How United Could Line Up Against Palace: Let’s Take A Look At Solskjaer’s Options

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4 years ago

Categories: Galleries, Manchester United News

Tags: Crystal Palace, Donny van de Beek, Manchester United

The lack of signings means there isn’t really a lot of positivity from Manchester United supporters going into the new Premier League season.

After losing in the Europa League semi-final to Sevilla, there were calls to improve squad depth with many feeling that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was forced to use the same eleven too often, resulting in burnout.

As things stand, that key issue hasn’t been addressed with just one major signing in Donny van de Beek coming in. Whether that will come back to haunt United, we shall have to wait and see.

The Red Devils face Crystal Palace in their first game of the season this weekend. Press the next page as we predict how they could line up against the Eagles.

GK- David De Gea

I’m calling this one now. Solskjaer will keep faith with the Spanish international for league games, but I think the United boss may well give Dean Henderson matches both in the cups and possibly in the Champions League.

De Gea will likely be given one last chance to prove himself as the number one. Gary Neville rightly pointed out that he wasn’t dropped after the restart so there wouldn’t be any sense in dropping him now.

RB- Aaron Wan-Bissaka

The £50m recruit had a good first season with the Red Devils but he did show signs of fatigue in the Europa League knockout stages last month and it is hoped he has recovered his best levels after preseason.

Brandon Williams will likely be his main challenger for the right-back spot, with Diogo Dalot and Timothy Fosu-Mensah’s futures in doubt.

CB – Victor Lindelof

The Swedish international has actually looked more impressive than Maguire in recent months but that hasn’t stopped United looking for a replacement in the transfer market.

It appears Lindelof will need to up his game even further to convince Solskjaer he deserves keeping his place in the team for the long term.

CB – Harry Maguire

The captain had an interesting summer, to say the least, and he still needs to prove he is deserving of the £80m that United shelled out on him last year.

If United are to challenge near the top of the table this season, Maguire’s form will be crucial and the England international needs to show he can command and lead the backline to ensure the club have a successful campaign.

LB – Luke Shaw

The fullback has recovered from an ankle problem that kept him out for the back end of last season, and he will certainly want to show that he can stay fit for a prolonged period of time.

United may have missed out on Real Madrid’s Sergio Reguilon but they will be hoping Shaw can kick on this campaign and demonstrate why he is Solskjaer’s first-choice left-back.

CM – Nemanja Matic

The Serbian played 34 games under Solskjaer last season and, although, he may have a less prominent role this campaign, he is likely to start the season in the first team.

Fred may have played ok in the Europa League knockout stages but Matic played a lot more in the league, especially after the restart, and I can see Solskjaer going back to the 32-year-old as the favoured holding midfielder for now.

CM – Bruno Fernandes

Solskjaer has raised doubts over Paul Pogba’s fitness, following his late return to training after his positive test for COVID-19, so the Frenchman may well be named on the bench for the Palace game this weekend.

With creativity needed in the side to break down a packed defence, Fernandes may well play in a deeper role than usual in order to accommodate van de Beek into the starting line up.

AM – Donny van de Beek

Although the Dutchman can play in central midfield, Solskjaer may be keen to see the midfielder play further forward against the Eagles. He has an eye for goal and bodies in the box will be needed with Roy Hodgson’s side expected to sit deep.

Van de Beek’s ability to arrive late in the penalty area, in the mould of Paul Scholes, could make him an invaluable asset, especially at home versus teams like Palace.

RW – Mason Greenwood

The failure to land Jadon Sancho does have a silver lining in the fact that the United teenager will be afforded a lot more game time by the Red Devils.

After scoring 17 goals last season, Greenwood could very easily get 20 or more this campaign if he maintains the level he has shown since breaking into United’s first team.

CF – Anthony Martial

The lack of depth up front is a major concern but the Frenchman has shown that, when fit, he can play through the middle and score the number of goals that are expected of a number nine.

If United are to challenge at the top, though, Martial can’t pick up any injuries as his replacement, Odion Ighalo, certainly doesn’t have the same level of ability.

LW – Marcus Rashford

It is hoped that the 22-year-old has now fully recovered from an ankle injury which meant he struggled during the Europa League knockout rounds in August.

Rashford has had the international break to make sure he is 100% fit for the new season so he can hit the ground running this campaign.