Sunderland vs Manchester United: United’s Starting XI?
Having changed the team around a little for the FA Cup defeat to Swansea it is probable that we will see Moyes field his strongest side for the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final. Moyes has called for consistency and there is no better way to get your team firing that fielding your best eleven. If ever he needed a performance it is Tuesday night and teams don’t come much more vulnerable than against the leagues basement club – despite them knocking Chelsea out of the cup in the previous round.
Goalkeeper
I don’t think there will be any surprises to see David De Gea return in between the sticks. He earned the number one shirt under Ferguson and Moyes has re-affirmed that this season. Fielding Lindegaard in the FA Cup was the right thing to do. It gave him the game time he needed whilst DDG got the rest he no doubt deserves. Expect to see him back for this tie.
Defence
With Rafael and Ferdinand injured it is going to be yet another different four across the back for United. Vidic was rested on Sunday with this game in mind and will come back at the heart of the defence, as will Evra on the left.
There were calls for Buttner, after he whipped in a beauty for Hernandez, to be given a crack at the first team but I think Evra is still far and out our first choice left back and he is a great player for Buttner to develop from. We should see Smalling continue on the right with Evans in the centre. It might be worth Moyes reminding the boys that, despite being shaky at the back in the league, the team are yet to concede in this competition.
Midfield
Januzaj was bright when he came off the bench against Swansea. I think with him not starting the match it gives us an indication he’ll play from the outset against Sunderland, where he bagged his debut goals for the club earlier this season. Carrick will return to provide that stability and it is more than likely he’ll be partnered by Cleverly – a combination which Moyes seems fond of. With Nani and Young both out injured there’s no doubt Valencia will be on the opposing wing to Januzaj.
Attack
With Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie not available for selection due to injury, suspect that Javier Hernandez would start up top given his goal against Swansea he’s bound to want to keep his goalscoring form going. His first touch has been letting him down as late but that may be due to lack of first-team football. A good 90-minutes under his belt against Sunderland would be good.
With Javier Hernandez up top I think that Danny Welbeck will sit just behind him to link up the play. Welbeck has more than proved his worth this season and despite all his doubters, those who see him play week in and week out know his quality.
Predicted XI:
De Gea;
Smalling, Evans, Vidic, Evra;
Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Januzaj;
Welbeck;
Hernandez.
Who do you think will be in David Moyes’ team to face Sunderland in the Capital One Cup? Comment in the section below.
13 replies on “Sunderland vs Manchester United - United's Starting XI?”
Would love to see Kagawa start, in place of Cleverly. It will be an attacking formation, but we need it. We need to dominate proceedings, and Kagawa playing centrally will benefit from game time.
seriously carrick and cleverl3ey in the middle???
wasnt it against totenham that people started to finally realise how weak that combination is???
and zaha needs to start!!!! valencia is in mediocre form at the moment, he is failing to effectively get the ball into the box, and doesnt run at players nearly as much as he used to be able to. zaha needs a start!!!!
i would actually give fabio a start, and play smalling with vidic.
wings needs to be zaha and janujaz, and i would play kagawa with cleverley central midfield
with hernandez n wellbeck up front
Presumably Fabio is suspended?
Might play Welbeck upfront with Kagawa playing in the hole. Hernandez might be a good finisher but he doesn’t add much more to the team besides that. Kagawa helps with build-up play and plays a bigger role defending.
Just hope there is No Kagawa No Cleverley (yes Samuel that’s how you spell it) and No more Hernandez he can’t get in Mexico side so how the fuck can he get in our team! All three are crap and should never pull on a Utd shirt again! Zaha on the right wing and Valencia in midfield where he plays for Ecuador, Januzaj plays behind Welbeck(where he will become one of the best players in the world) and Büttner left wing ( he can cross the ball ‘sometimes). young players who will fight and run their hearts out for a chance to play, it’s not the answer to our long term problems but, I’m sick of watching over paid wankers who are just not good enough! There I’ve said it!
Could be interesting to see Valencia in midfield and Buttner as left wing, what have we got to loose?
why dont he look at the youth team. They are good players that can play.
It’s the first leg of a cup semi-final, so Moyes will not be experimenting. He’ll go for experience.
Your listed team will be close to the mark.
I fear that we will see Carrick and Cleverley together in the middle; I prefer Kagawa to Cleverley. Hopefully Zaha will get game time, but probably not start. I would play him from the beginning and stick Valencia on the bench.
I just hope fletcher and buttner should be brought in as they provided good passes up front against swansea.. It’s just that hernandez couldn’t convert those…
For god sake, stop putting Valencia and Cleverley again. I’d rather choose Zaha and Fletcher. But Fletcher is quite slow. So, Kagawa could play ahead. Plus, stop playing Kagawa out of his best position. He is a playmaker not a winger.
Agree in regards to Fletcher instead of Cleverly but after playing 94 mins on Sunday after being sidelined for a year I think Fletcher will be rested tonight. Hopefully Jones is back by the weekend so he can be paired with Fletcher vs Swansea
Change cleverly with kagawa (coz his not that clever after all). Replace valencia,who wasn’t crossing well these days, with zaha. Defender? Do we have any better options?
Rooney is available on today game