Summary of Notable Changes (Disregarding Injuries):

• Rashford in ST

• Ibrahimović in CAM

• Rooney in RCM

• Fellaini in LCM

• Blind at LCB

• Pogba starts on the Bench

Most Preferred Starting 11 (Disregarding Injuries):

• Rashford (ST)

• Martial (LM), Ibra (CAM), Mkhitaryan (RM)

• Fellaini (LCM), Rooney (RCM)

• Shaw (LB), Blind (LCB), Bailly (RCB), Valencia (RB)

• De Gea (GK)

TL;DR Key points:

• Unfortunately, we are in a very awkward situation with the psychological commitments we have in starting both Rooney and Pogba. Both are extremely skilled players, but because of their statuses are being started in unnatural roles.

• When Ibrahimović needs to beat men one on one from a static position, or run off the opposition's defensive line to get in behind, he just doesn't have the natural acceleration to do so.

• With Rashford being more influential and preferred in the striker’s position, there is a strong argument for Rooney to be started in a reinvigorated deeper role or not to be started at all.

• Without getting the basics right, and controlling the game as he did against Southampton, it could be argued that Pogba should be given a more forward role or started on the bench.

• My preferred choice would be Fellaini as he offers an aerial presence which can be utilised in both set pieces and as a cover for our defensive line.

• Unlike Smalling, Blind possesses very accurate, long and short passing abilities, and with his understanding of the game can instigate attacks and bring greater fluidity into the overall game.

• Fundamentally, if Rooney, Pogba and Ibra continue to appear in the starting eleven together, I will worry about Mourinho’s vision.

Unfortunately, we are in a very awkward situation with the psychological commitments we have in starting both Rooney and Pogba. Both are extremely skilled players, but because of their statuses are being started in unnatural roles. Rooney’s captaincy and loyalty, and Pogba's high price tag, mean too often than not they are going to be given the benefit of the doubt. Even after Mourinho contradictory talked about playing specialists in roles. Pogba is really too undecided to earn such a title in any particular midfield role and with the competition at the front, outside of a striker, Rooney lacks the experience to receive such a title in any other position.

Under Mourinho, Rooney has started in a central attacking midfield (CAM) role. In such a role, a successful individual must hold up the ball, play piercing passes and dictate play in the final third. Occasionally, given the space should even take shots on goal. Outside of their traits and with more certainty, it can be said that a CAM will find themselves with the ball central to the goal, behind the striker and just outside of the box. On many occasions, Rooney found himself in this position for Van Gaal, even when starting on paper, in a deeper central midfield (CM) position. When there, Rooney often decided to switch the play out to the wings, instead of choosing more direct options. This meant play became very static and recycled for United. From ten appearances in midfield, Rooney scored once and assisted twice. This is obviously not as influential as necessary to be labelled as a success in this position under Van Gaal. Now with a different system and colleagues, so far this season, after six games, Rooney has scored one goal and made three assists. On the face of it, this may seem to be an improvement and more of a justification to keeping him in this role, but looking more closely at the positioning of Rooney’s contributions it is clear he is still not suited for the CAM’s role. The goal he scored against Bournemouth came from a striker’s position, the assists he made against Southampton and Hull, both came from out wide, and the assist he created in the Leicester game came from deep in midfield. It is therefore inefficient and wasteful to start Rooney in a CAM position.

For me, from this inefficiency, it is time to try Ibrahimović there instead, with Rashford starting as ST. When Ibrahimović needs to beat men one on one from a static position, or run off the opposition's defensive line to get in behind, he just doesn't have the natural acceleration to do so. Today, he showed this on several occasions with Prödl catching him after he had broken the line and had a head start. Without that option in attack, opposing teams will not need to continuously worry about holding their defensive line deeply. It would be silly to keep losing that fear. The CAM role would therefore be more efficient by allowing Ibra to be more of a feeder. His efforts towards Rashford's goal today showed this perfectly (https://streamable.com/jxs0). He wasn't the final man in the box needing to beat a player one of one, but instead was deeper and was able to beat them using Rashford. It was a lot more fluid and piercing, and allowed us to run at their back line with greater pace. This would obviously lead to a question over where Rooney and Pogba should start.

With Rashford being more influential and preferred in the striker’s position, there is a strong argument for Rooney to be started in a reinvigorated deeper role or not to be started at all. Although Mourinho is sceptical from Rooney’s previous ventures in such a role, under his system he could force Rooney to be far more disciplined and defensive. Finding himself too far forward was a downfall under Van Gaal’s system, but taking away from this, when picking the ball up deeply, Rooney singlehandedly instigated attacks and controlled possession. His choices to switch play were more necessary and effective. We played far wider in that system and at stages greatly utilised Martial’s and Lingard’s width. This width has been thoroughly missed so far this season, with the average positioning of Martial, Mata and Mkhitaryan (When he was fit) being very narrow and instead, with greater risk, pushing our full backs forward. With that said, it was clear from Rooney’s performances against Iceland and Watford that with pressure and from not being on the ball often Rooney’s confidence dents heavily. This mainly leads to misplaced passes and bad touches, which would remove the main reasons justifying his placement in that role in the first place. Nevertheless, these blips do not come often, and Rooney’s strengths stay consistent when he was played more consistently in the same role. This was shown under Van Gaals system.

Finding a partner for Rooney in midfield is a fundamental decision and more speculative. At the start of the season with Southampton, Pogba’s inclusion looked promising. He was influential in possession and our play was more direct and threatening. Ultimately though, his forward movement was shielded in midfield by Fellaini, Herrera and Mata. With personnel changes around him and ever-growing defensive duties, Pogba has lacked. Against Watford, Pogba was partly to blame for two goals after failing to track men on both occasions. Without an assist or goal to his name, and gaining more critics each game, it is certainly, not how Pogba wanted to start his United career. Pogba is learning the hard way, but there is only so many chances he can be given in a CM role. Without getting the basics right, and controlling the game as he did against Southampton, it could be argued that Pogba should be given a more forward role or started on the bench. This would leave the choice of Herrera, Fellaini, Blind, Schneiderlin, Carrick and Schweinsteiger to join Rooney. Rooney had several of these partners under Van Gaal, all of which were far more defensive. He did help defensively where necessary, in some games truly displaying a captain’s heart. Although, fundamentally, he would need a player with great acceleration and intercepting ability to balance midfield. One who would not always seek to move forward, but would be aware enough to move the ball directly forward when necessary. They would need to be more defensively experienced and minded to help balance midfield. Carrick, Blind and Schweinsteiger, like Ibra have lost the acceleration they once had. They all possess great touching, passing and dribbling ability, but cannot be as effective as they once were without the change in pace. Herrera on his birthday this year showed his maturity and loyalty, putting in a fantastically, defensively disciplined performance against Bournemouth. He himself though is far more experienced further forward, so may not have the motivation to be this disciplined as this season long. That would leave Schneiderlin and Fellaini, both possessing similar defensive experience, decent intercepting ability and accurate short distant passing. Unfortunately, they have also shown times of lapse in recent games when forgetting to track the running of individuals. This may be down to lack of game time, but is something that has been punished so far this season. My preferred choice would be Fellaini as he offers an aerial presence which can be utilised in both set pieces and as a cover for our defensive line. With such a cover, this would also create an option for brining Blind back into our defensive line.

Blind’s understanding of the game is remarkable. He is an extremely intelligent player which has led to him being playable in several positions. Unlike Smalling, Blind possesses very accurate, long and short passing abilities, and with his understanding of the game can instigate attacks and bring greater fluidity into the overall game. He can also help to dictate the movement of Shaw moving forward. Another less important difference is Blind’s lack of giving away cheap fouls. Smalling is notorious for his shirt pulling and mischief when defending set pieces, which is becoming more punishable under new rules. Without removing this from his game, it could lead to Smalling becoming a liability at the back.

There are definitely problems in our team and a strong need to bring in an excellent CM. It was shame Kanté felt he would perform better with Chelsea, as his presence would be invaluable. Although not on the same level, both Everton and Sunderland have shown that there are similar players available, in Gueye and Ndong. It will be interesting to see how Mourinho tries to bring the best out of our players. In my opinion, there are some crucial changes that are needed to make this happen, so it will be interesting to see whether any are considered. Fundamentally, if Rooney, Pogba and Ibra continue to appear in the starting eleven together, I will worry about Mourinho’s vision.