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With mounting pressure on the club and the manager after a terrible start to the season and disappointment on the transfer front, tonight’s game against Luton Town is an opportunity for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to try something different.
Even though United’s defense was statistically one of the best in the Premier League last season, the strongest doubts of all linger over that section of the team, fueled by losing those three goals to Palace on Saturday.
Having a match against a Championship team so soon after that loss should be seen as a blessing for Solskjaer, as it will give his team another chance to win in form before a difficult trip to Brighton in form on Saturday. It is also an opportunity to experiment with a revamped defense and potentially a new formation that can ease the transition of new signing Donny van de Beek to the team.
The difficulty, however, is that with a fan base becoming increasingly hostile towards the club, a slip against a Championship team at this stage will only lead to further humiliation and pressure. And Luton is flying.
While United’s season is just beginning, this will be the Hatters’ fifth game of the campaign and they have won all four to date, including a Derby loss to Wayne Rooney on Saturday and a 3-1 beating of United favorites. Norwich City championship at the Carabao. Cup.
To say that they will not be a push is, therefore, an understatement.
Solskjaer’s pattern in similar situations before has been to present a strong team, or at least what he perceives to be close to his stronger side. And he’s a stubborn man, sticking to the players he believes in longer than most, in the hope that his faith will be rewarded with a return to form.
At some point, however, the Norwegian must make some more courageous decisions. You have to risk that humiliation to find a new formula, or at least an alternative formula to the tried and true one that beat you to death in late 2019/20.
If someone plays well enough, they should stay on the team regardless of their seniority. In the same way, if someone is playing badly, they should be removed, regardless of their seniority.
Let’s see that Diogo Dalot has another fair chance. Let’s see what a Bailly – Mengi association can do on the back. Let’s see how we look in a 4-4-2 diamond formation with Matic holding. Let’s see what Mason Greenwood can do at the center forward position, perhaps alongside Odion Ighalo in that 4-4-2D. Let’s take a look at Hannibal Mejbri for 20 minutes.
If United lose, Solskjaer will have learned something. But if they convince, then a whole new world could open up in terms of team selection and formation for what now seems like a tired and predictable Man United.
Manchester United’s new star Donny van de Beek is the 13th Dutchman to play for the senior team. But how much do you know about the other 12? Take our questionnaire below to find out.
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