United can get their FA Cup campaign off to a dream start with these two tactical changes vs Brighton

Manchester United are set to commence their FA Cup campaign this afternoon, hosting Bright & Hove Albion at Old Trafford. Coming off a 2-2 draw with Burnley in the Premier League, Man United are still adjusting to life under interim manager Darren Fletcher following the untimely dismissal of Ruben Amorim. Despite this turbulence, United could defeat Brighton if they approach the match with the right strategy in mind. Test the keeper as much as possible Brighton have been quite inconsistent in recent games, struggling build any kind of decent form. Since the start of December, they have conceded 12 goals in just eight games (Transfermarkt), so United should be sure to attack with the same relentlessness that they have shown in some of their better performances throughout the season so far. It is due to Brighton’s sloppy defence that they have won only one match out of the 12 fixtures, and so the hosts must make sure to remain diligent up front. After all, United may not have come away with the win against Burnley, but their colossal 30 shots enabled them to score twice and rescue a point despite two costly defensive errors. Keep things simple During his last few days in charge, Amorim impulsively changed United’s formation in response to flaws in their performance. This seemed to largely unsettle the players, particularly after he was so adamant to continue with his 3-4-2-1 setup throughout most of his tenure despite criticism. In Fletcher’s first game in charge, he used a more orthodox 4-2-3-1 formation. United seemed far more at ease in this setup, maintaining the lion’s share of attacking momentum as could be seen visually (Sofascore) and, of course, in the aforementioned shooting statistic. With so much uncertainty revolving around the club as of late, Fletcher would do well to keep this formation and perhaps a similar starting lineup to at least provide his players with some consistency ahead of a crucial match. After all, the fate of their FA Cup campaign depends on it. The effectiveness of this formation was evident by how some players seemed so much more at ease than they did under Amorim’s system. The likes of Patrick Dorgu and Benjamin Sesko made strong impacts, while even Bruno Fernandes enjoyed more room for attacking creativity. Although Brighton should not be underestimated, they have proven to be highly inconsistent in recent matches. By allowing United players to use a system that feels comfortable for them and unlocking their attacking potential in the process, a win in today’s FA Cup tie is certainly a possibility. Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Mathew Cohen A faithful Manchester United supporter, Mathew has worked as a football writer and analyst for SB Nation, FanSided, and now The Peoples Person. Mathew’s heroes include David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sir Alex Ferguson, all of whom played their part in creating some special childhood memories.