It's taken seven weeks, nine matches and three different systems but Ralf Rangnick finally seems to be settling on his best starting XI at Manchester United.
After abandoning his favoured 4-2-2-2 and failed experiments with a back-three and 4-2-3-1 formations, Rangnick deployed a 4-3-3 on Wednesday's trip to Brentford and it had a positive impact. United finally got back to winning ways.
It wasn't perfect or anything and it's unlikely that any formation would make United so until a serious shakeup of the squad, which isn't coming in January. United were still dominated for large portions of the match and were fortunate not to be a few goals down by the time the half-time whistle went.
But they held on and in the second half they were able to clinically counter with speed, take their chances and looked a lot more solid. Especially in the middle of the park.
“I think most of the top teams in Europe and in England play in a 4-3-3," Rangnick said after the game and that acknowledgement seems to suggest United will be sticking with it going forward.
As well as the system they play in, Rangnick's first-choice 11 is taking shape.
Diogo Dalot and Alex Telles are the preferred full-backs and Victor Lindelof is being picked ahead of captain Harry Maguire to partner Raphael Varane in defence.
In midfield, the often maligned duo of Fred and Scott McTominay look much more assured in well-defined roles, with McTominay the combative holder and Fred the dynamic, energetic box-to-box man. Alongside them, Bruno Fernandes is the creative outlet.
David de Gea, of course, is the man between the sticks.
The only areas that are up for debate are the three forward positions, owing to the fact that Rangnick has so many options at his disposal.
Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial may want out of Old Trafford but for the time being they remain in the squad which has been added to further by the emergence of Anthony Elanga.
With Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Jadon Sancho and Edinson Cavani (if fit) all to choose from as well it could be easy to get choice paralysis.
Now Rangnick needs to settle on his first-choice attack ahead of Saturday's important face-off with West Ham and he has been given plenty to think about.
Keeping the positivity going will be vital after United finally got back to winning ways vs Brentford and a win would see them overtake the Hammers and jump into fourth place.
Elanga has started the last two games and he has given no reason to be dropped after his impressive displays and well-taken opener against Brentford. The teenager's youthful energy, ingenuity and fearlessness has been a helpful tonic to spark United's dreary attack back to life.
Greenwood started and was on hand to score his first goal since early December as he tapped in after Fernandes put it on a plate for him, but Rashford also ended a goal drought - one that stretched back to October - with an emphatic finish.
Both of them will be pushing to start and there will likely only be one spot available.
That is unless Rangnick drops Ronaldo.
Such a move would be some statement following the Portuguese's reaction to being substituted on Wednesday, as he stopped and paddied like a teenager getting his Xbox taken away. That unrelenting desire to always be on the pitch may have served him well in his career, but it doesn't serve the team well to have a positive night derailed by more needless drama.
A one-off Rangnick may be able to forgive, but any more outbursts unbefitting of a 36-year-old man may need to be accompanied with punishment and the boss has plenty of options waiting in the wings.
With the rest of his side taking shape, when Rangnick can settle on his best front three real progress can start to be made.
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