Picking a Manchester United Starting XI to Win the 2012-13 Champions League

Every Manchester United fan likes to play "God."

Or more to the point, every Manchester United fan likes to play "Sir Alex Ferguson."

Coming off the back of a trophy-less campaign, there has been no shortage of fantasy football aficionados giving their two cents this summer over how they believe the team should play.

And I am no different.

This one's a bit more specific though, for if last season's disastrous Champions League foray taught us anything, it's that the aging 4-4-2 formation just isn't going to cut it anymore.

Witnessing the United midfield overrun against lesser opposition, such as Basel and Benfica, made for painful viewing for Red Devils fans.

For United to reclaim European glory, a more continental 4-2-3-1 formation will need to be deployed, a structure that adds more variety and depth to the midfield.

Now to pick the players, starting with the attack; and let me first get one thing out of the way—Wayne Rooney is a striker, not a central midfielder.

Though he may believe he is having more of an effect on the game by dropping deep, he is at his best and contributes the most when he is spearheading the attack, scoring goals for fun as a consequence.

So unfortunately for Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez, it is Wayne Rooney who leads my United formation, doing what he does best—finding the back of the net.

Attacking Midfielders

Behind him, in the trequartista role, is new signing Shinji Kagawa, who is already beginning to look like a top quality player.

The Japanese International will not only be required to provide a significant creative spark, linking up with Rooney, but also to play with his back to goal, playing off the deeper-lying holding midfielders to maintain and control possession.

On the right flank is Antonio Valencia, who just gets the nod over Nani for his consistency, despite his increasingly noticeable lack of a left foot.

The left attacking-midfield role is given to a lad who is not yet a Manchester United player—Lucas Moura.

It is no secret that I believe that the Brazilian would be a fantastic signing, giving the Red Devils the X-factor they've missed since Cristiano Ronaldo left the club.

Unfortunately, Ashley Young does not yet possess the same capability of changing a game with one moment of skill or creativity, and is so resigned to the bench alongside Nani.

Holding Midfielders

Behind these three are Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick, although there should really be an asterisk next to Carrick's name, for if Tom Cleverley is fit, he has enough ability to retain a starting spot in this lineup.

Whether he can stay fit is another question.

Scholes sits slightly behind his holding-midfield counterpart, tasked with the role of dictating the flow of the game with his excellent vision and passing—a role in which he excels.

Carrick will be required to push forward more in support of the attack, something that he was starting to do quite a bit towards the end of last season.

Defence

The defence picks itself, with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic getting the nod for their experience, whilst Patrice Evra is chosen at left-back as I am not yet convinced that Everton's Leighton Baines will be signed this summer. Rafael retains his place at right-back.

Not pictured, but picked nonetheless, is Spaniard David de Gea, whose consistency impressed many (myself included) during the second half of last season, and will be required to make more gravity-defying saves throughout the competition.

And there you have it, a Manchester United starting XI to challenge Europe's best in the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League.

How long until the competition starts?