MOTD2 analysis - How Man Utd's diamond suits Angel Di Maria

MOTD2 pundit Mark Lawrenson expands on his TV analysis of the 4-0 win over QPR that gave Louis van Gaal his first Premier League win as Manchester United manager.

I was at Old Trafford on Sunday to take a first look at some of Manchester United's expensive new signings and see how Louis van Gaal fitted them into his team.

United's British record signing Angel Di Maria was the star of the show on his home debut, scoring one goal and making another in what was a very easy win.
Di Maria was a perfect fit in United's midfield diamond and his display should make Van Gaal think hard about switching back to a three-man defence, because I don't think that system will suit him so well.

Di Maria provides pace and penetration

There was absolutely no doubt that Di Maria was the man who made the difference for United against QPR.
When the Argentina international had the ball, they played at a totally difference pace, and he was so creative with it.
After some poor early crosses he just got better and better, and a couple of dinked passes he played to Robin van Persie were just sublime.
Di Maria was United's only midfield player who really looked to run at the QPR defenders, take them on and commit the opposition.
He linked up well with left-back Marcos Rojo and QPR never really coped with Di Maria, or the tempo United had when he had possession, something that happened a lot, particularly in the first half.

Man Utd's attacks in the first half vs QPR

Di Maria played on the left-hand side of a four-man midfield diamond in their 4-1-2-1-2 formation, with Ander Herrera to his right, Daley Blind behind him and Juan Mata at the top.
That role certainly suits Di Maria better than any position in the 3-4-1-2 formation that Van Gaal seems to prefer.
Whether he is used as a wing-back or as a central midfielder in that 3-4-1-2, then he will have more defensive responsibilities.

Angel Di Maria touches vs QPR	Marcos Rojo touches vs QPR

Angel Di Maria	Marcos Rojo
Touches: 95	Touches: 100
Total passes: 76	Total passes: 85
Passing accuracy: 80.3%	Passing accuracy: 91.8%
Crosses: 6	Crosses: 3
Shots: 2	Shots: 0
Goals: 1	Goals: 0

He showed against QPR that he is willing to work back, and did it well when he had to, but this is a £59.7m player we are talking about.
United spent that much money on him because of what he offers them in attack and, whatever formation they play, surely they want to give him as much freedom as possible.
Di Maria gives them the threat out wide they lacked last season so it is important they play him in a position where he does not have anything else to do but run at defenders all day long.
Why play in a system that burdens him with anything else?