In the aftermath of Manchester United's loss to Danish minnows FC Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday night, it seems a far cry from the days when any United side were capable of getting a job done regardless of any hindrances.
The team sent out to get a result in Denmark was not close to full strength, but it did serve as a reminder of how Alex Ferguson excelled at getting the absolute most out of some very limited sides when his squads were running a bit thin. Here are five examples of unusual Manchester United teams that still managed to get a great result:
Wolfsburg vs Manchester United - Champions League, 2009
Final score: 1-3
This lineup had been doing the rounds since United drew the Bundesliga side in the group stages of this year's Champions League, and with good reason, it's a fairly strange lineup.
Michael Owen bagged a hat-trick, and Gabriel Obertan showed a superstar potential that Manchester United fans would never see again.
Manchester United vs Arsenal - FA Cup, 2011
Final score: 2-0
While the defence was reasonable and the strikers were first-choice, that midfield was just mad. John O'Shea put in this shift to end all shifts in a midfield maestro role, and Fabio and Rafael ran about like to toddlers on a sugar buzz.
Manchester United vs Fenerbache - Champions League, 2004
Final score: 6-2
This game would go down in history as the game where everybody accepted that Wayne Rooney was going to become a Manchester United great, as he pumped in a hat-trick on his debut for the club. The lads mentioned above didn't matter, but fair play to David Bellion for getting his name on the scoresheet late on.
Manchester United vs Wolves - Carling Cup, 2010
Final score: 3-2
This team is included purely for that strikeforce and the fact that this was Bebé's first start as a Manchester United player. He managed to score, which was a great return in comparison to his performance against Wolves in the league the following season.
Hull City vs Manchester United - Premier League, 2009
Final score: 0-1
Hull hosted Man U on the final day of the 08/09 season thinking they needed a win to stay in the Premier League. United had already wrapped up the league title and sent the kids (Lee Martin..) out to make it interesting and give Hull a change. Hull were crap. Darron Gibson banged in an absolute screamer in the first half, and that was it. In the end, Hull were bailed out by results elsewhere.
