I don't know where to start all the feel good factor before/during the International break is well and truly gone. I fail to understand what are the tactics being deployed and the structure throughout the season. Why is Ten Haag so stubborn to realize one man pivot is basically asking for trouble unless you have a prime Kante or player like Rice in there, who is strong, powerful, workhorse to run all day, whereas we have Maino who struggles after 60 minute and Casemiro who looks like 40 year old when playing.
Plus even if you have a great defensive midfielder, if your front 5 presses and the rest of the team does not follow suit, it means one switch to the other side fullback and the other team have basically started a counter attack already. It's a suicidal tactic whichever way you look at it. It also means the midfielders/forwards have to run aimlessly all day, first to press and then to run back to help the defence (could be a reason for so many injuries as well)
What are other options one may ask, either all team should press high up top or deploy the tactic we used in Ole and Mourinho time, where we sat at half way and only pressed once they crossed the half way, it meant less space between midfield and defence hence difficult for other teams to play through.
I am shocked that at this level Ten Haag is so naive, no wonder we concede soo many shots and chances, whatever we say about Van Gaal, he was smart enough after Leicester debacle he reverted to a solid structure and by the way of possession we kept opposition at bay. So the tactic was there and it made sense, the thing which did not work for him was we would not tolerate this style of play at manutd, plus he didn't have a Robben type world class player to make it work.
I think in all of these managers we had after SAF, there is a reason why we have conceded seven against Liverpool and Six against City with Ten Haag only, its because his tactical acumen and the structure of team is the worst where we are practically playing Basketball not football. He has the likes of Amad and Mount, he must use them instead of Bruno and Rashford.
There is also an argument that we need new players, and i agree we need players who are strong, powerful capable of pressing and running all day but also technically amazing to keep the ball when pressed basically Rodri and B.Silva are perfect prototype of type of players we need to up our level. But i am afraid if we keep Ten Haag, we will again be shopping in Dutch League and will be crying out for the same thing next year March as well.
We have the players (when fit) to deploy a better possession based team and structure if there is a capable coach.
Onana,
Dalot Magure/Varane Licha Shaw
Casemiro Maino Eriksen
Amad Hojlund Mount/Garnacho