6 years since we've had a functional right flank

Utdstar01

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How haven't we addressed this? Surely it's a massive part of why we look so fecking one dimensional when we attack.
 

Canagel

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I miss Rafael and Nani. No-one who's played on the right since they left has done better than them. This club has always been about wing play. We've had the best wingers play for us. Best, Giggs, Beckham, Kanchelskis, Ronaldo. It's in our DNA to play fast attacking football with a 4-4-2 formation using both wings but these days our wing play is non existent. Fullbacks and Wingers.
 

Utdstar01

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I miss Rafael and Nani. No-one who's played on the right since they left has done better than them. This club has always been about wing play. We've had the best wingers play for us. Best, Giggs, Beckham, Kanchelskis, Ronaldo. It's in our DNA to play fast attacking football with a 4-4-2 formation using both wings but these days our wing play is non existent. Fullbacks and Wingers.
Good post mate. I think that was our last decent pairing on the right wing, crazy to think of how long ago that was. I'm just dumbfounded as to why we've done nothing fix it.
 

pocco

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I miss Rafael and Nani. No-one who's played on the right since they left has done better than them. This club has always been about wing play. We've had the best wingers play for us. Best, Giggs, Beckham, Kanchelskis, Ronaldo. It's in our DNA to play fast attacking football with a 4-4-2 formation using both wings but these days our wing play is non existent. Fullbacks and Wingers.
We've overcomplicated football here over the last few years. It's quite a simple requirement at this club, it doesn't have to be a fancy formation or tiki taka football. Just get in some damn good players, give youngsters a chance, and go out and unleash them. We don't care if we lose playing good football, chances are we won't lose many anyway if our players are good enough.
 

OnlyTwoDaSilvas

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We don't have a left flank either. Just a number of players who'd prefer to be a 9 or a 10 shunted out wide but continually drift inwards, leaving it all to our ageing full backs, who used to be wingers.

The only one who seems comfortable attacking from the touchline is Martial, and he cant even get on the pitch now. In those last 20 minutes, we had Lingard, Mata and Sanchez all playing the same central position, Lukaku and Rashford both playing the same striker position (and then we shoved Smalling up there for 5 minutes) with no midfield, Valencia stood on the half way line, and Martial on the left on his own. Madness.
 

Desert Eagle

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Valencia because of his long service and his style of play has generally avoided the harsh criticism reserved for a lot of our other defenders but the difference in quality on the ball between someone like him and Dani Alves just can't be overstated. Thanks Tony V but from next season on he should be a sub.
 

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I'm sure we'll bring in a proper right winger to replace Martial but there's been nothing linking us to a proper right back so think that'll be waiting for another year while we prioritise midfield and leftback.
 

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just throw insane amount of Money To Douglas Costa so he cant refuse
 

Canagel

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Good post mate. I think that was our last decent pairing on the right wing, crazy to think of how long ago that was. I'm just dumbfounded as to why we've done nothing fix it.
We need to buy a winger with trickery and deft touches. I think if SAF was here he'd have bought someone like Mahrez for the right wing by now. I like Malcolm too. Douglas Costa is another. I wouldn't even mind having Zaha back again. He'd walk into our team on his current form. We need to go back to the basics. And then a RB and LB as well. With stamina and ability on the ball. We need some excitement back on the wings again.
 
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RedMane

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I miss Rafael and Nani. No-one who's played on the right since they left has done better than them. This club has always been about wing play. We've had the best wingers play for us. Best, Giggs, Beckham, Kanchelskis, Ronaldo. It's in our DNA to play fast attacking football with a 4-4-2 formation using both wings but these days our wing play is non existent. Fullbacks and Wingers.
We've overcomplicated football here over the last few years. It's quite a simple requirement at this club, it doesn't have to be a fancy formation or tiki taka football. Just get in some damn good players, give youngsters a chance, and go out and unleash them. We don't care if we lose playing good football, chances are we won't lose many anyway if our players are good enough.
I believe playing 4-4-2 these days can be shooting yourself in the foot because of the way, teams are playing, playing 4-4-2 will create lots of trouble against teams who press or play possession football. Especially with a midfielder like Pogba and Alexis Sanchez on the wing. In SAF's day, his teams were the fittest in the league but this lot is not fit enough for that formation at all.

I think Man Utd board and lot of fans believe they can achieve the success by signing best players available instead of building up the team, I feel like Man Utd is stuck in the same dilemma as Liverpool where discarding a system which made you so successful. It took Liverpool more than 26 years to realise they have to change the approach and style to get success.
 

Canagel

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I believe playing 4-4-2 these days can be shooting yourself in the foot because of the way, teams are playing, playing 4-4-2 will create lots of trouble against teams who press or play possession football. Especially with a midfielder like Pogba and Alexis Sanchez on the wing. In SAF's day, his teams were the fittest in the league but this lot is not fit enough for that formation at all.

I think Man Utd board and lot of fans believe they can achieve the success by signing best players available instead of building up the team, I feel like Man Utd is stuck in the same dilemma as Liverpool where discarding a system which made you so successful. It took Liverpool more than 26 years to realise they have to change the approach and style to get success.
I think it can still work. Juventus are one the best teams who play 4-4-2 off the ball especially. They are very flexible though. Can play loads of different formations for different situations. Barcelona play 4-4-2. Real Madrid play 4-4-2. Obviously it's slightly different because those two use the diamond but still. Like you said though we need players with stamina and higher fitness levels. The 4-4-2 isn't used like it we used it under SAF anymore. It's been evolved and requires more physicality in midfield. But still possible to play really good football with it. Juventus especially are very fluid in their transitions. When they lose the ball they sit in a low block with two banks of four. And press you when you get into their half.
 

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Some of our squad planning has been horrendous the last few years.
 

Nytram Shakes

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Some of our squad planning has been horrendous the last few years.
it really has been! going from Fergie not buying a centre midfielder in 6 years (something which still boggles my mind) to signing Sanchez on such a long term deal to play in one of our strongest positions on the pitch.
 

Eddy_JukeZ

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We don't have a left flank either(well at least from today's games and lately).

Our entire attack today was a mess. Everyone coming inwards and clogging up the midfield. And then relying on Valencia and Young to give you attacking impetus on the wings. Disastrous tbh.
 

Jacko21

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Pretty inexplicable that we can't field an XI with any natural width.

Young, cuts inside. Valencia can't cross. Mata, floats to the opposite flank. Sanchez, cuts inside. Martial, same. Rashford same.
 

Jacko21

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We don't have a left flank either(well at least from today's games and lately).

Our entire attack today was a mess. Everyone coming inwards and clogging up the midfield. And then relying on Valencia and Young to give you attacking impetus on the wings. Disastrous tbh.
And it's not as if we're any good at playing on the edge of the D or playing intricate passes anyway. So we're searching for answers in places they can't be found.
 

Dominos

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I can't remember the last time we utilised an overlap effectively, or created a 2 vs 1 out wide.

On our right, it's literally given to Valencia who is stood out there on his own, and he's asked to do it all himself. This would be fine if he wasn't shit at beating his man, and wasn't shit at crossing the ball, but he's shit at both. Yet this has been our tactic all season, and we try it over and over again, expecting one day he might create a goal.
 

Marcky411

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it really has been! going from Fergie not buying a centre midfielder in 6 years (something which still boggles my mind) to signing Sanchez on such a long term deal to play in one of our strongest positions on the pitch.
The thing that gets me the most is Sanchez is keeping Martial and Rashford out of the team due to the fact he wants to play on the left, yet he is all over the place, mainly getting in the way in the center and leaving the left wing for Young or anyone else who wants to move out there. He has done this since his arrival yet Jose hasn’t seen this or tried to correct the problem. Utd have been constantly one step forward two steps back but since the arrival of Sanchez I have yet to see that step forward again.
 

stevoc

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Pretty inexplicable that we can't field an XI with any natural width.

Young, cuts inside. Valencia can't cross. Mata, floats to the opposite flank. Sanchez, cuts inside. Martial, same. Rashford same.
It must be infuriating for Ferguson to watch. I know it pisses me off, never thought i'd see a Manchester United team with little to no width.
 

GeorgieBoy

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Valencia because of his long service and his style of play has generally avoided the harsh criticism reserved for a lot of our other defenders but the difference in quality on the ball between someone like him and Dani Alves just can't be overstated. Thanks Tony V but from next season on he should be a sub.
Yeah I agree with this. Valencia has been an absolutely fantastic servant for the club since he arrived; but we need a player more adept on the ball to be able to control and create opportunities from the flanks, which unfortunately he isn't quite able to offer.
 

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Valencia because of his long service and his style of play has generally avoided the harsh criticism reserved for a lot of our other defenders but the difference in quality on the ball between someone like him and Dani Alves just can't be overstated. Thanks Tony V but from next season on he should be a sub.
It wasn't that long ago that the caf was going on about his resurgence. I got slated for mentioning that most of his crosses seem to hit the defender and someone pulled a stat out of their arse about most complete crosses in the league. Eventually the caf clocks on.
 

Jacko21

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It must be infuriating for Ferguson to watch. I know it pisses me off, never thought i'd see a Manchester United team with little to no width.
Old Trafford thrives on pace and width. Take both away and it's little wonder fans can't muster the enthusiasm to support the team.
 

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What do you mean? We have Antonia Valencia, one of the *reads Jose press conference* best RBs in Europe and, erm, *pulls name out of hat* Juan Mata?
 

R'hllor

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I hope we'll be in shopping for RB and a RW.

It's an absolute must.
Seriously tho, if we bought Perisic, our heat map would look so much different. You watch him way more then me but doubt he would go inside as much as Mata, leaving whole right side empty.
 

Castia

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I honestly thought we’d play Sanchez on the right and was drooling at the thought of a Martial Lukaku Sanchez front 3...

Our squad is so fecking unbalanced it’s unreal, I mean we have about 15 centre backs but none apart from possibly Bailly (constantly injured) are good enough.

We have Martial and Rashford for the left side and still add Sanchez leaving the first 2 younger players wanting out. I can see we’re getting stuck with a past it Alexis whilst Martial goes on to tear it up and be a better player than Sanchez within 12 months.

We have a winger at LB, Att mid/playmaker Mata right wing and have 1 out and out striker in Lukaku on the books....it’s a fecking mess.
 

Nytram Shakes

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The thing that gets me the most is Sanchez is keeping Martial and Rashford out of the team due to the fact he wants to play on the left, yet he is all over the place, mainly getting in the way in the center and leaving the left wing for Young or anyone else who wants to move out there. He has done this since his arrival yet Jose hasn’t seen this or tried to correct the problem. Utd have been constantly one step forward two steps back but since the arrival of Sanchez I have yet to see that step forward again.
the Sanchez signing just felt like you go to the shop and get distracted by a special offer on amazing second hand TV then you get home realise who have two great TV's that are going to last longer and don't need a third Tv thats 2nd hand.... and when you sit down you realise you don't have sofa.

Yeah I agree, for movments like Sanchez's to work you really have to work hard on the training ground on switching positions, watching us you don't get the feeling we do that.
 

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If I knew we would end up like this one day I would have never criticized Rafael any match.
 

TrebleFan99

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We need to buy a winger with trickery and deft touches. I think if SAF was here he'd have bought someone like Mahrez for the right wing by now. I like Malcolm too. Douglas Costa is another. I wouldn't even mind having Zaha back again. He'd walk into our team on his current form. We need to go back to the basics. And then a RB and LB as well. With stamina and ability on the ball. We need some excitement back on the wings again.
I would prefer Willian for work rate especially if Valencia will RB next season.

Would love Mahrez though - brilliant player in every way and a proven title winner
 

stevoc

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I honestly thought we’d play Sanchez on the right and was drooling at the thought of a Martial Lukaku Sanchez front 3...

Our squad is so fecking unbalanced it’s unreal, I mean we have about 15 centre backs but none apart from possibly Bailly (constantly injured) are good enough.

We have Martial and Rashford for the left side and still add Sanchez leaving the first 2 younger players wanting out. I can see we’re getting stuck with a past it Alexis whilst Martial goes on to tear it up and be a better player than Sanchez within 12 months.

We have a winger at LB, Att mid/playmaker Mata right wing and have 1 out and out striker in Lukaku on the books....it’s a fecking mess.
I think the vast majority of people did, United desperately needed a right winger we buy a top winger who can play on the right. No brainer it seemed.

Except the one man that actually makes these decisions decided, nah i'm going to leave the right wing basically unmanned play Sanchez on the left and piss off Martial and Rashford who were both having good seasons rotating on the left.

I like Mourinho but this has been Van Gaal level craziness.
 

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I think it can still work. Juventus are one the best teams who play 4-4-2 off the ball especially. They are very flexible though. Can play loads of different formations for different situations. Barcelona play 4-4-2. Real Madrid play 4-4-2. Obviously it's slightly different because those two use the diamond but still. Like you said though we need players with stamina and higher fitness levels. The 4-4-2 isn't used like it we used it under SAF anymore. It's been evolved and requires more physicality in midfield. But still possible to play really good football with it. Juventus especially are very fluid in their transitions. When they lose the ball they sit in a low block with two banks of four. And press you when you get into their half.
But all the teams you mentioned play counter attacking football and you are already playing counter attacking football. One of the reasons why Man UTD struggles against teams which are fine sitting back and let you guys have the ball. With 4-4-2 playing intricate passing in and around the penalty area is a liability because you leave yourself open to counter attacks. And biggest problem is you can't have two different play styles because it's very confusing for players to play differently every week or so. You need a system in place and system to scout players, to create a team instead of buying really good players and rely on their individual brilliance, they can take you to number 2 but not beyond especially with the team like man city in the league.
 

Marcky411

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I think the vast majority of people did, United desperately needed a right winger we buy a top winger who can play on the right. No brainer it seemed.

Except the one man that actually makes these decisions decided, nah i'm going to leave the right wing basically unmanned play Sanchez on the left and piss off Martial and Rashford who were both having good seasons rotating on the left.

I like Mourinho but this has been Van Gaal level craziness.
Worse, and no signs of improvement, LvG didn't buy Schweinsteiger to bench Carrick & co and played Schweinsteiger every match even if he wasn't performing.
The sad part of it all is due to the fact that we will end second or third his job is safe for another season. If it wasn't for Arsenal having the worst season ever, Chelsea imploding again and Liverpool and Tottenham being so inconsistent we would never have been finishing in second. This success, if you can call it that, hasn't been due to our football but the rest besides City that have had really poor seasons.
Just think what a real manager could do with this team, playing some attacking football, coaching tactics and putting his trust and support in the players (not only the ones he has bought like Jose does) the sky could be the limit. It isn't that our team is so poor they have shown glimpses of what they can do against the top teams, they are just being utilised wrong. Jose is hoping if he buy enough players(for funny money) at a certain point in time everything will fall in to place.
 

Henry Gaervell

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This is where Jose has to take a large slice of the blame.

1) He should have recognised the right wing as an obvious weakness and invested accordingly

2) If he couldn't strengthen during the windows, he should have assigned individuals to play as right wingers and not allowed them to constantly come central (Sanchez, Mata, Lingaard)

3) if the above two are not possible, then give youth a chance. Given the dire circumstances of that position, someone like Chong should have been given the opportunity

At the moment it's our major weakness. The lack of a proper right attacking player (under 4231 or 433) is hindering us in several ways. We are naturally imbalanced allowing the opposition to shore up one flank, our attacking is too narrow, while our play is slowed down as we wait for Valencia to make a forward run. All of this just gives the opposition more opportunity to defend
 

TMDaines

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I think the vast majority of people did, United desperately needed a right winger we buy a top winger who can play on the right. No brainer it seemed.

Except the one man that actually makes these decisions decided, nah i'm going to leave the right wing basically unmanned play Sanchez on the left and piss off Martial and Rashford who were both having good seasons rotating on the left.

I like Mourinho but this has been Van Gaal level craziness.
In fairness, whenever Sanchez has played on the right he has played as an inside forward anyway. Watch the game yesterday when Martial came on. Sanchez shifted to the right and barely attacked the outside of the full back. He inside every time with Valencia doing his sideways shuffle whenever he got the ball.

No idea if Mou wanted this or not.
 

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I miss Valencia the winger, the guy who would try to aim at people when crossing and who would actually be succesful at it. Whatever the feck happened to that is a complete mystery and pleaseeee don't say the leg break because he probably played his best football after that break.
 

Woodzy

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Valencia because of his long service and his style of play has generally avoided the harsh criticism reserved for a lot of our other defenders but the difference in quality on the ball between someone like him and Dani Alves just can't be overstated. Thanks Tony V but from next season on he should be a sub.
It's a strange one, as even before his switch to right back he was average at best most of the time but he did manage quite an improvement under Mourinho and nailed down that spot. Even so, I don't think he is anywhere good enough to be starting each game.

There was a time under LvG where it was evident that Young and Valencia were dead weight, and to think they are now our start full backs is shocking.
 

Lawman

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Pretty inexplicable that we can't field an XI with any natural width.

Young, cuts inside. Valencia can't cross. Mata, floats to the opposite flank. Sanchez, cuts inside. Martial, same. Rashford same.
This shows how unbelievably unbalanced our squad has been it’s been a joke. Mata decent player but not at right attacker and Valencia (loved his attitude from day one) but he’s looking very tired and is getting on so needs replacing (but will be fresher next year and will still contribute a lot).
Although left back needs addressing more urgently (both sides not great but budget may not allow) and we have better coverage at right back for next season and hopefully we get a right attacker (Mahrez for me or Bale in a swap with Martial if that’s what the manager wants as i’d understand that as he could feel we are just to similar with him and Rashford. Personally I’d like to see Martial stay but at this stage I don’t care I just want to see good attacking play from the right hand side).
 
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