Is it a mistake to play people out of position?

Yes. Obviously it is. Just because a player can do a job in a position that is not their favoured or natural one, does not mean they should have to – nor does it mean the team will profit.

At times this season the injury situation has forced LVG’s hand and understandably he has done the best he could with the players he had, especially at the back, but when it comes to playing Wayne Rooney in midfield, it becomes hard to justify.

When Radamel Falcao and RVP are struggling for goals and Ander Herrera is sitting on the bench, quite why the Dutchman wants to employ Rooney in the middle of the park is unfathomable to all but Van Gaal himself.