Formation 3-4-1-2
De Gea; Wan Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire; Williams, Pogba, Matic, Telles; Bruno; Martial, Rashford
It was a formation that Solskjaer would often switch to in games where he would be happy to concede possession: 3 games vs Chelsea, 2 games vs Man City and 2 games vs Liverpool. It fed into the idea that it was a defensive formation, a structure that was more about plugging those channels in which all the aforementioned teams who love to play in and where they cause the biggest worries for their adversaries.
Really, it does not have to work that way. By having three CBs, you are able to cover the width of the pitch easier without giving up too much space in between them. This allows the wing backs to play further up the pitch and go out to press the ball when teams try to play down their side so that the CMs are not dragged out of central positions, something that is very problematic in these formations when the wing backs are passive.
Maguire and Wan Bissaka like to confront players rather than delay and jockey so having them as the outside CBs makes sense because there is still the comfort of two CBs coming over the cover, particularly Bailly as the middle CB. His pace and recovery would aid this covering role he would be employed in.
It’s important that the wing backs are played on their correct side and they have some offensive capability, which contributes heavily in my decision to have Wan Bissaka playing as a RCB rather than as a right wing back. The loan of Diogo Dalot would perhaps look silly given that this role would encourage him to utilise his strengths and make him focus less on the defensive side of the game.
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However, Brandon Williams is also somewhat comfortable on the ball and might make a home on his more favoured side. Ideally, the progression of Ethan Laird, a complete full back, would mean that he would eventually step into this role and really show how much he can bring in the middle and final third on the right hand side.
What’s more, the only player who would be standing in between the line would be Bruno Fernandes, as the number 10. This will encourage movement into spaces from the wing backs, centre backs and strikers to drop or advance into areas and take opposition players with them. Rashford and Martial can move laterally into wide positions if they want to or drop onto the same line as Bruno if need be.
The wing backs have the whole wing to themselves essentially and with Alex Telles, famed more for his crosses and final third contribution than anything else, advancing into the wide left position will be something he would be more than happy to do. Bailly and Maguire can pick up the ball, run into the DM position now that there isn’t anyone there occupying this space.
Even Pogba and Matic can play asymmetrically when in position so that one, likely Pogba, can pick a position a bit further forward. Ensuring the team doesn’t become a flat back 5, does not press intensely when teams try to build down the wide positions and having good passing circuits & shadow play so we can build from the back is integral to not having it turn into a defensive system that it so often does when we have played it before.