The Dutchman has all six of his summer signings fit and available for the first time for Sunday’s visit of QPR - but how does he squeeze them into one starting XI?
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal is facing a £150million selection dilemma this weekend.
United spent £151.3m on six players this summer, while jettisoning 12, in what amounted to the biggest overhaul in the club’s illustrious history.
Van Gaal has made an unconvincing start at United, taking two points from his first three Premier League games, as well as suffering a humiliating Capital One Cup exit to League One MK Dons.
That tough start came against the backdrop of a lengthy injury list, which saw Van Gaal without 11 players, as well as new signing Marcos Rojo being ineligible because of a lack of a work permit.
Fellow new signings Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw were also unavailable due to injury, which left the Dutchman short of key personnel as he looked to make a flying start as United boss.
But Van Gaal now has all six of his summer signings - Herrera, Shaw, Rojo, Angel Di Maria, Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao - fit and available for Sunday’s visit of QPR.
That leaves United’s boss with a major selection headache of how to accommodate all of his stellar summer arrivals, with an expectant Old Trafford demanding a return to form and a first win of the season.
Van Gaal is keen to play Falcao up front alongside Robin van Persie, with Wayne Rooney operating in a deeper-lying role just behind the front two, to provide greater influence on games.
That could mean Juan Mata, previously United's record buy at £37.5m before Di Maria’s £59.7m arrival this summer, becoming the fall-guy and losing his place.
Herrera could partner Blind in central midfield, with Di Maria and Shaw deployed as attacking wing-backs, as Van Gaal tries to find the right formula to get his first win as United boss.
United spent £151.3m on six players this summer, while jettisoning 12, in what amounted to the biggest overhaul in the club’s illustrious history.
Van Gaal has made an unconvincing start at United, taking two points from his first three Premier League games, as well as suffering a humiliating Capital One Cup exit to League One MK Dons.
That tough start came against the backdrop of a lengthy injury list, which saw Van Gaal without 11 players, as well as new signing Marcos Rojo being ineligible because of a lack of a work permit.
Fellow new signings Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw were also unavailable due to injury, which left the Dutchman short of key personnel as he looked to make a flying start as United boss.
But Van Gaal now has all six of his summer signings - Herrera, Shaw, Rojo, Angel Di Maria, Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao - fit and available for Sunday’s visit of QPR.
That leaves United’s boss with a major selection headache of how to accommodate all of his stellar summer arrivals, with an expectant Old Trafford demanding a return to form and a first win of the season.
Van Gaal is keen to play Falcao up front alongside Robin van Persie, with Wayne Rooney operating in a deeper-lying role just behind the front two, to provide greater influence on games.
That could mean Juan Mata, previously United's record buy at £37.5m before Di Maria’s £59.7m arrival this summer, becoming the fall-guy and losing his place.
Herrera could partner Blind in central midfield, with Di Maria and Shaw deployed as attacking wing-backs, as Van Gaal tries to find the right formula to get his first win as United boss.
Post a Comment