Shanghai Shenhua vs. Manchester United: Predicting a Starting XI

In what will be the third friendly appointment of the Red Devils’ 2012-13 preseason tour, Manchester United will be tested by a big-spending Shanghai Shenhua on Wednesday.

The game, which kicks off at 8 p.m. EST, will be a test of the English club’s mettle and a challenge to their so far untarnished record in preparation for the new campaign.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s outfit started their travels of South Africa in good fashion, seeing out a 1-0 win over AmaZulu thanks to a first-half strike courtesy of Dimitar Berbatov.

Ajax Cape Town presented a tougher trial, and while the two parties shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, there were positives for a youthful United side to take from the game.

Shanghai Shenhua come into this fixture with just one loss in their last five fixtures, and a Sunday draw at Guangzhou R&F puts the team in good stead for Wednesday’s match.

Didier Drogba is likely to lead the line for the Chinese club in a matchup that he is no stranger to, having played against Manchester United on numerous occasions during his Premier League tenure.

Preseason friendlies are the ideal opportunity for experimentation and, as such, team lineups can be somewhat difficult to predict.

That being said, there are those on the DHL tour, senior or otherwise, who look likely to feature in a large portion of the team’s matches before the new season starts.

So, without further need for stalling, here is a starting XI that we might see face up to the task in Shanghai.

Goalkeeper: Anders Lindegaard

Having each played one match apiece on the DHL Tour so far, both Anders Lindegaard and Ben Amos have rights to claim the starting berth on Wednesday, having performed admirably in their respective games.

However, as it was Amos’ turn between the sticks on Saturday, it’s the former, Lindegaard, who will likely get the nod to return to the No.1 spot.

The Danish international can still boast a clean sheet to his name on United’s travels and while neither AmaZulu nor Ajax Cape Town were very daunting opponents, Shanghai Shenhua should, on paper, be a step up.

Lindegaard was frantically on the heels of David de Gea last season in the search for United’s starting spot, and while he was a much more economical signing, the 28-year-old has proven that he may be up to the Premier League standard.

With the likes of Drogba to contain, Sir Alex Ferguson will undoubtedly play it safe by handing Lindegaard his second start of the tour.

Right-Back: Marnick Vermijl

After bagging himself an assist against Ajax Cape Town, Marnick Vermijl will likely be rewarded with another start on Wednesday.

The Belgian youngster proved in South Africa that he is very capable when going forward but may need to beef up his defensive qualities if he is to stand the test in Shanghai.

Vermijl is one of those taking his first steps in senior shoes on the DHL tour, and if Frederic Veseli doesn’t get another chance on the right side of defence, 20-year-old Vermijl will.

Left-Back: Robbie Brady

A left midfielder by nature, Sir Alex Ferguson seems eager to give the Republic of Ireland Under-21 his chance in a more defensive role ahead of the new season.

Brady spent last season on loan at Hull City and proved that he is more than capable of grabbing an assist or two thanks to a killer left foot.

However, with Patrice Evra’s form showing signs of decline, Ferguson is considering his full-back options this summer, and rather than spend an estimated £14m on a player like Leighton Baines, the Scotsman may already have the necessary tools amongst his ranks.

Tyler Blackett has also popped up as a future Evra successor on tour so far, but rather than let Brady migrate to the defensive position later on in the match, Ferguson may give the Irishman his chance from the first whistle in order to get a better look.

Centre-Back: Rio Ferdinand

When Manchester United announced their tour squad, some punters criticised the club for sending out so many youth players instead of giving a lot of fans the present superstar they were hoping to see.

One figure those doubters can’t complain about is Rio Ferdinand, who brings a very much needed calmness to an otherwise inexperienced batch of starlets.

Despite his age, the 33-year-old has featured in every minute of the DHL tour thus far, and while a rest wouldn’t go astray, the Red Devils would likely draw some unsavoury gazes from aforementioned critics if one of the few “superstar names” wasn’t to feature from the off.

As the only senior defender amongst the team, captain Ferdinand will face a tough test in marshalling his fresh-faced backline but the youngsters couldn’t hope for a better helping hand in what is some of their first starting minutes for the club.

Centre-Back: Scott Wootton

Another piece of the Manchester United youth puzzle, Wootton has displayed some major potential on the Red Devils’ travels so far, forming a consistent link with centre-back partner Rio Ferdinand.

Although the likes of Veseli would have the starting spot at central defence instead of the Englishman, Wootton has stamped his name on the position so far on this tour and is likely to ward any of his young peers away.

Having played the latter half of the 2011-12 campaign on loan at Nottingham Forest, Wootton is making all the right strides towards first-team football, and given the lingering injuries of Nemanja Vidic, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans, he may get a fine chance at the start of this season.

A long-term servant of the Manchester United academy, Wootton’s patience appears to be paying off this summer, and the youngster’s pre-season contributions are far from over.

Right Midfield: Antonio Valencia

Having missed out on any playing time against AmaZulu, Antonio Valencia made efficient use of what minutes he did have against Ajax Cape Town to show exactly why he was voted Manchester United’s Player of the Season in 2011-12.

The Ecuadorian international was responsible for a great deal of any attacking threat United did manage to conjure on Saturday.

As the only fixture against Asian opposition on the DHL Tour, Ferguson is likely to field a stronger starting team in Shanghai in a bid to appease those excited onlookers.

That being said, if Valencia does snatch the starting spot, he will likely be taken off at some point, as he was in South Africa, in order to preserve fitness.

Ferguson's alternatives at right midfield would include the likes of Federico Macheda and Bébé, but it’s the South American who will likely claim the honour as the Red Devils seek to continue their unbeaten run.

Left Midfield: Nick Powell

Upon his £4 million summer arrival from Crewe Alexandra, it looked uncertain whether Ferguson intended to use Nick Powell for first-team matters or if he would be farmed out on loan somewhere.

However, the seasoned manager certainly seems adamant on involving the 18-year-old with the best that he’s got and may hand the former League Two starlet his first senior start for his new club on Wednesday.

Powell came on for his first Manchester United minutes against Ajax Cape Town, and with little time to impress, the Englishman still managed to show just what it was that sparked interest from the Premier League elite and was unlucky not to score late on.

Primarily a striker, Powell is unlucky to get the chance to lead the line much and could instead be used in a wider role if he is get more playing time.

With Robbie Brady getting more of a shot in defence, a space would open up for Powell to slot into a midfield role.

Centre Midfield: Michael Carrick

The man that Sir Alex Ferguson has branded as “the key to Manchester United’s 2012-13 season” (via Guardian), Michael Carrick will likely get his third consecutive start of the tour in Shanghai.

The 30-year-old who nominated himself as unavailable for Euro 2012 duty wasn’t fantastic in either of the previous two games, but then a lot of his work goes unnoticed.

Operating in a more defensive role when playing alongside Paul Scholes, the pair have drawn some criticism for being unable to function simultaneously while producing any particular attacking flair.

Regardless, the consistency of Carrick is one that is likely to be called upon once more this week as the Englishman provides a safety blanket for the inexperienced defence lying behind him.

Centre Midfield: Anderson

Another player, like Carrick, with a lot resting on his shoulders this season, Anderson could provide Paul Scholes with a needed rest after the Ginger Magician featured prominently in United’s first two friendlies.

Against Ajax, where Anderson got his first start of the tour, the Brazilian was utilised in a left-sided role but proved largely ineffective and will certainly be eager to return to his more familiar central roots.

Having struggled massively with injury in recent seasons, Anderson’s Old Trafford future could be on the line if the 2012-13 season doesn’t see the 24-year-old produce the goods.

As such, it’s paramount for the anchorman that he has a decent build-up to the new season and will undoubtedly be begging Ferguson for as many starting chances as possible.

With Carrick next to him, it’s possible that the Brazilian will take the more offensive reins, although the two definitely have the means to alternate attacking honours.

Attacking Midfield: Shinji Kagawa

Perhaps the most prominent name heading into the Chinese fixture, the player whom many dubbed as “the successor to Park Ji-Sung” needs game time as much as anyone in the Manchester United squad.

That reference of course refers to the club’s alleged tactics of buying another Asian player to market merchandise in the Eastern continent with Park’s departure, then imminent.

Regardless of such distractions, Kagawa has already shown glimpses of the Borussia Dortmund form that made him such a highly sought-after star, and these early weeks of his Red Devil career are merely a case of “practice makes perfect.”

The Japanese international only got 13 minutes to display his skill against AmaZulu but was handed a first start for the club against Ajax Cape Town.

Kagawa still shows signs of synchronisation issues as he grafts into a new squad but, if anything, looked a step ahead of some teammates at times—a dilemma that Sir Alex Ferguson won’t be overly upset at having on his plate. 

Striker: Javier Hernandez

While the Mexican found it difficult to lead the attacking line on his own against Ajax Cape Town, Javier Hernandez is the most likely candidate to take the starting spot once more against Shanghai Shenhua.

A step up in competition means that if the Premier League representatives were to start with one striker, it’s unlikely to be Bébé or Federico Macheda, and it’s anyone’s guess as to how much time on the pitch Dimitar Berbatov will get.

The Red Devils’ second fixture in South Africa showed great signs of inefficiency, and while Shinji Kagawa was also responsible, a number of opportunities fell to Chicharito only to miss the target.

With Kagawa’s arrival in attacking midfield, the use of a sole striker is likely to become a more common sight for United, and Hernandez will be eager to prove his case on Wednesday.