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| Louis van Gaal wants Pedro to join Memphis Depay and Wayne Rooney in a front three |
LOUIS VAN GAAL hopes a front three of Pedro, Wayne Rooney and Memphis Depay will provide the pace, creativity and goals he believes Manchester United need to be title contenders this season.
After tinkering with systems and personnel throughout last season, Van Gaal used a 4-2-3-1 formation on United's pre-season tour to the US.
But he says he is planning to revert to the flexible 4-3-3 system he used to steer Holland to third place in the last World Cup and proved the most successful set-up for United as they finished fourth in his first campaign in charge.
But he says he is planning to revert to the flexible 4-3-3 system he used to steer Holland to third place in the last World Cup and proved the most successful set-up for United as they finished fourth in his first campaign in charge.
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| This is how Van Gaal could line his United side up this season |
When asked how Untied will shape up he said: "More or less 4-3-3. We played that already in the second half of last season, and I have said that is the system I want to use. We played in our shape [on tour] and played how we have to play. That's also where I have been very satisfied."
Now the question is what will be his first-choice team going forward as Van Gaal bids to get Untied scoring freely again - their measly 62-goal total last season was the club's second lowest in the Premier League era.
Now the question is what will be his first-choice team going forward as Van Gaal bids to get Untied scoring freely again - their measly 62-goal total last season was the club's second lowest in the Premier League era.
Pedro's move from Barcelona is unlikely to be completed in time for him to play in the opener against Tottenham on Saturday but Van Gaal's long-term plan is to use him and Depay on either side of Rooney in a three-pronged attack.
That leaves huge competition for to fill the engine room of the team between Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Michael Carrick, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini.
With Schweinsteiger still working his way up to full fitness, Schneiderlin and Carrick look shoe-ins for two of the places against Spurs with Mata or Herrera favourite for the other slot.
That leaves huge competition for to fill the engine room of the team between Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Michael Carrick, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini.
With Schweinsteiger still working his way up to full fitness, Schneiderlin and Carrick look shoe-ins for two of the places against Spurs with Mata or Herrera favourite for the other slot.
The two full backs, injury-permitting, will be Luke Shaw and Matteo Darmian, who both impressed in pre-season.
Van Gaal prefers his centre backs to be balanced – one left footed, the other right footed.
Daley Blind, who played mainly in midfield and at times at left back last season, has shown his versatility by making a strong case to be the left-sided centre-half with some steady performances and superb long-range passing during the pre-season tour.
That leaves Chris Smalling and Phil Jones to fight for the right-hand slot. And Smalling, made vice-captain after making significant improvement last season, is likely to get the nod.
Van Gaal prefers his centre backs to be balanced – one left footed, the other right footed.
Daley Blind, who played mainly in midfield and at times at left back last season, has shown his versatility by making a strong case to be the left-sided centre-half with some steady performances and superb long-range passing during the pre-season tour.
That leaves Chris Smalling and Phil Jones to fight for the right-hand slot. And Smalling, made vice-captain after making significant improvement last season, is likely to get the nod.
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