Angel di Maria has become Manchester United’s and Britain’s most expensive player after signing for the Reds for just under 60 million pounds.
Di Maria is undoubtedly a fine player of huge pedigree and talent. Some may suggest that the transfer fee does not offer value, but in the context of Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale it’s arguable that he’s worth it. You could also argue that he makes Cesc Fabregas, at 30 million pounds, look rather cheap.
But given United’s absence from the Champions League and their poor start to the season, could they have afforded not to buy him?
Real Madrid may feel they have traded up with the acquisition earlier this summer of James Rodriguez and the bargain acquisition of Toni Kroos, but Di Maria’s stats at Real show they are losing a player of sublime quality and influence.
For the second year in a row, Real are selling their number one assist provider. In that respect their loss is most certainly United’s gain, but the big question is how does he fit into the current United team?
Louis van Gaal has decreed that United will play 3-4-3 for the foreseeable future, with the acquisition of Di Maria’s international teammate Marcos Rojo presumably seen as aiding that purpose.
The 3-4-3, however, has been tweaked into a 3-4-1-2 to accommodate a front three of Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, who all crave to play centrally. Fitting Di Maria into that equation prompts several questions.
It is not entirely simple to bracket Di Maria as a player. He nominally looks best equipped as a wide attacking player with his rangy, mazy dribbling skills.
Steve McMananaman was a similar type of player for Madrid who adapted to a more central role. However, neither player would thrive in the deeper lying central midfield role which a 3-4-3 dictates.
That leaves Van Gaal with two further options for Di Maria. The first would be as a wing back, which would appear folly on two levels.
Di Maria does not look equipped for the defensive burden of that position and in turn that role would take away from the wonderful attacking intent that he possesses. He is an attacking provider and should be used as such.
The position most likely under scrutiny then must become that of Juan Mata if the three at the back system is to be persisted with (and it would prove quite a climbdown for Van Gaal to abandon it so quickly).
Di Maria offers a more energetic type of scheming to Mata with his greater athleticism. An advanced central position may work for Di Maria and offer more energy in attack for United.
The other option is to play a 3-4-3 with Di Maria in a wide role. This presumably means that one of Rooney, Van Persie and Mata have to be played out of position and one other left disappointed on the bench.
Rooney has looked keen to fit in with Van Gaal’s plans, and he would undoubtedly provide honest endeavour in a wider role, but it does not suit his talent best.
It also entirely marginalises Juan Mata, who it must be remembered was bought for north of 40 million pounds only eight months ago.
Having just despatched a cheque for 60 million pounds, Van Gaal will be expected to play Di Maria from the outset and with only league football until the FA Cup arrives in January there will be little desire or need for rotation.
Di Maria would be an excellent addition to any squad such is his quality but Van Gaal’s statement of playing three at the back means fitting him into the side effectively is tricky.
A 4-2-3-1 would accommodate both Mata and Di Maria but again would marginalise either RVP or Rooney. With Rooney being made captain and the need for RVP’s goals, Juan Mata is increasingly looking like the odd man out.
RVP’s fitness has been suspect for the majority of his career and with his advancing years Van Gaal may not see him as a long term bet. The prospect of Di Maria and Mata buzzing around behind an advanced Rooney possibly makes sense with a 3-4-3 formation.
Van Gaal is renowned for his tactical nous and adaptability. How Di Maria fits in will be fascinating, especially given the context of the players around him in the attacking positions and especially if everyone is fit.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
JB, all good points and cheers for the read. Trying to address the points in order. I think Chelsea selling Mata was due to a confluence of factors. Mourinho had signalled from the start of the season that Mata was not his first choice '10'. That place went to Oscar. The story being that Mata lacked the physical prowess to do the tracking back and pressing that Mourinho craves and demands. I think Chelsea are very aware of FFP and see it as very real (just ask City or PSG). The reality is Chelsea get 40,000 odd thousand a week and their match day revenues are way below that of say Arsenal. Couple that with guys like Torres on 175K a week and there is a need for pragmatism. A few years back I don't think there's any chance Abramovich would have sold Mata to United. And yes, I think adding those two up, the money was simply too good to refuse. The more I think about it, the more I think everyone is questioning the Di Maria signing whereas the real issue was the signing of Mata who did not fit into Moyes' system and looks the odd man out again here. I think the three at the back system is a bit of a funny one and like you say with the personnel they have. If you had Ferdinand, Vidic and say Neville (he'd have been mint on the right hand side of a back three) in their primes then absolutely, it could have worked but none of these guys have convinced and there is no guarantee that Rojo will fit in. I completely agree with you. For me, a back four will offer Van Gaal a better and more flexible platform to fit in the attack minded players.
j binnie
Guest
Steven - In all the speculation into what is regarded as Mata's "best" position has any contributor ever asked why Chelsea let him go to United. Was he in the "too hard" basket for the "Chosen one"?,Was he superfluous to requirements? Or was it simply that the money was too good to refuse.? The latter question I tend to ignore for I don't think Abramovic is motivated by simple things like trading players as a way to make profit. You use the word reactionary and I tend to agree for United's re-build has to start from the back where Vidic (32 apps last year) Ferdinand (21) and Evra (44) have all gone and it must be apparent to most that in the almost endless combinations tried by Moyes and now Van Gaal there has to be big question marks behind Jones(35 apps last year),Smalling (31) and Evans(25). Forget the pre-season friendlies and look at the 2 games played so far,goals are still "leaking" and if LVG's system is to work he needs 3 centre backs on which to build and none of those mentioned are available,or appear to be good enough.Surely the Sunderland game highlighted this flaw when 2 United discards of yesteryear totally outperformed their counterparts in the opposition.Sad but true. jb ps LVG's preferred system is best described as 3-5-2, not the 3-4-3 you mention which is actually very near to the rather "old fashioned" WM formation which ruled supreme in world football from 1925 through to 1945. Cheers jb
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Thanks Harry. I think both signings, Mata and Di Maria look a little bit reactionary to me. Both fine players for sure but Moyes signed Mata and used him out of position on the left where he was very ineffective. It just felt like United felt they had to sign someone and a big name if possible. Likewise Di Maria doesn't seem to naturally fit into Van Gaal's stated formation unless you play with two wide players which marginalises Mata and possibly Rooney. Mata of course was not Van Gaal's signing but I would have thought signing a player to compliment him (such as Fabregas who could have linked up well with him) would have made more sense. The system he has used in the league to date puts an emphasis on more naturally central players with only the wingbacks offering true width. Hence a Fabregas or a Sami Khedira to strengthen those central areas would have been excellent, but who's to say United are finished in the transfer market this window. I'm sure this weekend will give us some clues as to what LVG's plan is............
HarryBalding
Roar Guru
Really interesting ideas here mate. I can see why van Gaal wants di Maria, but the only way I can make sense of it is as you've suggested playing Mata out of position. I wouldn't be surprised if Mata was pushed out wide to the left, Rooney central behind the striker and di Maria on the right to cut in and shoot. It would work in FIFA. That's all I'm saying.