Manchester United in for 'a long and painful transition' - Souness

Former Liverpoolmanager Graeme Souness warns that Manchester Unitedare in for "a long and painful transition" if Louis van Gaalcontinues with his new 3-5-2 formation.
The Dutchman took Netherlands to third place at the World Cup over the summer using the new system but has yet to secure his first win with the Red Devils while adopting the same shape.
Souness argues that United are running the risk of being left behind in their quest to return to the Champions League.
"A coach has to be brave to say that he is going to pursue a system before he gets to know his players," he wrote inThe Sunday Times. "They have to buy into it.
"If Van Gaal is determined to persist with a back three, this is going to be a long and painful transition for United. The team may take until November to settle down. You ain't going to win the league if you take that long and you might not make the Champions League places either.
"United have already dropped seven points from a possible nine. If you continue with three at the back and the results are not improving, players will not be slow in turning round and pointing their fingers at the coach, saying: 'It's not that I am not playing well, it's the system.'"
Van Gaal spent a British-record £57.9 million on signing winger Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid late in the transfer window and Souness feels that a four-at-the-back system would better suit the Red Devils' new star man.
"Di Maria is too much of a winger to play as a wing-back so he would play one position inside the widest man in a 3-5-2," the Scot observed. "If you play with a back four, you can play him wide, as Argentina did when he made three goals and scored the other in their 4-2 win over Germany [on Wednesday].
"There is a question-mark against Radamel Falcao as well. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in January and missed the World Cup.
"The words 'cruciate ligament injury' still strike fear into players and would-be buyers because, once you have had one, it can lead to the loss of a yard of pace and restrict the twisting of the knee because it doesn't feel as secure.
"Up front is the hardest place to play and that's where you must have all your agility and pace. There's never a great age to get that injury but, the later it happens to you, the harder it is to come back from. Falcao is 28.
"In taking him on loan from Monaco and selling Danny Welbeck, a product of their youth system, United again seem to be moving away from what they have always been about."

Source:goal