Vranny

Agree with most of what's being said previously (i.e. similar squad size but better managed by Martinez). One thing that I don't think's been mentioned though is how much more dangerous our bench looks these days. Moyes' seemingly anti-winger mindset has well and truly been blown out of the water by Martinez and long may it continue!

POTS: McCarthy, Barry, Howard YPOTS: Lukaku, Barkley, Stones GOTS: Ross v Newcastle - There were certainly no shortage of options though.

Wow. Inter are absolute idiots if they let this happen, especially after letting Coutinho go for buttons last season. Any team that grabs him will be getting an absolute bargain at that price.

Barkley hasn't been consistent enough in recent times to warrant a starting position, though I'll admit neither has Wilshere as it stands. I'd prefer to see Lallana used as a creative mid over Barkley due to his more consistent performances and I think Delph (or Henderson) could provide a little more grit in the middle than Ross basically. I'd definitely be looking to utilise him off the bench though as a game changer and fresh pair of legs in midfield.

Kone had similar numbers goal scoring wise during his spell in La Liga with Levante as Bacca as had with Sevilla this season and the Colombian isn't exactly much younger than our own Ivorian. I'd rather we give Arouna a bit of a chance next season (if he can stay off the treatment table ) and look for a younger forward with a bit of untapped potential to provide competition for our main striker position.

The chance to nab him was at the end of last season when his last contract was running on fumes. I think it'll take a massive bid and wage hike for him to leave Soton now.

I think Lallana has to be a starter given his form this season. I'd go with the same back 5 as most people have chosen (Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Baines), but have some different ideas for midfielders depending on the shape of the team. Standard 4-4-2: Sterling/Oxlade---Gerrard---Delph/Wilshere---Lallana -----------------Sturridge-----------Rooney----------------- 4-3-3: ----------------------------Gerrard---------------------------- ------------------Lallana-----------Delph/Wilshere--------- Sturridge-----------------Rooney-----------------Sterling Diamond 4-4-2: ----------------------------Gerrard---------------------------- --------------Henderson-----------Delph/Wilshere-------- ----------------------------Lallana---------------------------- -----------------Sturridge-----------Rooney----------------- Personally like the last two formations the best. The diamond could be used for a more balanced, possession based game, while the 4-3-3 looks like a good counter-attacking strategy.

Everton 1 - 1 Arsenal Naismith

Fulham 1 - 3 Everton Mirallas

Went with Deul as well. Thought Stones, Osman and McCarthy were the other stars.

Woeful article. Basically his main complaint is that our loan signings have actually been effective on the night. It's a bit like saying ban transfers because Everton always seem to get a quality side on the cheap. Makes it even worse when their most influential player in Remy is on loan for QPR ffs.

Ossie! I forget how much I love the guy sometimes.

Baines almost doing the splits there trying to stop the shot too

Playing a clear 4-3-3 at the moment with Barkley as the centre forward. It'll be interesting to see how this set up goes. Correction: Barkley's just shifted to the left of the 3 now.

Finally some end product from Deul

Wouldn't mind something similar I'm finding nothing but shite.

Sure, these players may not be the biggest, but you're kidding yourself if you think they haven't got pretty good to excellent amounts of strength when it comes to holding off challenges. It's not much use being able to shimmy and burst past players if you can't hold off a secondary challenge or don't have the strength to work in congested areas of the pitch (at least in the prem). I really hope he makes the grade though. I'd be great if he could get another chance on loan before the season's out to bag himself a few goals and really give himself something to build on heading into next season.

Really made up that the kid is doing brilliantly, but am I the only one that feels like he could be a victim of the death of 4-4-2 footfall? I feel like he'd do brilliantly next a big striker, but hasn't quite the physical presence to play up top on his own.

I've just been doing a little research on how he's been going in the Championship and found out that he won three man of the match awards in a row for his performances with Yeovil recently. Also I don't know how good whoscored.com's player rating system is, but he has the highest value per game out of those in the Championship this season. Sounds like there could be hope for him yet at Everton.

Everton 2 - 1 Palace Naismith

I personally think that at the very least the Europa League would serve as a good way of getting some game time into our promising younger players (eg.: McAleny, Lundstram, Duffy), as well as for the likes of Oviedo, Gibson and Kone to help return to full fitness before being thrown back into the Premier League next season. Obviously if Martinez sees fit to give the comp a really go if we can qualify for it next season, than that could be great too.

Although I don't news anchors should be encouraging such activities, some people would be better served using their own noggins first

We loaned him to Vitesse for the season. He's hardly got a look in though which is quite concerning (I'm not sure if injuries are playing a part though). I get the feeling we'll flog him of to the highest bidder come summer.

As a few have mentioned I find it hard to believe that he won't "fit" at United. This transfer's got a similar feel to the Ozil to Arsenal deal in the summer. Rather than sensing a particular need for the team, Man U have just snapped up Mata for the sake of adding a world class player to their squad. It doesn't matter where he plays, or who plays with him in the XI, they'll find a spot for him some where. Also provides the players and fans with a moral boost, which might prove invaluable. On the topic of where he might play I think he'll slot into his favoured no. 10 position when it suits United (i.e. Rooney or RVP out, or against "bigger sides"). Otherwise he could play a role similar to Silva at City, named as a wide man, but constantly switching sides and drifting into the centre of the pitch. I think people have forgotten that he played the majority of his first season at Chelsea out wide and still won their player of the year, so it's certainly not an unfamiliar position to him.

As a few have mentioned I find it hard to believe that he won't "fit" at United. This transfer's got a similar feel to the Ozil to Arsenal deal in the summer. Rather than sensing a particular need for the team, Man U have just snapped up Mata for the sake of adding a world class player to the team.