"Negative Tactics" in Europe

lynchie

Full Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2006
Messages
7,068
Boring Cnuts said:
442 blah blah 433 blah blah 451 blah blah 352 blah
There's a lot more to tactics than the minutiae of the initial formation.
 

Mozza

It’s Carrick you know
Joined
Jul 13, 2002
Messages
23,353
Location
Let Rooney be Rooney
So you accept this was the only European "away" game where we played 442?
Can't remember the group stages but fair enough, we were still a bit shit away from home last year, the results may have been good but performances were terrible

Our away record against the big four, this season (442) compared to last (433), would seem to indicate that a change in formation hasn't made us any more prolific but has caused us all sorts of problems, defensively.
Don't remember us playing 433 in the away games last year, against the Arse it was Hargreaves and Anderson, the same against Liverpool, you maybe correct with us playing 433 against Chelsea but then that is the only one we lost
 

Brophs

The One and Only
Joined
Nov 28, 2006
Messages
50,713
There's a lot more to tactics than the minutiae of the initial formation.
It's quite brilliant that you label people "boring cnuts" for talking tactics, while claiming that actually, they are ignoring a massive degree of the detail. Surely that would be even more boring than our discussion?

Good stuff.
 

lynchie

Full Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2006
Messages
7,068
True. But formation is a hugely important part of tactics. Hence it is worthy of discussion. In a thread about tactics.

Obviously, if you find it all sooooooo boring, there's plenty of other threads for you to share your pearls of wisdom :smirk:
My point is that you're not really talking about tactics, you're just talking about where the players stand at kick off. It's what they do after kick off that matters.
 

Pogue Mahone

Swiftie Fan Club President
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
134,681
Location
"like a man in silk pyjamas shooting pigeons
Can't remember the group stages but fair enough, we were still a bit shit away from home last year, the results may have been good but performances were terrible



Don't remember us playing 433 in the away games last year, against the Arse it was Hargreaves and Anderson, the same against Liverpool, you maybe correct with us playing 433 against Chelsea but then that is the only one we lost


;)
 

Bilbo

TeaBaggins
Joined
Sep 27, 2004
Messages
14,438
Regardless of whatever formation people think we did or didn't play last season, there is little doubt that we were more compact as a unit, and more difficult to break down.

Results were better, but of course that could have gone either way but for a moment here, or a moment there, that ultimately worked in our favour.

Still firmly believe though, that this time last season we looked a lot more like an outfit that were going to win the CL, than we do so far this season.
 

lynchie

Full Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2006
Messages
7,068
But formation is about much more than where players stand at kick-off. Surely you know that? :confused:
But you could play 442 with 4 central midfielders, pack out the centre and smother the game, or play 442 with 2 good old fashioned wingers flying up and down, or 442 with the full backs sitting back or overlapping, or with both strikers pushing up, or one or both falling back, or for some spastic reason, both deciding to play on the wings. I'd argue all of these things make more difference than a change to 433.
 

Pogue Mahone

Swiftie Fan Club President
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
134,681
Location
"like a man in silk pyjamas shooting pigeons
But you could play 442 with 4 central midfielders, pack out the centre and smother the game, or play 442 with 2 good old fashioned wingers flying up and down, or 442 with the full backs sitting back or overlapping, or with both strikers pushing up, or one or both falling back, or for some spastic reason, both deciding to play on the wings. I'd argue all of these things make more difference than a change to 433.
You could play any formation any way you want.

But when you're talking about a specific set of players, and a specific manager, the formation played is a pretty reliable indicator of the tactics likely to be employed.
 

Lot 49

Doom
Newbie
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
1,711
Well it doesn't look like we're playing 4-4-2. Fergie has gone for a similar team to one that hammered Arsenal in the FA cup last year. I'm not a fan of Rooney as a lone forward but he was excellent that day and our midfield looks absolutely awesome with Carrick/Anderson/Fletcher as a central three and Nani and Ronaldo on the wings.

Does it get your seal of approval Pogue?
 

Dino

New Member
Newbie
Joined
Oct 5, 2004
Messages
1,408
Location
Singapore
I just have a feeling that this game, United going to be defensive ala against Barcelona last season.
 

Pogue Mahone

Swiftie Fan Club President
Joined
Feb 22, 2006
Messages
134,681
Location
"like a man in silk pyjamas shooting pigeons
Well it doesn't look like we're playing 4-4-2. Fergie has gone for a similar team to one that hammered Arsenal in the FA cup last year. I'm not a fan of Rooney as a lone forward but he was excellent that day and our midfield looks absolutely awesome with Carrick/Anderson/Fletcher as a central three and Nani and Ronaldo on the wings.

Does it get your seal of approval Pogue?
:D

It most certainly does.

Would be tempted to give Giggs the nod over Nani (IMO he's much more effective wide and a front three should mean he has less running to do) but yeah, very happy with the line-up. No doot aboot it.
 

Merman

Guest
Hehe, Rooney isn't really as bad as I thought as a lone striker. Anywhere but right then.