Predicted XI | MUFC vs. Aston Villa (14/8/2015)

GOAL | Sergio Romero

So the De Gea situation now appears to be heading in one direction - south. About 1,281 miles south to be precise. Yes indeed, that is the exact distance from Old Trafford to De Gea's new home in waiting, the Santiago Bernabeu.



As with last week, the manager has said that Romero will play ahead of De Gea who is still 'not eager to play' for United and so will not be considered again for selection until the transfer window shuts at the end of the month.



Frankly I'm getting pretty sick of this now. By the sounds of things we are not happy with the offers that have come from Real's camp, so instead of dragging this out for the whole summer why has the resolution not been for him to stay for one more season by which time he can go for free next summer - keeping United happy that we'll have our best player for one more season, Real happy that they get their man for nothing, and De Gea happy because he get's his move? Seeing as we are now well into the season and we're having to deal with the unnecessary distraction caused by a moody goalkeeper and a stubborn manager, it's fair to say the whole thing has been handled abysmally by all parties.

DEFENSE | Matteo Darmian, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind, Luke Shaw

There is currently no news on the state of Marcos Rojo, who presumably is still being rested after his football-heavy summer. So the defence of Darmian (who was superb in his United debut last weekend vs. Tottenham) and Shaw, with Smalling and Blind in the centre, looks to be our back four for the foreseeable future...until a new world-class centre-back is signed!

MIDFIELD | Michael Carrick, Morgan Schneiderlin, Ander Herrera

Young started in midfield in last week's season opener, with Depay being used in the front three. Herrera however showed signs of urgency and creativity that our game desperately needed an injection of, so I would go for him on the left with Carrick in the DM role and Schneiderlin on the right. I predict Schweinsteiger, who is approaching full-fitness, to play a bit part again.

ATTACK | Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, Memphis Depay

Similar with our situation in defence, our attacking options are rather limited at the moment...making the supposed arrival of Pedro from Barcelona so essential. Thankfully the front three of Mata, Rooney and Depay are all fit so there are currently no issues . A little bit more creativity this evening - especially from Mata and Depay - would be necessary though if we're to build on last week's win and score a goal by someone other than "o.g".