Why new formation can give Solskjaer more attacking options
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One of the advantages Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might find if he unleashes the 3-4-1-2 as his preferred Manchester United formation is the better attacking options it will give him.
Already there are some pundits wondering how Solskjaer can accommodate Daniel James, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford in this system. One of them would certainly have to adapt his game if all three were to fit into the shape, but then they don't all need to feature in every game.
United have been missing options off the bench recently, but if two of James, Martial and Rashford began in the two most advanced positions as wide forwards, it would allow the other to have an impact off the bench.
Martial's place on the bench against Liverpool was due to fitness - having not played since August 24 - but rotating this front three into those two positions would give Solskjaer game changing options from the bench, something he has been desperately lacking in recent weeks.
Alternatively one of those three could operate as the No.10, the role that Andreas Pereira produced a decent audition for on Sunday. The role is to often act as the figurehead of attack, with the forwards splitting, and playing a more attacking option in that position is something Solskjaer can consider, especially in games at Old Trafford.
When he used a similar shape in games early on his temporary reign he had two forwards splitting wide, with Jesse Lingard often drifting between the central midfield and false nine role. Lingard can clearly play there and has the intelligent of movement to thrive, while Pereira showed it's a position that suits him more than being shunted out wide. There's no reason James, who played centrally at times against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, shouldn't get a chance in that position as well, with Rashford and Martial breaking wide.
Presuming Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba operate in the deeper midfield roles, alongside the preferred wing-backs of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw, it would allow Juan Mata, Lingard, Pereira and James to compete for a role as the No.10.
With James also a versatile option as one of the forwards, with Mason Greenwood in reserve behind Rashford and Martial, it gives Solskjaer some difficult selection decisions to make.
Asked after the draw with Liverpool if this new shape was here to stay, Solskjaer said: "It can develop into something, because we have the players to play three at the back. And it allows more width in the team, with what we've had."
The benefit at the back is the regular inclusion of 21-year-old Axel Tuanzebe, who would have started against Liverpool but for an injury in the warm-up.
It also does add more width, with the major change being the extra demands on the central figurehead. Those selection issues are exactly what Solskjaer will want.
Far too often recently he's had no real selection dilemmas, with fringe players failing to produce the kind of performances that would leave a question mark in the mind of the manager.
Perhaps the most important byproduct of that will be added strength to come off the bench. Martial was lacking sharpness on Sunday but if Solskjaer can turn to one of his dynamic forwards to come on then it changes the threat United pose.
As games have drifted away from his side all too often recently, Solskjaer has struggled to change the flow from the bench, while in games against Arsenal and Liverpool he's lacked options to ram home the advantage, bringing on fresh legs to increase the threat on the counter attack.
The switch to 3-4-1-2 might change all that.
One of the advantages Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might find if he unleashes the 3-4-1-2 as his preferred Manchester United formation is the better attacking options it will give him.
Already there are some pundits wondering how Solskjaer can accommodate Daniel James, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford in this system. One of them would certainly have to adapt his game if all three were to fit into the shape, but then they don't all need to feature in every game.
United have been missing options off the bench recently, but if two of James, Martial and Rashford began in the two most advanced positions as wide forwards, it would allow the other to have an impact off the bench.
Martial's place on the bench against Liverpool was due to fitness - having not played since August 24 - but rotating this front three into those two positions would give Solskjaer game changing options from the bench, something he has been desperately lacking in recent weeks.
Alternatively one of those three could operate as the No.10, the role that Andreas Pereira produced a decent audition for on Sunday. The role is to often act as the figurehead of attack, with the forwards splitting, and playing a more attacking option in that position is something Solskjaer can consider, especially in games at Old Trafford.
When he used a similar shape in games early on his temporary reign he had two forwards splitting wide, with Jesse Lingard often drifting between the central midfield and false nine role. Lingard can clearly play there and has the intelligent of movement to thrive, while Pereira showed it's a position that suits him more than being shunted out wide. There's no reason James, who played centrally at times against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, shouldn't get a chance in that position as well, with Rashford and Martial breaking wide.
Presuming Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba operate in the deeper midfield roles, alongside the preferred wing-backs of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw, it would allow Juan Mata, Lingard, Pereira and James to compete for a role as the No.10.
With James also a versatile option as one of the forwards, with Mason Greenwood in reserve behind Rashford and Martial, it gives Solskjaer some difficult selection decisions to make.
Asked after the draw with Liverpool if this new shape was here to stay, Solskjaer said: "It can develop into something, because we have the players to play three at the back. And it allows more width in the team, with what we've had."
The benefit at the back is the regular inclusion of 21-year-old Axel Tuanzebe, who would have started against Liverpool but for an injury in the warm-up.
It also does add more width, with the major change being the extra demands on the central figurehead. Those selection issues are exactly what Solskjaer will want.
Far too often recently he's had no real selection dilemmas, with fringe players failing to produce the kind of performances that would leave a question mark in the mind of the manager.
Perhaps the most important byproduct of that will be added strength to come off the bench. Martial was lacking sharpness on Sunday but if Solskjaer can turn to one of his dynamic forwards to come on then it changes the threat United pose.
As games have drifted away from his side all too often recently, Solskjaer has struggled to change the flow from the bench, while in games against Arsenal and Liverpool he's lacked options to ram home the advantage, bringing on fresh legs to increase the threat on the counter attack.
The switch to 3-4-1-2 might change all that.
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