After a lot of experimentation, it looks as though Louis Van Gaal has finally settled on a formation at Manchester United. One of the key takeaways for the Red Devils from the last couple of games was that not only did they win, but they managed to do so playing a style and a system that the manager wants them to play.
The Dutchman has essentially settled on a narrow diamond in midfield with two strikers in Radamel Falcao and Robin Van Persie staying up front. Although Daley Blind has all but cemented his position at the base of the diamond, the rest of roles look as though they are up grabs. While Angel Di Maria is certain to operate as a left-sided midfielder, the role at the tip of the diamond is one that is still up for grabs.
It is this role that has the most suitors at the club. In Juan Mata, they have a player who is very much suited to playing as the side’s central attacking midfielder. In Wayne Rooney, they have a player who is versatile enough to play as one of the two front men, as well as the role just behind them. Another player, who is adept at the No.10 role is the currently injured Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera. So who should Van Gaal choose? To make an informed judgement on this, we need to look at what each of them bring to the table and what their strengths’ and weaknesses’ are.
Juan Mata
Arguably the most natural playmaker at the club, the Spaniard has started the season amongst the goals and showed just how effective he can be, when played in his preferred position. The diminutive Spaniard has the capability to not only create goals by drifting in pockets of space, but also score as well.
But the problem with Mata is that the Spaniard sometimes drops too deep and doesn’t pressurize the opposing defenders enough. While playing a diamond in midfield, it is essential that the No.10 presses higher up the pitch and is also agile enough to strike up an understanding with the striker and at times move beyond them. Movement isn’t the Spaniard’s strong suit and that is one of the reasons why the Spaniard might not be the best player to use as the No.10 in Van Gaal’s 4-1-2-1-2 formation.
Wayne Rooney
Throughout his career, Wayne Rooney has shown a remarkable ability to not just score goals, but also create as well. The fact that nobody in the Premier League apart from him has managed to hit double digits in both goals and assists in the past five seasons is a testament to that. And although he has primarily played as a striker for United ever since signing for the club more than a decade ago, he has shown that he can play as a No.10 as well.
While it is true that Rooney can operate as a central playmaker, Van Persie’s dip in form in the past few months means that Van Gaal would be better off putting his club captain ahead of the Dutch captain in the role alongside Falcao. Not only does he give the attack another dimension, he also provides versatility and movement, that is otherwise absent when Van Persie starts alongside the Colombian striker.
Ander Herrera
As good as both Mata and Rooney are, neither of them tick all the boxes, when it comes to playing as the side’s central attacking midfielder. If there is one player in the current squad apart from Angel Di Maria, who does that, it is Herrera. The 25-year-old came to prominence while playing as a No.10 for Athletic Bilbao and certainly knows what to do, in terms of the role itself.
One of the primary roles of the player operating at the tip of the diamond is to link up with the strikers and concentrate on developing a good understanding with them. Not only that, he is also expected to thread through balls in behind the defence, while at times also running beyond the striker to create further options. Not only can Herrera do all of that, he can do so much more as well. What separates him from the other options at Van Gaal’s disposal is that the Spanish midfielder is adept at not just going forward, but also pressing higher up the pitch and tracking his runners and doing his fare share of defensive duties as well.
In Herrera, Van Gaal has his ideal No.10, now all he needs to do is play Rooney up top, drop Van Persie and ensure that he gets the most out of this talented 25-year-old Spanish midfielder.