Talking Tactics: Could this alternative system transform Manchester United’s fortunes?

Hardly a week goes by without David Moyes receiving some sort of condemnation and hostility over his chosen formation, tactics and team selection at Manchester United, with many pointing to his limited managerial experience at the very top level and poor record against the league’s elite side as a major factor in his early struggles.

Fans and media have also been quick to suggest that United lack the killer instinct of years past, competing against teams with greater squad depth, superior creativity and most importantly, some would say, consistency – a trait that’s become somewhat synonymous with the red half of Manchester in their ascent to the summit of English football. And the naysayers wouldn’t be wrong.

Paul Scholes’ knack of probing compact defensive lines with precision passes is a thing of the past. The days of Cristiano Ronaldo terrorising opposition defences with pace and trickery in the famous red shirt, at home and throughout the most famed venues of European football, are over. But most importantly, their guiding light, Sir Alex Ferguson, has departed; a man who could unite the squad like no other, adapting his methods and philosophy to football’s natural transformation throughout the decades.

Those cherished memories may live long in the minds of their devoted fans, however the harsh reality, based on this season’s struggles, is that they’ve lost their intimidating edge, shifting from menacing Red Devils, to something distinctly average.

Manchester United unquestionably lack finesse and imagination throughout midfield, positioned at 12th place in Squawka’s key passes table with a combined total of 149, while rivals Manchester City and Liverpool continue to blitz the domestic league, producing countless opportunities for their strikers to score – over 430 goalscoring chances between the two clubs in total. The signing of Marouane Fellaini was never going to prompt a wave of creativeness in central midfield, following the retirement of a certain red-haired Englishman, but nevertheless, it’s a problem that should have been addressed during the summer, and a primary factor of this season’s poor form.

However, doom and gloom aside, I feel that, with a few tactical tweaks, Moyes could get the best out of his current crop of players, albeit with a somewhat unorthodox approach.

David Moyes’ preferred 4-4-1-1 formation.

Moyes’ current 4-4-1-1 system can often leave a gaping hole in front of central defence; a tactical weakness that’s amplified if opposition teams traverse the ball from back to front in quick succession, before a midfielder can recover. Michael Carrick frequently retreats to the zone in front of the centre-backs, guarding the most dangerous location on the pitch, but I’d be more inclined to position the 32-year-old there on a more permanent basis, dictating the tempo and making crucial interceptions.

“Shut off the angles. If you press the player on the ball you’re creating space in behind you and they can pass into that space. Force the opposition to play the ball where you want,” Carrick told FourFourTwo. A prominent aspect of his game, and one that would strengthen United’s defensive frailties if used in this location.

Carrick’s defensive contribution revolves around interceptions.

Some 60% of Carrick’s defensive actions (40 in total) this season have been interceptions, proving that the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder is more than capable of playing this role. At the same time, he could be utilised as a deep-lying playmaker, providing a safe and reliable passing option when playing the ball out from the back.

Carrick passes forward 74% of the time.

The five-time Premier League winner may have only played one of the last seven matches due to injury, but nevertheless, Carrick has still completed the greatest number of passes (652) for United, with a staggering 74% travelling forward. Make no mistake about it, in terms of ball possession, defensive contribution and direct, purposeful passing, Manchester United’s No. 16 is the nucleus of central midfield, and should be treated as such.

But, if I’m suggesting that Carrick would be ideally suited for a deep-lying role, where does that leave Moyes’ tried and tested 4-4-1-1? Sure, one of the central midfielders naturally has a defensive mentality within that formation, thus protecting the defence, but I’m proposing that a player would be better suited playing there permanently.

Suggested 4-5-1 formation.

What about a switch to a 4-5-1 formation, or 4-3-3?

Alarm bells must surely be ringing, in regards to there only being one out-and-out striker, but if Wayne Rooney was encouraged to adopt a midfield position – a role we all saw him shine in during United’s recent 3-0 victory over Aston Villa (see below) – then, in one simple move, Moyes could ease his midfield crisis, for the time being at least.

Rooney’s midfield position versus Aston Villa.

No other United player has made more key passes than Rooney (26), regularly providing ammunition for the rest of his team-mates from withdrawn positions (see below) – a potential remedy for the current lack of creativity throughout central midfield.

Rooney creates a larger number of key passes in the No. 10 position.

The 28-year-old may go missing on occasion when given strict tactical instructions – his failure to mark Sergio Busquets in the 2011 Champions League final as one glaring example – but his work rate is phenomenal, often tracking opposition runners, before breaking forward to support yet another counterattack.

Rooney has himself suggested that he sees himself playing as a central midfielder in the future: “I get more of the ball, I’m involved loads and, after one game, I even think about playing there permanently, but only later in my career,” he revealed in his latest autobiography. “Once I feel that I haven’t got the sharpness needed to get away from defenders, I’ll probably drop back into midfield for a couple of seasons so I can still influence the game.”

Rooney offers a balance of forward and backwards passes, dictating play.

With Carrick and Rooney offering playmaking abilities throughout central zones, there ought to be an energetic runner, scurrying between defence and attack as the opportunity presents itself, leaving the door open for Fellaini, Tom Cleverely, or evenPhil Jones to play that position, with my preference being the latter of the three – although the other two bring their own qualities.

Jones has yet to tie down a preferred position, and although the former Blackburn Rovers man sees his future as a centre-back, his willingness to help out defensively, combined with high levels of energetic running, work rate and determination, could prove beneficial in United’s time of need. The youngster has won 64% of attempted tackles this season, along with 19 headers and an average of nine defensive actions per game. Technical ability aside, Jones could compliment the midfield trio, offering greater work ethic and physical qualities, situated alongside two inventive players; an arrangement of complimentary attributes.

Jones gives United extra bite throughout midfield.

People will say that Rooney shouldn’t play in midfield, highlighting that he would be wasted there due to the number of goals scored each season. But, formations don’t tell the whole story.

At various stages of a match, a team may morph through a number of formations, with deeper players assuming advanced roles, combined with a change of width – in Manchester City’s case, the wide players tuck inside to cause havoc behind their prolific strikers, before darting to the flanks to protect the full-backs.

Take the following animated GIF for example.

4-5-1 shifting from defence to attack.

United could easily start in the 4-5-1 formation, maintaining Moyes’ preferred solid lines (if the wingers were told to retreat further). However, when possession is regained, Shinji Kagawa could drift inside (his usual attacking move), allowing Patrice Evra to provide width down the left flank – the Frenchman is currently their second most imaginative player this season with 18 goalscoring chances created. Then, as Kagawa tucks inside, Jones and Carrick rearrange alongside each other, allowing Rooney the opportunity to join Kagawa behind Robin van Persie, while Antonio Valencia and Rafael patrol the width down the right.

Evra is United’s second most creative player with 18 chances.

The interchanging of positions allows for a great deal of fluidity throughout the attacking third, creating angles and varying layers of attack, while maintaining defensive structure with up to five midfielders in a line, instead of the current situation where the centre-backs are frequently exposed, and creativity is often curbed.

It may not be a long-term solution and new additions are sorely needed to strengthen the squad, however, with the right combination of personnel, a few formation tweaks and a reduction in rigidity, Moyes could revitalise his United team and reinvigorate their pursuit of a top-four finish.