Will we play 5-3-2

[Plugsy]

You don't start with a formation and then hope to find a team to whom it suits. That's just bonkers. He'll use whatever system he finds best suits the players he has and can bring in. Managers, van Gaal included, are far more pragmatic than people give them credit for. The Dutch squad is a fine example; he chose 5-3-2 based on the players he had at his disposal. He didn't walk in an see a bunch of players not suited to 4-3-3 and say "sorry lads, but it's what I do".

So many seem to think that formations are a matter of unshakable principle.

 

[bishblaize]

You cannot say Keane was a defensive midfielder. He was very box to box, and you cannot compare how many goals he has scored as an indication of how forward he gets.

An oft forgotten aspect to Keane's game that. He may not have scored that many, or made the final pass, but time after time it would be Keano driving the whole team forward. There might be three or four passes after his intervention before the goal came, but he'd be the one starting the move in the first place.

 

[JPRouve]

An oft forgotten aspect to Keane's game that. He may not have scored that many, or made the final pass, but time after time it would be Keano driving the whole team forward. There might be three or four passes after his intervention before the goal came, but he'd be the one starting the move in the first place.

He scored a lot, and he was a box to box, Iniesta scored 33 goals for Barcelona and he is not a DM or a Box to box.

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

You don't start with a formation and then hope to find a team to whom it suits. That's just bonkers.

Well, you can do, that's pretty much what Rodgers has done at Liverpool.

 

[red_7]

Clubs like Barcelona do so for years, they educate and buy only players and managers that follow the clubs identity. I think both ways can be succesful.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

Clubs like Barcelona do so for years, they educate and buy only players and managers that follow the clubs identity. I think both ways can be succesful.

And there's been a few times where they've stepped out of this and it hasn't worked brilliantly, see Ibra.

 

[Juan't Mata]

If LVG signed Blind and Vermaelen as is being rumoured today I can see him at least considering 3-5-2 as an option, or one to which he can make a mid-game switch if needed.

The versatility of those two lads means he can alternate mid game between a back three with:

Blind----------------------------------------------Rafael

------------Vermaelen----Evans-----Smalling---------

to a flat back four with Blind as the DM

---------------------------Blind-------------------------------

Vermaelen-------Evans------Smalling---------Rafael


without upsetting the balance of the side too much.

In that context, you can see why he'd be after the two lads. They've both been reared in the Ajax style, where versatility is key.

 

[Xaviesta]

So if Holland trounce Australia, will we see a thread "will we play 4-3-3?"

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

So if Holland trounce Australia, will we see a thread "will we play 4-3-3?"

No, because Australia are basically a pub team whereas Spain are one of the best teams in the world

 

[Xaviesta]

No, because Australia are basically a pub team whereas Spain are one of the best teams in the world

Ok, what if they beat Chile with a 4-3-3? It's important to remember he adjusted his tactics and formation because of who the Dutch were playing.

 

[Chaky_Best]

We won't play 5-3-2

Most of our players haven't the tactical ability to play in a really new system. They've all been nursed in 4-4-2 and can't change to this system.
Then, in this system, we'll have no wide play, everything through the middle... that will be a problem

I doubt the fact we will change to 4-3-3, after so many of these players played in 4-4-2 and showed lack of tactical awareness down the years.

What would be a good 5-3-2 with no signings ?

-----------------------------De Gea------------------------------
Rafael----------Jones---------Evans--------Smalling----------Evra
-----------------------Carrick------Fellaini------------------------
-------------------------------Mata------------------------------
------------------------Rooney-----Van Persie--------------------

 

[Sparky Rhiwabon]

We won't play 5-3-2

OK, thanks for confirming that. Close the thread please mods.

 

[Juan't Mata]

We won't play 5-3-2

Most of our players haven't the tactical ability to play in a really new system. They've all been nursed in 4-4-2 and can't change to this system.
Then, in this system, we'll have no wide play, everything through the middle... that will be a problem

I doubt the fact we will change to 4-3-3, after so many of these players played in 4-4-2 and showed lack of tactical awareness down the years.

What would be a good 5-3-2 with no signings ?

-----------------------------De Gea------------------------------
Rafael----------Jones---------Evans--------Smalling----------Evra
-----------------------Carrick------Fellaini------------------------
-------------------------------Mata------------------------------
------------------------Rooney-----Van Persie--------------------

Luckily we seem to now be being linked to players who would be vital in helping us move to a 352, if thats what LVG wanted.

 

[JTW95]

After crushing Spain with this formation, I would be surprised if Van Gaal wasn't at least considering trying this with us. Especially if Holland go far in the tournament with it.

I don't think we will play it but I would like to see us give it a try in pre season at least.

 

[Henrik Larsson]

OK, thanks for confirming that. Close the thread please mods.

It's true though. Van Gaal doesn't even really like the system.

Understandable that people are fantasizing a lot about this formation, but playing in the Premier League is not tournament football. Our tactics and set up will be very different than the 3-5-2 vs. Spain.

After crushing Spain with this formation, I would be surprised if Van Gaal wasn't at least considering trying this with us. Especially if Holland go far in the tournament with it.

I don't think we will play it but I would like to see us give it a try in pre season at least.

He said himself he was going to switch to 4-3-3 if RVP's goal hadn't come out of nowhere. People forget United is very different from Holland, we have way more quality and options than Holland have, and the difference in quality between us and the best teams (like Chelsea or City) isn't as big as the difference in quality between Holland and Spain. There's just no reason to play with 3 centre backs if you have attacking greats like Rooney, RVP, Mata, Januzaj, and options like Welbeck, Kagawa, Nani and who knows we'll bring in.

 

[JefferiesTube]

BENCH: JOHNSTONE, JONES, VALENCIA, KOVACIC, JANUZAJ, NANI, ROONEY

 

[Loon]

I read somewhere Van Gaal only switched in the build up to World Cup to accommodate for the loss of Strootman?

I think Van Gaal will play whatever system works for the players he has at his disposal in August. He'll probably tinker in pre-season, but I hope he doesn't take as long as Moyes to find a settled first eleven!

 

[mufcwarm92]

I'm not really sure it had anything to do with Strootman. If he was fit he'd take his place in the midfield two.

It's just a decent system, devised in the pre tournament friendlies, to get the most out of Holland's front three - their best three players. Van Gaal has said the usual 433 could be used in their next game and it's almost inevitable it will be used at some point in the tournament.

If we use a back five it won't be a permanent thing, just a decent option, just as it is for the national team.