Can we please just play a midfield 3...and stick with it this time!

wolvored

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I was messing about trying to think of the best formation to fit our good players, while limiting the cloggers. This is what I came up with:

Talking Points:


- With the departure of Lukaku and Sanchez, we're going to need as much firepower as possible. Playing Pogba high up, along with 2 high energy box-to-box midfielders, can make up for some of the goals we'll inevitably lose in the absence of other strikers.


- Martial, Rashford, and Greenwood all seem to operate better as wide strikers in the half-spaces rather than touchline hugging wingers or central strikers. This formation ensures that they play in those favourable positions. It also has the added bonus of shifting Rashford to the right but not as a winger; that way he can focus on what he does best: runs behind the defence instead of dribbles into cul-de-sacs. When Dan James plays, he can play his usual game on the left, with Pogba and one of the other midfielders providing a target in the box for crosses, along with the other striker.


- The midfield diamond is perfect for both Pogba and Matic, as they will have high work-rate midfielders who can cover for them while they try to cover passing lanes. If they can free Pogba to focus on attacking, and Matic to operate in a Carrick-like role, we'll be better for it. They can also cover the flanks for the wide strikers so they don't have to track back too much.


- The defensive line needs to be very high and brave, even in the absence of very quick defenders. Pogba and Matic due to their large frames don't have the acceleration and stamina for long-distance running, so we need to operate in a much smaller area defensively. Additionally, if we're to do a high press we need to be very compact as we're pressing; we can't press high only to run back into our half every time, we'll burn out. Bravery is required, to stand their ground against attackers instead of running back into a low block. If the opposition beat our high line and score, we take it on the chin.


- With 2 box to box mids, the intent must be very aggressive and attacking. They'll need to chip in with goals to help the 2 and a half strikers, so no hesitating to get into the box.


Any additional thoughts?
Seeing as James has been our best attacker, then this isnt our best tactic.
 

He'sRaldo

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Seeing as James has been our best attacker, then this isnt our best tactic.
That's a good point. I think that while he's been superb, he's been our best attacker due to our subpar formation. Utilized correctly, the likes of Pogba, Martial, and Rashford are better than him.


Besides, this formation I think will benefit him as well, as he'll have more targets in the box to cross to.
 
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RedCurry

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What we should do is Pogba-Fred-McT in big games and games where opposition plays high line, with Pogba as #10.

Pogba-Mata-McT in other games with Mata as #10. Lingard and Gomes to fight for the Mata role. This till we buy a proper creative midfielder to replace Mata.
 

doriandun

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433 wont work with our current personel, you either go the pep way and have the two in front of the base taking turns to support the attack, who are good passers, buying into the ethos, the team comes first or the way SPurs are going with three midfielders who are industrious and can pass, with either two of Sissoko or Winks who can sit a little deeper, all three being fairly athletic, alternatively the Liverpool way, where you have just three work horses, who's role is just to win possession and recycle the ball.

The truth is what Ole should of done towards the end of last season is give Fred a run of 5 to 10 games straight, playing Fred in the Europa league won't help his development in the league, as the pace in europe tends to be slower, with the run of 5 or 10 games last season, would of allowed Fred to get to grips with the league a little better.

Then come this season Fred and Mc T would be the base, Pogba behind Martial, James and Rashford rotating on the left, and Linguard and Rashford rotating on the right.


We actually played 4231 during the honeymoon period, with Pogba behind the striker with Martial on the left and Linguard on the right, the reason is was successfull is because of how industrious Herrera was.

All that needs to happen going forward is give Fred a run of games, push Pogba forward, but he needs to help the team and press, cut out the fancy dan stuff and focus on what he is good at making passess.
 
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Foxbatt

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We can have all the formations in the world but it won't help if the players don't know how to create space and move without the ball and the player with the ball not passing the ball at the right time.
I really don't understand how United players look to play back or hold the ball too long.
Mata held the ball too long and Rashford was offside. If he had played it Rashford would have been away.
In another instance Young held the ball to long and the instance was gone.
They should understand that it's not the player with the ball who should make the decision when to pass but the receiver.
 

HowYouDoin

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Yup midfield three is simply the way to go as it simply allows us to have our best and most talented team on the pitch. As simple as that.
 

Alabaster Codify7

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If you're planning on sticking to a 3-man midfield, you need more than FOUR midfielders in the first team fecking squad.

Garner is way too young to count and Mata/Lingard are not midfielders. Nor is Pereira, really, but more passable than the others.
 

Strelok

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IMO for the 4-3-3 to work we'd really need another strong all round box to box midfielder and a great RW - left footed preferable. Personally I quite regret that we didn't sign Mahrez, a big "what if" if we didn't sign Sanchez but him.
 

SadlerMUFC

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I was messing about trying to think of the best formation to fit our good players, while limiting the cloggers. This is what I came up with:

Talking Points:


- With the departure of Lukaku and Sanchez, we're going to need as much firepower as possible. Playing Pogba high up, along with 2 high energy box-to-box midfielders, can make up for some of the goals we'll inevitably lose in the absence of other strikers.


- Martial, Rashford, and Greenwood all seem to operate better as wide strikers in the half-spaces rather than touchline hugging wingers or central strikers. This formation ensures that they play in those favourable positions. It also has the added bonus of shifting Rashford to the right but not as a winger; that way he can focus on what he does best: runs behind the defence instead of dribbles into cul-de-sacs. When Dan James plays, he can play his usual game on the left, with Pogba and one of the other midfielders providing a target in the box for crosses, along with the other striker.


- The midfield diamond is perfect for both Pogba and Matic, as they will have high work-rate midfielders who can cover for them while they try to cover passing lanes. If they can free Pogba to focus on attacking, and Matic to operate in a Carrick-like role, we'll be better for it. They can also cover the flanks for the wide strikers so they don't have to track back too much.


- The defensive line needs to be very high and brave, even in the absence of very quick defenders. Pogba and Matic due to their large frames don't have the acceleration and stamina for long-distance running, so we need to operate in a much smaller area defensively. Additionally, if we're to do a high press we need to be very compact as we're pressing; we can't press high only to run back into our half every time, we'll burn out. Bravery is required, to stand their ground against attackers instead of running back into a low block. If the opposition beat our high line and score, we take it on the chin.


- With 2 box to box mids, the intent must be very aggressive and attacking. They'll need to chip in with goals to help the 2 and a half strikers, so no hesitating to get into the box.


Any additional thoughts?
We don't have proper attacking FB's for this formation...
 

Mr Anderson

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Our depth in midfield is simply not there. Bar Pog, we have lads who come deep and take extra touches. The speed in our game isn’t there. Clear to see.
 

Judas

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You have to ask questions of Ole/the staff for thinking this was an acceptable midfield to go into a season with. We all could see it from a mile away we would struggle.
 

El Zoido

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You have to ask questions of Ole/the staff for thinking this was an acceptable midfield to go into a season with. We all could see it from a mile away we would struggle.
Ask Woodward first, I doubt Ole was happy about it either.
 

Decomposing In Paris

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Pogba is capable of match changing performances in central midfield, at the highest level, so we should play him there.

If our attackers aren't doing enough they need to step up or be replaced.
 

He'sRaldo

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We don't have proper attacking FB's for this formation...
All they have to do is provide width and make the right runs. Things that can be worked on in the training ground.

Like I said previously, it's a mentality thing. If we tell the whole team to be very aggressive and attacking, then we'll definitely see a lot more runs and crosses, etc out of our wingbacks and box-to-box mids.
 

SadlerMUFC

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All they have to do is provide width and make the right runs. Things that can be worked on in the training ground.

Like I said previously, it's a mentality thing. If we tell the whole team to be very aggressive and attacking, then we'll definitely see a lot more runs and crosses, etc out of our wingbacks and box-to-box mids.
They also have to be capable of putting in good crosses and I haven't seen that from either
 

He'sRaldo

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They also have to be capable of putting in good crosses and I haven't seen that from either
Depends. If they already know where their teammates will be making runs to then they can put in first-time cutbacks, which I personally prefer, especially since we don't have headers of the ball besides Pogba.


Ideally, they would be good at both crosses and cutbacks, but I think we shouldn't use the former too often given the types of forwards we have.


The general idea is to have the midfielders responsible for the buildup, and the wingbacks responsible for width. Right now we have wingbacks responsible for buildup and IMO it's suboptimal, especially if we're then having to create width with strikers like Rashford who are very poor at that.