Carrick, Jones, Herrera & Blind Could Start For United Against WBA
When Manchester United’s new manager Louis van Gaal resumed at Old Trafford, the first issue he had to face was the injury worries. In fact it got to a stage that he blurted out that in his long career, never has he had to face a situation such as this. Apart from the fact that the team has lost the services of 3 senior defenders in Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, other players also fell to various injury strains at one point in time or the other, and it was just the amiable tactical nous of van Gaal that sustained the rickety squad. The Dutch boss also had to give 3 players their debuts and was rewarded with a couple of fine performances sandwiched in some not so inspiring ones.
However, the manager can now calm his nerves and re-strategize with the array of stars that are now available to him. It is no longer news that Michael Carrick, Phil Jones and according to some reports, Ander Herrera are now up for duty. This development couldn’t have come at a better time seeing as the Red Devil’s will be facing the stings of league leaders Chelsea and then Manchester City just as soon as they return back from the Hawthorns.
Many fans will want to see what kind of result that the partnership between Daley Blind and Michael Carrick will yield. The former Ajax man has been churning out brilliant performances along with Ander Herrera in the midfield before the later fell to his second injury since he arrived at Old Trafford and Carrick hasn’t featured at all for the Red Devils this season, after he sustained an injury in July while preparing for the squads pre-season tour of the United States.
Even with the fact that Herrera might start training soon, it is still unlikely that the Spaniard will make the team against West Brom as Louis van Gaal is known for bidding his time with players who have just returned to training if you remember the van Persie saga earlier this season, but he will surely be available for the 2 serious clashes coming up.
Whichever way you want to see it, Louis van Gaal has been able to propel his side from the sorry state of last season to a top four position presently, and even if there were some strokes of luck involved, the Dutchman deserves some credit. Now that his options have been improved, with a defence combination of either Rojo and Evans, Carrick and Blind in the midfield, Di Maria and Janauzaj on the flanks and Falcao and van Persie upfront in a 4-4-2 formation, the best is surely yet to come for Manchester United.