1) We used the formation before and it worked - during a time when Rashford was injured, Pogba was unavailable, Greenwood was still not ready. We didnt have an alternative but to play 5 at the back.
I'll just point out he had Ighalo and Greenwood on the bench vs City in the final game pre lock down. He started James with Martial, exactly the same front 2 vs Chelsea yesterday. He had options clearly vs City and opted for the same line up pretty much in both games.
Just on a separate note with Pogba, I'll add he has played 240 mins approx in 9 days in tough fixtures. Giving him a rest wasn't really that surprising.
2) Great, in a fatigued back line, lets add a extra defender to help us defend along with the 3 who are fatigued, cause 1 extra defender will cover for 3 defenders? Add one more defender will help Lindelof and Maguire pass better too? So if our LW is fatigued, the way you put it we whould play 2 LW's? to cover the fatigued one?
Thought it obvious how that would work?
If you've a back 5 obviously its more condensed and less area of the pitch to cover meaning less leg work. Sadly due to yet another Bailly injury we went back to the flat 4, not like you can predict injuries to certain individuals is it?
3) We played with 2 attackers.... 2/11. Fergie didnt go to a back 5 when he counter attacked, he played extra midfielder to help defend better, not invite the opponent to the penalty area. So how many counter attacks did we have yesterday?
You can play counter football with a back 3, 4 or 5? Not sure what point you are making here. It doesn't matter how many defenders you have the idea is still the same that you soak up pressure and hit them on the break quickly. It worked previously vs top sides and no reason not to believe why it would not yesterday.
Again, I don't see the formation as being the issue but simply fatigue getting the best of us and having a genuine lack of talent in the squad too.
5) Who's squad is it? Who is in charge of making sure the players are not fatigued?
Seriously?
Dear god... they are human, not androids.
This is before we address the issues around squad depth.
You do realized this is a squad that has 4 centre backs that are only fit for the exit door in Smalling, Jones, Rojo and Bailly. That's before we get to midfield and considering Mata, Lingard and Periera. Then you can add in the likes of Dalot and a keeper gifting goals to the opposition currently.
He's getting every single last feckin ounce of performance and result from a small group of about 11 or 12 players per game, almost anything out side of that is to the teams detriment and us getting results.
