Just a week ago comparisons flew about between David Moyes and Louis van Gaal. The points obtained from the first 21 Premier League games was the same. These horrible claims sent shivers down United fans' spines yet a week later, after traveling 200 miles to London, there were murmurs of discontent in the away at Loftus Road.

As the players, and coaches, made their way to the dressing room for half time there were chants of "4-4-2" from the 2,000 person strong away end. The fans chanting, in a half serious half joking manner, were sure to have felt vindicated as a change to such formation resulted in a goal within one minute.

Louis van Gaal defended his beloved 3-5-2 formation, brought from the World Cup as he guided the Netherlands to third.

"I know in advance when we play with four midfielders in a diamond that we create more chances.

But then the balance of the team is also weak. And you see it because we have created chances but also Queens Park Rangers have, and we have to decide every week how to play. That's the question."

United went onto beat Queens Park Rangers 2-0 thanks to a late James Wilson goal. The result took van Gaal out of competition with Moyes but left him in dangerous territory, near slipping out of the top four.

The Dutch manager steered United near the top dogs of Manchester City and Chelsea before the festive period, winning six games on the trot and closing in on the two title challengers.

Yet the festive period saw various first team players return from injury and van Gaal switch to the 3-5-2 formation to accommodate such players. The formation that brought no luck at the start of the season seemingly disappointed again, taking United out of their purple patch and more into boring, boring drawing. 

So far this season, the Reds have played some variation of a 3-5-2 on five occasions. In a formation with a defensive midfielder they have won three, drawn two and lost one while when an attacking midfielder has been played instead they have won two, drawn three and lost one. Both formations have seen the ball hit the back of the net eight times from a man in red and an attacking midfielder has seen one more goal go past David De Gea.

This graphic demonstrates the key difference between the two formations which have caused controversy in a league that has rarely seen such a foreign style of play.

In a 3-1-4-1 there is an anchor man between the three defenders and the midfield, giving the team the ability to play out of defence. A player like Daley Blind or Michael Carrick in this role is perfect for playing counter-attacking teams as the defensive midfielder can easily shift into defence when the wingbacks are too far forward.

For example, against QPR Marcos Rojo shifted to left-back, Phil Jones to right-back and Michael Carrick to centre-back. This is reminiscent of the Louis van Gaal 1995 Ajax Champions League winning side that played total football so gracefully and dominated Europe. 

However, the downside of having Blind or Carrick dropping deep is it harnesses Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. With only six front men and two of them concentrated on defending at times the attacking threat that we assumed would blow most teams away has failed to come out. In 6 games in a 3-1-4-2, United have scored just 8 goals. 

A 3-4-1-2 has not brought much luck either, with van Gaal earning just two wins with it. The introduction of Juan Mata for Blind or Carrick brings the passing play to a high and the attacking threat to a climax. Yet defensively it is lower league worthy.

The four defender formations saw United win 6 games in a row against Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Stoke City, Liverpool and Southampton. Both have brought resounding success for the attacking players of Di Maria, Rooney, van Persie and Mata. 

4-1-2-1-2 has seen the Reds score 13 goals in just five games, with an average of 2.6 goals a game doubling that of the 3 defender formations. 

It allows Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria to flourish in a 3 man midfield with Daley Blind covering behind. The two attacking midfielders feature behind Juan Mata who assists van Persie and Rooney or Falcao in a front two. The rewards attacking wise are huge with 2.6 goals a game as well as four wins out of five. 

Yet even with Daley Blind covering Di Maria and Herrera the defence is very liable to conceding against quick teams. With eight goals conceded in five games at an average of 1.6 goals conceded against an average of 0.5 goals conceded in a three defender formation, it is quite starkly contrasting.

4-1-4-1 also provides interesting statistics regarding United's defence and with only one win from four while playing it, it hardly resounds well for the future.

As well as defensive issues United's potent attack have only scored 4 times while playing it, in four games. With only one striker available in a 4-1-4-1, Wayne Rooney is shifted into midfield, Juan Mata struggles to play and Radamel Falcao is dropped. 

CONCLUSION

Each formation has it's weaknesses. To conclude which will give Manchester United the best chance of 3rd or 4th spot in the next 4 months is a challenge of which is worse, not which is better. 

A three defender formation has looked suspect at times in the defensive department but with only 9 goals conceded in 12 games it holds a good record; which bears the question if the personnel were wrong when it was played.

A four defender formation is the key to attacking threat, it unleashes the huge attacking talent that forces some of the League's best players on to the bench at time. The 4-1-2-1-2 has been most successful with 13 goals scored in 5 games but again it is weak defensively.

Van Gaal said that 'we have to choose [formation] every week' and he is right. For a game like QPR, the 4-1-2-1-2 was desperately required to enforce mistakes from them and allow Di Maria to shift into midfield. 

Yet for a game like Chelsea or Manchester City the defensive qualities in a 3-1-4-2 or a 3-4-1-2 are craved for. 

For a short term solution each formation presents itself as a one game master. Louis van Gaal must adapt with each game that comes and not persist with the 3-5-2 because it did well against Tottenham or Stoke. He must change and let the attacking talents run freely and expose defensive frailties in the opposition.

The correct formations are there and have been learnt well by the players afte seven months and the rewards could be extensive should van Gaal use each formation in the correct way.