Borys
Statistics Wizard
In the games where we played other midfield we scored a total number of 2 goals from open play. Just to add some perspective.It’s true, they don’t do enough offensively, 1 goal from open play in the last 3 games when they have been on the pitch together. Doesn’t mean to say they don’t have their uses, like vs PSG both faultless played with high energy and intensity.
MU 1 - 3 Crystal Palace (vdB goal after deflection).
MU 1 - 6 Tottenham (Bruno pen)
Brighton 2-3 MU (own goal, Rashford goal, Bruno pen)
Definitely. But we don't, and we have around 50 games to play with current squad so we have to find a solution.The brutal truth is that if we actually had a mobile CDM in there then wouldn't need 2 holding players and midfield could express themselves more
It's a boring discussion anyway, considering how we work in transfer market. We needed one "first XI" winger, and we got another CAM this summer.
Not sure if you've read my OP, or just the title.I have a different opinion. The midfield don't create because we don't have forwards who can hold the ball.
This is my point exactly.Why is that (bold mark) even a problem? The double pivot midfield job isn’t to score or assist. Let the other 5 or 6 players (front four & full back) to create goals & assists.
I'd be very happy if we could play that formation effectively, but putting van de Beek in deep midfield is wishful thinking for now. I'm afraid it'll be Pogba scenario all over again, and hope we don't waste half a season trying to convert another AM to CM. I will be very happy to be proven wrong if he's better then either McTominay/Fred in midfield, but from what I've seen so far there is nothing that suggests that.AWB-----Maguire/Lindelof-------Tuanzebe---------------Telles
----------------------Fred--------------VDB--------------------------
------------------------------Bruno-----------------------------------------
Greenwood---------------------------------------------------------Rashy-
-------------------------------Martial--------------------------------------
Tuanzebe provides the pace Maguire/Lindelof lack while VDB is far more hardworking then Pogba is while concurrently can pass the ball something McT can't. Now if Ole feels that the defence need more protection then play Shaw instead of Telles and move Telles as Winger. That's balance.
No need for excuses, we've had decent results with that midfield AND without our best attacking players available.Borys looking for excuses after a bland performance. I thought this was the CE forum for a second.
By the way, here you can see a table which gives overview of how many goals we've scored/conceded starting with different midfield setup (sorted by last column). Results will be somehow crooked by Spurs game, but at the same time we've been very lucky to get anything from Brighton, let alone a win.
Midfield (starting XI) | Scored | Conceded | Games | Ave goals | Ave conc. | AVE GD |
Fred + 1 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 2,4 | 0,4 | 2,0 |
McTominay - Fred | 9 | 2 | 4 | 2,3 | 0,5 | 1,8 |
McTominay + 1 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 2,0 | 1,0 | 1,0 |
Matic + 1 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 2,3 | 2,7 | -0,3 |
Pogba + 1 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 1,7 | 3,7 | -2,0 |
Matic - Pogba | 4 | 8 | 2 | 2,0 | 4,0 | -2,0 |