Louis van Gaal had yet another moment of madness against Tottenham as he decided to deploy Ashley Young as a lone striker when his side were in need of a goal.

Anthony Martial, who United forked out £36million on in the summer, was once again stuck out on the left wing while natural wideman Young played in the Frenchman's favoured position.

Makes sense? No, not at all but Van Gaal has continued to stick with his flawed tactics throughout the season and United are paying for it.

Ashley Young led the line during Manchester United's horror second-half display against Tottenham

Natural striker Anthony Martial (centre) was forced into playing on the left wing while Young was the No 9

Marouane Fellaini has been used in a number of roles, with the midfielder even playing as a lone striker

Belgium manager Marc Wilmots has previously hit out at Louis van Gaal for using Fellaini the wrong way

Michael Carrick was used a centre back against Arsenal (left) while Jesse Lingard was forced into playing as a right wing back during United's defeat by Southampton in January (right)

It is not the first time Van Gaal has decided to put a square peg in a round hole and it will not be the last.

The Dutchman has started players out of position on 38 separate occasions throughout the season, with Marouane Fellaini leading the line and Michael Carrick playing as an emergency centre back among the examples of when he has used international stars the wrong way.

United were forced into deploying Fellaini as a lone striker against Liverpool in September because of Van Gaal's decision to let strikers Robin van Persie, Javier Hernandez and Radamel Falcao leave the club.

Fellaini also started as United's No 9 against Ipswich Town in the Capital One Cup despite Wayne Rooney being on the field against the Championship outfit.

Belgium national team boss Marc Wilmots has previously hit out at Van Gaal for playing Fellaini out of position.

'I know him by heart,' Wilmots told The Times. 'In my eyes, he is a box-to-box [midfielder]. He could also play as No 6 by himself, but not with a partner.'

Young has had to transform into the modern day version of John O'Shea with the experienced 30-year-old playing at left back, right back as well as in attack during the campaign.

Darmian, who was signed as a right back to replace Rafael, has played several games on the opposite side of the pitch while winger Jesse Lingard started against Southampton as a right wing back.

United fell to a 1-0 defeat during Lingard's run out as a wing back against Ronald Koeman's side, a game in which Van Gaal had two natural defenders in Guillermo Varela and Paddy McNair on the bench.

There have been a few occasions where Van Gaal has been forced into playing players out of position such as against Watford back in November when wingers Lingard and Memphis Depay led the line.

Van Gaal, pictured during United's defeat at Tottenham, seems to enjoy deploying players in the wrong position

United ace Juan Mata must be growing frustrated at having to play on the wing rather than as a No 10

Italy international Matteo Darmian (left, pictured with Mousa Dembele) has had to fill in at left back

Van Gaal was unable to call on Rooney and Martial but he did have a young Marcus Rashford on the substitutes' bench.

Staying on the topic of Rashford, Van Gaal's decision to start the youngster as a right winger at Anfield on only his fifth senior appearance for the club was a costly mistake.

The 18-year-old's confidence would have been knocked as he was hauled off at half-time after being given the run around by Alberto Moreno and Phillipe Coutinho.

There have been a few occasions where Van Gaal's gambles have paid off such as when he used Carrick as a centre back in home wins against Arsenal and Midtjylland but most of the time his tactics have cost United.

For every positive such as choosing to play Blind as a centre back, there is a negative such as deploying Juan Mata as a winger rather than as United's central playmaker.

Maybe it's time Van Gaal loses his position as United boss.