Tactics vs City

RyanGoggs

After today's meltdown how do we approach the city game now? Obviously the onus is on them to try and win the game which (assuming they beat wolves) would put them out in front and with a better goal difference.

Is this a game for 4-5-1? The only problem being that we would have to drop Welbeck or move Rooney out left which is never ideal. Otherwise we could go 4-4-2 and possibly risk being overrun in midfield.

Another issue is team selection which after today would suggest we need a little more protection in CM which we could provide by playing three in the middle of the park, maybe allowing Carrick to stay that little bit deeper.

A wildcard option could be to play Park who generally puts in the big performances when it matters as well as having an extremely good work rate. Maybe also play Smalling or Jones at right back as we can't afford gaps being left from Rafaels sometimes questionable positioning.

How should we approach the match?

kouroux

0-0-10. Park the fucking titanic and play counter attacking

nemanja15

de Gea

Rafael
Ferdinand
Evans
Evra

Valencia
Carrick
Cleverley
Scholes
Nani

Rooney

Is the only way for me. Harsh on Welbeck but otherwise I'm sure we will be over-run in midfield.

I'm always right

Outscore the cunts. Wellbeck and Rooney again!!

IhabX7

The Titanic out of all things?

Cheesy

Brave formation. Might be quite easy for Aguero and Tevez though with no defenders up against them.

forevrared

Smalling has to play at right back, in my mind.

I think Sir Alex will go for a midfield 3 of Carrick, Scholes and Giggs with Rooney and Welbeck up top and Nani floating around both wings. The attacking 3 are in too good of form to drop any of them, although if we're going to play for a draw and take our chances then I can see Welbeck sitting on the bench for Young.

Snow

We need to counter attack well and be sharp in defense. The pressure is on City to get the goal. The longer we keep the sheet clean the better.

wr8_utd

Play for a draw and hit them on the counter.

Freak

I'd say we somehow squeeze all 11 of our players on our goal line and keep our shape there.

Cina

4-5-1 with Rooney - Nani - Valencia up top.

Harsh on Welbeck but going there 4-4-2 is suicide.

Siorac

If we had Fletcher available, I'd go for a Carrick, Fletcher, Scholes midfield, with Nani and Welbeck flanking Rooney. Valencia has lost his form, I'd bench him.

As it is though, we simply don't have enough midfielders for a proper 4-5-1/4-3-3. Playing Giggs and Scholes together from the start is never a good idea; Park is woefully out of match practice and form, Cleverley is struggling, Anderson's injured. We'll have to stick Rooney VERY DEEP, leave Welbeck to hold his own up front with Nani and Valencia doing a superhuman defensive effort.

EDIT: or we can play Jones as the third midfielder instead of Fletcher.

gbgary

see: community shield 2011-2012.

Cutch

It'll be a game for experience. The ones that have been there done that, that know what it takes to win titles. Don't think Welbeck or Cleverley will start. Giggs will certainly come in

Steven Seagull

We can't rely on trying to sit deep again. They've got way too much quality for that. We have to try and break play up higher up the pitch or their midgets will have a field day.

kps88

Start like shit and then throw the kids on?

Or see FA Cup: Start on fire and then go to shit.

Think the fact that we can afford to draw the game will mean SAF playing it safe. Welbeck up top on his own. Rooney in a 3 man midfield with Carrick and Scholes.

TheBest

and don't do that

Mr Anderson

Doubt we'll park the bus at all. We'd want a positive result out of that game, mentally we can seal the title if we were to win it. We would need a point from our last 2 games to offically win it then. I was thinking about bringing Young in for Welbeck, and leave Nani venture behind Rooney causing havoc, but Welbeck played great today. Not starting Rafael either, he has switched off in crucial games too many times this season.

Man-United

5 in midfield, but can't see who the third central midfielder would be..

Relevated

You have gone and done it! Mancini has just signed a fucking iceberg!

ha_rooney

We have to go 4-5-1, midfield 3 of Carrick, Scholes and Jones.

Although this is a must not lose, we can't afford to just sit back and invite pressure, if they take the lead it will be very difficult to score ourselves whilst not conceding more.

Ash_G

Problem with Jones though is he just doesn't have the awareness to play Fletchers role in a 3. Look at the game against Blackburn where he pretty much played attacking midfield. Fletchers role requires a lot more tactical awareness than people realise, at least it does if you want to play it anywhere near as well. Tbh I hope Jones has it in his locker as I think we might need it.

Cheesy

I'd stick with what we know. Some may think it's suicidal to take a 4-4-2 to the Etihad, but I think it's dangerous to completely change our formation for it as well. Going there with a 4-5-1 is almost a resignation of us saying that we're not going for the win. Even if we would take a draw from it, I still think it's very dangerous to go there and play for it.

For me, the big decision is whether we stick with Evans at centre back. As we've seen today, he's an accident waiting to happen when he's pressed and pushed further up the pitch, but at the same time it would be a major risk to simply take him out and throw Smalling into the deep end when he hasn't featured a lot recently.

Either way, Fergie has some very difficult decisions to make for this game. I would not want to be in his shoes.

RyanGoggs

The options really are:

Carrick
Scholes
Giggs
Park
Cleverley
Valencia *


*with Young or Park wide

Siorac

I agree, that's why it hasn't even occurred to me at first to play him there. But it might be better than to leave Scholes and Carrick alone against Touré, Silva and co. At least he's got pace, a physical presence and can tackle.

Relevated

same shit we did in the fa cup, first half.

Scrumpet

If we play for a draw, we'll lose. Or we'll draw, I don't know.

Team will probably be the same as today with maybe a change at right back.

Unam333

Everton scored 4 against us, so obviously we're a bit vulnerable in the back. Play 1-5-4 and play a bit counter football. Also important, we need a good bench if things go wrong.

johnmufc

There is no option other than Carrick and Scholes.

Giggs is too much of a risk. Far too casual in possession.
Jones has been absolutely abysmal in the second half of the season.
Cleverley has not played enough, and one of his only starts since returning from injury, away to Athletic, was perhaps the worst performance of any United player I've seen this season.

Siorac

Get Kompany sent off after 15 minutes?

Relevated

Wouldn't mind it tbh.

Ash_G

I think if we can get Rooney to drop deep in to the hole we don't necessarily have to get a third midfielder in. Welbeck is athletic enough, and good enough to play a bit more isolated and then having Rooney deeper will help us so much. We've got enough pace in the attack that he can start a little deeper, work it wide and then burst forward. Without Fletcher I can't see any of the other midfielders we have being able to offer that defensive security. I hate Park in the middle and the others are either attacking or you have Jones who's pretty clueless there.

gbgary

...no. i meant the way we pressured them all match. we didn't play our usual soft defensive style.

Godfather

If we try to play on the counter we will lose. Our defence is not good enough for that. We better try to take control of the game ourselves.

Claymore

Stuff the Titanic mate, park the bloody iceberg!!!!

Number7

If we play Jones anywhere on that pitch I'll scream...that cross with all the options he had when he came on showed he doesn't yet have the composure at this stage in the season

TheBest

I think counters would be the best strategy for this match

Stobzilla

Cleverly or Jones in for Valencia move Nani out right Welbeck or Rooney out left with Carrick and Scholes holding and play Smalling at Right back.

Or something.

That'sHernandez

Kick them off the pitch and score a scrappy winner. That'll show em.

Mr Anderson

Get Drogba on loan, make him role around for 89 minutes. sorted.