What Louis van Gaal's 3-5-2 means for Manchester United

Louis van Gaal and Ryan Giggs

Wingers have been a part of Manchester United’s tradition. From Joe Spence, Billy Meredith, George Best to the present day Giggs, Beckham and Ronaldo, the Red Devils have tormented defences from the wings with orthodox wingers. However, the confirmation of the 3-4-1-2 formation (Simply put a 5-3-2) by Louis Van Gaal for the upcoming Premier League season will put an inevitable end to this long lasting tradition.

The importance of the ‘five’

England’s poor performances over the course of the last 15 years can be attributed majorly to the lack of tactical awareness. While the rest of Europe and South America were evolving, the England national team along with a vast majority of clubs in the country’s premier football league were still using the timeworn 4-4-2 formation.

The 4-4-2 is countered easily when there are more than four players in the opposition’s midfield. The 3-5-2 (or 5-3-2) and the 4-3-3 (or 4-5-1) perform this role with ease. Using five in the midfield outnumbers the opposition four midfielders, making it impossible for the team to supply its two forwards up front. The strength of five in midfield also ensures more control and more possession for the team employing it.

One could attribute the introduction of the 4-3-3 (which is a variation of the 4-4-2) to Jose Mourinho’s first spell in charge at Chelsea. The success achieved by Chelsea and at the ease with which Mourinho marched to his first two Premier League titles can arguably be attributed to this tactical awareness absent in the Premier League in the former years of the millennium.?

Jose Mourinho with 1 of 2 Premier League Titles

It took up until 2007 for Sir Alex Ferguson to understand that 4-4-2 was an archaic formation when it came to the Champions League and Europe. Fielding five in midfield was a must, especially in away games when the crucial away goals come into play. Although Sir Alex did not employ the 3-5-2, the use of traditional wing-play was revoked for a fluid front three of Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez in a 4-3-3 formation.

United predominantly employed a 4-4-1-1 (a variation of the 4-4-2) post 2008, particularly in the Premier League. This was done with the concept of inverted wingers on the left (Young, Nani) and an orthodox winger on the right (Valencia). It has to be noted though that for difficult away games in the Premier League and mostly in Europe, United played with five in midfield post 2008. However, they did enjoy success in England, romping to three more Premier League titles during this period, although that could largely be credited to the sheer brilliant management of Sir Alex rather than the strength of the team.

One could attribute United’s lack of flexibility when it came to formations to their success and lack of suitable personnel. The fans have been crying out for a quality central midfielder since Hargreaves’s career threatening injury, only for Sir Alex to strengthen elsewhere. However, last season’s abysmal displays under David Moyes clearly displayed that change was necessary and that United could not continue to ignore their weaknesses as they did in the Ferguson era.

The end was nigh, and van Gaal has rightly put an end to this age-old formation at Manchester United. He has justified the use of the 3-5-2 (or 5-3-2) instead of the 4-3-3 as he does not want to have three strikers on the bench. The success of this formation can hardly be judged based on one performance against a mediocre LA Galaxy team. However, its strengths clearly outweigh the archaic 4-4-2 employed in the Ferguson and post Ferguson era.

The flexibility of 3-5-2

The beauty of the five is that it is flexible, in the sense that the five can line up either in an attack-minded or a defence minded formation. An example of a 4-5-1 (or a 4-3-3) would be Pep Guardiola’s exemplary Barcelona side. For an attacking 5-3-2 formation one could look at Croatia’s trio of Robert Prosinecki, Zvonimir Boban and Aljosa Asanovic in the group stages of the 1998 World Cup.

Staying with the Croats, the defensive side of the 5-3-2 could be seen in the 1998 World Cup quarter-final against Germany when the attacking Prosinecki was replaced by a more defensive minded player in Zvonimir Soldo, making the formation a 5-1-2-2.

The present-day Juventus also employ a defensive version of the 3-5-2, with two defensive wing backs and Pirlo in front of the defence with Pogba and Vidal. The flexibility that this formation brings was clearly absent in the 4-4-2 which is considered to be the most basic formation of modern football.

As van Gaal conceded yesterday, there are way too many No. 10’s at Manchester United. Therefore, United are most likely to line-up with two in front of the defence (Herrera and Fletcher against LA galaxy), and a No. 10 up front. Van Gaal also lined up with three in front of the defence (Herrera, Cleverly and Kagawa with Herrera slightly more attacking) in the second half, but two in front of the defence is more likely based on current personnel.

The importance of wing-backs

Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia will have to adapt to the wing-back role

The 3-5-2 and 5-3-2 differ in how the wing-backs line up. They could line up defensively like how United lined up against the Galaxy with Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia. How Conte’s Juventus line up is also an example of “wing-backs” being used with Kwadwo Asamoah and Stephen Lichsteiner performing the role. An example of a 3-5-2 would be how Fiorentina line up with Cuadrado and Pasqual high up the pitch, which would classify them as wingers rather than wing-backs.

The use of the 3-5-2 (like Fiorentina) is considered lop-sided, tilting towards attack, and is generally not employed as the balance of the team is severely compromised since Cuadrado and Pascal are not defensive minded players. This could prove suicidal against stronger teams, making them susceptible to a drubbing.

This underlines the importance of wing-backs as they bring balance to the team wherever required. If team X employs a 3-5-2 (with wing-backs and not wingers) and team Y employs a 4-4-2, the two forwards of team Y can easily be counteracted by the three centre-backs of team X and the wingers can be nullified by the two wingbacks, leaving three in midfield for team X against two in midfield for team Y (the importance of the five as mentioned above). This example shows how the wing backs bring defensive balance into the team by nullifying the opposition’s attack.

If for example one of the wingers of team Y drops into the centre to counter-act the three in midfield of team X, this leaves one of the wing backs to bomb forward to support the team in an attacking sense. Though Shaw hardly showed his attacking intent yesterday against the Galaxy, Valencia found himself at least three times in one-on-one situations with the opposing full back.

3-5-2 – The drawbacks

The 3-5-2 (or the 5-3-2) has its roots in Argentina, with Carlos Bilardo in 1986, when it was fielded as an attacking formation. The Italians later developed the more defensive side of the 3-5-2 4 years later by playing the catenaccio way developed in the early 60s. But the formation quickly deteriorated, from widespread recognition employed by the so-called big nations like Italy and Germany in the early 90s to a handful in the early years of the millennium.

The reason for this was highlighted as the pace of the modern game; it was impossible for wing-backs to function at full throttle for the entire 90 minutes. They also had to be quicker and fitter than the rest of the players on the pitch. As cited earlier, the success and failure of this wonderful formation depends on these two players on either side of the pitch. The wing-backs need to know precisely when to bomb forward to bring balance to the attacking side and when to stay back to bring more solidity. Fine margins, as one would say.

Secondly and more importantly, the 4-5-1 (or the 4-3-3 or the present day 4-2-3-1) was gaining in prominence in Europe, especially in Spain. The need to make space for more attacking talent in place of the one extra central defender (in the 5-3-2) gained more speed. When 4-4-2 was predominant, especially in 1986 where 3-5-2 has its roots, three central defenders covered two forwards leaving a spare. However with the use of a single striker, the 4-5-1 left two spare at the back for the team employing three central defenders.

This leaves the team short in an attacking sense and does not efficiently use all the resources in the team. It is again a matter of perspective as to how one identifies the personnel in the team. Van Gaal mentioned that the side has the strengths to play a 4-3-3, so when and if the resources of the team are not utilised to its maximum, we can expect United to switch to a 4-3-3 as we saw with Netherlands at the World Cup (especially against Mexico in the pre-quarterfinals).

Manchester United – The team

Although times are changing at United, there are still many areas of the team that require serious additions if the Red Devils are to use the new formation to serious effect. Firstly, the players need time to adjust to the demands of this new formation. As van Gaal mentioned post match, there have been only two practice matches played with the 3-4-1-2 and the 10 who played against LA galaxy were not involved in one of the practice matches. More time on the training pitch will give the players as well as the manager the wherewithal to understand how well the team can adapt to this change.

Secondly, all the senior centre backs in the United squad were involved in the win against LA Galaxy and all the three have a history of injuries. Unless van Gaal sees tremendous potential in youth team products, United need strength in depth (at least two more additions) in the centre back positions. It will be interesting to see how the trio of Smalling, Jones and Evans cope against better opposition in the upcoming International Champions Cup and also in the Premier League.

Also, United have only one recognized left back in the team – the 19-year-old Luke Shaw. The importance of wing-backs is clearly reflected in van Gaal’s rumoured interest in Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen. The Belgian can slot in as one of the three centre backs or at the left wing back position. With Rafael and Valencia the two right wing backs in the team, a deal for Vermaelen or Daley Blind looks highly likely before the end of the current window.

Centre midfield is another area that requires at least one or two additions. Veteran midfielder Carrick is out for almost three months, which leaves only Cleverly, Fellaini and Herrera as the recognized central midfielders. Based on last season, the only position where Fellaini can operate is behind the striker and not in his favourite central defensive midfield position. And Fletcher, after his commendable return from serious illness, has looked below par at best; he now seems to be a player who can support the squad rather than start every game in this new fitness-aggressive formation. The rumoured pursuit of Vidal and William Carvalho can bring solace to the team and the fans if either bears fruit.

Van Gaal is also clearly not impressed with the wingers at his disposal. His choice of 3-4-1-2 over 4-3-3 which has two players on the wings is testament to this. Players like Young, Nani, Januzaj and Zaha should prove they can adapt and play in different positions if they are to be an asset to the team.

Exciting times ahead

It is exciting times for United fans either way as the team has a manager who is tactically aware and not afraid to change long-lasting traditions. It is bad news for purists like Gary Neville who want United to play with two out and out wingers. However, with tactically astute teams and ever evolving formations, United fans around the world can finally dream of tactically challenging the elite.

Edited by Staff Editor