Craig Hope
Team (4-4-2): De Gea; Rafael, Jones, Rojo, Shaw; Januzaj, Carrick, Blind, Di Maria; Van Persie, Falcao.
Justification: “Forget three at the back, it’s had its summer of love, it would be a winter of depression if Van Gaal persisted with it. And forget Rooney, he’s become a problem for club and country, an angry man who knows his powers are – pardon the pun – on the wane. The back four picks itself but the two who miss out in midfield are Herrera and Mata. Herrera looks a class act, admittedly, but Carrick will be more like the player of two seasons ago with the likes of Di Maria and Falcao to feed off his cunning creativity. Blind provides a little bit more know-how in the middle of the park and that allows Januzaj and Di Maria to terrorise down the flanks. Van Persie and Falcao could be devastating as a pair, don’t complicate it by trying to accommodate Rooney. Carrick gets the armband.”
Nick Harris
Team (4-1-3-2): De Gea; Rafael, Jones, Rojo, Shaw; Carrick; Di Maria, Rooney, Blind; Van Persie, Falcao.
Justification: “This emphasises Van Gaal’s riches from midfield up and dearth of options in defence. You’d ideally want a better right-back and another better, more consistent centre-half, at least one. As it is, a shield is crucial, Carrick in this case with the huge proviso he’s at his peak. Rooney would have license to roam in the central role of the three. Other choices there abound – Fletcher, Mata and Herrera foremost among them.”