Tactical analysis - The 4-3-1-2 solution for Manchester United

So what is the solution? How can David Moyes best employ his side on the pitch so that their individual strengths are put to good effect?

The solution lies in the 4-3-1-2 approach as depicted by the figure below:

First and foremost, Moyes has to let go of his rigid style style of football that restricts players’ movements. He has to allow the players to make supporting runs, even if it means leaving their designated positions for a while, to help the player in possession of the ball have ample options to pass. This will inject much required flexibility and fluidity into the United system which will further help them attack through the middle of the pitch – something that has been found lacking in the reds play this season. The 4-3-1-2 formation above is perfectly suited to execute this support play.

Moreover, this formation will also allow United to finally forfeit their traditional 4-4-2 approach where emphasis was always given on the wings. And rightly so if you consider the inconsistent and pathetic form of United wingers ever since Cristiano Ronaldo left Old Trafford in 2009. Also, with modern defenses getting tighter and stricter, 4-4-2 has become almost obsolete.

Apart from these, the biggest add-on that the 4-3-1-2 solution offers to United is solving their number 10 conundrum.

Because, lets just accept this, however good Rooney might have been in that number 10 role, largely due to his versatility, the Englishman’s real strength and talent lies as a potent and lethal striker playing right on top of the opposition defense and scoring goals – something that has always been underutilized at United due to lack of options or reluctance to change. Infact, Rooney has himself acknowledged the fact that his best position is the main striker upfront and he proved the same in 2010, which still remains his best season in a United shirt, where he played the number nine role and scored over 30 goals.

This reluctance to change the system and keep employing Rooney in that role behind the main striker has not only reduced his own real strengths, but has also affected the players – like Kagawa and Mata – who are much better suited to play that role and are yet being used either wide right or wide left due to the unavailability of the slot already captured by Rooney.

Therefore, 4-3-1-2 provides a perfect opportunity to put United’s main attackers’ real strengths to good effect. Mata or Kagawa, as they had already proved at Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund respectively, are perfect to link the midfield with the attacking duo of Van Persie and Rooney who’d be playing further up the pitch. Carrick, besides shielding the back four, would play the role of deep lying midfielder feeding short passes to Januzaj, Kagawa or Mata or long balls directly to Rooney and Van Persie. Fellaini, on the other hand, can be utilized for his ball winning abilities.

Januzaj can play on either flanks with the support of the full backs and can also drift inwards to have a go at the goal. The Kagawa/Mata, Rooney and Van Persie triangle upfront would be a treat for the fans where all these players can shift positions and put their goal scoring exploits to best use. While defending, however, Rooney or Kagawa, depending on their position, might have to drop back in support of their full back to provide that extra security.

Now, with this plan in mind, if Moyes tries to bring in Fabregas, Kroos or Reus into the midfield next season, it would make perfect sense as they would be best suited to play any of the three midfielders’ role in this 4-3-1-2 shape.

Hence, as was rightly said by Einstein that everybody is a genius and you just have to figure out what they are best at – something that Sir Alex was master of which also explains his successes even with, what many considered, mediocre squads – David Moyes just have to take a leaf out of his predecessor’s book and identify the fishes, monkeys, birds et al in the Manchester United jungle and just make the fishes swim, monkeys climb and birds fly to see the jungle bloom again.