Alexis Sánchez and Manchester United's starting XI

[Lionel Messi]

Where does Alexis Sánchez fit into Manchester United's attack?
False number 9? Wingforward, withdrawn forward, attacking mid, winger?

More importantly, who misses out? Mourinho has already said Martial and Rashford can't play in the same team (both forwards who cut in from the left) - but I don't they're that limited! Why does an English talent like Rashford get so little game time?

Would Sánchez play off £75m target man Lukaku? Sánchez has a better record in the big games than Lukaku so will Jose rotate his central forward option?

Does this mean Pogba will play deeper in midfield? I prefer Pogba in a hybrid number 8 / number 10 role

Lingard has been Mourinho's best performing attacker, will he now be relegated to the bench?
If Mourinho goes to 3421 formation, would this change who he see's as his strongest attack?

Questions, questions, questions. I know, I apologise. But I am writing an essay on this and need your help in regard tactics.

 

[Bilo]

Right back

 

[Lionel Messi]

I think Valencia’s place is safe at right back or right wingback. I don’t think fullback or wingback will be the best use of Alexis Sanchez’s ability

You play your best players in their best role

 

[Stevencc]

On the right, I hope. Either in the 4-2-3-1 that we employ most of the time or, preferably, in the 4-3-3 that gets the most out of Pogba.

Mata should be the one to miss out and I wouldn't have thought that Jose will have any problem dropping him.

 

[Lionel Messi]

On the right, I hope. Either in the 4-2-3-1 that we employ most of the time or, preferably, in the 4-3-3 that gets the most out of Pogba.

Like this?

4-2-3-1

De Gea
Valencia Smalling Jones Young
Pogba Matic
Sanchez Lingard Martial
Lukaku


4-3-3

De Gea
Valencia Smalling Jones Young
Hererra Matic Pogba
Sanchez Lukaku Martial

 

[Stevencc]

Like this?

4-2-3-1

De Gea
Valencia Smalling Jones Young
Pogba Matic
Sanchez Lingard Martial
Lukaku


4-3-3

De Gea
Valencia Smalling Jones Young
Hererra Matic Pogba
Sanchez Lukaku Martial

That's right but with Bailly coming back in and Shaw hopefully making the left back spot his own for the rest of his season.

 

[Johnnyt]

As a neutral i take no pleasure in the following comment ,i think this Sanchez signing will take United up there with City & Chelsea and maybe Spurs in terms of quality squads.....the rest are streets behind in terms of quality.

Maybe Arsenal could get there in a few seasons maybe.

 

[Pagnell]

6/10

 

[SALTIRE]

Derivative drivel as usual from the tory one.

 

[Cornish Piskie]

I'm not at all sure that Maurinho really knows what he wants from Sanchez but I'm sure he'll figure it out as he goes along. I have heard it suggested that he only wanted Sanchez so that City couldn't have him. Some are saying that he had to make a big name signing because, well, Manchester United spend big money on players. it's what they do. The fans demand it or they get twitchy that the manager "lacks ambition". You can make your own mind up about that.

Sanchez will be another part of the Manchester United squad to be rotated in and out of the team as the occasion demands. If Maurinho thinks he (Sanchez) will fit into what he (Jose) thinks will win this or that match then Sanchez will be in. If not, he'll park his butt on the bench and be grateful that he's a substitute for "The Biggest Club In The World."

Now, I freely admit that I'm no sort of football tactician. What I know about 1-3-6 or other combinations of 10 would fit on the back of a postage stamp in 16 point type. But there is a certain consistency about the inconsistency of Maurinho's team selections. And it kinda fits in a "Jose" sort of way.

The old saying that you don't change a winning team makes a certain amount of sense, but is impractical in the modern age. Today, you build a squad and bring players in and out as the situation demands. The skill is in getting the right XI on the pitch, in the right formation, for the challenge you face on the day. Maurinho has been very good at this in the past.

I wouldn't try to outguess Jose as to what he'll do with Sanchez. Whatever scenario any of us could dream up, no matter how outlandish will probably be nowhere near what he will do on any given occasion.

Let's just leave him to it and see what happens. It could even be fun.

 

[Lionel Messi]

I don't think Sanchez will be on the bench pal I think he'll be one player Jose can't afford to fall out with.

 

[Cornish Piskie]

I don't think Sanchez will be on the bench. I think he'll be one player Jose can't afford to fall out with.

I'm quite sure that, at first, you're quite right. He'll want to help his new signing to settle into the team, and to see how best he can use him in the United set-up. Sanchez will get a run in the team for sure, at least in the immediate future.

I'm not sure though, that he'll be able to treat Sanchez like a favoured son for too long. There are a few pretty big egos (none bigger than the manager himself) at Old Trafford and Maurinho is smart enough to not rub too many other big names up the wrong way just to keep the third biggest signing on United's books happy.

He's rotated Pogba (£89 mil), he's rotated Lukaku (£75 mil) both of whom cost more than Sanchez (£61 mil*).

Time will tell.




*£61 mil is Euro 70 mil at current exchange rates.

 

[Stevencc]

Pogba and Lukaku haven't been rotated, they've only not started when they've been injured or suspended. In Lukaku's case he really should have been rotated (read: dropped) during his dry spell but Mourinho showed too much loyalty/faith towards him and continued to start him.

Where did you get the 61m fee from, by the way? I take it that it is some type of calculation of his wages from one of the many different reported figures?

 

[Lionel Messi]

Joes Mourinho on the purchase of Alexis Sanchez: "Alexis reminds me a little bit the metaphor when you see a tree with amazing oranges in the top of the tree and then you cannot get there and you say I got the lower ones because I don't like the ones in the top.You like the ones in the top, they are so nice and so orange and so round, so full of juice, but you cannot get there. So you say I didn't want to go there or I prefer the other ones. I think it reminds me a little bit of that story."

Mourinho got his orange from the top of the tree!

 

[JimJams]

Word from the ITK's at Old Trafford is that Real are going to take De Gea for 150mill, so Sanchez has been brought in for a spell between the sticks.

 

[Lionel Messi]

Word from the ITK's at Old Trafford is that Real are going to take De Gea for 150mill, so Sanchez has been brought in for a spell between the sticks.

If they lose De Gea, which they ultimately will to Real Madrid, I think Manchester United should buy Oblak - Donnarumma or Samir Handanović are solid alternatives.

 

[JimJams]

You don't rate Alexis with the gloves then?

 

[Lionel Messi]

You don't rate Alexis with the gloves then?

Do you actually watch football?

 

[T.A]

Chimp humour is not always well received.

 

[Lionel Messi]

Chimp humour is not always well received.

Isn't there an off-topic subforum on this website where his "humour" would be more appreciated?

 

[Lionel Messi]

Sanchez's first game versus Yeovil... playing in his preferred left inside forward role. 22 mins in, still no goals...

 

[Benji]

He's up against one of the top 89 teams in the country, so let's not judge him based on this.

 

[JimJams]

Isn't there an off-topic subforum on this website where his "humour" would be more appreciated?

Probably. I'll have to convert myself to finding the overuse of smillies and constantly stating the obvious as humour, then we can be on the same wavelength.

 

[Lionel Messi]

Probably. I'll have to convert myself to finding the overuse of smillies and constantly stating the obvious as humour, then we can be on the same wavelength.

I’m sorry but in NO world does Sanchez play in goal thanks for your contribution though

 

[JimJams]

Sorry, not enough smillies for me to entertain the thought of reading that.

 

[Lionel Messi]

Sorry, not enough smillies for me to entertain the thought of reading that.

Put simply, I don’t think you watched enough of Alexis Sanchez to form a rational opinion of him Did you follow him before his time in the Premier League?

 

[JimJams]

Yes. Long before. Did you follow him before Barca? Doubtful.

 

[Lionel Messi]

Yes. Long before. Did you follow him before Barca? Doubtful.

Probably only from his third season with Udinese. Even at that time I never knew he’d develop into the world class attacker he is today I was gutted when he left Barca too If you’ve seen him for Barca and Udinese, which position did you think was his best?

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

If you regularly watch Udinese and you don't support Udinese then you need to find yourself a girl

 

[Lionel Messi]

I would have to admit my passion for Serie A has slowly died in the last 5-6 years