Given the success of this system during the World Cup with the Netherlands, in which Robin van Persie and perhaps more vitally Wesley Sneijder enjoyed themselves, Van Gaal will certainly be looking to implement this formation with Man United. Sneijder, a technically gifted and creative number ten, is given plenty of freedom, with two deeper central midfielders taking the heavier defensive responsibility. Linking midfield to attack, Sneijder was key in Van Gaal's set-up, with Juan Mata certainly boasting the ability to become an effective lynchpin to bring Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney into the game. Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia would be the first-choice wing-backs, injuries permitting, with both players adept at getting forward and offering the width required to stretch play and afford the number ten plenty of space to exploit. The holding likes of Darren Fletcher and even the energetic Ander Herrera would be able to shield the back three, with the latter also able to support attacks with runs from deep. Leaving Van Persie and Rooney to their own devices going forward inevitably poses the opposition questions in terms of committing men forward, with both players possibly able to flourish with a little less defensive responsibility. They might split and press intelligently, something the former Arsenal striker has already been coached during his recent spell in Brazil, but otherwise the duo would be focused on bringing the Red Devils upfield at pace.
