What is United's "game model" ?

[Pughnichi]

I think the game model is Wheel of Fortune.
Eric gets up on a Saturday morning, spins the wheel and just lets fate decide the starting eleven and tactics.

Gotta love Domenech selecting squads and starting line ups based on star signs and astrology. Absolute fruit cake

 

[Rooney25]

Did ETH have a game model at Ajax?

 

[tomaldinho1]

Do we reckon it's fair to say Ineos want us to play with a 5 at the back?

The two concrete links have been Tuchel and now Amorim is confirmed, add in frank who was a strong rumours also has played this way a fair bit.

Wilcox can then build the game model off how Amorim plays.

 

[Ekeke]

Do we reckon it's fair to say Ineos want us to play with a 5 at the back?

The two concrete links have been Tuchel and now Amorim is confirmed, add in frank who was a strong rumours also has played this way a fair bit.

Wilcox can then build the game model off how Amorim plays.

No. I think we would have signed a wingback when we were trading fullbacks in the summer if that was their plan.

However the manager they seem to have decided is the outstanding candidate does play that way so I expect going forward our transfer windows will reflect that

 

[sunama]

Exactly. Football fans nowadays have a fetish for overcomplicating the game. It's just 22 players kicking a ball on grass. Ain't rocket science.

Teams only need balance between attacking and defending. Playing Styles aren't that critical imo, especially in possession. Defensively, there should be structure and work ethic.

Mourinhos Chelsea and Fergies United were two of this leagues most dominant sides. I don't recall them having a specific game model or philosophy. Both stuck to the fundamental principles and would regularly adapt their systems.

Correct!
Over the last few years, we have lost to many "lesser" teams, including newly promoted teams at Old Trafford.
They might have had a game plan, but in all honesty, we lost because the opposition wanted to win more than we did.
There is no explanation that we can beat MCFC one week and lose the very next game.
It's all about desire and the will to win.

 

[tomaldinho1]

No. I think we would have signed a wingback when we were trading fullbacks in the summer if that was their plan.

However the manager they seem to have decided is the outstanding candidate does play that way so I expect going forward our transfer windows will reflect that

We signed 2 CBs and swapped AWB for Maz who can play wing back - that to me screams back 5 build although, as you say, ideally we would have an LWB although it seems no one knew the extent of Shaw's injury. Shaw and Malacia could play there.
Would have thought Zirkzee was in their mind for the inside attacker type role as well?

 

[Erictheking7]

Has there been anything said about this or has this term just been used when the new hierarchy has been referred to, and how this is something new? Even Erik is using the term now, whereas before he used "philosophy". Have they adapted to his vision, is he adapting to theirs, is there a clear unified vision that is being worked towards?

I think it's called Chaos

 

[RedinIndia]

Did ETH have a game model at Ajax?

He did. Wasn't too far off what he was trying with United.

Involved direct play getting as many players to the opponent box as quickly as possible. All the while leaving gaping holes at the back that half decent teams could decimate at will.

Worked at Ajax somewhat because the league is weaker and he had very good players coming from the academy at the same time. But the fundamental fallacy of his system was always there. Should never have been hired.

Didn't work at United because United didn't have players who were considerably better than the opposing players.

 

[RedinIndia]

Add that to the fact that we were having to carry players bought under coaches with a markably different system prior. Be it Ole or Jose before.

The time to do a complete reset and pivot to the modern game should have been done when LVG was fired. He had gotten the basics of the possession game even if most of the game was boring and drab.

Instead , we pivoted to Mourinho who had a markably different style of playing. Compounded that failure by appointing Ole who quite frankly was clueless in tactics.

 

[Bastian]

Do we reckon it's fair to say Ineos want us to play with a 5 at the back?

The two concrete links have been Tuchel and now Amorim is confirmed, add in frank who was a strong rumours also has played this way a fair bit.

Wilcox can then build the game model off how Amorim plays.

I doubt it extends to set formations, that's if there even is a game model. Under SAF it was to attack with power, pace, penetration and unpredictability. Safe to say that we attack with none of those things.

 

[Hammondo]

I doubt it extends to set formations, that's if there even is a game model. Under SAF it was to attack with power, pace, penetration and unpredictability. Safe to say that we attack with none of those things.

That's not a game model, these are just vague descriptions of attack every team aims for.

 

[Ekeke]

We signed 2 CBs and swapped AWB for Maz who can play wing back - that to me screams back 5 build although, as you say, ideally we would have an LWB although it seems no one knew the extent of Shaw's injury. Shaw and Malacia could play there.
Would have thought Zirkzee was in their mind for the inside attacker type role as well?

We're also coming off a season where we couldnt keep CBs fit, or a leftback. So we signed multiple CBs in case it happens again and a replacement fullback for AWB who could also cover Shawn on the left. It all fit the current plans

Unfortunately the current plans didnt work. I'd be very surprised if in the next 18 months we dont sign someone who plays wingback on a weekly basis - assuming that Amorim wants to play the same way he does at Sporting. Theres a chance he's happy to play closer to the way we currently play at least formation wise. Sometimes managers come to a big club or new league and have a different idea of what they want to do. But still its best to assume he's very likely to do what hes already done successfully

 

[Bastian]

That's not a game model, these are just vague descriptions of attack every team aims for.

Sure, it's not a game model, but core principles. Neville was onto the same thing on his pod after the Chelsea match. There is zero tempo to our game. That tempo is pretty much what our teams under SAF were about. And we attacked down both wings and we had players capable of shooting accurately from outside the box so we had a three pronged attack. Now we still tend to overload the left (even without a left back) and we are super slow in the build up phase and give teams plenty of time to set up against us.

I still doubt if there is a clear idea on the hierarchy's part about whether we want to play high octane football, or a slow possession game, whether we want to defend with a high line or sit deep, I also haven't seen much difference in our set pieces since the start of the season despite having a set piece specialist in place. The only thing I notice about them is that we often fail to clear the first man for our corners (like Bruno in the last kick of the Chelsea match) and Dalot is probably among the worst throw-in takers in the game. Takes an awfully long time, and we lose possession very often from them. But that's another story.

 

[tomaldinho1]

We're also coming off a season where we couldnt keep CBs fit, or a leftback. So we signed multiple CBs in case it happens again and a replacement fullback for AWB who could also cover Shawn on the left. It all fit the current plans

Unfortunately the current plans didnt work. I'd be very surprised if in the next 18 months we dont sign someone who plays wingback on a weekly basis - assuming that Amorim wants to play the same way he does at Sporting. Theres a chance he's happy to play closer to the way we currently play at least formation wise. Sometimes managers come to a big club or new league and have a different idea of what they want to do. But still its best to assume he's very likely to do what hes already done successfully

I have no doubts we will sign wing backs, it would be a shame if the formation Amorim seems most clued in on he ditches here. Ineos weren't planning on firing ETH when they did, it just seems very coincidental that the oinked coaches (with actual credible links) all have a preference for a rarer tactical system & just because we did not sign wing backs, it seems pretty scant evidence against them having at least some kind of bias there.

 

[romufc]

Sure, it's not a game model, but core principles. Neville was onto the same thing on his pod after the Chelsea match. There is zero tempo to our game. That tempo is pretty much what our teams under SAF were about. And we attacked down both wings and we had players capable of shooting accurately from outside the box so we had a three pronged attack. Now we still tend to overload the left (even without a left back) and we are super slow in the build up phase and give teams plenty of time to set up against us.

I still doubt if there is a clear idea on the hierarchy's part about whether we want to play high octane football, or a slow possession game, whether we want to defend with a high line or sit deep, I also haven't seen much difference in our set pieces since the start of the season despite having a set piece specialist in place. The only thing I notice about them is that we often fail to clear the first man for our corners (like Bruno in the last kick of the Chelsea match) and Dalot is probably among the worst throw-in takers in the game. Takes an awfully long time, and we lose possession very often from them. But that's another story.

I dont know why fans are bogged down into schematics. Does using football terms like Game model make fans feel empowered?

You talk about you dont know the hierarchy's idea... I mean its quite clear if you see the signings brought in, they want to create a young squad with potential, with a young manager.

If you also watch how Amorim plays, its both a high line and sit deep, you cant just have one.. when you press the ball, you play a high line, when the opponents have controlled possession by breaking the press, you play a deeper line.

Amorim's system usually goes from a 3-4-3 or a 3-2-4-1 to a 5-4-1 defensively. In games where we play deeper, we transition quickly and in other games to break teams down you play a slow possession game.

The teams that are successful do both, its not you can only play one way.

 

[RedinIndia]

Also this isn't the case where we signed Zirkzee thinking we would get him for the next manager like how the scousers signed Firmino keeping him in mind for Klopp.

We didn't have a clue on who the next manager was following from ETH.

 

[Hammondo]

Sure, it's not a game model, but core principles. Neville was onto the same thing on his pod after the Chelsea match. There is zero tempo to our game. That tempo is pretty much what our teams under SAF were about. And we attacked down both wings and we had players capable of shooting accurately from outside the box so we had a three pronged attack. Now we still tend to overload the left (even without a left back) and we are super slow in the build up phase and give teams plenty of time to set up against us.

I still doubt if there is a clear idea on the hierarchy's part about whether we want to play high octane football, or a slow possession game, whether we want to defend with a high line or sit deep, I also haven't seen much difference in our set pieces since the start of the season despite having a set piece specialist in place. The only thing I notice about them is that we often fail to clear the first man for our corners (like Bruno in the last kick of the Chelsea match) and Dalot is probably among the worst throw-in takers in the game. Takes an awfully long time, and we lose possession very often from them. But that's another story.

Well SAF played slow as well as fast, it's a bit of a myth that's all we did. There were games we simply couldn't. He was known to be flexible, but unless you have the top level of individuals it doesn't work so well.

 

[Ekeke]

I have no doubts we will sign wing backs, it would be a shame if the formation Amorim seems most clued in on he ditches here. Ineos weren't planning on firing ETH when they did, it just seems very coincidental that the oinked coaches (with actual credible links) all have a preference for a rarer tactical system & just because we did not sign wing backs, it seems pretty scant evidence against them having at least some kind of bias there.

Its not that rare. Its the most popular its ever been with the current German champs, Italian champs and Portuguese champs all using the system

Thats probably why the managers we're looking at, we've decided to go with 1 who uses the system. Because some of the other candidates are too

They got rid of McTominay when ETH was using him as a get out of jail and keep your job card, if they wanted us to use wingbacks they would have signed them

 

[Bastian]

Surely Wilcox will give someone an interview soon. I hope he's asked about how they want United to play.

 

[wolvored]

The game model is to take a successful debt free club, run it irresponsibly and see how long it takes to destroy it, whilst assuring fans it’s just a yearly blip.

 

[Invictus]

Surely Wilcox will give someone an interview soon. I hope he's asked about how they want United to play.

To be fair, even if he is asked how we want to play, he is not going to go into great detail with regard to scheme and recruitment related specifics (that would invite pressure and heightened scrutiny). What he is likely to say is something diplomatic and amorphous (to give himself and other decision-makers some wiggle room), along the lines of: United wants to play a proactive style of football where the team exerts a sembance of control on games and creates and scores a high volume of goals. That would be reasonably vague, whilst planting a seed of hope in supporters' head (as that is what we pine for and what we want to hear, even if it's not a complete diagnosis).

 

[Bastian]

To be fair, even if he is asked how we want to play, he is not going to go into great detail with regard to scheme and recruitment related specifics (that would invite pressure and heightened scrutiny). What he is likely to say is something diplomatic and amorphous (to give himself and other decision-makers some wiggle room), along the lines of: United wants to play a proactive style of football where the team exerts a sembance of control on games and creates and scores a high volume of goals. That would be reasonably vague, whilst planting a seed of hope in supporters' head (as that is what we pine for and what we want to hear, even if it's not a complete diagnosis).

Sure, all good points as per usual, but it's not unrealistic to know whether we will look to deploy a high defensive line for instance. I think Amorim has tried to adapt the team to be more controlled in possession (which I think he's clearly progressing towards) but the final third remains the same as before. He's also not been able to play a high defensive line because he's not got the personnel (and I wonder about his Sporting side given he had Coates there in the beginning, whom I used like Maguire).

It at least merits an attempt at getting something from them. I'd rather get some general phrases and try to decipher from that something more substantial, than them not being asked at all.

 

[tomaldinho1]

The game model is to take a successful debt free club, run it irresponsibly and see how long it takes to destroy it, whilst assuring fans it’s just a yearly blip.

Jokes aside, the game model is to tank the value of the club until the Glazers lose interest and then buy them out. Will be a long few seasons.

 

[Bastian]

This era will be defined by jargon. All vacuous talk. There is no game model. It's off the cuff believing in individual's magic. Which is sort of how we play with a maverick focal point playing off the cuff football.

I hope the journos will start to push for some fleshing out of the alleged vision, the bravery and badge crap.

 

[thisisnottaken1]

Act like a bunch of headless chickens.

 

[Overhaul FC]

How can a club and team be this poorly run to produce this level of performance? New training ground improvements for this?

 

[Bastian]

Assuming he said this on the radio. Waiting on that to be up. Only Southgate was mentioned in the article.

Yeah, it totally looks like we have a coherent vision.

 

[McTerminator]

Presumably:

1. Start Game,
2. Play Game,
3. Lose Game,
4. Act surprised.

It’s a consistent model to be fair.

 

[Adnan]

What is a game model or a philosophy for a club like Man Utd? It's pretty simple imo, and it's to implement a attacking system of play where you can sacrifice defensive stability for goals. And the way the league has changed in the last 10 to 15 years, one must also take into consideration how you develop your own team whilst understanding how problematic the opposition's coordinated pressing methods will be on your own players along with how problematic the opposition's fast transitions will be on your players who will be holding the forte as the last line. Once these concepts are understood, then you can proceed and have a criteria on how you go about developing the team and targeting players to overcome these hurdles which will then enable us to exert control and dominance. The scary thing here for me as a Man Utd supporter is that the football director doesn't understand these obstacles, and the way they've been trying to develop the team seems to be with a strategy from a bygone era.

The Man Utd way (imo) is to play a high tempo game with wave after wave of sustained attacks. Playing vertical football with high tempo.

So whether we want to play a positional game (possession football) or a fast transition play style, one thing that has to occur is that your deeper lying players from the CBs to the deepers midfielders have to be able to vertically progress the ball forward as a collective, whilst being pressed by the opposition, along with also having the physical and athletic ability to nullify the opponent's fast transitions in a higher line.

So with the above in mind, you can then draw up a criteria for the recruitment staff to follow. This criteria by default rules out signings like Lindelof, Maguire, Wan Bissaka, Ugarte etc. So the players that we ideally want are those players who are comfortable and composed in possession whilst also having the ability to thread the lines and defend larger space in a higher line. In some teams you can get away with having one player in a deeper area who isn't the best on the ball but his physicality and athleticism makes up for it. Some like Gabriel at Arsenal is a good example in that regard and his pace and power is quite a valuable tool for them.

So for us to develop into a team that is attack minded. We have to pay particular attention to where the attacks are launched from and not where they end in the front line. Because the best attacking teams in the present day have to overcome the high press via the CBs and midfield players. So the signs of a team wanting to play a attack minded game and succeeding in the present day EPL, is to make the first two lines elite as far as the criteria I've described above.

Ideally every player within the first two lines has to be able to exhibit a high level of composure against the opponent's pressing schemes whilst also being able to vertically progress the ball and then collectively the same players will have the responsibility to nullify the fast transitions in a higher line. If you have a team that can deliver the above concepts in the first two lines then things will start to develop on the pitch at a high level and the forwards will have a higher level of service due to the high volume of players that will then be freed up to play the game in the opponent's half.

 

[NLunited]

What is a game model or a philosophy for a club like Man Utd? It's pretty simple imo, and it's to implement a attacking system of play where you can sacrifice defensive stability for goals. And the way the league has changed in the last 10 to 15 years, one must also take into consideration how you develop your own team whilst understanding how problematic the opposition's coordinated pressing methods will be on your own players along with how problematic the opposition's fast transitions will be on your players who will be holding the forte as the last line. Once these concepts are understood, then you can proceed and have a criteria on how you go about developing the team and targeting players to overcome these hurdles which will then enable us to exert control and dominance. The scary thing here for me as a Man Utd supporter is that the football director doesn't understand these obstacles, and the way they've been trying to develop the team seems to be with a strategy from a bygone era.

The Man Utd way (imo) is to play a high tempo game with wave after wave of sustained attacks. Playing vertical football with high tempo.

So whether we want to play a positional game (possession football) or a fast transition play style, one thing that has to occur is that your deeper lying players from the CBs to the deepers midfielders have to be able to vertically progress the ball forward as a collective, whilst being pressed by the opposition, along with also having the physical and athletic ability to nullify the opponent's fast transitions in a higher line.

So with the above in mind, you can then draw up a criteria for the recruitment staff to follow. This criteria by default rules out signings like Lindelof, Maguire, Wan Bissaka, Ugarte etc. So the players that we ideally want are those players who are comfortable and composed in possession whilst also having the ability to thread the lines and defend larger space in a higher line. In some teams you can get away with having one player in a deeper area who isn't the best on the ball but his physicality and athleticism makes up for it. Some like Gabriel at Arsenal is a good example in that regard and his pace and power is quite a valuable tool for them.

So for us to develop into a team that is attack minded. We have to pay particular attention to where the attacks are launched from and not where they end in the front line. Because the best attacking teams in the present day have to overcome the high press via the CBs and midfield players. So the signs of a team wanting to play a attack minded game and succeeding in the present day EPL, is to make the first two lines elite as far as the criteria I've described above.

Ideally every player within the first two lines has to be able to exhibit a high level of composure against the opponent's pressing schemes whilst also being able to vertically progress the ball and then collectively the same players will have the responsibility to nullify the fast transitions in a higher line. If you have a team that can deliver the above concepts in the first two lines then things will start to develop on the pitch at a high level and the forwards will have a higher level of service due to the high volume of players that will then be freed up to play the game in the opponent's half.

You‘ll have to flesh out the game model a bit more in order to know which players don‘t fit in it.

Also, in game management plays a huge role. You can have the best game model with the right players, and run into trouble.

 

[Adnan]

You‘ll have to flesh out the game model a bit more in order to know which players don‘t fit in it.

Also, in game management plays a huge role. You can have the best game model with the right players, and run into trouble.

The game model doesn't need modifying if a criteria is followed. It automatically flushes out players that don't fit the criteria.

You have to first have the tools at your disposal to make a difference when it comes to making a difference with in game management decisions. We have yet to get to that stage where in game management may or may not make a difference.

When as a team we get to a stage where we have the tools to overcome a aggressive press, play in a higher line, overload the opponent's half and also have a coordinated high press, then we can get to a stage where we can judge the manager's decisions as far as in game management is concerned imo. Because at that stage, we have provided the manager with all the tools he needs.

 

[NZT-One]

The game model doesn't need modifying if a criteria is followed. It automatically flushes out players that don't fit the criteria.

You have to first have the tools at your disposal to make a difference when it comes to making a difference with in game management decisions. We have yet to get to that stage where in game management may or may not make a difference.

When as a team we get to a stage where we have the tools to overcome a aggressive press, play in a higher line, overload the opponent's half and also have a coordinated high press, then we can get to a stage where we can judge the manager's decisions as far as in game management is concerned imo. Because at that stage, we have provided the manager with all the tools he needs.

And only to drive that point home-wards: since this is the playbook almost all big teams follow, it becomes obvious how direction-less the recruitment of the last years was. And while it may feel as if that point doesn't need such a long explanation, the issues are probably deeper than expected since they extent to players that maybe are well liked and considered "good players". (Which is why "he was so useful during that one period a few seasons ago" shouldn't even be a thing to even talk about)

Lets look at it -

Keepers
- in theory, Onana should have been a good keeper for such a model but he imploded and seemed to have lost everything that made him stand out, the rest is difficult to say, probably no reason to be overly optimistic for now (since Lammens is young and kind of a wild card)

Defenders
- Only obvious yes is Yoro with Mazraoui being reason for optimism
- only obvious no is Maguire
- the rest is in limbo though (Shaw might be able to serve as a fill in but theres no point in wasting time on him, Dalot should be able to play some role, Martinez does the baller-part but struggles in the physical aspects so has to be looked at, De Ligt will probably work but his pace has to be monitored, Heaven looking promising but inexperienced)

Midfielders
- Casemiro falls away obviously
- Ugarte falls away due to limitations on the ball
- Mainoo might have the technical abilities but for now not the range of passing and intensity to defend large spaces so for now certainly the best option we have but in the grand scheme of things a player that shouldn't be the one to get the burden placed on
- Bruno isn't a central midfielder and doesn't need to be talked about

So to adapt such a style, we'd need quite the adjustments of the team - thankfully most of them are needed anyways due to age but we should have been way more proactive in the past. What Adnan describes isn't some exotic stuff, it is the playbook that has become more and more popular basically since 2010 with more and more teams adapting it and forming their teams based on that. To a point, that now most teams in most leagues are not only able to exert an organized press but also able to withstand an organized press (obviously to various degree). And with the best teams obviously being the best in all of that. Those things are the underlying principles where formations are then "laid" on top.
We don't just struggle because we have bad players. Or because we recruited bad players. But because we ignored this trend/ideas/methods while some teams basically have become highly proficient with it. Thats one of the reason why we appear to be able to struggle to teams of all levels.

This is the challenge ahead - not the question whether a 4-2-3-1 might improve results for now. And why it is an important to bring in a progressive coach to also make sure that our higher ups don't get lost once again when shiny new names become available.

 

[johanovic]

We are a team with no clue where we are and what to do. Set up a system that does clearly not work with the players we have...do not learn how to improve and fix things...try the same thing over and over again without any improvement in points...then repeat the same bullshit process again and again. This is complete madness.

 

[Adnan]

And only to drive that point home-wards: since this is the playbook almost all big teams follow, it becomes obvious how direction-less the recruitment of the last years was. And while it may feel as if that point doesn't need such a long explanation, the issues are probably deeper than expected since they extent to players that maybe are well liked and considered "good players". (Which is why "he was so useful during that one period a few seasons ago" shouldn't even be a thing to even talk about)

Lets look at it -

Keepers
- in theory, Onana should have been a good keeper for such a model but he imploded and seemed to have lost everything that made him stand out, the rest is difficult to say, probably no reason to be overly optimistic for now (since Lammens is young and kind of a wild card)

Defenders
- Only obvious yes is Yoro with Mazraoui being reason for optimism
- only obvious no is Maguire
- the rest is in limbo though (Shaw might be able to serve as a fill in but theres no point in wasting time on him, Dalot should be able to play some role, Martinez does the baller-part but struggles in the physical aspects so has to be looked at, De Ligt will probably work but his pace has to be monitored, Heaven looking promising but inexperienced)

Midfielders
- Casemiro falls away obviously
- Ugarte falls away due to limitations on the ball
- Mainoo might have the technical abilities but for now not the range of passing and intensity to defend large spaces so for now certainly the best option we have but in the grand scheme of things a player that shouldn't be the one to get the burden placed on
- Bruno isn't a central midfielder and doesn't need to be talked about

So to adapt such a style, we'd need quite the adjustments of the team - thankfully most of them are needed anyways due to age but we should have been way more proactive in the past. What Adnan describes isn't some exotic stuff, it is the playbook that has become more and more popular basically since 2010 with more and more teams adapting it and forming their teams based on that. To a point, that now most teams in most leagues are not only able to exert an organized press but also able to withstand an organized press (obviously to various degree). And with the best teams obviously being the best in all of that. Those things are the underlying principles where formations are then "laid" on top.
We don't just struggle because we have bad players. Or because we recruited bad players. But because we ignored this trend/ideas/methods while some teams basically have become highly proficient with it. Thats one of the reason why we appear to be able to struggle to teams of all levels.

This is the challenge ahead - not the question whether a 4-2-3-1 might improve results for now. And why it is an important to bring in a progressive coach to also make sure that our higher ups don't get lost once again when shiny new names become available.

Good post.

The playbook or the method to get things functioning isn't really difficult to understand imo. It's not about being prem proven but rather being proven as far as as the playbook is concerned and fitting into a criteria which will then elevate the levels within the team where we can then exert control over the opposition. It doesn't matter if we're competing in La Liga against Real Madrid and Barcelona or PSG in France, the concept is still the same and we have to target players who are either proven to excel in how we want to play or have the potential to excel in how we want to play in a proactive attacking sense.

 

[tenpoless]

step 1: fall asleep
step 2: concede goal(s)
step 3: panic
step 4: try to equalize
step 5: Penalty!!!! or Red card!!!! -> saved? (yes/no)
step 6: happy or depressed (yes/no)

 

[NLunited]

Berrada might be behind the times; what used to work doesn‘t work nowadays.

We‘ve hitched our cart to Amorim and the wheels are coming off.

 

[NLunited]

Good post.

The playbook or the method to get things functioning isn't really difficult to understand imo. It's not about being prem proven but rather being proven as far as as the playbook is concerned and fitting into a criteria which will then elevate the levels within the team where we can then exert control over the opposition. It doesn't matter if we're competing in La Liga against Real Madrid and Barcelona or PSG in France, the concept is still the same and we have to target players who are either proven to excel in how we want to play or have the potential to excel in how we want to play in a proactive attacking sense.

This playbook/ game model nonsense doesn‘t explain how we can perform well one day against top
opposition and go to pieces against a lesser team the next week.

 

[Adnan]

This playbook/ game model nonsense doesn‘t explain how we can perform well one day against top
opposition and go to pieces against a lesser team the next week.

I'm not sure what you're even referring to but you shouldn't make judgements on games in isolation and should instead look at the bigger sample size since Fergie retired. We have shown post Fergie that we can win games in isolation against strong teams by ceding possession and playing in transition. What we cannot do to this day is exert control over opponents over a long period of time, hence we haven't come close to winning the league since the great man retired.

And the teams that we want to compete with, who have been winning titles and have shown consistency over several years have their recruitment aligned with a specific method or playbook.

 

[Gandalf Greyhame]

Marco Bizot.

 

[NLunited]

I'm not sure what you're even referring to but you shouldn't make judgements on games in isolation and should instead look at the bigger sample size since Fergie retired. We have shown post Fergie that we can win games in isolation against strong teams by ceding possession and playing in transition. What we cannot do to this day is exert control over opponents over a long period of time, hence we haven't come close to winning the league since the great man retired.

And the teams that we want to compete with, who have been winning titles and have shown consistency over several years have their recruitment aligned with a specific method or playbook.

The bigger sample size is we lose too much.

We have had a new game model since the previous season, and Amorim is the right choice according to your playbook nonsense.

I think we have about 90% of the players to make it work at this time, which should be enough to get us in the top 6.

So we have the game model and most of the players and the hipster coach. Yet you‘re arguing we don‘t recruit according to a playbook/game model.

We certainly do, but I fear the whole system is either behind the times or we are incompetent.