Manchester United vs. Leicester: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape EPL Game
It has been a strange period for Manchester United fans as the team cough and splutter their way through the winter months.
The Red Devils now face a Leicester City side who sit rock bottom of the Premier League—but when you fail to beat Cambridge United, it is easy to worry about such a game.
The Foxes destroyed United 5-3 at the King Power Stadium in September, but this triggered a spectacular loss of form that saw the East Midlands club go 13 games without a victory, per WhoScored.com.
Louis van Gaal's team have looked constricted and nervous in recent fixtures, and there are genuine concerns the season could collapse in the same fashion as it did last year after Christmas under David Moyes.
LvG has got to get United in shape and playing good football again, and with a squad now freed from the constraints of a huge injury list, there are no excuses.
Here, we review the issues and decisions that will shape this Premier League tie.
Time to Play 4-3-3
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For a manager who has spent most of his career engrossed in the virtues of 4-3-3, Louis van Gaal now seems a stranger to the formation.
His loss of Kevin Strootman from his Netherlands team forced LvG to go with 3-5-2, and the coach now uses the tactic as his default system.
But it is fair to say United now look a shadow of themselves compared with earlier in the campaign, when the passing was much faster and exciting.
Now the Reds seem laboured and slow playing with five defenders, which promotes too much caution and too little service for the strikers.
Van Gaal needs to get back to 4-3-3, and he needs to do it now.
At home, United should not be playing overtly defensive tactics—it is fair to say the Old Trafford crowd would rather see its team penetrate the final third than show reduced attacking vigour.
Play with One Striker and Harness the Attack
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Louis van Gaal is very keen to play two strikers, and his formations of choice have proved this.
The 4-4-2 diamond allows for creativity in the midfield while allowing you to play with a couple of strikers at the sharp end of the team.
But if and when LvG finally decides to use 4-3-3, he needs to gently let down one of his senior forwards—and at present that player should be Robin van Persie.
A train of thought suggests if United do not intend to buy Radamel Falcao at the end of his loan, then RvP will get the nod as first choice in the second half of the season.
But El Tigre is starting to look hungry and fit—and Van Gaal must not derail him by placing him on the bench.
RvP is still an excellent player, but the years and injuries have taken an edge from his brilliance.
In his most recent games there has definitely been an improvement in his form and touch, but if United choose to go with one striker, then Falcao should get the nod.
Intimidate Leicester and Force Them to Defend
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It may sound like a football cliche, but United must force Leicester to park the bus at Old Trafford on Saturday.
At the King Power, Louis van Gaal's team allowed the Foxes to get on the front foot and counter-attack with ease.
This was due to United's poor retention of the ball and lack of true attacking dominance.
United scored three times on that day, but the five goals plundered by Leicester showed the true problems Van Gaal was to face.
But defence has rarely been an issue since that day in September: United have not let in more than two goals in any one match since the Leicester drubbing and have conceded just four goals in their last 10 games in the Premier League and FA Cup, per WhoScored.com.
But the Red Devils have forgotten how to attack and have lost their edge of passing the ball with dangerous precision.
United must put Leicester to the sword early in the match; otherwise another embarrassing day at Old Trafford might be in store.
Getting the Attacking Best from Angel Di Maria and Wayne Rooney
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To play Real Madrid's most creative player last season as a striker and to play one of United's greatest goalscoring forwards in central midfield makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
Yet this has been the principal tactics of much of United's play in recent games.
Angel Di Maria is not a striker and he never will be. He is a wizard who needs space to operate at an optimum, and playing as the last man with his back to a central defender does him no favours.
Wayne Rooney has done well in the middle of the park, battling away for Louis van Gaal and trying his best. But it is logical to now revisit the formation and play both players in more favourable roles.
The manager is likely to stick with his version of 5-3-2, but he must find a way of releasing Di Maria from his shackles. A less restrictive role, focusing on creativity, would suit the Argentine as much as it would the United and England captain.
The ingenuity and work-rate of both could then be harnessed to get United on the front foot and offer Radamel Falcao the service he craves.
LvG should play these footballers where they perform at their most inspirational and give them the freedom to breathe with the ball at their feet.
Ander Herrera Must Start Games
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It is impossible to know what Louis van Gaal truly thinks of Ander Herrera, but for some reason the coach refuses to put his faith in the Spaniard from the start of matches.
However, the more functional players like Michael Carrick—who has been United's best outfield player since returning from injury—and Daley Blind are selected for the starting XI regularly while Herrera warms the bench.
Herrera is a supremely talented individual who has no problem working hard and fighting for the team. So the decision to not give him a chance is wholly questionable when he has true box-to-box qualities: something Carrick and Blind do not have.
United seem to have had a problem with creative, foreign midfielders since the days of Juan Sebastian Veron all the way through to Shinji Kagawa.
Herrera could well be added to that list, along with Juan Mata, in the not-so-distant future.
The Spaniard is better than anyone in the Leicester midfield—so LvG must give him a shot.
Look Back to David Moyes—and Do Not Revisit Past Mistakes
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David Moyes may now be in Spain, sunning himself in the warmer climate of La Liga, but 12 months ago he was at United making an almighty mess for himself and the club.
Much like in Louis van Gaal's first six months, Moyes attempted a variation of tactics in an attempt to find a consistent way to win games.
But now LvG threatens to replicate the final few months of Moyes' reign—playing an increasing dangerous game of roulette with turgid defensive displays.
Moyes' United played with no intensity after Christmas last season, and the signs are present history could repeat itself.
Ryan Giggs' role is of paramount importance now—he witnessed what happened last season as an assistant coach, and he must help steer United to an improved brand of football.
Van Gaal is the superior manager when compared to Moyes, but it is easy to replicate mistakes when the fear of poor football results pressures you to make bad decisions.
It is time for Manchester United to once again follow their mantra of "attack, attack, attack."
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