[georgipep]

The bigger picture here is: we need a proper DM. We had to play both Fred and McT/Matic against big teams. We can’t possibly continue like this. Imagine if we have a Kante. We can play another creative player besides him. Perhaps Ole is hoping McT will develop into one and is willing to be patient with him.

Can you show me which team does that (play one DM and a creative midfielder) with 4 forward-minded players in front of them against big teams??

 

[snk123]

Exactly, At 18 and 23 you’d expect them to be the complete product with no room for improvement

I just expect them to pass the ball to their team mates as well every now and then. You're right - that is too much to ask for.

 

[justsomebloke]

He is a top player, playing well. He would have done well at centre half, but that's not the point. Paul Pogba playing well, plays Centre Midfield, before anyone else at Man Utd and many other clubs in fact. He drives and inspires the team. Out on the right, he played well, but had less of an impact. Look at Thiago, who orchestrated the game at time. Unless he playing in that barnstorming Juve' style, from the left side of midfield, where he had lots of top passers etc alongside him, then I play him central.. Pogba is better than either Fred or McTominay, and he would have given them something to think about from central midfield.

Centre Midfield isn't a place where you just 'defend'... that's a horrible mindset that has crept into Football. Modric, Kroos, Thiago... these are Central Midfielders who set the tempo for games. We lacked that.

I don't really think Pogba does that in central midfield, and also I think McT and Fred do considerably more than just defend.

 

[red woppit]

Rode our luck first half - we were poor. Gave Shaqiri and Firmino way too much time and should have been a few goals down.

We sat deep and defended for our lives - we cannot play that way in the first half of big games like this. It's criminal.

But in the end, we had the better chances and should have won.

Overall we were the worst team out there, and feel Liverpool will be the less happy of the two. But thats the way it goes sometimes.

To give Ole credit, he's turned a corner massively from the start of the season.

The combinations we have seem to be a bit stale lately:
Lindelof & Maguire = They just dont look solid enough as a pair. Lindelof is an absolute shambles in isolation, he is a cowardice defender, has little pace and is poor in the air. Liability. Maguire, for his 80mil price tag needs an elite CB partner. He's shaky with lindelof

Fred & McTominey = They sort of do the same job, but equally as poor as each other. When played together it's like having two of them for 1 position. They dont work well together at all and ultimately cost us a space in midfield for someone who can dictate play or do the role both of them are assigned to do competently. We desperately need a DM so we can stop playing these two at the same time. For what they collectively offered against Liverpool, we'd have been better playing 1 of them alone and giving Donny a start. I dont know what he has to do to start games with such average performances ahead of him

Rashford & Martial = It's just not working together, Martial in particular looks a shambles of a player. We need a "proper" CF. If only we had an elite CF on the books whose fit hey?

Sounds like i'm on a bashing - but these little things have and will cost us. If we want to compete - we need to iron out flaws and take the game to top teams.

Fernandes and Pogba each could have scored, but two sloppy finishes cost us 2 points ultimately

Some very good points raised.

I feel that part of the problem with playing Lindelof and Maguire is that we do seem to sit a bit deeper than with Bailly in the team. We also seem to play Fred AND McTominay when we have that pairing, which does give us less options as an attacking team, but I disagree that they don't work well together, I think they complement each other very well, they form quite a good barrier, but if we had Bailly, or Tuanzebe alongside Maguire, then we could do away with one or the other which with VDB in would help with ball retention, and then, hopefully, more attacking.
We also seem to be a bit toothless in attack, we do seem to miss quite a few chances, and yesterday those chances fell to, allegedly, our two best players. You would expect one of them to take that chance.
I understand Ole picking that team, and don't have a problem with his strategy of keeping Liverpool out through 60 minutes or so, and looking to pop a goal in towards the end, which could, and probably should, have happened, as we are part way through a rebuild of the team and the squad.
I pretty sure that Ole and the coaches are surprised that United are top at this moment, as they would expect both City and Liverpool, and possibly Chelsea to be at the forefront, and realistically are not 'expecting' to win the league, although they will certainly give it a go.

 

[DSG]

Wow. Thought I’d click in and check the mood after the draw. Just a glance at the posts on this thread, and I’m already depressed. Our fan base is mental. The shite that gets spouted here is downright laughable.

I’m absolutely shocked that there are people that are blaming Ole for the result and poor tactics. Slagging Bruno and Rashford?

Look, this game of football is hard. We went to maybe the best side in the world’s home ground and outplayed them for stretches. Absolutely heroic defending. Had the best 3 chances in the match. The tactical chess match between Ole and Klopp was fascinating. Both teams executed their game plans extremely well. To say it was a boring match is incredibly reductive. Boring because of no goals? Are we that simplistic?

I’m proud of us. The players and the coaching staff. I see a performance and mentality that was nowhere to be seen 18 months ago.

 

[bsCallout]

Spurs might, City without a doubt, and Liverpool obviously.

So where were City and Liverpool's great attacks against us?

Neither have particularly been firing this season. Do City even have a player with more than 5 goals?

Kane & Son had a blitz but otherwise been relatively quiet.

 

[RuudTom83]

Being pissed at not beating Liverpool to extend the lead at the top by 6 points...lets face it we are all dreaming this season.

At the half way mark at most United will be 1 point off top place.

Ole and the team are getting closer...end of! Bring on Fulham!

 

[devilish]

I didn't like the game. It was boring as hell. However we need to acknowledge that we were playing against the best Liverpool in the past 30 years at Anfield and with one of the weakest squad United have in the past 30 years. In such circumstances 1 point is a great result.

 

[Sea-Cow]

Is Fabinho not blocking him? Not sure he’d win the race either.

It happens! Going alone is a reasonable decision, the best ball was the one after towards Pogba to play cavani in anyway.

I would bet my house on Fabinho winning that sprint easily. Maybe 5 years ago Cavani can make it close, but at his age now Fabinho cuts that out easy as you like.

Or, Rashford hits it too long and the annoying keeper comes out and sweeps it up. It would have had to been a perfect ball, and Cavani would have needed some Fash n Furious nas boosters.

 

[Berbasbullet]

I would bet my house on Fabinho winning that sprint easily. Maybe 5 years ago Cavani can make it close, but at his age now Fabinho cuts that out easy as you like.

Or, Rashford hits it too long and the annoying keeper comes out and sweeps it up. It would have had to been a perfect ball, and Cavani would have needed some Fash n Furious nas boosters.

By he, I meant Cavani, I agree with you. Should have been more clear.

 

[Offsideagain]

gave them too much respect. had we played to win, we likely would have

I agree. Weaken Scousers with no crowd, what an opportunity but a draw will have to do. Martial was missing, again, and Ole should have put Cavani on earlier. Away again at Fulham, we must get three points. City at Anfield early Feb which will interesting.

 

[The Original]

So where were City and Liverpool's great attacks against us?

Neither have particularly been firing this season. Do City even have a player with more than 5 goals?

Kane & Son had a blitz but otherwise been relatively quiet.

A great attack can be nullified by a great defense and Utd do have that in my opinion, especially given the way we set up in these games. So it's nor surprising or even notable that City and Liverpool haven't been able to score against us. Worth noting that Spurs had a field day at our expense. Bottom line is, consistency across an extended period is what counts.

Now, Son and Kane haven't gone quiet..Son got an assist and Kane scored last game out. Both of them are right at the top of the goal scorers charts for both goals and assists, and that's remarkable.

Liverpool's three are the same in that they have had a rough few weeks But their quality is evident and proven. Salah is the too scorer and Mane is not too far thereabouts.

City's out and out attackers have not really done well so far but they have a really functional machine that makes up for it and the thrust of their attack has really always come from their attacking midfielders.

Now my concern with United is that unlike say Liverpool, who struggle to break down defensive teams, or City who seemed to tactically make some attacking sacrifices in order to fix their defense, Utd actually do create a few good chances that get squandered through poor finishing, decision making, or passing. And that's worrisome because the other teams will soon get out of their difficult periods and we know how clinical they can be.

 

[Giggzy P]

These two points are both non-sensical, why do people keep bringing them up.

Firstly, if they played "with no desire to win the game", they would have spent the last 15 minutes passing the ball around at the back, and would not have come out from the break with an inreased sense of urgency resulting in an improved offensive performance. They looked every bit like a team with a strong desire to win the game to me. As was indeed confirmed by the post-match commentary and its emphasis on disappointment.

Secondly, Liverpool ARE NOT WEAK AND VULNERABLE BECAUSE THEY'RE PLAYING TWO MIDFIELDERS IN DEFENCE. If anyone thought so, they haven't been watching Fabinho play. And they can't have been paying attention yesterday either, because Fabinho and Henderson were excellent, as far as I could tell. As indeed I expected them to be.

Thirdly, yes, Liverpool have injuries and have not performed up to their usual standards lately. That doesn't mean they're not still a very good team that is very hard to beat. They are still dominating games and allow almost no goals (2 in their last 4), they just struggle to break down deep defences and score, at the moment. That does not seem to me like a good argument to loosen up defensively against them. Rather, it seems to make a good case that the way to capitalise on their current vulnerabilities is to do more or less what we did yesterday.

Mate we really Just sat back for majority of the game, in the first half as Graeme Souness put it, (and I rarely agree with him) we were playing hung on football, we failed to fashion out any meaningful attack, we were waiting for a break, we probably should have been behind had Firmino taken his chances.
We attempted to try and win late on in the game, and created two great chances, one with Bruno then Pogba, we didn't register a single shot on target in the first half, and Liverpool dominated the procession, for someone to say we deserved to win! now that's nonsensical.

Fabinho and Henderson were not excellent, the didn't have much of a threat to deal with. No one is saying Liverpool are a poor or weak team , but they are not at their best at the moment and were there fro the taking.

 

[Shark]

I didn't like the game. It was boring as hell. However we need to acknowledge that we were playing against the best Liverpool in the past 30 years at Anfield and with one of the weakest squad United have in the past 30 years. In such circumstances 1 point is a great result.

 

[devilish]

Don't you think that this squad is weaker then most of Sir Alex's squads?

 

[croadyman]

Our record against the big teams this season has been awful (only scored one goal in all games) so will be interesting to see how ole approaches the second round of games. I think we need to find a way of changing the balance in central mid, either by putting pogba or vdb in one of the deeper positions for one of mcfred

Yeah we definitely have to improve on 3/15 taken from the respective games in the first half of the season, didn't think I would ever feel so gutted about a draw at Anfield but really do and looking at posts may others feel the same too.

How many points do people think we have to realistically take from the games in the second half of the season to keep pace?

 

[Jeffthered]

I don't really think Pogba does that in central midfield, and also I think McT and Fred do considerably more than just defend.

You don't think Paul Pogba, playing well, inspires and drives the team around him? Well, we will have to agree to disagree on that.

Fred and McTominay are decent players, but neither come close to a Pogba playing well, regardless of where they may be playing.

 

[Sea-Cow]

By he, I meant Cavani, I agree with you. Should have been more clear.

Yeah we're on the same page. It was frustrating but Fabinho and Henderson are both incredible athletes, and they shut the door well. It happens.

 

[Jeffthered]

Mate we really Just sat back for majority of the game, in the first half as Graeme Souness put it, (and I rarely agree with him) we were playing hung on football, we failed to fashion out any meaningful attack, we were waiting for a break, we probably should have been behind had Firmino taken his chances.
We attempted to try and win late on in the game, and created two great chances, one with Bruno then Pogba, we didn't register a single shot on target in the first half, and Liverpool dominated the procession, for someone to say we deserved to win! now that's nonsensical.

Fabinho and Henderson were not excellent, the didn't have much of a threat to deal with. No one is saying Liverpool are a poor or weak team , but they are not at their best at the moment and were there fro the taking.

Agreed.

 

[Infra-red]

Can you show me which team does that (play one DM and a creative midfielder) with 4 forward-minded players in front of them against big teams??

I suppose that depends on your definition of 'creative midfielder' and, generally, midfield players are all tasked with some defensive responsibility, without them necessarily being a 'DM'.

What would you call players like Modric, Kroos, Kimmich, Parejo, Thiago, Tonali, Artur, Gundogan, de Jong, Locatelli, Fabian Ruiz etc? They often have played as one of the two deepest midfielders at their clubs, but they are primarily there to recycle possession and spread the play, rather than defend.

I don't think McTominay is that type of player.

 

[bsCallout]

A great attack can be nullified by a great defense and Utd do have that in my opinion, especially given the way we set up in these games. So it's nor surprising or even notable that City and Liverpool haven't been able to score against us. Worth noting that Spurs had a field day at our expense. Bottom line is, consistency across an extended period is what counts.

Now, Son and Kane haven't gone quiet..Son got an assist and Kane scored last game out. Both of them are right at the top of the goal scorers charts for both goals and assists, and that's remarkable.

Liverpool's three are the same in that they have had a rough few weeks But their quality is evident and proven. Salah is the too scorer and Mane is not too far thereabouts.

City's out and out attackers have not really done well so far but they have a really functional machine that makes up for it and the thrust of their attack has really always come from their attacking midfielders.

Now my concern with United is that unlike say Liverpool, who struggle to break down defensive teams, or City who seemed to tactically make some attacking sacrifices in order to fix their defense, Utd actually do create a few good chances that get squandered through poor finishing, decision making, or passing. And that's worrisome because the other teams will soon get out of their difficult periods and we know how clinical they can be.

I'm not sure I can really agree with any of that, Mane has less goals than Rashford, only 5. Salah has 1 more than Bruno.
City don't have anyone with more than 5 goals, I wouldn't trust any of their forwards, in fact I wouldn't swap any.

Only Spurs have two forwards I would trust. Other than that, Leicester have Vardy and Everton have DCL.

If either Rashford or Martial go through their own spell of good form in front of goal we are just as dangerous as any team. We also have Cavani who could be utilised more.

 

[Shark]

Don't you think that this squad is weaker then most of Sir Alex's squads?

Genuinely think it's difficult to to say because SAF, like Klopp could squeeze every last drop of potential out of a squad. If he had Martial, Rashford, Pogba, Cavani and Fernandes at his disposal we'd be absolutely terrifying.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

Mate we really Just sat back for majority of the game, in the first half as Graeme Souness put it, (and I rarely agree with him) we were playing hung on football, we failed to fashion out any meaningful attack, we were waiting for a break, we probably should have been behind had Firmino taken his chances.
We attempted to try and win late on in the game, and created two great chances, one with Bruno then Pogba, we didn't register a single shot on target in the first half, and Liverpool dominated the procession, for someone to say we deserved to win! now that's nonsensical.

Fabinho and Henderson were not excellent, the didn't have much of a threat to deal with. No one is saying Liverpool are a poor or weak team , but they are not at their best at the moment and were there fro the taking.

Agree and that is an understatement, they are playing with no defenders. Imagine us with no Maguire no Lindelof for the whole season, and then lining up with Pogba and Matic in defence against a full Liverpool side with no injuries.

 

[Adcuth]

Don't you think that this squad is weaker then most of Sir Alex's squads?

Its stronger than the one he won his last title with

 

[UnofficialDevil]

I didn't like the game. It was boring as hell. However we need to acknowledge that we were playing against the best Liverpool in the past 30 years at Anfield and with one of the weakest squad United have in the past 30 years. In such circumstances 1 point is a great result.

That would be an accurate statement if Anfield actually had any supporters there and they weren't missing all of their defenders forcing them to play their midfielders in defence. And this United squad is in no way the weakest in the past 30 years either.

 

[always_hoping]

No way will they be happy with a draw, it keeps them behind us.

Not scoring they can't be happy with either. First time since October 2018 since they last didn't score at home in the league.

 

[georgipep]

I suppose that depends on your definition of 'creative midfielder' and, generally, midfield players are all tasked with some defensive responsibility, without them necessarily being a 'DM'.

What would you call players like Modric, Kroos, Kimmich, Parejo, Thiago, Tonali, Artur, Gundogan, de Jong, Locatelli, Fabian Ruiz etc? They often have played as one of the two deepest midfielders at their clubs, but they are primarily there to recycle possession and spread the play, rather than defend.

I don't think McTominay is that type of player.

I can't comment on Parejo, Tonati, Locatelli or Fabian Ruiz. Haven't watched them nearly enough.

Modric is definitely a creative player and plays in a midfield three behind an attacking trio. Kroos is a German Xabi Alonson regen, also plays in a midfield three behind an attacking trio.
Similarly for de Jong and Gundogan.
Kimmich is definitely a defensive player and not creative. Also plays in a midfield three behind an attacking trio. Same with Thiago and Artur.

Notice how Gundogan didn't play last time we met City in the league. Pep played Rodri and Fernandinho behind his attacking quartet (Mahrez, KDB, Sterling and Jesus).

That's why I ask the question specifically when midfield plays behind an attacking quartet, not three players in each line. You can't have a creative midfielder in your midfield two if they are going to carry four players.

 

[devilish]

That would be an accurate statement if Anfield actually had any supporters there and they weren't missing all of their defenders forcing them to play their midfielders in defence. And this United squad is in no way the weakest in the past 30 years either.

It still their home turn. Also note that I said one of the weakest not the weakest. In my opinion LVG's team was weaker then this one

 

[devilish]

Its stronger than the one he won his last title with

I disagree. We had a far better manager and players whom, while in decline, knew the EPL inside out.

 

[Matt851]

That would be an accurate statement if Anfield actually had any supporters there and they weren't missing all of their defenders forcing them to play their midfielders in defence. And this United squad is in no way the weakest in the past 30 years either.

Yeah it was a pretty stupid statement to be honest. Forgetting to mention liverpool have failed to beat the mighty newcastle and west brom in recent games. This isnt the liverpool team of last season

 

[croadyman]

I think a lot of our frustrations yesterday come from the fact we had the players to win at Anfield but unfortunately haven't got the mentality yet. Like Neville just said on MNF there is many a time under Fergie we struggled there, however back then we were able to take one or two from the few chances we created whereas this team didn't have that killer instinct to do that.

 

[TheRedHearted]

Rashford and Bruno's decision-making were probably the difference between us drawing 0-0 and winning 1-0, or 2-0, and that's the truth.

That chance at the end I’ve no idea why Cavani made his run the way he did.

City have the games in hand to go top

yeah cept they shouldn’t have had that at all. Should have had to play those games.

 

[Gator Nate]

So we went into Anfield with a three point lead on the defending champs, and came out with a three point lead. I'm not complaining.

As for those who thought the game was boring, I'm not sure what you were watching. It was tight. They're good. We're good.

Remember Ole's thing about fitness? I think he's gone to a tactic of soaking up as much as you can for 30 minutes, letting the opponent wear themselves out a bit, then turning it on against a tired team. This is hardly the first time it's happened recently.

The fact that we didn't come out with three points is down, once again, to individual finishing and some poor choices in the leadup. But we were certainly the better team in the second half, and even in the last 15 minutes of the first.

Shaw was MotM, but the whole back line delivered. And McFred were great, each had 5 tackles, Fred had 2 interceptions and 3 clearances while Scott had 5 clearances. Everyone is complaining about Bruno, but I really felt they simply took him out of the game. Pogba made up for that. Marcus is certainly off at this point - hoping the coaching staff can get his head screwed on straight again. Martial put in a shift. DeGea really only had one good save to make, and did so.

There's a lot of woulda, coulda, shoulda, but I'll go back to the fact that we're leading the league, and drew a point at Anfield. The win was lost by individuals, but not by Ole. His setup provided multiple opportunities.

If Klopp's gonna complain that we parked the bus, I'll just point out Pool's inability to break down the low block.

 

[croadyman]

That chance at the end I’ve no idea why Cavani made his run the way he did.

yeah cept they shouldn’t have had that at all. Should have had to play those games.

Yeah that Everton game would definitely have been tougher if it had took place on the original date, however now it's likely to happen with them in red hot form which is a bad break for everyone else.

 

[Renegade]

That chance at the end I’ve no idea why Cavani made his run the way he did.

yeah cept they shouldn’t have had that at all. Should have had to play those games.

That’s Cavani being too used to Neymar and Suarez where a simple through ball is bread and butter. Cavani’s run was the right one timed to stay onside.

 

[Infra-red]

Modric is definitely a creative player and plays in a midfield three behind an attacking trio. Kroos is a German Xabi Alonson regen, also plays in a midfield three behind an attacking trio.

Are you saying that neither Modric nor Kroos could play alongside Casemiro in a 4-2-3-1? Kroos has frequently played this role at both club and international level?

Similarly for de Jong and Gundogan.

Barcelona have been a bit all over the place this season, but have most frequently used a 4-2-3-1 system, with Busquets and de Jong sitting behind an attacking quartet.

Kimmich is definitely a defensive player and not creative. Also plays in a midfield three behind an attacking trio.

Only two players in Europe's top 5 leagues have created more chances per 90 minutes from midfield than Kimmich this season. He usually plays in a midfield two with Goretzka (unless you are going argue that Thomas Muller is a 'midfielder', in which case can you explain how he is more of a midfielder than Bruno?) To be honest, Kimmich can create, defend, pass, tackle, change position at will - he must be one of the most complete players in Europe, so maybe he's an unfair example.

Same with Thiago and Artur.

When Artur has played this season it's generally been in a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1 for Juve, with four attacking players ahead of him (as did Thiago at Bayern - Liverpool played him behind four attackers last night, but this, to be fair, is not their usual midfield set up). Again, both players are primarily there for recycling possession - they are not really 'DMs'.

Notice how Gundogan didn't play last time we met City in the league. Pep played Rodri and Fernandinho behind his attacking quartet (Mahrez, KDB, Sterling and Jesus).

Indeed. Although Gundogan did play as one of the two deep midfielders when City played us in the League Cup on 6 January and in both League Cup semi-finals last season and in the Premier League game at at Old Trafford last season too, which undermines this point somewhat.

I agree that you don't want a #10, a pure attacking player, sitting deep in front of your defence. However, it seems to me that it would be perfectly possible to accommodate a 'creative' player - a tempo-dictating deep lying playmaker, for example - alongside a ball-winner, in behind Bruno, in Ole's favoured 4-2-3-1...

I can't comment on Parejo, Tonati, Locatelli or Fabian Ruiz. Haven't watched them nearly enough.

Locatelli would probably be my first choice for that position.

 

[Hughie77]

Wow. Thought I’d click in and check the mood after the draw. Just a glance at the posts on this thread, and I’m already depressed. Our fan base is mental. The shite that gets spouted here is downright laughable.

I’m absolutely shocked that there are people that are blaming Ole for the result and poor tactics. Slagging Bruno and Rashford?

Look, this game of football is hard. We went to maybe the best side in the world’s home ground and outplayed them for stretches. Absolutely heroic defending. Had the best 3 chances in the match. The tactical chess match between Ole and Klopp was fascinating. Both teams executed their game plans extremely well. To say it was a boring match is incredibly reductive. Boring because of no goals? Are we that simplistic?

I’m proud of us. The players and the coaching staff. I see a performance and mentality that was nowhere to be seen 18 months ago.

Agree, it was a + result I thought, and a better finish from pogba who I think has been top class in last few games, we would have won. This was a bigger game for them even if there followers didn't think so. It's been a major improvement since cl exit. And the Everton away game was the catalyst in the form I think in league . A win on Wed it will put us in a good position going to Arsenal at end of the month. F.A cup game for me I'd like to go through but it's not a massive disappoint if we dont even if it is the dippers.

 

[georgipep]

Are you saying that neither Modric nor Kroos could play alongside Casemiro in a 4-2-3-1? Kroos has frequently played this role at both club and international level?

Against what kind of opponents?

Barcelona have been a bit all over the place this season, but have most frequently used a 4-2-3-1 system, with Busquets and de Jong sitting behind an attacking quartet.

Who is the fourth attacker in Barcelona's system?

Only two players in Europe's top 5 leagues have created more chances per 90 minutes from midfield than Kimmich this season. He usually plays in a midfield two with Goretzka (unless you are going argue that Thomas Muller is a 'midfielder', in which case can you explain how he is more of a midfielder than Bruno?) To be honest, Kimmich can create, defend, pass, tackle, change position at will - he must be one of the most complete players in Europe, so maybe he's an unfair example.

TAA also creates a ton of chances. Is he a creative player or a defensive player?

When Artur has played this season it's generally been in a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1 for Juve, with four attacking players ahead of him (as did Thiago at Bayern - Liverpool played him behind four attackers last night, but this, to be fair, is not their usual midfield set up). Again, both players are primarily there for recycling possession - they are not really 'DMs'.

I can't comment anything on Artur, have no clue what his game is. I also want to point out my initial question was playing against big clubs. Not the majority of weaker teams.

Indeed. Although Gundogan did play as one of the two deep midfielders when City played us in the League Cup on 6 January and in both League Cup semi-finals last season and in the Premier League game at at Old Trafford last season too, which undermines this point somewhat.

To me, it shows that Pep prioritizes the league over the cups, if anything.

I agree that you don't want a #10, a pure attacking player, sitting deep in front of your defence. However, it seems to me that it would be perfectly possible to accommodate a 'creative' player - a tempo-dictating deep lying playmaker, for example - alongside a ball-winner, in behind Bruno, in Ole's favoured 4-2-3-1...



Locatelli would probably be my first choice for that position.

Similar to Artur, I've no clue about Locatelli.

I think that in order to have more attacking/creative players, you need your whole team to be very technical passers so they can keep possession a lot better and thus defend by not giving the opponent the ball. We are a galaxy away from that, in my view.

 

[McTerminator]

Does any team have a title challenging attack?

mom Pedigree over performances: Liverpool, City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Leicester (at a push since they play with just Vardy up top).

Could easily win a title with any of those attacks on paper. Admittedly most of them aren’t playing like it.

 

[sport2793]

mom Pedigree over performances: Liverpool, City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Leicester (at a push since they play with just Vardy up top).

Could easily win a title with any of those attacks on paper. Admittedly most of them aren’t playing like it.

So you are saying that all of those teams have a better attack than United?