This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

As the saying goes ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. After Ole Gunnar Solskjaer essentially shocked the world by switching to a five-at-the-back formation against Liverpool last week (or three-at-the-back if you’re a glass half-full kind of person), the Norwegian may have been tempted to just roll out with his new set-up for the foreseeable weeks and months to come.

After all, his approach had just stopped the reigning Champions League holders, and the only Premier League side with a flawless record, in their tracks. Then, to follow that up, the Red Devils negotiated a hostile atmosphere out in Serbia, to come away with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League.

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So when the Manchester side turned up at Carrow Road on Sunday afternoon to take on Norwich – a team firmly fixed in the relegation mire – Solskjaer may have felt like he had been backed into a corner by a measure of his own success. Why change something that had worked so well in the two initial tests he had tried?

But the Norwegian did, and when it was all said and done, can take a huge amount of credit for United coming away with a 3-1 victory. The Red Devils boss reverted to type with a back-four, and had three roving forwards in behind a fully-fit Anthony Martial. By the nature of its design, playing five in defence can sometimes be seen as a defensive move. And against a team that had conceded 21 goals prior to Sunday, it may have felt wholly unnecessary.

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Solskjaer recognised that, dropped Marcos Rojo from the side that drew against Liverpool, and replaced him with another attacker in Martial. The move paid dividends as United scored more than once in a Premier League fixture since their opening game against Chelsea in which they struck four times.

As reports in recent weeks suggest the former Cardiff boss is facing increasing pressure over his long-term future at the club, his tactical versatility over the past week proves there is certainly something there for him to work with.

Against more dominant teams like Liverpool, Solskjaer could bring back the five-man defence. And when coming up against the league’s lesser lights, he can choose a more adventurous approach like the one on Sunday. The Red Devils need several strings to their bow, and the United manager proved he has more than just one.