Changing Tactics.

Watching the game yesterday, and putting the other matches into consideration, it has been refreshing to see us look very solid (albeit Newcastle had a couple of chances on the break-they looked the best 'team' we have played so far).

However, we STILL look too pedestrian, whether that's down to rustiness whilst we are in the early period of the season, or whether it's tactical is too early to tell.

I'd like to see us be a bit more unpredictable in attack, with midfielder's and attackers making good runs (we did this to a much better standard on Tuesday but reverted to type yesterday), but with our current setup, we don't seem to have anyone bar Memphis who is looking to support Rooney in attack.

Our tactics so far have been perfect for the big games, where we have looked solid and in control, but for the teams who put men behind the ball and demand us to do something special, I feel we are still not set up to break these stubborn defences down. Granted, yesterday we were wasteful in our final ball and did miss a few chances, but all in all, Newcastle deserved a point because they handled everything we threw at them.

I'm not Rooney's biggest fan as a deep lying forward or a #10, but in these types of games, he has to have a forward playing ahead of him to offer us a bit more of a goal threat, or similarly, someone playing off of him who looks to link up with him and make runs into the box. There is the option to occasionally give him a free role like he used to and let a more disciplined striker play infront of him.

With Schneiderlin, Carrick or Schweinsteiger as the two midfielder's, we don't really have anyone looking to get in the box, this is where Herrera's craft and energy would be useful in these games, and Mata as an inside right is crowding the centre too much and not offering us a pacey outlet out wide. I'm ok with Mata playing there, but yet again, I think it is an option for the bigger matches where you want three mobile midfielders in the centre.

If Van Gaal doesn't want a striker, he simply HAS to play Mata central against the weaker teams and instruct him to support Rooney in the opposition area. Mata is a clever player who has proven he can get himself into the box and score, and he can utilise his vision in a more dangerous area.

4-2-3-1:
De Gea
Darmian Smalling Blind Shaw
Herrera Schneiderlin
(New Rw) Mata Depay
Rooney

That above team should be playing against the stubborn sides in my opinion.

I don't think our business is done yet, and I'm sure Van Gaal and Woodward are working together to add some more attacking threats to the squad.

All in all, I'm content with 7 points from 9 considering it's early days and there's a lot of potential for us to play much better. Daley Blind has so far looked a shrewd tactical move at centre half (surprisingly considering his physical attributes but his football brain has won over), and Smalling alongside him has been faultless. The full backs have offered plenty and been solid, although they could do with some practice on their final ball's.

We have protected the defence very well, and have kept team's at arm's length. Haven't really looked like losing and Romero has been kept largely quiet. Tweaking our tactics for stubborn sides and upping the tempo would do us the world of good. Whether we add a player or two to bolster the squad is yet to be seen, but I feel relaxed and excited to see how the window plays out.

Despite a frustrating result yesterday, I feel positive in our direction and the potential we have to improve on last season's performance.