Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United host Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon in a must win game at Old Trafford. The Reds have not won a game since beating Everton 2-1 at the start of October and following last weekend’s defeat in the Manchester derby the pressure is slowly starting to build on the management team. Crystal Palace come into the game having not won in four games themselves and if United are to even consider themselves as contenders for a top four position then it is a game they really should be winning.
United still have injury troubles galore is the defensive areas with Marcos Rojo now unavailable for six weeks after dislocating his shoulder last weekend and both Jonny Evans and Phil Jones still remain sidelined. Chris Smalling is also unavailable following his careless red card in the derby and Radamel Falcao also remains unavailable due to injury. Finally, Rafael Da Silva is also a major doubt for the game and with all this considered here’s how the Red’s might take to the field against Neil Warnock’s side:
Goalkeeper
David De Gea will hope to celebrate turning 24 on Friday with three points against the London side. The Spaniard has been on good form lately and as per normal he will be the first name on the team sheet.
Defence
With a heap of injury troubles and Chris Smalling suspended, Van Gaal doesn’t exactly have a wide range of options at the back tomorrow. Rafael is a major doubt so Antonio Valencia will undoubtedly continue at right-back whilst Luke Shaw will be confident of starting again in the left-back position.
In the centre of defence I expect the manager to go with with youngster Paddy McNair. The 19-year-old has impressed many so far this season and he was summoned from the bench last Sunday following Marcos Rojo’s unfortunate injury. Alongside McNair I expect Van Gaal to opt with the composed and experienced Michael Carrick. The Englishman will hopefully add a bit of stability and assurance to a makeshift back four. His performance could be vital tomorrow.
Midfield
Daley Blind will be a certainty to start in the middle of the park, the Dutchman will be a key figure in helping protect United’s makeshift back four. Alongside the number 17 I have a feeling the manager may recall Ander Herrera to the side in favour of Maroune Fellaini with the Belgian very fortunate not to have given away a couple of penalties last weekend with some careless tackles on Aguero in the box. There will be no room for carelessness tomorrow.
Record signing Angel Di Maria will be a guaranteed starter and I expect him to feature on the left-hand side, the number 7 has been relatively quiet in the last two encounters against Manchester City and Chelsea. Finally, on the right-hand side Adnan Januzaj should be handed another chance to impress. The winger was unfortunate to get dragged off early last weekend, falling victim to Chris Smalling’s stupidity.
Attack
With Wayne Rooney returning to the side last weekend he will undoubtedly be in the side tomorrow despite a number of United’s support judging the England striker as undeserving of his place in the side. Radamel Falcao is still unavailable and Robin Van Persie still seems to be struggling to find anywhere near his best form so I have a sneaky suspicion that young James Wilson could be in line for a start against Crystal Palace.
Predicted Starting XI:
(1) De Gea;
(25) Valencia, (16) Carrick, (33) McNair, (3) Shaw;
(17) Blind, (22) Herrera;
(11) Januzaj, (7) Di Maria;
(10) Rooney;
(49) Wilson.
10 replies on “PREDICTED XI: Manchester United vs Crystal Palace”
what a load of bollocks, Rafa is still not fit, wilson isnt even in the named squad, fellaini is the man in form yet not mentioned, Januzja is out of positin & lvg likes a balanced team so why play blind on the right & Herrera on the left ? also why play the right footed McNair in a left footed position when Blacket is left footed & fit again ?
………………………………………..De gea……………………………………..
Valencia……………………Carrick……Blackett…………………..Shaw
……………………Herrera……………………………….Blind………………….
…..Di maria…………………………………………………………Januzja……
…………………………………………Fellaini………………………………………
………………………………………………..Rooney………………………………
My mistake, if you read the defence section I have in fact chosen Valencia. I have wrote Rafael in the predicted XI by mistake. As for the rest, I’m confident that will be the team that plays.
Ohh and Fellaini is mentioned if you take the time to read the whole article.
wen are we gonna see a midfield three of herrera,fellaini n blind?
Should be Blackett and McNair, the future of our bck line with Evans, Rojo and a signing, time to sell the weak links, dead wood liabilities’ such as the rubbish glop duo Smalling and jones, neither good enough, neither deserves to be herd and neither should be here come next season, sell the rubbish before their cause even more defensive howlers, bloody flops need to be sold for the future.
Keep blacket in the youth team to see if he improves as he must do so b4 he should ever be in a Utd starting 11 again. Fellaini isn’t a top 4 team standard midfielder,at very best mid table team sell him. Evans & jones the same applies not good enough to wear a Utd shirt sorry to say. The thing that must be done in January is buy two world class defenders which so obviously should of been done during the summer!! Why this site keeps mentioning utds interest in more midfielders is crazy and I’m sure Woodward would not grant LVG the money he’s spent enough in that department we just need them to gel which wont happen while their having to back up defender’s. There’s also been alot of miss management from LVG most recently starting the fool smalling who in any team of mine simply wouldn’t start again for his calamity last wk. Why when Carrick was so obviously fit didn’t he start over smalling?? The mind boggles just saying!!
we as man utd fans are so disappointed with our progress,we need 2 defenderz en 2 defensive midfielderz in janaury
for my line for today’s match ,I will go for de gea val…mic Nair …blacker….lukeshaw mid her…blind..dimaria. ..janu ….front roony James sub fellian…Cari…van…
for my lineup for today’s match ,I will go for de gea val…mic Nair …blacker….lukeshaw mid her…blind..dimaria. ..janu ….front roony James sub fellian…Cari…van…
In recent games united have lacked goals and creativity why arnt the likes of mata or young in the squad mata can score pass and cause problems on his day(without diving)young can cause problems score and has pace all defenders hate players running at them with pace so use the likes of young januzaj di Maria Shaw and Valencia also if lvg had any brains he should ship falcao back home and recall Chico who can score with head or foot!!