Louis van Gaal Must Stick with 4-3-3 for the Rest of Manchester United's Season

On Wednesday night, Louis van Gaal managed to engineer a 2-0 win for Manchester United over Crystal Palace. It was reminiscent of the kind of routine home wins that were the building blocks for much of Sir Alex Ferguson's success.

Everyone remembers the dramatic comebacks and the key clashes with title rivals, but in truth—particularly during the latter years of his reign—one of Sir Alex's teams' defining qualities was their ability to ensure safe passages through games during the league season.

Since he retired in 2013, home wins have been anything but routine. Slip-ups against sides United are typically expected to beat have been commonplace—for example, United have lost home league games against Norwich City and Southampton this season alone.

No such misfortune befell the Red Devils on Wednesday. One of the key factors in United's improved performance against Palace was a change in system—one many have been advocating for much of this long, dull season.

As they did against West Ham United in the FA Cup quarter-final replay on April 13, United switched to a 4-3-3—or perhaps 4-1-4-1—that resembled the system they used during their infamous good spell at the back end of last season.

In between the West Ham and Palace games came the rather more turgid win over Aston Villa, a game in which it was less obvious whether United were playing a 4-3-3, 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1. Marouane Fellaini slotted into midfield alongside Morgan Schneiderlin as often as he broke beyond the ball.

The lineup for the Palace game was incredibly attacking on paper—there was only one recognised central midfielder in the side: Schneiderlin. In practice, it meant Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney playing ahead of the Frenchman, with Anthony Martial wide on the left, Jesse Lingard wide on the right and Marcus Rashford at centre-forward.

The combination of creativity and drive in the middle and speed on both flanks and up front was a potent one.

Of course, reading too much into the success of this approach based on this one game would be a mistake. The opposition looked every inch a team with more than one eye on Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Watford. Unlike United, Palace have little to play for in the league, their status as a Premier League team next season being all but assured.

With Manchester City having dropped points against Newcastle United on Tuesday evening, United's hopes of a UEFA Champions League spot meant they could not afford to take the game lightly in spite of their impending FA Cup semi-final against Everton. For once this season, not that meant Van Gaal opted for the more attacking option.

It made a huge difference. The Red Devils are averaging 3.8 shots on target per game this season—they managed 10 on Wednesday evening, per WhoScored.com.

The early own goal surely helped to settle United's nerves, but what followed was a committed attacking display. It was far from the best seen at Old Trafford, but unlike most of what has been served up at the Theatre of Dreams this season, it was unquestionably fun.

And while the opposition played their part—or rather did not—the system was a big part of why. Against West Ham at the Boleyn Ground, United bounced back from their humiliation against Tottenham Hotspur with aplomb.

There, the midfield triumvirate was an exact match for the one that had so impressed last season: Michael Carrick, Fellaini and Ander Herrera. Playing Mata and Rooney in the advanced roles might be a little too attacking against the very best opposition, but for the most part, it would be good to see United imposing themselves on defences.

Many times this season, Van Gaal has bemoaned how difficult it is to break down deep-lying defences. It is not particularly surprising that playing a more attacking lineup helped to do so. Against West Ham, United showed the system could also be effective in a game in which they were not clear favourites.

From now until the end of the season, United have one must-win game after another. The FA Cup is there for the taking, and with both City and Arsenal wobbling, the chance of an unlikely fourth-place finish remains.

"Attack, attack, attack" was the battle cry of the Stretford End for much of the early part of this campaign, and it is at last being heard. The 4-3-3 formation should be United's default. Conservatism has not served the club well. It is time to gamble.

Quotations obtained firsthand.