4-4-2

[wiz4231]

Why?

It seems like after all the faffing around we did last year were going to do it all over again. We are again using player out of position for no reason what so ever that's not bringing anything to the team. Mata has been said to not be defensive enough playing as a #10, were Depay or Januzaj any better (playing as second strikers but effectively the same role)? Why cant we just set up proper from the get go. We should just continue were we left off, 4-3-3 with either the point facing forward or backward.

First half

Rooney
Depay............Mata.......... Young
Schneiderlin.....Carrick

Second half

Wilson
Lingard..........Pereira.........Januzaj
Bastian.......Herrera​

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I really don't know why. It's (striker) the position we're the weakest in yet 2 strikers.

 

[MDFC Manager]

It is surprising indeed.

For the first time in a long while, we have midfielders both in quality and quantity and we chose to play 442? Sadly, the clueless journalists won't query him about this

 

[NL Max]

Van Gaal's methods are complicated and can't be explained within days to the new signings, we don't have the complete team yet and van Gaal is giving everyone in the selection minutes. I think it looked kind of like a 4231 with a 10 which is what I expect we'll play, we just did it very simple today as it's only the first match. Van Gaal will shuffle around a whole lot more to test theories of him, but I think the formation will stay the ssame.

 

[Rezyuz]

Maybe hes just checking out how some people play upfront (januzaj/depay). it would have taken him 2/3 matches to give Rooney, Januzaj, Depay, Wilson playtime upfront if we played 433.

Besides we played a 4231 regardless of what he said.

 

[Sweet Square]

Let's wait until the start of the season before thinking this is something long term.

 

[Scorpy]

The players getting minutes was the goal here. The formations and the players' positions don't really mean much at this moment in time, especially with our squad not yet complete. Neither Blind is going to be a CB this season, nor do I expect Memphis to play centrally much this season. It was just a way to fit Memphis, Mata and Young into the same line up.

We need another right winger though. Mata is a good option on the right, but he's not always effective there.

I fully expect us to play in a 4-3-3 formation when the season starts. 4-2-3-1 could also be an option sometimes, especially when Herrera isn't available.

 

[Insanity]

We played a two striker formation but I am guessing it was done to try out Januzaj/Depay in the role and see if they can be options for the position.

Now that VG has got options for his two CM (which he called DM's) spots, I think our predominant formation will be 4231. Will be interesting to see in the next 3 games who in his mind are the options for that attacking midfield role.

 

[the hea]

I wouldn't look to much at the formations used and what positions the players are playing in for the first two games of the tour. Van Gaal said the first two games are only about getting everyone minutes on the pitch and he might only have used the formation he did because of this.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

I think it's hard to really see what formation we were going for because we didn't really move that well as a unit, but to me looked like a first attempt to play 4-2-3-1.

I hated it and thought we looked quite flat and not that dynamic all over the pitch.

It would be interesting to see how we got used to it though, and how Mata would do with a season behind the striker

 

[kps88]

Yeah looked more like a 4-2-3-1. I guess you could also say it was a 4-3-3- but with a number ten instead of the deep lying midfielder; something LVG has mentioned before when talking tactics.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

Judging by his comments after the game it seems he wanted to test our defensive shape more than anything which might be why he thought the pace of Memphis upfront would cause trouble in the break away. In LVGs defence the tour is the time to test things out and it's better to make mistakes now than in the season itself so I'm sure he knows what he's doing.

 

[Sereques]

But did we play 4-4-2 though? I thought it was only Rooney upfront.

 

[TrustInJanuzaj]

But did we play 4-4-2 though? I thought it was only Rooney upfront.

Memphis sort of played CF though on his shoulder

 

[Gambit]

Wayyyyy to much over analysing of the situation for a first friendly that sole purpose was to give everyone match time. Worry about it when we play against Spurs.

 

[Hoof the ball]

Looked to me like he played with two up front purely as an experiment to accommodate Januzaj and Depay, respectively, in each half, to see how they would do in a central forward position, in order to determine whether purchasing a forward would be needed or not. Stands to reason that if both can play generally well there, it's a good thing.

 

[settembrini]

Just be grateful it wasn't 5-3-2.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

Is formation really important in an opening pre-season game where the intention is to get 22 players a run out?

 

[Moby]

Sweating over a glorified training session.

 

[ThanksBoss26]

Is formation really important in an opening pre-season game where the intention is to get 22 players a run out?

Not for me particularly.

 

[Crashoutcassius]

Is formation really important in an opening pre-season game where the intention is to get 22 players a run out?

in fairness we played 3-5-2 all last pre season and ent into the season playing it, and LVG even had the reserve team playing the formation so all of them would be ready. If we play 4-4-2 for the rest of pre season it will indicate that that's how we'll start the season

 

[Summit]

I think it was more of a case of selecting the right balance for two teams, as he wanted all players to get a run out. The main priority for now is match fitness I suppose and once we get closer to the PL I'm sure we'll start to see our most likely formation.

 

[Adam-Utd]

It was a 45 minute run out, I expect the more tactical plans to come in the last 2 games. Perhaps he felt 442 was the only way to comfortably field 2 teams in positions they are all comfortable with.

 

[Borys]

It was a handicap, we would’ve trashed them if we played 4-3-3. Also, Depay behind striker is probably the worst idea as we could play Mata, Januzaj or even Pereira there, all of them fit this role better than Memphis.

 

[#07]

It was a 45 minute run out, I expect the more tactical plans to come in the last 2 games. Perhaps he felt 442 was the only way to comfortably field 2 teams in positions they are all comfortable with.

This is how I saw it

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Just watched the game. To be fair, it did look like a 442, but in a interview I read, Van Gaal likes his 10's to stay close to the striker, where the can find space in between the lines, as opposed to dropping deep.

If you look at Memphis today, there was numerous times where he found space in behind Club America's midfield. This is when, as a team, we became dangerous, and were able to create more chances.

 

[shamans]

It's just giving the players some time and seeing if they can play in different positions.

It's just a friendly. If we don't experiment now then where should we?

 

[walsh]

Freaking out about the formation from our first friendly of the season? Dear me. I wonder how van Gaal will cope when he can't make 11 substitutions at half time!?

 

[Borys]

Freaking out about the formation from our first friendly of the season? Dear me. I wonder how van Gaal will cope when he can't make 11 substitutions at half time!?

 

[TheRedDevil'sAdvocate]

Just watched the game. To be fair, it did look like a 442, but in a interview I read, Van Gaal likes his 10's to stay close to the striker, where the can find space in between the lines, as opposed to dropping deep.

If you look at Memphis today, there was numerous times where he found space in behind Club America's midfield. This is when, as a team, we became dangerous, and were able to create more chances.

You're right, but there's one little detail. Whenever he sets up his teams to play 4-2-3-1, he usually picks a player who can create pockets of space and numerical advantages for himself and his teammates and spot the right time to attempt a late run in the box instead of a player like Mephis or Januzaj whose first though, when they get on the ball, is to take on a defender. Litamanen and Muller flourished in that role under LvG but they are completely different players compared to Memphis or Januzaj. That's why it looked more like a flat 4-4-2 than a 4-2-3-1.

But as others have already mentioned, it was just the first friendly of the pre-season and we shouldn't jump into conclusions just yet.

 

[LilRicky]

It looked more like a 4-4-1-1 to me, Depay playing in "the hole".

Our attacking shape was mixed up a bit, Young switched from Left to right with Mata, Depay was given a free role it seemed.

I'm not sure why the OP is getting so upset about the formation anyway, its only a friendly and that is exactly what friendly games are for. To try different formations / tactics and see how players adapt to different roles.

 

[Will Singh]

MUTV lined us up as 4-4-2 but watching it it looked more 4-2-3-1.

 

[RedStarUnited]

MUTV lined us up as 4-4-2 but watching it it looked more 4-2-3-1.

I was about to say that. 2 DM's 3 AM's and a ST.

 

[Paul the Wolf]

The match I watched we didn't play 442, was there another match???????????????????

 

[Jev]

These early games are just a matter of giving game time to the players who need it the most. I don't think we should read too much into tactics and selections.

 

[wiz4231]

Freaking out about the formation from our first friendly of the season? Dear me. I wonder how van Gaal will cope when he can't make 11 substitutions at half time!?

My point is, why didn't we field the players in their preferred positions, its was possible to do so as the examples shown, same players but in positions they would naturally play better in. LVG does talk about balance doesn't he? Its missing in the attack

 

[Sam]

So, is this 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 the plan for the season do we think?

I was certain we'd be switching to LVG's 4-3-3 this year.

 

[Dante]

I never put much stock in preseason during the Fergie years, but with LvG I think it's slightly different. He used last season to bed in the 3-5-2, so it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility that he's attempting to do the same with the 4-2-3-1 right now. Also, his claim that there's a surprise, non-striker signing on the way makes me think that we're going for a #10 to take the place that Depay is currently getting shoehorned into. I know I'm adding 2 and 2 here, but I think that's the direction he's going.

4-3-3 is a formation you play when you have specialist midfielders who are only good at defending or attacking or popping up in the box. 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 is what you play when you have at least 2 box-to-box midfielders. We've currently got 4 b2b players.

Playing with a strong central 2 would be a good way to give some freedom to all of the luxury players we have in the wide positions, as well as a solid base for any incoming #10 we may buy.

 

[Chaky_Best]

I'm not confident in this 4-4-1-1

The striker is really lonely when the number 10 is not a perfect one, somebody linking the two lines, defending like a real midfielder and supporting the striker, this guy should be fast and technic enough to be the real playmaker, and don’t think that we have him.

The two lines are too flat and too predictable; Few spaces between the line making it easier for us to pass the ball, but also easier to read. It’s an one dimension football where the winger are on the exact same line as the midfielders and giving us a good pitch occupation, but no penetration at all as we play too deep in this system with few players between their lines.

I just think that LVG will try to play 4-4-2, or 4-2-3-1, in order to accommodate Carrick, Schneiderlin and Schweinie during the season, and also finding a place for Depay behind Rooney, whilst keeping his beloved Young on a wing. And I think that he will be wrong to do if.

But LVG has to make choices, and I really think that we should play in a 4-1-4-1, or 4-3-3 this year now we have a great midfield which is our strength, so I would say, play as many midfielders as possible.

Other thing, I’m not sure Carrick is good enough to play with a partner in a classic 4-4-1-1 where he has to cover a lot of ground. He was cooler, and better when he played just in front of the defense last year, it was like listening piano: D as Schneiderlin who like going forward can be the number 8, with Herrera the number 10

I would like to see this 4-1-4-1 and having the players at their natural position.

 

[Sam]

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After saying in the press conference that tomorrows team has a good chance of being the team that starts vs Spurs.

I just don't get this sudden decision to settle on the 4-4-2. We finally have the players to play his favourite 4-3-3, and yet he doesn't want to play it