andersj
Nick Powell Expert
I’m surprised how little attention the lack of balance in the central area is getting and I’m even more surprised that we have not adressed this issue yet. In my opinion, this is the main ingredient of Tuchels success at Chelsea. Creating balance through a better structure/tactical setup.
When Ferguson used the 442 and 4231 he always found room for a bit of a false winger. A winger that would cover alot of space and even tuck inside if needed. Beckham did it, and so did Park, Fletcher, Hargreaves and even Valencia. Alot of fans never quite warmed to the less glamours players like Fletcher and Park, but Ferguson would sacrifice a bit of flair for defensive stability.
Looking at our rivals today, they play very attacking football. But first and foremost they have made sure they have a balance and structure to attack from. Liverpool played with three hardworking, defensive players in the middle of the park for a few years with great success (Fabinho, Henderson and Winjaldum). Three players to protect their creative players, allowing them to take risk. In sum, including their CBs, they had five players in the central area looking first and foremost to give them the right balance and provide Salah, Mane, Firmino, Trent and Robertson protection if they lose the ball. It is the same with Chelsea, but they play with two midfielders in front of three CBs. And it is actually not that different. They important thing is that they do not get outnumbered in the most crucial area of the pitch.
At Man Utd, with Bruno high up the pitch, and two wingers not good at pressing our tracking back, our midfielders have to cover the same space three Liverpool players do when we lose the ball. That is why we need the legs of McT and Fred in the central area of the pitch.
How do we fix it? I think there is two quick fixes that we should try:
A) More legs in the central area of the pitch,
B) Wide attackers betters at pressing and tracking back,
Get more bodies in the central area of the pitch
@Pogue Mahone made a good suggestion the other day playing with a midfield three of Fred, McT and Matic. I think we would look a lot more balanced if we did.
The flaw with that setup, in my opinion, is
A) Matic is not really a good DM (IMO). Neither is, but I would rather have McTs pace and ability to cover space in the deeper area of the pitch than Matic
B) Unlike Liverpool, we do not have Trent and Robertson at fullback to give us creativity going forward, and with a midfield of Matic, Fred and McT would struggle going forward
Hence, I would sacrifice Matic for Pogba. He would be our extra midfielder, a bit like Beckham was, but in a different setup. It would give us a midfield similar to Chelsea back in the day (Makelele, Essien and Lampard), with Pogba as our Lampard.
This has always been the best position for Pogba. At the left side of a midfield three. It was at Juve and during his best spell at Man Utd (during OGS interim period). It gives him freedom to break forward ang get into the box. But it also gives him protection if he lose the ball.
Furthermore, Pogba is actually a decent defender. Not if he has to be the defender in midfield, but as an attacker he is quite good. He can’t cover ground the way Fred do (neither should he), but only Bruno and Fred press more at Man Utd this season (according to statsbomb) and only Fred has made more recoveries. As a defender, I actually think he is better than Lampard was or even de Bruyn
For all his flaws, Pogba (after Ronaldo) probably is our most talented player. And at 28, potentially our best player right now. Using him in his best position should be a priority.
Another option is dropping either McT or Fred for an extra CB. A bit like Chelsea. Playing three at the back. Personally, I really like that option as we dont really have a natural DM. I also think Lingard could be a decent wingback.
Playing wide attackers who defend
With a fluid front three, I Bruno could be a very good option as a wide attacker tucking inside. Similar to Coutinho at Liverpool, but better off the ball. And the part ofthe ball is key! Bruno is great at pressing and tracking back. Greenwood, Rashford and Sancho is not.
I guess Fernandes, Rashford, Sancho and Greenwood is part of the reason why we dont play a 433. We want to play with three of these attackers at the same time in addition to a striker. But it is at the cost of the balance of the team.
And competition is a good thing. The message for these players should be clear, if you dont run or track back you dont play. If neither of them cando that, play Lingard instead.
In my opinion, it should be Bruno, Ronaldo + the player that prove he deserve to start.
In summary:
- Add more players in the central area of the pitch
- Apply Bruno as one of the three attackers, thereby sacrificing Greenwood, Sancho or Rashford for defensive stabilty/better balance
To play good attacking football you need stability and safety for your attackers. Right now, we dont have that.
When Ferguson used the 442 and 4231 he always found room for a bit of a false winger. A winger that would cover alot of space and even tuck inside if needed. Beckham did it, and so did Park, Fletcher, Hargreaves and even Valencia. Alot of fans never quite warmed to the less glamours players like Fletcher and Park, but Ferguson would sacrifice a bit of flair for defensive stability.
Looking at our rivals today, they play very attacking football. But first and foremost they have made sure they have a balance and structure to attack from. Liverpool played with three hardworking, defensive players in the middle of the park for a few years with great success (Fabinho, Henderson and Winjaldum). Three players to protect their creative players, allowing them to take risk. In sum, including their CBs, they had five players in the central area looking first and foremost to give them the right balance and provide Salah, Mane, Firmino, Trent and Robertson protection if they lose the ball. It is the same with Chelsea, but they play with two midfielders in front of three CBs. And it is actually not that different. They important thing is that they do not get outnumbered in the most crucial area of the pitch.
At Man Utd, with Bruno high up the pitch, and two wingers not good at pressing our tracking back, our midfielders have to cover the same space three Liverpool players do when we lose the ball. That is why we need the legs of McT and Fred in the central area of the pitch.
How do we fix it? I think there is two quick fixes that we should try:
A) More legs in the central area of the pitch,
B) Wide attackers betters at pressing and tracking back,
Get more bodies in the central area of the pitch
@Pogue Mahone made a good suggestion the other day playing with a midfield three of Fred, McT and Matic. I think we would look a lot more balanced if we did.
The flaw with that setup, in my opinion, is
A) Matic is not really a good DM (IMO). Neither is, but I would rather have McTs pace and ability to cover space in the deeper area of the pitch than Matic
B) Unlike Liverpool, we do not have Trent and Robertson at fullback to give us creativity going forward, and with a midfield of Matic, Fred and McT would struggle going forward
Hence, I would sacrifice Matic for Pogba. He would be our extra midfielder, a bit like Beckham was, but in a different setup. It would give us a midfield similar to Chelsea back in the day (Makelele, Essien and Lampard), with Pogba as our Lampard.
This has always been the best position for Pogba. At the left side of a midfield three. It was at Juve and during his best spell at Man Utd (during OGS interim period). It gives him freedom to break forward ang get into the box. But it also gives him protection if he lose the ball.
Furthermore, Pogba is actually a decent defender. Not if he has to be the defender in midfield, but as an attacker he is quite good. He can’t cover ground the way Fred do (neither should he), but only Bruno and Fred press more at Man Utd this season (according to statsbomb) and only Fred has made more recoveries. As a defender, I actually think he is better than Lampard was or even de Bruyn
For all his flaws, Pogba (after Ronaldo) probably is our most talented player. And at 28, potentially our best player right now. Using him in his best position should be a priority.
Another option is dropping either McT or Fred for an extra CB. A bit like Chelsea. Playing three at the back. Personally, I really like that option as we dont really have a natural DM. I also think Lingard could be a decent wingback.
Playing wide attackers who defend
With a fluid front three, I Bruno could be a very good option as a wide attacker tucking inside. Similar to Coutinho at Liverpool, but better off the ball. And the part ofthe ball is key! Bruno is great at pressing and tracking back. Greenwood, Rashford and Sancho is not.
I guess Fernandes, Rashford, Sancho and Greenwood is part of the reason why we dont play a 433. We want to play with three of these attackers at the same time in addition to a striker. But it is at the cost of the balance of the team.
And competition is a good thing. The message for these players should be clear, if you dont run or track back you dont play. If neither of them cando that, play Lingard instead.
In my opinion, it should be Bruno, Ronaldo + the player that prove he deserve to start.
In summary:
- Add more players in the central area of the pitch
- Apply Bruno as one of the three attackers, thereby sacrificing Greenwood, Sancho or Rashford for defensive stabilty/better balance
To play good attacking football you need stability and safety for your attackers. Right now, we dont have that.