Is a change of formation as vital for Man Utd as the aquisition of new players?

I think we should deploy the 4-2-3-1 tactic, I can see it really working for us in the attacking way.

I dont understand all the hate for the 4-4-2. Sure, it's not a very safe bet against teams with incredible attacking capabilities like Barcelona and Real madrid, or any big team really. However, the 4-4-2 can often be the most attacking formation. At the same time it can be defensive, however, the key to the 4-4-2 are the midfielders. They need to be absolute workhorses, and need to be very dynamic otherwise it won't really work. The 4-4-2 accommodates a lot of width too. The problem that people see with it, is mainly (not that its not dynamic, but) that if teams push hard against it, move fullbacks up and have possesion centrally. The team is only playing with 2 center midfielders, and either are stuck that way, or are forced to have a striker come and help out. A 4-4-2 is not a good option if you dont have dynamic strikers, ones who have work rate and are willing to help out.

The problem with this question is that, with manchester united, If wayne rooney is playing one of those two strikers, he will always be dropping back. That's just how he plays. And effectively, a 4-4-2 often turns into a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-5-1. The dynamicness is one thing for formations like the 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 but with the wrong players it can be (even) less offensive then you would think. It favours possesion, and movement. Players need to be complete.

I believe in the modern game, it isnt responsible to play a 4-4-2 for the really huge games. However, I think Fergie will continue to play it for the other games. He usually does play a 4-5-1 for the big games.

The 4-4-2 WAS the standard formation in the PL. Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side was among the more prominent sides in relatively recent times to have discarded the 4-4-2; the move away from the 4-4-2 for other sides was gradual.

When you consider the clubs in the PL, you'll probably find very few teams lining up in a RIGID 4-4-2 formation. Formations as such are NOT rigid; they are very flexible. They can change during the course of a game, due to particular requirements. The formation when a team is trying to hold on to a lead would be entirely different from the formation when chasing a game. Take Barcelona's 'standard' formation 4-3-3 for instance. Even there, you can call it a 4-5-1 formation. Depending on requirements, Barca have often switched to 3-4-3 formation; the use of this formation has been much more regular this season.

Most clubs in the PL line-up in some variation of the 4-4-2: 4-1-2-1-2, 4-4-1-1, 4-2-2-2 etc. In fact, I think there's not much difference between the 4-2-3-1 formation and the 4-4-1-1 formation.

Edit: 4-4-2 may be our BASE formation but when you look at the type of players we have and the roles they are 'deployed' in, we essentially play a 4-2-3-1 formation. For eg, today we played, back 4 - Scholes & Carrick - Young, Rooney, Valencia - Javier Hernandez.

*scratches head*

We haven't played 4-4-2 for more than a handful of games this season.

Yes, I do watch many games. Frequent supporters groups and (albeit I used to go to most games) I have been to a few games this season. Most United fans are in fact, wanting us to go back to using 4-4-2 as a base formation. We use a 4-3-3/ 4-5-1 hybrid for most of our games. When do we play 4-4-2? When we use two strikers - even then, Rooney will sit in a permanent false 9 position.

I think they need a fresh injection of players particularly in the midfield department ...i would say Oi Fergie get your hand in you pocket and spend spend spend!!

A change of personnel mate.