______________

I'd go along with that. I'm still not convinced by Young and Mata out wide. Never have been.

Mata always wants to drift inside and does not have the pace to beat a defender. As a result our attacks are lopsided and it falls to Valencia/Darmian to offer a threat on the right side. Frankly, I'd rather see Memphis and Mata swap places if the manager sticks with this line-up.

With a more potent threat on each flank this would stretch defences and create more gaps to exploit. As it is the likes of Chelsea and PSG know that they can just flood the centre of the pitch/penalty area to snuff out our threat because the only other attacking threat is a cross from Young or Darmian - and David Beckham they ain't.

The ADM situation is starting to worry me. Clearly he wants out in which case he can fack off but I would rather see him rot in the reserves than accept a fee of less than £40-45m. However, we won't sign a replacement until he is gone so this is a big problem for us.

TRS

True but do you think we need all 3 CMs to help out defensively? Seems maybe a tad excessive.

I think Ji's set up against the lesser teams would be great to see and I thought Herrera did quite well playing as 1 of 2 offensive CMs earlier last season, not that LVG did.

I think the great thing about our midfield options is that id gives us great choice. It's crazy after years of moaning about a lack of midfield that it is now probably our strongest area. But saying that Morgan and Bastian still have to prove their worth at the club but I'm confident they will, especially Morgan.

I definitely want Herrera and Mata in the team. Schwiensteiger/Carrick depending who is fit, and Scneiderlin in the middle. I think Darmian, Herrera and Mata on the right is strong. Shaw, Schneiderlin, Delay on the left. Schwienie or Carrick Central.

redmisty

But wingers that cut in with overlapping fullbacks can be incredibly effective. Full backs are no longer expected to just defend and in Darmian we seem to have a fullback who enjoys moving forward which would suit Mata's urge to cut inside.

Similarly Depay seems to play his most effective football cutting inside and he and Shaw seem to be building a good friendship which could help them on the pitch.

The fullbacks are the ones who stretch the play creating space for the wingers to attack. Asking Mata to hug the touchline would be pointless.

--------------------De Gea-------------------
Darmian----Smalling-----Jones-------Shaw
--------------Carrick----Schneid------------
Mata--------------Herrera------------Depay
--------------------Rooney-------------------