What's Ole's attitude to promoting kids like?
Is he 'if you're good enough, you're old enough' type?
Is he 'if you're good enough, you're old enough' type?
How will we play?
- Thread starter Rozay
- Start date
Being from Norway I tend to watch a little bit of Eliteserien every now and then.
From what I've seen from Solskjaers Molde, they usually play a 4231 setup, with a defined playmaker (Wolff Eikrem), two rather good ball playing midfielders behind him, at least one winger who cuts inside all the time and atleast one gung-ho fullback. Ole likes to bring the ball out from the back with Eikrem dropping deeper from the No. 10 role forming a traditional midfield trio. This is where the interesting part comes to play. One of the full backs pushes all the way up, placing himself almost in an offside-ish position by the line, while the other remains rather deep, but still high enough to contribute in the last phase of attacks. The winger on the the side of the gung-ho FB cuts inside and enters the space that Eikrem has left. If his team is getting "gegenpressed" while trying to play out from the back they often plays the odd long ball against a strong centre forward, Haaland, though this only happens if they feel that they won't be able to outplay the other team. Unfortunately, his Molde has lost a lot of quality (well, in Eliteserien format that is) in the defence. So his team has looked rather shaky when in need of defending. Solskjaer usually deals with this by trying to outscore the opponent, unlike our former manager who was more fond of parking the bus.
If any of this is possible to translate from the rather small club of Molde to a club like Manchester United is hard to tell, but I can almost guarantee that we will see football being played in a positive way. Expect marauding full backs overlapping, midfielders who wants to get on the end of crosses (whether they'll be low or high) and a designated playmaker (Pogba, Mata?).
From what I've seen from Solskjaers Molde, they usually play a 4231 setup, with a defined playmaker (Wolff Eikrem), two rather good ball playing midfielders behind him, at least one winger who cuts inside all the time and atleast one gung-ho fullback. Ole likes to bring the ball out from the back with Eikrem dropping deeper from the No. 10 role forming a traditional midfield trio. This is where the interesting part comes to play. One of the full backs pushes all the way up, placing himself almost in an offside-ish position by the line, while the other remains rather deep, but still high enough to contribute in the last phase of attacks. The winger on the the side of the gung-ho FB cuts inside and enters the space that Eikrem has left. If his team is getting "gegenpressed" while trying to play out from the back they often plays the odd long ball against a strong centre forward, Haaland, though this only happens if they feel that they won't be able to outplay the other team. Unfortunately, his Molde has lost a lot of quality (well, in Eliteserien format that is) in the defence. So his team has looked rather shaky when in need of defending. Solskjaer usually deals with this by trying to outscore the opponent, unlike our former manager who was more fond of parking the bus.
If any of this is possible to translate from the rather small club of Molde to a club like Manchester United is hard to tell, but I can almost guarantee that we will see football being played in a positive way. Expect marauding full backs overlapping, midfielders who wants to get on the end of crosses (whether they'll be low or high) and a designated playmaker (Pogba, Mata?).
First job get the players working harder, on the front foot and in the opposition half more than our own.
Yes, it's like that. Erling Braut Haaland (17, when given the chance, now 18 and leaves for RB Salzburg in January) has been leading Moldes attack this season from his centre forward position.
I'd quite like to see him play 442 and go for it. Just try to outscore every opponent!
De Gea
Dalot___Bailly___Lindelof___Shaw
Lingard___Pogba___Matic___Sanchez
Rashford___Martial
Dalot___Bailly___Lindelof___Shaw
Lingard___Pogba___Matic___Sanchez
Rashford___Martial
There is a reason we don't play that. That is the worst team I've seen. Lingard and Sanchez would be dreadful wide men, neither can cross. Pogba is ill disciplined. Matic is slow and anything. We'd be destroyed, badly.
I’ve almost completely lost faith in this squad. Ole couldn’t do any worse. Let’s hope whatever happens the underperforming and massively overpaid players step up or step off by the time the summer comes around. I’m glad there’s some positivity around the place and it finally looks like the club is going to go the DOF route. Let’s stop signing players who can “hit the ground running” and have nothing to prove... time and time again they completely fail here and are just here for one last big deal.
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Not bothered as long as he leads us to championship glory next season
Imagine his first team sees him go Smalling Jones as CBs, valencia at RB, Young LB, with Matic, Mctominay and Fellaini as CMs. And Mata, Lukaku and Lingard.
I think defence would be least worried position,he might start with smalling and Lindelof and Matic in between playing as DLP role which literally gives us 3 in defence while defending and these 3 would get the support from two wing backs.I doubt he would need his defender to bring the ball from back so defender not going to caught out of position.Fred would have huge role to play in his. central midfield position connecting defence with attack.Ole’s challenge would be in RW we literally have none I don’t think he would bring Chong anytime soon instead we might go for someone in Jan window.
I just want to see us stop being cowardly and using two DMs at home against mediocre opposition. Yeah we’re riddled with mediocrity but we do have some exciting attacking talents too, will be nice to loosen the shackles a little.
Your right on us not having the wingers for 442 although i would like us to go back to it one day. Please don't put Valencia and those shin crosses on the wing again.
Sounds a bit too much Gung-Ho style for me. I am not sure that our attacking players have the quality to outscore any decent opponent.
I have a feeling that Ole will be swept away by all this "bring back the United way" and "attack, attack, attack" talking enthuastically trying to bring his Molde style of playing to OT and that we will get battered quite a few times.
Thanks for the very interesting and informative read. If he can get us playing something like that I think we will do well. Just from reading your post you've made me more optimistoc and excited than i was.
Cheers mate
A more expansive game for sure but whether we’ll have the nous to play that way without being cut to ribbons is debateable. Think we will make the pitch very big but suffer for it as teams figure us out
isn't that the guy who's built like a tank?
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...r-united-profile-molde?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Good article in the Guardian which answers some of the questions.
Good article in the Guardian which answers some of the questions.
Really like that you want to play 442 as its my favourite formation I don't think it could work like that. I think we would need out and out wingers. Like the look of the team but would drop Matic for Herrera and not sure about the wingers.
Thanks for posting - good read
DDG
Dalot Smalling Lindelöf Shaw
Herrera
Fred Pogba
Mata Martial
Rashford
Dalot Smalling Lindelöf Shaw
Herrera
Fred Pogba
Mata Martial
Rashford
For me he needs to solve the midfield three.
Under Mourinho we were hugely negative and defensive with the selections of Matic, Herrera and Fellaini who are all primarily defensive , personally I don’t think any of the three are anywhere near the standard we need to challenge for a title.
I’ve posted previously how Man City set up with Fernandinho just behind a massively creative, fluid attack minded two of David Silva and Bernardo Silva or De Bruyne
I think our main issue is we don’t have a mobile enough defensive midfielder to allow us to play any of an attack minded 2 of Fred/Mata/Pogba/Perreira or even possibly Sanchez
I think the solution is a Matic replacement to allow a Pogba/Fred partnership , shame we don’t have a replacement in the building
Under Mourinho we were hugely negative and defensive with the selections of Matic, Herrera and Fellaini who are all primarily defensive , personally I don’t think any of the three are anywhere near the standard we need to challenge for a title.
I’ve posted previously how Man City set up with Fernandinho just behind a massively creative, fluid attack minded two of David Silva and Bernardo Silva or De Bruyne
I think our main issue is we don’t have a mobile enough defensive midfielder to allow us to play any of an attack minded 2 of Fred/Mata/Pogba/Perreira or even possibly Sanchez
I think the solution is a Matic replacement to allow a Pogba/Fred partnership , shame we don’t have a replacement in the building
I like the look of this team and i think it has potential until the end of the season mate.
I would like to see Lindelof in the holding midfield position instead of Matic. I think he would be much better there.
So Lukaku gets to be an impact sub but Pogba can start? Cos his form/consistency and attitude is so good?
A lot of our players have been shamefully under par and deserve nothing in terms of a starting 11 spot, I would say every player bar DDG should be fighting to prove they have a future at UTD.
This would be my team caertain players would be in to get a run to see how well they do together.
__________De Gea
Dalot---Bailly---Lindelof---Shaw
-----------Perreira----------
-------Pogba--Fred---------
Chong-----------Rashford
---------Martial/Greenwood-----------
or
-----------De Gea-----------
Dalot---Smalling--Lindelof-----Shaw
---------Herrera---Matic----
---------------Pogba---------
-----------------↓-------------
----Mata----------------Martial
-----------Lukaku--------------
__________De Gea
Dalot---Bailly---Lindelof---Shaw
-----------Perreira----------
-------Pogba--Fred---------
Chong-----------Rashford
---------Martial/Greenwood-----------
or
-----------De Gea-----------
Dalot---Smalling--Lindelof-----Shaw
---------Herrera---Matic----
---------------Pogba---------
-----------------↓-------------
----Mata----------------Martial
-----------Lukaku--------------
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Jose lost the dressing room, so we will see an upturn in mood from players.
Just hope its not short term.
Remember when Jose lost the Chelsea players, they stunk every game then after he was fired Hazard and Co started to play again. Mourinho has a knack of turning players against him.
High press and a change in mentality can only be good for us, short and long term
Just hope its not short term.
Remember when Jose lost the Chelsea players, they stunk every game then after he was fired Hazard and Co started to play again. Mourinho has a knack of turning players against him.
High press and a change in mentality can only be good for us, short and long term
If Lukaku is on form, Ole will start him ahead of Rashford even if Rashford is in amazing form, he prefers strong striker upfront. Martial, Rashford and Sanchez will be playing as inside forward like Liverpool do, rather than being a classic winger and press backline so aggressively.
Mata will start alongside with Pogba in front of Herrera in 3 midfield, Pogba as a box to box player who will be focusing on dictating play, carry balls higher, long passes ranges that pick fullback, attacking's run and instructed to shoot balls outbox the penalty box if cutback or the ball fell off to him and let Mata roam penalty box, Fred will come in for Mata as a sub. A team will build around Pogba. Mata has great chemistry with Sanchez, they'll be working on the right flank with support from Dalot. Mata will be taking a direct kick.
Rojo and Lindelof will start together over Bailly, Smalling, Jones, let Lindelof play in his favourite position as RCB, very calm and read of the gaming and Rojo as aggressive defenders. Shaw and Dalot are one of the best-attacking fullbacks in the squad, they'll get chances, to support attacking, making a run and overlapping, put crosses.
Mata will start alongside with Pogba in front of Herrera in 3 midfield, Pogba as a box to box player who will be focusing on dictating play, carry balls higher, long passes ranges that pick fullback, attacking's run and instructed to shoot balls outbox the penalty box if cutback or the ball fell off to him and let Mata roam penalty box, Fred will come in for Mata as a sub. A team will build around Pogba. Mata has great chemistry with Sanchez, they'll be working on the right flank with support from Dalot. Mata will be taking a direct kick.
Rojo and Lindelof will start together over Bailly, Smalling, Jones, let Lindelof play in his favourite position as RCB, very calm and read of the gaming and Rojo as aggressive defenders. Shaw and Dalot are one of the best-attacking fullbacks in the squad, they'll get chances, to support attacking, making a run and overlapping, put crosses.
De Gea
Dalot Lindelof Rojo Shaw
Herrera
Mata Pogba
Sanchez Lukaku Martial
Dalot Lindelof Rojo Shaw
Herrera
Mata Pogba
Sanchez Lukaku Martial
This is the exact same lineup I’d go with. No Matic and no lukaku until they start hitting form again. They’ve been 2 absolute passengers since August. Mata martial and Rashford in a fluid 3 with mata tucking in while Dalot provides width on that side. Like on paper that’s a good side isn’t it? Why can’t we string 10 passes together then? I’d like to see Chong Gomes and Greenwood given minutes off the bench ASAP too as this season is already a write off.
Not in the 20 or so games they've managed to be fit at the same time anyway
Well Smalling had his injury troubles till a few seasons ago but he's almost always available now.
Jones on the other hand can't string five games together without getting injured. He has massively regressed due to that and never really became any better than when we first signed him.
https://totalfootballanalysis.com/h...solskjaer-manchester-united-tactical-analysis
Looks like he's the complete opposite of Mourinho
Looks like he's the complete opposite of Mourinho
442 isnt a problem. Theres very successful teams out there that play a 442 - Athletico being the most obvious.
We'd have to alter the way we play it though, compared to Sir Alex. Actually, Sir Alex altered the way he played the 442 in his latter years.
If we are to play a 442 or 4222, I would like to see
De Gea
Dalot Smalling Lindelof Shaw
Herrera Pogba
Mata Lingard
Rashford Martial
Could really do with a right midfielder, though.
We'd have to alter the way we play it though, compared to Sir Alex. Actually, Sir Alex altered the way he played the 442 in his latter years.
If we are to play a 442 or 4222, I would like to see
De Gea
Dalot Smalling Lindelof Shaw
Herrera Pogba
Mata Lingard
Rashford Martial
Could really do with a right midfielder, though.
It's the same players so i think the same flaws will be exposed, no right winger, no playmaker in midfield, average full backs and weak centre backs.
Hopefully we play a higher line defensively and play to our strengths, which is probably our attack if anything. Let the opposition worry about us rather than the other way round.
Hopefully we play a higher line defensively and play to our strengths, which is probably our attack if anything. Let the opposition worry about us rather than the other way round.
I've been thinking about that possibility as well. It's probably not in the cards but against a club like Cardiff, a club which we really should smash, deploying Lindelof as a holding mid could be an option. At least in the latter stages of the game when the final outcome is no longer in doubt.
It's sad to watch the decline of Matic, who I thought actually did quite well for us for about 2/3 of least season. But decline has come.
Don’t be surprised to see a midfield four of Young, Matic, Pogba and Valenica. You know, the “United way”
One of my favourite United sides was the 02/03 title winning team that played 4 2 3 1
Ole used to play on the right of the 3 (Giggs Scholes Ole) with Keane and Beckham behind as the 2. RvN played as the lone striker.
That front 6 was incredible that season with some great cameos from Veron and even Phil Neville as well.
Ole used to play on the right of the 3 (Giggs Scholes Ole) with Keane and Beckham behind as the 2. RvN played as the lone striker.
That front 6 was incredible that season with some great cameos from Veron and even Phil Neville as well.
I feel more nervous about it now, probably because I care more with OGS in charge
I don’t think he’s been developed brilliantly, but I still think TFM has it in him to do something like what Fernandinho does personally.
4231 or 433. Attacking fullbacks with width. Lone striker is crucial to start the press. Sometimes very direct from fullbacks zipping it into the striker. His teams try to limit attacks through the middle and force teams our wide. Once out wide they press using the trio of the LB LCM and LW. The most crucial role is the number ten. Needs to be someone with lots of energy, tenacity but also vision. Maybe Lingard. Ole's team at Cardiff shouldn't be the one to look at as he didnt have the resources. I do hope he doesnt chop and change formations weekly and sticks to one. Id prefer the 4231. It will take time to get our players fitness levels up. They are not lazy. The fact is Jose liked zonal play, each player didnt need high fitness. In fact a lot of his sessions were light fitness and tactical defensive work. We will have a period off burnt outs around 70-80 min mark if we play how Solksjaer likes but I think we will be entertained.