Manchester United: Reviewing Their Reasons for Failure Against Southampton

For Manchester United fans, their club's recent loss to Southampton over the weekend was a tough pill to swallow but ultimately a result that had been coming for some time after many lackluster performances.

While draws away from home to Tottenham and Stoke were disappointing but not completely intolerable, a loss at Old Trafford—a fortress this season—has supporters asking questions of Louis Van Gaal and his squad.

United's weakest unit on paper, by far, is undoubtedly their defense. After all, it truly is unique to see Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans wearing the same colors as Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria.

Other than Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Michael Carrick (the last two are competent, yet makeshift, options), United's central defenders generally thrive in tackling and aerial duels, while leaving much to be desired in terms of distributing the ball and reading the game.

Phil Jones, Smalling and Evans are not perfect footballers, and their imperfections have often been the cause of United's frailties at the back. However, they are not bad footballers either, and if they are put in a position to succeed, they can put in good shifts.

By playing a back three on Sunday, Van Gaal put them in no such position. As mentioned before, Smalling and Jones are not great distributors of the ball and are thus not fit for a 3-1-4-2, which puts a large emphasis on playing out from the back. 

Clint Hughes/Associated Press

These facts were clear to see for most United fans and also Ronald Koeman, who admitted after the game that the distribution of United's center-backs was one of their main weaknesses that he instructed his XI to target (per BBC Sport).

It has become evident to reporters and supporters alike, including famous superfan Andy Tate, that a back three is not the best formation for United to be playing. However, if Van Gaal must play in this shape, it is curious as to why he wouldn't start Paddy McNair who, as a former academy midfielder, is adept at passing and has often played far beyond his meager 19 years of age.

While United's situation at defense, even when healthy, is a not great situation that can be made into a slightly better and resolute back line, United are absolutely loaded in attack and have no one but themselves to blame for their recent goal drought (one goal in last three EPL appearances).

With no lack of talent in attacking areas, their problems up front can mostly be derived from Van Gaal's selection.

As of late, with United in a three-man defensive shape, Wayne Rooney has played a box-to-box midfield role with a slightly attacking purpose. With wins over Newcastle and Liverpool, where he scored three goals in total, Rooney's deeper midfield role looked to have been working and seemed to be the best way to accommodate a lineup with all of United's best attacking weapons.

His late runs into the box, above-average finishing and good soccer brain meant a deeper role made sense, not to mention it is easier to lead as captain from the midfield than up front.

Jon Super/Associated Press

However, in his past three EPL appearances, Rooney has zero goals and only two key passes, seemingly unable to make penetrative passes through opposing defenses and find himself in real attacking positions (per WhoScored.com). These statistics are maybe okay for a bona fide defensive midfielder, but that's not Rooney in the slightest.

With injuries to the midfield, Rooney is capable of serving as a stopgap replacement, but with his lack of defensive attributes and inability to break down the defense from deep, he should be used as a forward or perhaps a No. 10. With Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini—legitimate midfielders—sitting on the bench on Sunday, Rooney and United were found out. Southampton are a very disciplined team who were happy to let an aimless United side eat up the possession before grabbing a late winner.

Although Rooney has been at least competent in an unfamiliar deeper midfield role, it was an even more curious decision by Van Gaal to play Di Maria up top in what was probably supposed to replicate Arjen Robben's play in the World Cup. The Argentine did not perform in that manner, however, barely completing 60 percent of his passes and whipping in one accurate cross the whole game (per WhoScored.com).

Van Gaal cannot be given total blame, but with natural forwards James Wilson, Falcao and Rooney available for selection, it is a wonder why he would deploy a player known for his surging runs from deep in an extremely advanced position.

One would like to make the argument that if Rooney and Di Maria switched roles, it would've been a different game, and that may be a fair argument. However, it is equally fair to note that even with these two in uncomfortable positions, United maintained 61 percent of possession and still could not break down the Saints even after the departure of injured center-back Toby Alderweireld.

At least based on goals conceded, Southampton are the best defensive team in the EPL, and United looked nowhere near breaking them down.

Until massive amounts of money are spent, ultimately, United's defense will be far behind its offense in talent. But Van Gaal can maximize his talent at both ends up the pitch by simply playing players where they are most comfortable.

No more Luke Shaw in a foreign wing-back role, no more Di Maria up top, and most importantly, no back threes.

Van Gaal has an impressive track record as a tactically gifted and daring manager.

But for now, he simply needs to bring United back to basics.

Info and stats via WhoScored.com