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Just 11 years ago Aston Villa vs. Bradford would have been a normal Premier League fixture, with the Bantams plying their trade against the very best clubs in English football.

But, the period between then and now has been a tough one at Valley Parade, tougher than many would have expected when they dropped out of the top-tier in 2001.

Financial meltdown, multiple administrations and subsequent relegations have left the club battered and bruised. Beaten to the extent that dropping out of the professional league system was a real possibility at the back end of last season.

But, this campaign’s League Cup exploits have seen the Yorkshire side roll back those painful years, and dish out some angry punches, flooring the likes of Wigan and most recently Arsenal to book a spot in the semi-final.

In some ways the club made a rod for their own back, splashing more cash than they actually possessed when they were at the top table. Italian striker Benito Carbone arrived at Bradford on £40,000-per-week wages, whilst the stadium and training facilities were developed, in a period that then chairman Geoffrey Richmond described afterwards as “six weeks of madness”. Maybe they would have coped had relegation not struck in the same year, however their haul of just 26 points saw the prosperous era of Premier League football end for the club.

Manager Jim Jefferies was sacked shortly afterwards, following a training ground bust-up, and to make matters worse debts spiralled to an unmanageable £13m. Although they managed to avoid the drop to the third-tier, administration struck, forcing the release of almost all of the club’s playing staff.

Miraculously they survived once again in 2003, but the following year, under Bryan Robson, Bradford were unable to keep clear of the relegation zone, falling into Division Two.

Colin Todd replaced Robson ahead of the next campaign, and kept the club safe as administration bit once again. Despite this, he was sacked in 2007, as owner Julian Rhodes appointed David Wetherall as player-manager with the team three points clear of the relegation zone. However, he was unable to save City from entering the bottom tier of professional football.

Yet, after managing to remain safe, now manager Phil Parkinson has set his sights on catapulting the club back through the league system, and this season’s Capital One Cup could be play a big part in his lofty plans.

Although lifting the trophy is improbable, it’s not impossible, and the feel good-factor that statement brings has rejuvenated the club’s loyal support – they still average a gate of 10,000-per-game in League 2.

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The financial impact will also be significant, with the estimated £300,000 generated from the Arsenal tie alone thought to be enough to cover half of the club’s overspending on wages. With a two-legged affair against Premier League opposition in the semi-final another large sum of income is expected, which will go some way to repairing the remaining damage.

With promotion to League One a legitimate possibility as well, things are finally beginning to look up in Yorkshire. They may only be facing England’s elite in the Capital One Cup for now, but maybe, just maybe, Bradford could be back in the big time in the not too distant future.

Speaking to Sky Sports, pundit Ian Wright fears that Liverpool could lose Mohamed Salah to a club like Real Madrid, given the forward’s incredible form so far this season.

What’s the story?

With 36 goals and 12 assists in 41 appearances for the Reds this term, Salah has been an absolute sensation at Anfield since joining from Roma last summer, emerging as one of the hottest properties in world football.

Will that mean that Liverpool have to court offers for the player sooner rather than later?

BBC pundit Ian Wright thinks so, speaking as a guest on Sky Sports programme ‘The Debate’.

The former Arsenal man said:

This is the problem Liverpool will have. If Salah continues this kind of scoring next season, they will be courting him. Not being disrespectful to Liverpool, but Salah won’t have grown up dreaming of playing for Liverpool – if Real Madrid come knocking, he’s going to be taking notice of that. Losing Salah would be a much bigger loss than losing Coutinho.

The Reds were ultimately powerless to resist Philippe Coutinho leaving for Barcelona and while financially rewarded, his departure was a blow to supporters.

Can Liverpool possibly hold on to Salah for years to come?

A selling club?

In comparison to almost every club in the world Liverpool are a side that you arrive at and look to end your career with, given their stature, the passionate support, their financial clout and trophy ambitions.

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However, there are a few select sides that have more cultural and financial pull than the Anfield outfit and the kind of form Salah is showing is bound to get them interested.

As with Coutinho, Liverpool may have to accept Salah is destined for one of European football’s elite clubs and must be prepared to maximise his value in the transfer market.

It is critical though that they hang on to him for at least another season. Jurgen Klopp has worked hard to build a complete side worthy of competing for the title and it finally appears the pieces are in place. Salah leaving this summer would be a critical blow to their chances of competing for major silverware next term.

Finally Tottenham are beginning to resemble a Mauricio Pochettino side, following their industrious and organised yet elegant and efficient 2-1 win over Everton at the weekend.

But the Argentine gaffer was given a rather modest transfer budget during the summer, eventually spending around £35million, and clearly wasn’t allowed to make the wholesale changes he desired.

Consequentially, there’s a number of lingering issues, ranging from viable transfer targets to the make-up for the White Hart Lane Roster, the Spurs boss needs find resolution to.

The quickest way to do that is via the transfer market, so here’s a list of FIVE lingering issues Pochettino must resolve in January.

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Get rid of Emmanuel Adebayor

Priority one for Tottenham in January has to be orchestrating the departure of Emmanuel Adebayor.

A lack of depth up front combined with the Lilywhites’ overinvestment in £27million striker Roberto Soldado has given the Togo international a stay of execution until now. Bt the 30 year-old devilishly revelled in Tim Sherwood’s dependency on him for goals last term – safe in the knowledge that he would unlikely be dropped in spite of some completely anonymous displays – and under Mauricio Pochettino he’s netted just twice in ten appearances.

There’s also very bizarre stories emerging about the Togo international’s mum using black magic to ruin his career, as if he needed any help:

https://twitter.com/DailyMirror/status/539391541182496768

Clearly, Adebayor’s mind is preoccupied – still earning £100k per-week (in part subsidised by Manchester City), the Lilywhites need to get him off the wage bill as soon as possible.

The only problem is – who would buy a high-earning, goal-shy centre-forward that’s now left Arsenal, Manchester City and Spurs on rather sour terms?

He’s been linked with ‘Arry Redknapp’s QPR recently, which seems like a rather likely scenario, as well as a Galatasaray, but other reports claim Adebayor is prepared to rot in the reserves and see out the rest of his contract, which expires in 2016.

If that’s the case, perhaps Spurs should consider a termination.

Midfield overhaul

What is going on with Tottenham’s midfield?

The Lilywhites splashed out a combined £41million on centre-mid powerhouses Etienne Capoue, Paulinho and Mousa Dembele, but none can get a look-in over academy duo Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason – decent prospects by all means, but nowhere near the level you’d expect to be starting regularly at a top six club.

Worryingly, this isn’t just a Pochettino thing – all fell out of favour with Tim Sherwood for significant periods last season too.

Clearly, the Lilywhites need a bit of a midfield overhaul; depending on Bentaleb and Mason for the rest of the season can only spell disaster. But who could they realistically sign in January?

Well, reports this morning claim Franco Baldini has already wrapped up a deal for PSG’s contract-rebel prodigy Adrien Rabiot:

Here’s a clip of the 19 year-old in action:

What a scoop that would be, but any report from the Metro has to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Fellow contract rebel Fabian Delph remains an alternative. Performances for Aston Villa earned him the Villain of the Year award last term and more recently a spot in Roy Hodgson’s England squad. But most importantly, the 25 year-old’s industrious-yet-marauding style, epitomised best by this goal against Chelsea last year:

…would fit perfectly into Mauricio Pochettino’s philosophy.

After that, there’s the likes of Yohan Cabaye, Joao Moutinho and Morgan Schneiderlin – all rumoured to be on the move in the coming transfer window – but they’re valued at £19million upwards.

Should Spurs cash in on Jan Vertonghen?

On paper, Jan Vertonghen is still by far Tottenham’s best defender, but the Belgium international hasn’t come anywhere close to matching the talismanic form his debut Premier League campaign over the last 18 months, as shown below:

His pathetic attempt to stop Chelsea’s Loic Remy yesterday evening pretty much sums it up:

Meanwhile, the 27 year-old has just ended contract talks at White Hart Lane on a rather sour note:

So January seems like a logical time to sell. Put it this way; right now, the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City will be interested in taking a punt on Vertonghen, but that won’t be the case in the summer if his lukewarm form continues.

Of course, the only stumbling block is finding a viable replacement mid-season. Perhaps West Ham’s Winston Reid or Aston Villa’s Ron Vlaar? The centre-back duo are both about to enter the final six months of their respective contracts.

DeAndre Yedlin – is he needed and what does this mean for Kyle Naughton?

Tottenham wrapped up a deal for Team USA World Cup starlet DeAndre Yedlin during the summer and now that the MLS season has come to a close, he’s free to move to the Lane in January, having also attained an EU passport.

Apparently, the 21 year-old right-back is raring to go and he’s certainly an impressive talent – just look at his recovery speed in this short clip:

But another MLS campaign would hardly dent Yedlin’s development, considering he could well spend much of his first season at White Hart Lane on the bench or in the reserves.

That being said, Mauricio Pochettino has been forced to field centre-backs Eric Dier and Vlad Chiriches at No.2 this season, with Kyle Walker absent through injury, so the American international could slot into an immediate first team role.

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What does that mean for Kyle Naughton however? Versatility is the only attribute prolonging the 26 year-old’s Lilywhites career and in my opinion, he’s Spurs’ worst defender by quite some way.

Mirror Football believe he could be shipped off to Swansea City as a consequence of Yedlin’s arrival:

Should Spurs return for Jay Rodriguez?

The Lilywhites were strongly linked with Southampton’s Jay Rodriguez during the summer until the St. Mary’s outfit issued a rather stern, non-negotiable hands-off warning:

Indeed, the 25 year-old was in stunning form under Mauricio Pochettino last season, netting 15 times to become the third-top scoring Englishman in the Premier League, and had it not been for an ACL injury, would have likely made England’s World Cup squad. Here’s a look at the Three Lions man in action:

So with the winger-forward set to return to action in the New Year, should Spurs revive their interest in Rodriguez, as reported by the tabloids?

He’s proven under Pochettino and addresses two gaps in the Spurs’ squad, namely the strike-force and the left-wing role – although to give credit where it’s due, Nacer Chadli’s been fantastic out wide this season.

That being said, Rodriguez has just missed the best part of nine months through injury and there’s no guarantee he’ll be the same player.

Furthermore, the Saints are likely to command around £20million for his services.

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Though Arsenal have not won a trophy for seven years, of course, many Arsenal fans will not have forgotten about Arsenal’s great ‘Invincibles’ run, where the Gunners went unbeaten for 49 games in the Premier League.

Many over the years have tried to compare Arsenal’s greatest players. However, while Thierry Henry wins a lot of the plaudits, outside of the Arsenal faithful, is Dutch legend Dennis Bergkamp really mentioned enough for his great achievements for the club?

Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ team are given much credit for their stunning unbeaten run. But, while many talk about Thierry Henry’s achievements, could it be said that Dennis Bergkamp, along with other members of the team should be praised more for their contributions to Arsenal’s successes in the early 2000s? It seems that many Arsenal fans consider Dennis Bergkamp to be one of the club’s biggest legends.

I have even seen it be suggested how trying to choose whether Thierry Henry or Dennis Bergkamp is the best is like trying to choose between a mum and dad. Could it be said that perhaps some may not mention Dennis Bergkamp as, say, Thierry Henry, because people outside the Arsenal faithful may not understand the connection between fans of the Gunners and Dennis Bergkamp?

He played for Arsenal for 11 years, making 423 appearances and scoring 120 goals for the Gunners. He also showed great loyalty and commitment to the Gunners, unlike many other Arsenal players, he retired as an Arsenal player, and talking about retiring if he could not stay at Arsenal before extending his contract for the 2005/6 season, despite Ajax being interested in him.

So, could it be said that Arsenal fans are always going to laud his talents more than others because of his connection with the club?

Dennis Bergkamp is seen as a footballing legend for many reasons. He scored superb goals, had awareness tactically, prowess physically, the ability to pick out killer passes, accuracy, and many other things. Could it be said that while Thierry Henry is one of Arsenal’s greatest ever players, Dennis Bergkamp should maybe get more credit. Could it be said that a big part of Arsenal’s success was down to some of Dennis Bergkamp’s work as well as the efforts made by Arsenal’s top goal scorer?

However, Dennis Bergkamp’s great talents have been recognised by the footballing world. He got into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame in 2007, becoming the first ever Dutch player to achieve this. He has garnered much acclaim, for example, being picked by Pelé as one of FIFA’s 100 greatest living players.

However, could it be said that his talent and achievements are not mentioned enough by the media and fans of clubs other than Arsenal? Although, could the case be that perhaps he is not mentioned more because of the sheer number of great Arsenal players during that era like Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pirès?

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But are his achievements for Arsenal given enough attention? How much attention is given to his 22 goals in the 1997/8 season that helped Arsenal to a League title and an FA Cup, for example? What about his brilliant goal against Newcastle in 2002?

Dennis Bergkamp is considered by many to be one of the greatest footballers ever. However, should more people who are not Arsenal fans take notice of the highlights of his career?

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There have been times this season when Leeds United have looked like promotion contenders but their poor form in 2018 has surely put the play-offs out of sight this time around.

The remainder of this season is most likely to be used by Paul Heckingbottom to get the measure of his squad and plan where he needs to improve the playing staff in the summer transfer window.

The Whites have struggled for goals this season and while the departure of last season’s top scorer, Chris Wood, is one factor, so is a lack of creativity.

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Under both Thomas Christiansen and Heckingbottom, Leeds have failed to find a formula that churns out chances on a consistent basis and that is one of the main reasons they slipped out of the promotion picture.

With that in mind, Football FanCast have had a closer look at the numbers to see how many chances the Leeds players have made so far this season, and who are the top five in the rankings…

Roofe isn’t always the most popular player among Leeds fans and his position has varied throughout the season.

While it is clear that he lacks consistency, he does have ability and coming in the top five on this list shows that he can tee up his team-mates.

However, being in the top five with 16 chances created shows how lacking invention Leeds have been this season.

Phillips is another player who splits opinion among the Whites’ fanbase. However, he can do a bit of everything and that is shown by the fact he is the only central midfielder on this list.

As well as putting his foot in, the academy graduate does like to get forward and contribute where he can and making chances is clearly part of that.

20 chances is not particuarly eye-catching but, on this metric, he is Leeds’ most creative central midfielder.

Alioski – valued at £3.6m by Transfermarkt – has arguably been Leeds’ most inconsistent player this season.

At times, he is capable of going past opponents and making chances for team-mates. However, too often, he is selfish, easily dispossessed and makes poor decisions.

He remains one of the most creative forces available to Heckingbottom; the key is getting him to deliver that on a more regular basis.

There is no doubt about it, the six-game suspension Saiz suffered in January hit Leeds hard. Really hard.

He can operate in any of the roles behind the main striker and has the ability to unlock any defence in the division. Despite his extended absence, he is still second on this list and things might have been different at Elland Road this season if he’d not become embroiled in that spitting scandal in the closing stages against Newport.

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He’s the best signing Christiansen made.

The signing of Hernandez, made by Garry Monk last season, felt like a coup at the time for Leeds and these numbers show just what a difference he can make.

It is a mystery that his new contract has not been finalised yet. Hernandez lacks the legs he used to have but playing wide or centrally, he offers Leeds a creative dimension that no other player in the squad can match.

If Leeds have designs on the play-offs next season, Hernandez should be at the heart of it.

Winston Reid has been locked in a contract deadlock with West Ham United since the end of last season and it seems like the highly rated defender could be stalling contract talks to leave the door open to a free transfer at the end of this season.

The east London club are keen to secure the services of the Kiwi defender; he is a key player in the heart of their defence and has firmly established himself as one of the top centre backs in the league since joining the Hammers back in the summer of 2010. Reid was a relative unknown before making a name for himself in the 2010 World Cup with a goal for his country and since coming to West Ham he has become something of a fan favourite.

Not only is he a very solid and reliable defender but he has also got himself on the scoresheet on a number of occasions, the most memorable for the Irons being in a derby against fierce rivals Millwall where he scored a 20-yard volley at The Boleyn to secure a 2-1 win for his side in February of 2012.

The rumour mill was in overdrive this summer with a year remaining on Reid’s contract. He has attracted the attentions of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in the past and it was thought at one point during the last transfer window that the Gunners were going to come in with an offer for the player, but that never materialised.

Reports from sources close to the club were suggesting that the only reason Reid was stalling on putting pen to paper on his new contract despite the wages being raised considerably was due to the style of play and the manager. It was understood that the player was left disheartened with the style of football the team were playing last season and lacked belief in the manager’s ability to take the club forwards from having been in a relegation dogfight for most of the campaign.

If that is the case, then at the moment the defender has nothing left to worry about as it seems that West Ham’s football has improved a lot in the first seven games of this season – as have the results which leave the Hammers sitting pretty in the top half of the table and not struggling to avoid being in the bottom three anymore.

The club certainly looks like it is on the up with an imminent move to the Olympic Stadium on the horizon and some decent players having been recruited over the summer, Reid finds himself in the company of some big name players yet still a key player in the West Ham line-up with a pretty big pay rise on the table. It seems that all is left to do is for him to sign the paperwork and put the whole uncertainty behind him.

The player, however, is still stalling and this has put not only Arsenal but Liverpool and Manchester United on high alert. Such attention is likely to be quite flattering for Reid and it could be quite tempting to join one of those clubs, with the move to Man Utd being quite an important one to them as well as the player as they currently have a severe lack of any quality in the centre back position.

Some newspaper reports have linked the player with a £15 million bid, but that would just be ludicrous, and despite some of the crazy fees being paid in football these days, there is no way a player with six months left on his current deal would leave for such a premium. It could well be that the player ends up running out his contract till the end of the season, leaving possible suitors open to snapping the defender up on a free transfer.

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This would be a great blow to West Ham but a massive boost to anyone who snaps him up, considering that if he had signed a new deal at Upton Park his transfer fee would have potentially been quite high. It is starting to look more and more likely as the clock ticks on this matter that the player is on his way out of West Ham and will end up signing for one of the “big teams”- for free at that matter.

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that captain Steven Gerrard will be offered a new contract with the Premier League club.

The Reds star has 18 months left on his current deal, but his manager is keen to secure his long-term future quickly.

The Northern Irishman praised the 32-year-old’s influence at the club, claiming he still has many years of service left to give:

“Steven is vital to us and I recognise that.” He is quoted by The Guardian.

“I know he has 18 months left on his contract but I would want him to go beyond that for this club and this team.

“What I would say with Steven is he has a real hunger to succeed. He may be 32 years of age, but he’s still got so much left. He applies himself right, he eats well, he recovers well, he works well, he does everything right.

“This is a guy who has led his life right as a football player and that allows you to play well into your 30s.

“I would want him to stay beyond his current contract and extend it. There is absolutely no question about that.

“He has played every minute of every league game for us which shows what an incredible figure for us he is.”

He went on to defend Gerrard, who has been criticised by some during the course of this season:

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“You look at his stats this season and he is right up there as one of the most influential midfielders in the Premier League.

“He’s at the top in chances created, passing, possession; all the important things. I find it incredible he can have had any criticism at all.

“It is absolutely ridiculous. From seeing him every day working, and seeing him playing in the games, it’s incredible.”

Tottenham Hotspur face a battle to sign Nice attacker Alassane Plea as West Ham United have launched a £27m bid, according toÂSky Sports News.

What’s the word?

The 25-year-old has been a relatively unknown figure on English shores, but he has seemingly attracted the attention of some Premier League clubs.

Tottenham are believed to be one, but West Ham have taken the first step by submitting a bid worth £27m, according to Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol.

How far will England get in Russia? Tell us now and win any World Cup shirt of your choice.

It is easy to see why clubs have been impressed by Plea due to his performances for Nice in the 2017-18 campaign.

In 48 appearances in all competitions, the forward scored 21 goals, 16 of which were struck in Ligue 1, and created seven assists.

Not only have West Ham tabled an offer, but reports add that Borussia Monchengladbach have had one bid denied, while Newcastle United hold an interest.

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What should Tottenham do?

Mauricio Pochettino could do with recruiting a new attacking player, and there is no doubt that Plea has skill and ability to find the back of the net on a consistent basis.

However, with the level of interest, it is unlikely that this deal would be a smooth one, and the North London outfit could find themselves spending too much time in a bidding war when they could be focusing on other areas of the pitch to strengthen.

Tottenham are not in desperate need of a goalscorer considering the fact that Harry Kane netted 30 times in the Premier League last season.

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Also, no disrespect to the clubs who are pursuing Plea, but Spurs are a higher calibre outfit, so perhaps it is concerning that only mid-table teams are interested.

Liverpool fans think Jürgen Klopp might be eyeing up Jamaal Lascelles for a future transfer.

Klopp is well known for his relationships with players, and not just those who play for Liverpool.

Sadio Mane and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both received hugs off Klopp before their move to Liverpool, and his embraces with players like Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero show he has no problem sharing the love for rivals he admires.

Another Klopp trait Liverpool fans love is his strangely intense style of watching opposition teams warm up. Klopp is often seen stood at the half way line in a wide stance with his arms crossed watching rival teams warm up.

Klopp’s gaze on Saturday was directed at Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles, and Liverpool fans think it means he’s their next transfer target.

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Klopp stared intently at Virgil van Dijk’s warm-up for Southampton last season, and Reds’ fans suspect he is eyeing the Newcastle captain as a future partner for the Dutchman…

Lascelles joined Newcastle in 2014 after a successful stint at Nottingham Forest, and has been one of the Magpies’ most consistent performers under Rafa Benitez.

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If Newcastle get relegated, the Englishman may look to jump ship, and Liverpool fans have already decided his next destination. Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…

Having already gone through transfer deadline day, no additional reinforcements can be added until the window reopens in January; therefore Manchester United will have to do with the players at their disposal.

Despite being linked with a high profile centre-back throughout the summer, Louis van Gaal ended the clubs shopping spree with one of the biggest shocks after completing a season-long loan deal for Monaco striker Radamel Falcao.

Still, without a newly signed proper central defender, here is a predicted starting XI for the Red Devils this coming season, with reference to the usual 3-5-2 formation.

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CLICK ON WAYNE ROONEY TO REVEAL

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Goalkeeper

Name: David De Gea

Age: 23

Nationality: Spain

Reason for selection:

David De Gea is the current club number one and is the easiest pick for Louis van Gaal given he was one of the only players to perform last season prior to his arrival.

He currently has no competition as Manchester United’s man between the sticks.

Centre-Back Right

Name: Phil Jones

Age: 22

Nationality: England

Reason for selection:

Phil Jones looks to be the most solid of the current Manchester United defensive players and given his form in the first three matches, it looks as though he will most likely retain his place in the back three. His no nonsense hard-man tackling style is seen as a great asset in a rather weak United backline.

Centre-Back

Name: Jonny Evans

Age: 26

Nationality: Northern Ireland

Reason for selection:

With both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic departing Manchester United in the summer, Jonny Evans became the senior centre-back at the club.

Despite his highly unconvincing display upon his return against MK Dons, Louis van Gaal will most likely keep to playing Evans at the centre of his back three.

Centre-Back Left

Name: Marcos Rojo

Age: 24

Nationality: Argentina

Reason for selection:

Given Manchester United can finalize his work permit troubles, Marcos Rojo will be the perfect fit for the last slot in the back three.

Although he normally plays as a left back, his change to a more central role will highlight the fact that he may need to focus a lot more on the defensive side of play.

Right Wing Back

Name: Angel Di Maria

Age: 26

Nationality: Argentina

Reason for selection:

Angel Di Maria is most effective on the flanks as Louis van Gaal will need to exploit his abilities in order to get the best out of his record breaking £59.7million signing.

Keeping in mind that he was out pacing everyone as a right winger for Real Madrid prior to the arrival of Gareth Bale, he could very well return to that role, with some added defensive responsibilities he may need to adapt to.

Left Wing Back

Name: Luke Shaw

Age: 19

Nationality: England

Reason for selection:

Once Luke Shaw returns to full fitness, he will easily be first choice left wing back due to his ability to attack as well as defend. Given his age, he has huge room for improvement as first-team experience will only make him a better player.

Plus, Manchester United would not have spent such a huge fee on him if he was just going to sit on the bench. With Angel Di Maria on the right and Shaw on the left, Louis van Gaal would have opened up two additional attacking outlets, taking the pressure off the more centrally positioned playmakers.

Central Midfielder

Name: Ander Herrera

Age: 25

Nationality: Spain

Reason for selection:

Manchester United bought in Ander Herrera because of his ability to control as well as dictate the pace of the game from a central midfield role.

He is seen as the player who will be keeping hold of the ball, maintain possession, as most importantly, linking the backline to the more attacking outlets, either down the two flanks, or straight down the middle.

Central Midfielder

Name: Daley Blind

Age: 24

Nationality: Netherlands

Reason for selection:

After failing to secure the services of a proper defensive midfielder, Daley Blind is the next best thing as he will most likely be given an anchorman’s role in the heart of the Manchester United midfield.

He should be seen playing deeper than Ander Herrera as he will be the one that tried to stop counter-attacks as well as been seen as a ball winner. However, if he is given a chance to roam forward, he could be just as effective in the attacking third as he is in his own defensive half.

Attacking Midfielder

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Name: Wayne Rooney

Age: 28

Nationality: England

Reason for selection:

Wayne Rooney is often seen dropping rather deep for a striker and trying to control the game from a more central position, hence with the arrival of Falcao, he could shine just behind the striking pair.

If he is moved into an attacking midfield role, it will give him a lot of freedom in the attacking third to try and be the playmaker while also opting to create trouble with his long ranged shooting ability.

Striker

Name: Robin van Persie

Age: 31

Nationality: Netherlands

Reason for selection:

Robin van Persie is a proven goal-scorer if he can return to full fitness and begin taking his chances once more. Having already worked with Louis van Gaal, the Dutch manager will know exactly how he should deploy Van Persie in order to get the best of him.

A link up with Radamel Falcao can mean Manchester United might be well on their way to having the most lethal attacking force in the English Premier League.

Striker

Name: Radamel Falcao

Age: 28

Nationality: Colombia

Reason for selection:

Excluding his injury stricken career with Monaco last season, Radamel Falcao netted 52 goals in 68 games for Atletico Madrid prior to his move to Ligue 1, showing exactly why scoring shouldn’t be a problem.

Falcao will definitely play and will simply be put in the striking position with the sole purpose of being the main scoring outlet all the Manchester United players should look to get the ball to.

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