Louis Van Gaal Faces Formation Decision After Fans Speak out at Man Utd vs. QPR

As the Manchester United players walked down the tunnel at half-time at Loftus Road, they did so with chants of "4-4-2" ringing in their ears. 

It was before Marouane Fellaini and James Wilson had earned United a 2-0 win over QPR, and there were a few dissenting voices in the away end. More than a few, actually. 

It was a reference to Louis van Gaal's tactics, as the Dutchman persevered with his 3-5-2 formation through a dire first-half against a team battling against relegation. And it felt like a significant moment.

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United might have gone in at half-time a goal down had David De Gea not made an acrobatic save from Charlie Austin. Had QPR been leading at the break, you imagine the angst among the travelling fans would have been even more pronounced. Still, they managed to make their point.

The fans who took part in the "4-4-2" chants will feel vindicated after watching United take the lead in the second-half barely a minute after Van Gaal withdrew Jonny Evans, one of his three centre-backs.

And there will be some keen onlookers when Van Gaal names his team for Friday night's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Cambridge.

It's always significant when football fans voice their displeasure. Supporters can get managers sacked very easily. But it is even more significant that United's fans felt the need to speak out. And specifically the away fans.

Last season under David Moyes was a disaster. But aside from a few isolated incidents during humiliating home defeats to Manchester City and Liverpool, the fans never turned on him during a match. Not collectively, anyway. 

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They never once sang "you're getting sacked in the morning" or "you don't know what you're doing." He would have been subjected to it at other clubs and in other stadiums.

Some of the fans who travelled to Everton for what turned out to be his last game in charge even briefly sang his name. The United fans, in general, believe in supporting the players and the manager wherever possible. But they're also entitled to their opinion. 

Even after recording a much-needed win at Loftus Road, Van Gaal, in quotes carried by the Manchester Evening News, felt the need to defend his selection.

"

I know in advance when we play with four midfielders in a diamond that we create more chances.

But then the balance of the team is also weak. And you see it because we have created chances but also Queens Park Rangers have, and we have to decide every week how to play. That's the question.

"

The question for Van Gaal now is what he does in response. The journalists who follow United home and away have questioned his use of 3-5-2 before.

But he would never bow to pressure from the media. He's not that type of character. But criticism from the fans, especially United's away following, should mean more to him. It's just doubtful whether he would ever change for anyone.

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It's difficult to gauge what any one set of football fans are thinking. There are different sections of every club's fanbase, from keyboard warriors to match-going supporters.

At United, the fans who travel away from home hold a certain credibility. And for them to air their concerns so publicly at QPR should at least register with Van Gaal. It's up to him to decide whether or not to listen.