What Formation Should We Play?

[Rustin Cohle]

So there's a lot of talk about the team's shape recently, and I wondered what the consensus was. This isn't suggesting that we should only use one formation - you could think for example that the 4-2-3-1 works in most games, but the 4-3-3 would be better vs. teams that play a high press, which is why I've allowed people to pick two answers.

Here are some mock-ups of what the team could look like with each formation (I'm picking what I think could be a good team in each shape - and also put a few different players in where more than one player can fulfil the role, so imagine whoever you think is best in there - not necessarily what Jose thinks):

4-2-3-1:

Ibra
Martial - Mata - Mkhi
Pogba - Herrera
Shaw - Blind - Bailly - Valencia
DDG

4-3-3:

Martial - Ibra - Rashford
Pogba - Carrick - Herrera
Shaw - Smalling - Bailly - Valencia
DDG

4-4-2 (Diamond):

Ibra - Martial
Mata
Pogba - Herrera
Blind
Shaw - Smalling - Bailly - Valencia
DDG

4-4-2 (Flat):

Ibra - Rashford
Martial - Pogba - Schneiderlin - Mkhi
Shaw - Blind - Bailly - Darmian
DDG

3-5-2:

Ibra - Rashford
Pogba - Carrick - Schneiderlin
Shaw ------------------------ Valencia
Smalling - Blind - Bailly
DDG

3-4-3:

Martial - Ibra - Mata
Pogba - Herrera
Shaw ------------------------ Valencia
Smalling - Blind - Bailly
DDG

[Rustin Cohle]

I personally think that, for this season, a diamond suits our squad best and should be used where possible, whilst a 4-3-3 should be employed for games where we need width and/or defensive solidity.

[Deleted]

Oct 24, 2016 10:43:50 GMT Rustin Cohle said:

I personally think that, for this season, a diamond suits our squad best and should be used where possible, whilst a 4-3-3 should be employed for games where we need width and/or defensive solidity.

I'm not convinced the diamond is an actual formation.

[Deleted]

The 442 looks logical. Can't see an issue with it

[redcase]

Oct 24, 2016 10:54:38 GMT @ausred88 said:

Oct 24, 2016 10:43:50 GMT Rustin Cohle said:

I personally think that, for this season, a diamond suits our squad best and should be used where possible, whilst a 4-3-3 should be employed for games where we need width and/or defensive solidity.

I'm not convinced the diamond is an actual formation.

Same.

[redcase]

Oct 24, 2016 10:56:14 GMT @ausred88 said:

The 442 looks logical. Can't see an issue with it

Not with the players we've got .

The 2 midfielders in there need to be ultra dynamic, not Fellaini or Carrick . If either of these two start, we will be run over in midfield.

[Rustin Cohle]

Oct 24, 2016 10:54:38 GMT @ausred88 said:

Oct 24, 2016 10:43:50 GMT Rustin Cohle said:

I personally think that, for this season, a diamond suits our squad best and should be used where possible, whilst a 4-3-3 should be employed for games where we need width and/or defensive solidity.

I'm not convinced the diamond is an actual formation.

I consider it's central focus at the expense of wingers, combined with only two centre-backs, to make it distinct enough to warrant it's own spot. It's certainly very different from the other 4-4-2 listed.

[Deleted]

Any one without Shitcunt and Tree is a winner.

Also, why is De Gea upfront in all your possible line-ups? And we can't have more than one keeper 

[mightyez]

rashford needs to be a striker, not a winger and not an inside forward or a number 10, Jose needs to cut that experiment out fast please.
433 all the way for me, pay 90 million, play to the strengths of the player.

[Deleted]

I would like us to play a winning formation.

[Rorschach]

I'm not sure the formation is the biggest issue at the moment. It's more an attitude, professionalism and leadership issue infesting the first-team. As far as I'm concerned anyway. However if I was to pick an ideal line-up it would be this;

De Gea

Valencia Bailly Smalling Shaw

Herrera Schneiderlin Pogba

Mata Rashford Martial

[Stew]

Oct 24, 2016 11:24:29 GMT Rorschach said:

I'm not sure the formation is the biggest issue at the moment. It's more an attitude, professionalism and leadership issue infesting the first-team. As far as I'm concerned anyway. However if I was to pick an ideal line-up it would be this;

De Gea

Valencia Bailly Smalling Shaw

Herrera Schneiderlin Pogba

Mata Rashford Martial

That team, depending on form and fitness of say Mata, Morgan, is clearly the one we need to play. We're not quite at the level of Van Gaal buying one of the best wingers in the world and playing him as a deep-lying CM play-maker but I honestly don't know what the fuck Jose and Utd were thinking shelling out all that cash for Pogba and not deploying him properly.

[Rustin Cohle]

Oct 24, 2016 11:36:58 GMT Stew said:

Oct 24, 2016 11:24:29 GMT Rorschach said:

I'm not sure the formation is the biggest issue at the moment. It's more an attitude, professionalism and leadership issue infesting the first-team. As far as I'm concerned anyway. However if I was to pick an ideal line-up it would be this;

De Gea

Valencia Bailly Smalling Shaw

Herrera Schneiderlin Pogba

Mata Rashford Martial

That team, depending on form and fitness of say Mata, Morgan, is clearly the one we need to play. We're not quite at the level of Van Gaal buying one of the best wingers in the world and playing him as a deep-lying CM play-maker but I honestly don't know what the fuck Jose and Utd were thinking shelling out all that cash for Pogba and not deploying him properly.

I'd definitely add Mkhi to the form list too.

Di Maria's spell here feels like a weird dream now.

[Stew]

Yeah, let Mikki in if he plays well, Mata struggles etc. But play Rashford as a bloody striker.

[Deleted]

I said I'd like to try out the diamond but a close 2nd is the 4-3-3 and I agree with above about the lineup. People don't like Mata on the right but I'd argue some if his best performances for us have come from that position.