I agree we need to have a pattern of play, but I don't think van Gaal is good at that. We had plenty of games with no shot on target and we were even worse in breaking organized defences under him.The only thing missing left is "patterns of play". We have just enough variety of players already.
It's down to coaching. I don't think our coaches are coaching the players any good teamplay patterns of play in how to break organised defenses. This is also a problem during the previous manager. LVG is the only one that knows how to (in one way) but his coaching is so bad and dull.
It's so obvious our play is highly dependent on individual skills and creativity "Boys, you're on your own, good luck".
City and Pool have certain repetitive patterns when they play isn't it, every game and it usually works. Every. Single. Game.
We had already been doing that. Bruno had 7 shots yesterday and all of them were from outside the box. It was just not effective to rely on that.Maybe the next time the opponent sits deep, just give the ball away by shooting it straight to their defenders/keeper.
At worst, We'll get a corner kick/throw in.
At best, They will regain possession, which is what this team is tailored to play against.
And then We wait, as usual, to strike back with a lightning counter attack and fast movements.
Easy game. The only team that doesn't want the ball. We don't need the ball, We need the goals!
For some games, then the opposition started crowding the middle of the pitch and forcing us to pass to our fullbacks when attempting to progress the ball.Obviously we were poor today but when Bruno and pogba played together last season we were mostly good so hopefully this isn't our biggest issue this season
Fortunately Man Utd didn't buy Reguilon then. Stick with Shaw forever.The top sides have all overcome this generally by:
Pinning the opposition back in their own half with pace at the back to cope with the counter attack.
Have threats on both sides of the pitch.
Moving the ball quickly/switch sides
Having attacking threats from full back.
Its been a problem for years but we dont do any of these things well, so its not really a surprise that the problem persists. Having slow CBs has a knockon effect on the other issues.
I agree but we were top of the league table over a period of several months if it were easy to stop us then that wouldn't have been the caseFor some games, then the opposition started crowding the middle of the pitch and forcing us to pass to our fullbacks when attempting to progress the ball.
welcome back havent seen the OLEOUTs in a few months where ya been??Get a good manager
I'm not talking to 10 year oldswelcome back havent seen the OLEOUTs in a few months where ya been??
4/5 games were we progressed the ball through the middle without much problem, then they started to crowd the middle. And some games were we got the first goal and could counter.I agree but we were top of the league table over a period of several months if it were easy to stop us then that wouldn't have been the case
You can certainly attack by numbers in some situations, that is overloading on the side, overlaps etc. But simply putting more players forward without a plan is basically what we already do.Have a reliable defensive duo we can trust to deal with the basic shite thrown at us. We need to feel confident of throwing everything against a side before we've already gone a goal down.
Not pep guardiola then dang itGet a manager who won't get schooled by Roy Hodgson
Formation talk is a total cop out. We were the best team in the league for 6 months playing the same system. The team is knackered and we need options to rotate in but the players in the pitch need to find more fight as wellHaving players on the wings and fullbacks that can take people on and win 1 vs 1 situations is the key to unlocking teams that sit back. We do not have those players as clearly seen today with Rashford and James. Greenwood is no winger either and should be played as a striker. Did Shaw or bissaka make a single assist last season? Compare that to other big teams in europe and we are far away from having top modern attacking fullbacks. Rashford has been dreadful for a long time now and I am disliking pogba more and more. He just does not give a feck and prances around like a primadonna thinking he's a much better player than he really is..workrate for fecks sake..I would love for Keano being taken in as part of the coaching team to give these undeperforming and lazy bastards a kick up the backside....I despise players not giving their all...look at the NBA/NFL players and the work they put in...some talk about formations and give certain players all kind of excuses related to that..but at the end of the day the team that works harder , faster and leave nothing on the field win...just look at bloody Liverpool and Leeds
Yeah you could well be right on that and hope that Cavani can provide us with that guy who can hold the ball up and get on the end of Telles deliveryMy personal opinion is that Rashford and Martial cannot play in the same team regularly to get the best out of them for the team.
I feel that Martial is not a number 9. He is not a poacher nor a CF who can hold the ball or head crosses in. He is best at coming deep and getting the ball and driving thru.
Rashford is also not a CF like that who can do that. He is not as good as Martial in coming deep and collecting the ball and driving thru.
I have a feeling that Jose knew this and was why he was willing to sell Martial. Not because Martial was a bad player but because of the slating he will get if he sold Rashford.
It's not just getting end of the crosses. You don't have to be a tall big player to do it. Paulo Rossi was not a big guy but he can hold the ball, dribble and also bring others into it and be at the end of the cross.Yeah you could well be right on that and hope that Cavani can provide us with that guy who can hold the ball up and get on the end of Telles delivery
Obviously you have not watched any of the Barca game. Pass the ball to Messi, who will attract 2 may be even 3 defenders, which will create space for others, should Messi decided not to dribble pass 3 defenders...Yet again this thread needs a bump.
1. Bring the ball into the final third without making high risk actions like dribbling (Pogba), dangerous passes etc by movement, efficient passing and overloading in certain areas. Be able to progress the ball through the middle, and on both sides... Make the pitch as large as possible. Don't compress when the team is in possession (Everyone).
2. When the ball is under control in the final third, again keep the width. The fullbacks/players staying wide, don't move centrally and make it easier for the opposition to defend by numbers like Shaw always does. The fullbacks do not need to mark the widest player of the opposition in their own box when the team is in possession (This is so simple and most kids know this). Efficient passing, movement, interchanging positions between players, be patient, cycle the ball between each side, don't shoot at the first opportunity. Watch City and Bayern.
3. Stop passing towards the cornerflag to a player moving away from the goal that has 1/2 players behind him(Shaw, AWB, etc). Easy to trap, impossible to create something from. Recycle the ball towards the other side instead.
4. Ability of players in the squad: Have players without extreme weaknesses that can be exploited, like defenders that are completely useless in iso situations, players that can't pass or always make risky actions...
5. Have a manager/coach that can coach the team to get a cohesive understanding of how to move/pass/press together. When one player makes a certain pass, then 2/3 others should know how to move/position themselves.
We are looking as clueless as we did under Mourinho, the only difference is that the players are not taking the piss, at least not all of them.