Manchester United starting XI: Radamel Falcao or Wayne Rooney? Our writers select the best team Louis van Gaal can put out

Injuries ignored - what's the best team United can start with following their summer spending spree?

Staff
Thursday 11 September 2014 14:01 BST
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Louis van Gaal, right, and Ryan Giggs after Manchester United’s 0-0 draw at Burnley on Saturday
Louis van Gaal, right, and Ryan Giggs after Manchester United’s 0-0 draw at Burnley on Saturday (Getty)

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The latest round of Premier League fixtures are the first since the close of the transfer window, meaning that while squads have swelled, managers must now narrow their focus to pick their best starting XIs.

Many new players are in line to make their debut this weekend - but who should come straight in and which players have done enough in the opening few games to warrant a run in the first team?

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has many questions to answer having signed (and got rid of) many players over the summer. Radamel Falcao, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Daley Blind now feature in the Dutchman's plans.

This weekend United take on QPR at Old Trafford where a better idea of how he plans to utilise his squad between now and January when it can next be altered will come clear.

In the meantime, we've asked The Independent's writers and editors to pick their Manchester United starting XI. Any current injury problems were ignored, meaning the teams below are the best possible starting XIs available to Van Gaal according to our experts...

Angel Di Maria
Angel Di Maria (Getty Images)

Glenn Moore - Football Editor

(3-4-1-2)

De Gea;

Jones, Evans, Rojo;

Di Maria, Herrera, Blind, Shaw;

Rooney;

Falcao, Van Persie

Marcos Rojo
Marcos Rojo (twitter.com/ManUtd)

Ian Herbert - Football correspondent

(4-1-3-2)

De Gea;

Rafael, Evans, Rojo, Shaw;

Carrick;

Di Maria, Rooney, Januzaj;

Falcao, Van Persie

Ander Herrera
Ander Herrera (Getty Images)

Jack Pitt-Brooke - Football writer

(4-3-3)

De Gea;

Jones, Rojo, Evans, Shaw;

Carrick, Herrera, Di Maria;

Rooney, Falcao, Van Persie

Simon Rice - Digital Editor

(4-1-3-2)

De Gea;

Rafael, Jones, Rojo, Shaw;

Blind;

Di Maria, Mata, Rooney;

Falcao, Van Persie

Radamel Falcao
Radamel Falcao (Getty Images)

Matt Gatward - Sports Editor

(3-5-2)

De Gea;

Rojo, Jones, Evans;

Rafael, Rooney, Fletcher, Di Maria, Shaw;

Van Persie, Falcao

Whose starting XI do you agree with? What formation should Van Gaal play? Let us know in the comments below...

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