Blasphemy.
Choose one important issue we need to address to challenge in all competitions next season
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
The manager
United need a true captain in the spine of the team who embodies the arrogance, demand and stubbornness of Jose. The only player who has that type of personality is Ander Herrera, but he's not a bang on starting XI player, at least not this year.
Ben Chilwell? You high mate?
Peps doctors and vitamins, so our squad can stay fit all year.
That and a FB or two, a CM, and possibly a RW.
That and a FB or two, a CM, and possibly a RW.
Style of football.
I’m not sure 1 will do it. I do agree the team needs to move the ball faster back to front. But then the defence isn’t helped by the lack of movement and options other than Lukaku for a long punt to win a header. Then when we do get it forward there is no width or support from fullbacks which limits our effectiveness which is amplified with Mata and Sanchez going so far inside.
There is so much that needs fixing as it’s just a bit of a mess.
There is so much that needs fixing as it’s just a bit of a mess.
I agree. The singlemost thing I want us to change is building from back. Our defence including is incredibly poor in this regard and when pressurised a little , they tend to hoof the ball aimlessly towards fellaini and lukaku. This is mostly due to 2 reasons: 1. Our defender's extremely limited ability on the ball. 2. Jose's tendancy to play long ball and not take any risks.
If I can’t say entire back four, how about just the fullbacks.
The Fans
- As fans/supporters I think we need to stop being so reactive. A loss is not the end of the world.
- The players need to be more consistent, showing up every other game is not good enough. Tricks without end product are useless.
- Players need to be more humble and work harder....prove your worth and earn your salaries
- Players need to sacrifice for the team.
- Mourinho needs to be more flexible and open to change.
- Try harder with the players who are worth it. Sometimes habits and behaviours can be learned.
- We need a LB and a RB
- The CB need to learn how to pass the ball.
- Midfielders need to learn to how keep the ball under pressure.
- Attackers need to learn to mix things up. Stop being so predictable.
We need a leader on the field someone with a voice and not afraid to bring other players into line when needed.
Zlatan would have been the obvious choice last season and I really hoped Pogba would show leadership this season but he has turned out far too self obsessed. Someone in the mould of Roy Keane to keep the team in order or someone with charisma and the admiration of the rest of the team along the lines of Eric or Zlatan.
Valencia can not remain captain he is anonymous, no leadership skills whatsoever
Zlatan would have been the obvious choice last season and I really hoped Pogba would show leadership this season but he has turned out far too self obsessed. Someone in the mould of Roy Keane to keep the team in order or someone with charisma and the admiration of the rest of the team along the lines of Eric or Zlatan.
Valencia can not remain captain he is anonymous, no leadership skills whatsoever
Work rate/Movement off the ball
Definitely full backs.
Wingers aint wingers anymore, so we need two creative, pacey fb’s who can beat their man, deliver crosses and go on overlaps.
Oh, and it would be a bonus if they could defend as well.
Wingers aint wingers anymore, so we need two creative, pacey fb’s who can beat their man, deliver crosses and go on overlaps.
Oh, and it would be a bonus if they could defend as well.
Just to elaborate a little on the OP. Problem starts with our slow build up. It's starts with our CB's passing sideways and backwards between themselves. Until Pogba, Matic, Hereira find themselves dropping back far too deep. There is no direct movement or flow out of defence. It's like having the hand brake on all the time. We need to be more direct otherwise we'll be going nowhere. Don't know obviously if this is a player issue or a tactical issue.
We started the season counter attacking like animals. Breaking forward and balls into feet. Let's go back to that. It suits most of our players. The long ball to Lukaku can work as seen against Pool. But don't overdo it
More Quality in certain positions — RW, LB, RB.
If possible, another high quality CM that can play well with matic and Pogba and maybe another CB to partner Bailey
If possible, another high quality CM that can play well with matic and Pogba and maybe another CB to partner Bailey
Go along with that!
1. Passing into space
2. Quicker transitioning to attack
3. One touch football
4. Creating overloads
5. More intense pressing
6. Commit tactical fouls
7. Sign an attacking left back
8. Sign an attacking right back
9. Get a deep play-making midfielder
10. Get a ball-winning midfielder
11.Mix areas where we attack from instead of just left wing
12. Deploy Sanchez as a false 9 or 10 behind Rom
13. Accommodate Martial as an inverted winger.
14.Better atmosphere at OT.
15.More aggressive play.
16.Ship out those who long-term offer diminishing returns.
17. Have a settled back 4 and team core
18. Nurture young players like Gomes
19.Develop potential captains
2. Quicker transitioning to attack
3. One touch football
4. Creating overloads
5. More intense pressing
6. Commit tactical fouls
7. Sign an attacking left back
8. Sign an attacking right back
9. Get a deep play-making midfielder
10. Get a ball-winning midfielder
11.Mix areas where we attack from instead of just left wing
12. Deploy Sanchez as a false 9 or 10 behind Rom
13. Accommodate Martial as an inverted winger.
14.Better atmosphere at OT.
15.More aggressive play.
16.Ship out those who long-term offer diminishing returns.
17. Have a settled back 4 and team core
18. Nurture young players like Gomes
19.Develop potential captains
We need s RW. Every match, it seems as though the only thing that happens from our RW is Valencia pushes forward, stops, and then either belts it against someone's shin, or passes back to Mata or whoever is BEHIND him.
We are so lop-sided and have been for the past two or three years since Valencia was switched to RB.
Instead we signed Sanchez - and with Lukaku a nailed on starter, we have him, Rashford and Martial who all need to play LW to be effective, so not only do we not have a RW, we also have two of THREE good quality EPL players sat on the bench most matches and now risk losing two of them because they want game time.
It isn't rocket science - with a fully finctioning RW and then, because we'd have more balance, we could actually have FBs who are good at and there to defend instead of getting flack from most on here for their lack of attacking skills. Strange that the people who moan about Darmian and Shaw as useless going forward don't moan about our so-called wingers being useless at defending.
We are so lop-sided and have been for the past two or three years since Valencia was switched to RB.
Instead we signed Sanchez - and with Lukaku a nailed on starter, we have him, Rashford and Martial who all need to play LW to be effective, so not only do we not have a RW, we also have two of THREE good quality EPL players sat on the bench most matches and now risk losing two of them because they want game time.
It isn't rocket science - with a fully finctioning RW and then, because we'd have more balance, we could actually have FBs who are good at and there to defend instead of getting flack from most on here for their lack of attacking skills. Strange that the people who moan about Darmian and Shaw as useless going forward don't moan about our so-called wingers being useless at defending.
1) Need a natural RW, all our attack is on the left. If we had a threat on the right we become less predictable when we attack and creates natural width. Both create gaps in the defence.
2) LB and a RB who are happy to push forward
3) Getting more from our squad rotation. Jose doesn’t rotate enough imo almost selecting a first 11 in the early rounds of the league cup and FA cup, why? Our subs bench cost millions of pounds and on huge wages. If they can’t be trusted or not good enough to start against a Championship side why are they even at the club?
Even in the Premier League the likes of Blind, Darmian, Rojo, Fellaini should be able to play against the bottom 10 quite comfortably. If they can’t they need selling and replacing with players who can.
2) LB and a RB who are happy to push forward
3) Getting more from our squad rotation. Jose doesn’t rotate enough imo almost selecting a first 11 in the early rounds of the league cup and FA cup, why? Our subs bench cost millions of pounds and on huge wages. If they can’t be trusted or not good enough to start against a Championship side why are they even at the club?
Even in the Premier League the likes of Blind, Darmian, Rojo, Fellaini should be able to play against the bottom 10 quite comfortably. If they can’t they need selling and replacing with players who can.
This has to be up there. It's all good being able to play a certain amount of systems, but as you said, we need to settle with one now and buy players accordingly.
Eboue
That's more than one!
If we can only pick one then its got to be consistancy. We have too many players who can play well and poorly in the same week. It usually happens in patches for most players, but here its like De Gea aside, who would you bet on having a good game out of the next 2 games? Pogba, Sanchez, Lukaku, Rashford, Martial, Matic the whole defence etc are hit and miss from one game to the other. We could have still have been challenging for the league and/or gone further in Europe if only 8-9 of them were consistant most of the time.
Tempo.
Choose just one guys!
Related with high pace and aggressive movement, strong quick energy pressing, urgency to win and directness to score.
No problem when these players are playing well, since they tend to play with full tempo.
When those players doesn't play or have their off days, we had to rely on the other players to have their adrenaline moments and strong motivations to have good tempo.
Our counter attacks and direct attacks are generally so bad so embarrassing right?
No problem when these players are playing well, since they tend to play with full tempo.
- Herrera
- Rashford
- Sanchez
- Bailly
- Carrick
When those players doesn't play or have their off days, we had to rely on the other players to have their adrenaline moments and strong motivations to have good tempo.
Our counter attacks and direct attacks are generally so bad so embarrassing right? Choose just one guys!From now on, only signing players that are comfortable being pressed when in possession, whether they are a superstar signing or not.
Too many times we give the ball away and shit ourselves whenever the opposition has a go.
Too many times we give the ball away and shit ourselves whenever the opposition has a go.
Full-backs are a must next season.
RB, LB, CB, CM CD & RW. - I think we need to focus on these positions.
We need full-backs who can forward, cross a ball in the box. We also need a CB who isn't Chris Smalling. Yes, he has scored a few goals lately which is great but he is still bad at his day job. Defending. One of the biggest issues with players like Smalling/Jones is how bad they are on the ball.
- The game vs Bournemouth. The amount of times Herrera had to drop deep just to pick up the ball. He was practically acting as a sweeper because Smalling/Jones refuse to show for the ball because they were too scared to take the ball from De Gea.
On other occasions he was bemoaning Valencia for not making forward runs.
I agree with the much of first post by @CrazyHorse. New full-backs & a CB will make a massive difference.
We need players who are composed on the ball, who will drive forward, get crosses into Lukaku and provide us some proper width.
RB, LB, CB, CM CD & RW. - I think we need to focus on these positions.
We need full-backs who can forward, cross a ball in the box. We also need a CB who isn't Chris Smalling. Yes, he has scored a few goals lately which is great but he is still bad at his day job. Defending. One of the biggest issues with players like Smalling/Jones is how bad they are on the ball.
- The game vs Bournemouth. The amount of times Herrera had to drop deep just to pick up the ball. He was practically acting as a sweeper because Smalling/Jones refuse to show for the ball because they were too scared to take the ball from De Gea.
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On other occasions he was bemoaning Valencia for not making forward runs.
I agree with the much of first post by @CrazyHorse. New full-backs & a CB will make a massive difference.
We need players who are composed on the ball, who will drive forward, get crosses into Lukaku and provide us some proper width.
-----------------De Gea --------------------
Valencia--Bailly--Lindelof--Sandro
------Herrera----Matic-------Pogba
-------Griezmann---Sanchez------
------------------Lukaku------------------
It's a blasphemy if we didn't win any trophy with This eleven.
Valencia--Bailly--Lindelof--Sandro
------Herrera----Matic-------Pogba
-------Griezmann---Sanchez------
------------------Lukaku------------------
It's a blasphemy if we didn't win any trophy with This eleven.
At least he can do better than Darmian mate.
Summed up my feelings perfectly but if just one area then I hope we get the left back issue sorted out and if this means Shaw moving on then I’ve made my peace with that.
Fluidity in the side, we get the ball at the back and hoof it upfield to Lukaku too much we need better build up play which will probably come with a new midfielder.
The deadwood needs clearing out and replacing with young hungry players.
The deadwood needs clearing out and replacing with young hungry players.
Don’t agree that our fullbacks is the main problem. Valencia and Young are not miles off the competition.
Our main issue is that our cm’s are all in the ”tall and cumbersome” mould.
Matic, Fellaini, Pogba, Mctominay and Carrick. Herrera is a bit smaller and quicker and on form he breaths at least some life into our football.
When Carrick and Fellaini leaves/retires in the summer we need to get two smaller, quicker cm’s with a lower center of gravity. Players that can make our football faster. Neves, Koke, Kovacic, Thiago.
Still have fond memories of the handful of games Fergie played Anderson and Cleverley in the middle, we looked quick and exciting even if they were rather average players. Imagine what a Kovacic -Koke midfield could do for us.
Our main issue is that our cm’s are all in the ”tall and cumbersome” mould.
Matic, Fellaini, Pogba, Mctominay and Carrick. Herrera is a bit smaller and quicker and on form he breaths at least some life into our football.
When Carrick and Fellaini leaves/retires in the summer we need to get two smaller, quicker cm’s with a lower center of gravity. Players that can make our football faster. Neves, Koke, Kovacic, Thiago.
Still have fond memories of the handful of games Fergie played Anderson and Cleverley in the middle, we looked quick and exciting even if they were rather average players. Imagine what a Kovacic -Koke midfield could do for us.
Better attacking tempo and urgency !
Width.
We currently have none, it's mad to watch a United team line up with Mata and Sanchez basically following each other around in a small area of the pitch.
A right winger and two proper full backs who can actually take a man on and cross a ball would do wonders for our attack.
We currently have none, it's mad to watch a United team line up with Mata and Sanchez basically following each other around in a small area of the pitch.
A right winger and two proper full backs who can actually take a man on and cross a ball would do wonders for our attack.
The full backs
Young is a much better full back than Valencia who has been surviving on goodwill, his commitment to the cause and his physical prowess
Nevertheless, neither are good enough to offer the attacking wing back play our system needs to really stretch teams
Young is a much better full back than Valencia who has been surviving on goodwill, his commitment to the cause and his physical prowess
Nevertheless, neither are good enough to offer the attacking wing back play our system needs to really stretch teams
Spot on, we going nowhere with Jose. He has taken us as far as he can in his 2 year reign, now the fighting with players has started, can only go downhill from here.
There isn't really one issue to fix us. We need several. But ignore a midfield and CBs for now.
We would be transformed in attack with 2 brilliant fullbacks and a RW.
We would be transformed in attack with 2 brilliant fullbacks and a RW.
Valid point!
Can't decide between a right winger and a younger Matic. Maybe the right winger.
Leadership