8. A New Formation/Adaptability
New manager Louis van Gaal has implemented a new formation since taking charge of Manchester United with the Dutchman preferring to play 3-4-1-2. Yet these tactics appear to keep changing and it's going to take time for the players to adapt to his methods. Van Gaal is also keen on the 3-5-2 formation used by his Netherlands side at this summer's World Cup while he's also tinkered with a 4-3-3, playing four at the back against Swansea on the opening weekend in response to falling behind. And van Gaal himself admits
it's going to take a while for his players to acclimatise to his new regime. He said: If you look at the rest of my club career my teams have always tended to start the season slowly. That is because I give my players a lot of information, I load their brains a lot, and it takes time to adapt.
That is not so easy, and my experience at my former clubs was always that the starts were difficult. You could say to me, maybe a little less information, but that is not possible if we are going to change the way we play. I need to transfer my methods. That is the way I work, and it takes a certain amount of time."
Van Gaal says it might take time for his team to start clicking under his newly-imposed methods but former manager David Moyes will tell you the club's board are not the most patient lot, and unless players start responding to the new formations and tactics soon, this could be another very long season for the Reds.