Manchester United are in a rut, and manager Ruben Amorim must instantly deliver results or risk getting sacked.
He has stubbornly stuck with his favoured 3-4-2-1 setup, but 11 months on, the players still look lost.
The best managers are those who adapt to the conditions, their opponents, and their squad.
Former Man United coach Rene Meulensteen also believed that sticking to one system is not a great idea.
Here we explore three possible formations that could suit United better, though each comes with its own drawbacks.
4-2-3-1
This is the most basic formation. Benjamin Sesko leads the line, while Bruno Fernandes finally is finally restored to his natural number ten role.
Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte anchor the midfield, with the academy graduate operating as a box-to-box number eight.
Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo provide width, but this is where the cracks appear.
Cunha lacks the raw pace to truly terrify full-backs, and with Alejandro Garnacho pushed out by Amorim’s obsession with narrow forwards, United lack a genuine wide outlet.
Both Cunha and Mbeumo prefer drifting inside, leaving United without anyone to stretch defences properly.
4-3-3
The Red Devils look really strong on paper in this formation.
Mason Mount is an intriguing candidate for the midfield three, but Mainoo arguably offers better balance.
The main problem is pushing Fernandes into the left-central role.
When Cunha inevitably cuts inside, Fernandes will not be the man making lung-busting overlapping runs beyond him.
Patrick Dorgu gets the nod at left-back over Luke Shaw, whose decline since his injury has been glaring.
Shaw’s days as a reliable full-back or wing-back are seemingly behind him.
4-4-2
Mason Mount comes into the XI as the right-sided midfielder in place of Bryan Mbeumo.
Mainoo and Ugarte provide security in the centre with Cunha and Sesko forming a dangerous two-man strike force.
Mbeumo is a fantastic attacker and he could be wasted in a right midfield role where he would be forced to do defensive duties.
Can United really afford to leave the £70 million Cameroonian out after such a huge summer investment? We do not think so.