Lack of urgency

[KevinJoh]

It is tactical request. Similar to LVG in parts. They are moving slowly trying not to lose the ball. They have passes they are only allowed to execute when they are sure that it will go through. On the other hand, position of players are absolutely terrible as key midfield positions when in possession are occupied by players not capable to execute pass. When in possession, TH wants his full backs to get to the central midfield positions and than move to the channels or be options out of the box on the opposite side of the ball. Also, FB are making runs when you would expect that our MF's or wingers do that. He is moving wingers too much the the side, while trying to squeeze in FB between strikers and wingers, and moving midfielders to central position where they block each other. Also, he is overloading players in the line in front of the box, so there is too many of them too close. All of that slow down possession as there is a gap between CBs, DM and FB that is in midfield, and the rest of the team that is camping on the edge of the box. In those situation bad pass will get you dangerous counter with players out of position, while even good pass won't get you much (never did). Not sure why is he doing this as it is completely stupid and not working for months, but obviously he is persistent with it. We are playing slow football, we are easy to defend against, we can't make position to shoot from possession and only can do something from counter once we intercept ball in pressing. Also, we are playing our best football only when we are down and players leave the tactic and go gang ho.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

I was making this point in the ”would you sack or keep ETH” thread. Our players don’t move with any real urgency in to space to give say a passing option. too often they stand like statues waiting or seemingly waiting for someone else to do it.

It’s almost like they don’t understand that this simple action alone will make moving the ball around and breaking teams down so much easier. Instead we take so long to move the ball through that teams get back and set in to a defensive shape that we just then don’t have the ability to break. This has been something that has been happening for many seasons now.

If we could do these simple things with more intensity we’d improve massively.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

It is tactical request. Similar to LVG in parts.

Yet after every game LVG kept complaining about the tempo and how they had to move the ball faster and play with more intensity? tiki Taka sor passing doesn’t help in any regard when done slowly, and no coach wants that. It’s a ridiculous notion. The damage is done when you move the ball quickly moving teams out of position. ETH mentions quick transitional play probably because he has realised the players aren’t good enough to move the ball quickly like his Ajax did.

 

[Bertie Wooster]

I believe it's the inability on an individual level to make things happen off the dribble within the context of systems that, more or less, rely on moments of quality to get the job done. We utilize the left flank a lot to generate attacks, we often look adequate to move the ball up-field with pace and purpose to create isos for either Rashford or Garnacho. But neither of them is a natural dribbler, so most plays are dead on the water when the ball arrives at their feet.

Another thing is that United, throughout the last decade, seem allergic to "pass and move" players, while they seem very fond of the "catch and shoot" ones. Good movement and good vision are prerequisites of one-touch football. We often get the ball in good positions and in favourable situations in the final third, but will screw it up because we ditch the "checkmate in three moves" looking for the shortcut. And no, this isn't something you can teach. As Klopp, Pep and Tuchel have often said in various moments, the manager's job is to make sure that the ball gets in good positions in the final third. Once that task is accomplished, it's up to the players to justify their wages.

Thirdly, the few times we manage to maintain possession and circulate the ball in the final third with any sense of rhythm to our passing, the players from the second line of attack burdened with the responsibility to create chances are, in one word, crap at their jobs. When you rely on players like AWB, Dalot, Shaw to time their runs to perfection and execute a pass/cross with precision, you'll be struggling most of the time. Again, they'll offer you moments within games, but never a consistent threat to worry the opposition. The same goes with trying to mix it up by turning Garnacho/Rashford into creators or waiting for Antony to beat his man.

Finally, there's a fine line between urgency and hastiness, one that some of our better players don't seem to comprehend entirely. I'll leave it at that.

All the above create a conundrum where the system can't make the most of the width of the pitch in the attacking half, the players closest to the final third are forcing things (because that's what they know to do best) and get desperate and the players from the deeper lines are ever reluctant to commit themselves because they believe that they will either be ignored or -worse- they'll find themselves running back and chasing the ball like headless chickens.

You want to believe it's a "Dutch thing", but this cumbersome passing when the spaces aren't there, the lack of intricacy around the box and that focus on the left side to create attacks has been here since Mourinho, and it was fully embraced by Solskjaer. It makes you wonder...

Yeah, I agree with much of that.

We just don't have enough players who are technically gifted on the ball - in terms of playing good passes with vision and accuracy; taking few touches and being able to link up well in tight areas with quick interplay; delivering accurate final passes, crosses, shots, etc.

We seem to have to take extra touches, and lack the vision or bravery to see or play the attacking pass when it's on, and instead play the safe or easy pass that doesn't advance the attack. Until one of our individualistic / instinctive attacking players tries to go it alone and produce one of their (rare) moments.

And I can't see any of that improving for as long as we rely on key attacking players who are instinctive / individual / inconsistent like Rashford, Antony, Garnacho, Fernandes. These all typify the instinctive, 'relying on individual moments' game plan that we constantly seem to have. And is why we're so inconsistent and seem to have little structure about us as regards attacking as a unit with a game plan.

Individually, there's room for any of those players in a team as they all posses varying degrees of talent and threat. But they're all instinctive and inconsistent and so, as a collective, there's far too many of them with similar weaknesses to build an attacking unit around.

It's a huge call to get rid of any of them because, as I said, individually they have talent and (apart from Antony) they've established themselves as hugely important figures here. But I really think we need more attacking / creative players with much more consistent technical abilities to help us link up better and attack more as a team, not be so reliant on the individual moments.

And, on attacking as a unit, I agree with your 3rd point that we need better technical and attacking abilities from those tasked with joining up in the attacks such as the full backs. If we are going to carry on having individualistic, inverted wide strikers, then having full backs who don't contribute a huge amount in terms of attacking end product just exacerbates the problems (and really limits the level of service our #9 receives).

 

[sunama]

It's low fitness levels combined with a physically weak squad. Thrown in a bunch of weak mentalities and it's a perfect recipe for disaster.

I remember back when Ralf R asked the team to press hard - that lasted 30 mins. After that, the team collectively told him that they weren't fit enough press like he wanted.
Unfortunately, our players have a low fitness level so can't run as hard as our opponents.

 

[sunama]

Yet after every game LVG kept complaining about the tempo and how they had to move the ball faster and play with more intensity? tiki Taka sor passing doesn’t help in any regard when done slowly, and no coach wants that. It’s a ridiculous notion. The damage is done when you move the ball quickly moving teams out of position. ETH mentions quick transitional play probably because he has realised the players aren’t good enough to move the ball quickly like his Ajax did.

So, after spending so much money, we end up with a team which is one of the most expensive in the World, but can't do what Ajax did (who would've cost a fraction of what our squad cost).

 

[Jippy]

It's a recurring theme.

April 2018
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/urgency-the-difference.437775/

Nov 2015
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/a-sense-of-urgency.411876/

Jan 2015
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/lack-of-urgency.399801/

And even under SAF in 2005
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/we-need-urgency.91633/

 

[Lost bear]

Manchester United: We shall not be moved.

 

[Kingofwinners]

That Gakpo goal makes the point so clear. Purely down to moving the ball with urgency. If that was us it would still be in midfield or Bruno would have hoofed it off the pitch.