Manchester United vs Norwich City
Manchester United face Norwich City on Saturday evening at Old Trafford where all eyes will be on a certain Mr Ryan Giggs. The reds new interim manager has been the talk of the footballing world all week since David Moyes’s departure and the Welshman has promised to put the smiles back on United’s fans faces. He has guaranteed that his side will play the Manchester United way and the shackles will be off as the red’s will look to regain that attacking mentality in which the club is known for.
In total honesty nobody knows the side that Giggs will choose to take to the field on Saturday, but one thing’s for sure, expect it to be full of attacking talent which will likely contain two wide me, fitting in with his and United’s ethos. The team news ahead of the eagerly anticipated game is that Robin Van Persie and the Brazilian, Rafael, will be the only players unavailable for selection due to injury. Taking this into consideration, here is the side Ryan Giggs may pick in his first game in control of Manchester United:
Goalkeeper
David De Gea is again a certainty to start in the United goal despite the change of management. The Spaniard has been one of the reds stand out performers this season and of course is still battling to get into Spain’s World cup squad.
Defence
With Ryan Giggs promising an attacking set up, and with Rafael’s injury taken into account, Antonio Valencia could be in with a shout to start at right back against Norwich City. I expect him to continue with playing phil Jones in the heart of the defence with him knowing the importance of youth within the side. The Welshman’s respect for Nemanja Vidic should see the United skipper partner Jones, and it would be a big surprise if Patrice Evra did not return at left back after sitting out the Everton game.
Midfield
It is a complete unknown who the Welshman will pick in the midfield area this weekend! In the centre of the park I feel he will favour the experience of the trusted Michael Carrick and may well opt to play Shinji Kagawa alongside him in a bid to bring an attacking mentality back to Old Trafford. There is no doubt the 40 year old will also favour playing two wide players, so Januzaj has to be confident of starting with the flair he adds to the side and Danny Welbeck may well get the nod on the other flank with his raw pace being a huge factor. He then could more than likely play Juan Mata in his favoured number 10 position ,with the Welshman admitting in the past how impressed he has been by Mata’s ability.
Attack
It is no secret the mutual respect Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney share, so expect the Englishman to get the nod up top tomorrow with Juan Mata in behind him. The pressure is off so expect the pair to play with complete freedom under United’s new interim manager.
Predicted Starting XI
De Gea
Valencia, Jones, Vidic, Evra
Januzaj, Carrick, Kagawa, Welbeck
Mata
Rooney
5 replies on “Manchester United vs Norwich City: United's starting XI?”
Do you think Giggs will give himself a new contract extension now he is manager?
If Giggs drops/sells RVP so that Welbeck stays and has more playing time.
If Giggs drops/sells Evra because he is just a defensive liability.
If Giggs tells Ferdinand to retire because he is too slow.
Then he is the boss and he can manage ManU till he retires.
I agree with all those decisions, but its hard dropping talkless of selling your team mates
That line up shows no respect to Norwich though. They’ll be playing their hearts out and will go for it. Unlike early parts of the season where they’d just look to get something out of the game, this time they’ll go for it all. The attack looks good, but the side isn’t balance. Defensively it’ll be lacking. I have no idea what he’ll go for by the way, but in his first game in charge he wouldn’t want to lose. A balanced side perhaps…
Wish the line up mention they played like that