Hammondo
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Do we have better attacking players than Liverpool? We definitely have better midfield players but I don't think better attacking players.
Agreed, though completely understandable why we went with the 3, hell I would have done the same but as I saw the pattern of the game in the first half it didn't feel that we needed to have Herrera there (probably easier to say as he was fairly poor in the game anyway) I felt we missed Pogba having more possession deeper and starting moments and attacks from there which from my memory I have not noticed in his time here as I usually think his best role is slightly higher up the pitch but this season so far hes been brilliant with just him and Matic.Our tempo when playing in a midfield 2 is fine. Today we had Herrera running into Matic and Pogba's position and Pogba running into Matic's position creating a vaccum (which is normally occupied by either Mkhi or Mata in a midfield two) in the no 10 position thereby leading to us passing sideways for most of the game followed by a long ball to our big man upfront. I think Jose got his tactics slightly wrong this game.
Lalana, Coutinho, Firmino, Mane and SalahDo we have better attacking players than Liverpool? We definitely have better midfield players but I don't think better attacking players.
Pogba went deep plenty of times. However we just don't seem to have players who are adept at those quick one-twos. On the face of it we should be able to do it with the personnel we have but for some reason we don't see that on the pitch very often.Agreed, though completely understandable why we went with the 3, hell I would have done the same but as I saw the pattern of the game in the first half it didn't feel that we needed to have Herrera there (probably easier to say as he was fairly poor in the game anyway) I felt we missed Pogba having more possession deeper and starting moments and attacks from there which from my memory I have not noticed in his time here as I usually think his best role is slightly higher up the pitch but this season so far hes been brilliant with just him and Matic.
Pogba did play as a #10 but he was coming deep plenty of times to get the ball. It's just that he was off the boil yesterday. I would like to see him get the game by the scruff in such tough matches. That's the hallmark of a true midfield great and he really needs to learn and become more mature with possession. Feel sometimes he can move the ball quicker but his own ability on the ball kind of makes him a prisoner of trying to do everything by himselfOur tempo was murders by playing Pogba as a 10 and restricting Herrera in a 4-2-3-1 shape. Had we played a straight 4-3-3 with two 8 we'd have been better
His Madrid side did. I am not sure why we cannot as that is what we need to break down defenses which sit deep.It's managers and style of play. Mourinho has never played a high up tempo game.
I find that comment madness. Mourinho has been here 2 summers now, spending close to £300m net according to Transfermrkt. That's no major achievement, the fact the side doesn't seem to fit together well is just bad buying. Pep is told he has to win it for spending at £325m net and rightly so, but Mourinho is in the same boat.If we win the league with such a curate's egg of a side, it'll be a hell of an achievement for the manager.
He had one of the best sides in Europe and still adopted a sit back and counter attack mentality. We're never going to play eye pleasing fast football. Mourinho will always be a defensive coach.His Madrid side did. I am not sure why we cannot as that is what we need to break down defenses which sit deep.
I'm not sure we do edge it.Lalana, Coutinho, Firmino, Mane and Salah
Rashford, Martial, Mkhitariyan, Mata, Lukaku (and Zlatan if you want to count him).
We edge it for sure IMO but somehow our players seem lost when trying to build momentum with the other team sitting back. On the other hand, teams like City look like they will score every time they make a sweeping move and that's a huge difference.
Being solid does not mean we have to be average going forward. Bayern are solid defensive but are excellent in attack as well. SAF's sides of old were rock solid at the back and exciting going forward. So it's not a case of one or the other.He had one of the best sides in Europe and still adopted a sit back and counter attack mentality. We're never going to play eye pleasing fast football. Mourinho will always be a defensive coach.
We had been really solid until yesterday but that was just individual mistakes.
That's your opinion and that's ok. In my eyes we have the better personnel.I'm not sure we do edge it.
Not for quick tempo play.That's your opinion and that's ok. In my eyes we have the better personnel.
Why do you think so? You think Lalana is better than Mkhitariyan or Salah is better than Martial?Not for quick tempo play.
I believe it was a tactical approach. We saw how well Stoke were organized and when defending they were with 5 at the back, sort of 5-4-1 - doubling on the wings and a line of 4 in midfield, which in my opinion left them with only 2 in central midfield. Mourinho is obsessed with the idea of having an extra person in midfield and I think that dictated his decision to go to 3 man midfield.Why is it so slow and laborious? We have spent so much money and yet our team moves the ball hilariously slowly compared to some of the other top teams around.
I am not comparing us to the Real Madrid and Barcelona teams of this world but even compared to City and Liverpool we seem to be very slow in our build up. City may have the better attackers but our attack, at least on paper, is better than Liverpool yet their attacking play is far more potent and easier on the eye than ours.
So what is the reason? Poor coaching, players not doing the basic things correctly, fear of being caught out of position? I just cannot pin point the main cause for why we struggle to break down teams by quick and incisive passing regularly.
I totally agree. And I was really confused at the decision to go with Darmian instead of Blind, who, even if it was against Bulgaria, had a really good game and was runner up for the man of the match award.Maybe because our team is still not well balanced. We dont have a real left back and we dont have a real winger on the right. Darmian cant even cut back or really help building up play on the left and Mkhi for me is a 10, he can't really beat a player on the wing because he isnt superfast nor skillful or strong so we play safe most times. I do think we should give Rashford a run on the right and Martial left and just sacrifice herrera with Mkhi behind Lukaku. Both Rashford and Martial are too good to be sitting on the bench.
I've never seen him play well as a 10 in his career. The moment we played him there I knew he'd be average compared to his best level. For me its actually Herrera who dissapointed me more. He was lost all game.Pogba did play as a #10 but he was coming deep plenty of times to get the ball. It's just that he was off the boil yesterday. I would like to see him get the game by the scruff in such tough matches. That's the hallmark of a true midfield great and he really needs to learn and become more mature with possession. Feel sometimes he can move the ball quicker but his own ability on the ball kind of makes him a prisoner of trying to do everything by himself