Formation's

If players at the top of the game are really that good then it begs the question do formations matter? If a player is so technically skilled then surely they should be able to play in a number of positions and any type of system. An argument against this theory would be Manchester United.

The Red's are considered alongside Arsenal as the most entertaining team to watch in the Barclays Premiership having scored more goals than any other team.

Fans are left spell bound at the sides slick passing and fast counter attacking football. Domestically United line up in the traditional 4-4-2 formation but in the Champions League it is a different story.

A few years ago Sir Alex Ferguson came out with the statement that United were too easy to figure out in Europe so he decided to change the way the team play.

Ferguson experimented with 4-5-1 or how he described 4-3-3. The system failed to make an impact and the striker at the time Ruud Van Nistelrooy cut a lonesome figure upfront on his own as the teams fluidity disappeared in an instant.

Even though the system has failed in terms of results (this being the clubs first quarter final appearance since 2003 in the Champions League) Ferguson persists on this more conservative 4-5-1 formation on the continent.

With only one position available upfront Wayne Rooney has found himself stuck out on the left or right wing tracking back whenever the opposition has the ball. Surely Sir Alex is doing his opponents a favour as one of the sides most creative players has to spend as much time in the his own half as he does in the oppositions.

Rooney clearly does not relish this role but he does it for the team. It is even more frustrating when people criticise his goal record in the competition, surely a little common sense should prevail. Rooney has only played in his favoured strikers position a handful of times in the competition.

Maybe its time for Sir Alex to listen to the fans and play with the attacking 4-4-2 style that has seen us destroy teams in the Premiership after all how can one of the most entertaining teams domestically come over all Jekyll and Hyde and become so boring in Europe.