How Will Man Utd Line-Up With Falcao + Blind? Two Possible Formations For LvG

Manchester United were busy once again on transfer deadline day wrapping up the double signing of striker Radamel Falcao and utility player Daley Blind.

Falcao is renowned as one of the best strikers in the game and the Colombian completed a sensational season-long loan move to Old Trafford in the early hours of Tuesday morning after United were granted an extension by the FA to finalise all the paperwork.

Blind was strongly linked with a move to United all summer and the Dutch international finally sealed a £14m move from Ajax on Monday afternoon with the 24-year-old signing a four-year deal.

The double signing concluded what was a record summer of spending by United that saw them bring in six big-money signings as Louis van Gaal completely re-shaped the squad he was left by former boss David Moyes.

The big question now is how the Dutchman is going to integrate his new signings in to the line-up, and here I take a look at two possible formations he could adopt.

3-4-1-2

So far this season van Gaal has been playing with three at the back and to be honest, it hasn’t worked. However, fans will be quick to point out that the  likes of Rojo and Shaw are yet to feature for the club so once all the players are fit and available, van Gaal’s tried and tested formation could begin to pay dividends.

Blind made his name as a left-back and is capable of playing in central defence as well, but he’s expected to play as a defensive midfielder as that’s where he excelled for Ajax last season – being named as the Dutch Player of the Year for 2013/14.

In this formation, there wouldn’t be room for Juan Mata or Robin van Persie, but let’s face it, van Gaal is going to struggle to include all of his attacking options now so someone’s got to miss out.

4-1-2-1-2

With the players he has available to him, there is a strong argument that van Gaal should revert back to a flat back four and adopt a diamond in midfield that would see Blind in the holding role, Herrera and Di Maria in midfield and Rooney in the ‘hole’ behind a front two of Falcao and Van Persie.

This would allow van Gaal to include one more of his attacking talents, and another option could see Rooney play up front instead of RVP with Mata coming in behind the front two. Some may say it’s too open and attacking, so perhaps this line-up should only be used at home games!

It’s certainly going to be interesting to see how van Gaal lines-up for United’s next game against Queens Park Rangers at Old Trafford, but these are just possible formations I’ve come up with.

How do you think United will line-up this season? Share your suggestions below….