The Official Manchester United Thread [Vol 5]
Discussion
Exactly.
It's fine having all the possession if you're Barcelona with their players because they almost always get through parked teams, we don't have that and if we're going to continue with this way of playing we need the players capable of finding the runs, passes and finishes needed to break these teams down on a regular basis.
That's very difficult.
Or hope that the players we have can do more with the ball than they currently do... either way, something has to change.
It's fine having all the possession if you're Barcelona with their players because they almost always get through parked teams, we don't have that and if we're going to continue with this way of playing we need the players capable of finding the runs, passes and finishes needed to break these teams down on a regular basis.
That's very difficult.
Or hope that the players we have can do more with the ball than they currently do... either way, something has to change.
I'm getting like a stuck record but fwiw maybe now people are starting to realise quite how difficult it is for the likes of Falcao to actually get goals in this team. I didn't see all the game as I was away at the weekend in Holland (in the process scoring 2 goals for an England team in a 3-2 win against a team from Holland 
) but I did get to see Falcao and RVP shooting from long range, always a sign that you're struggling.
The philosophy is good - deny your opponent the ball to win matches. Sounds about right? The execution is flawed due to the lack of quality from wide. Barca attack through teams from the middle third, rarely do they rely on widemen to create. This is the problem we labour in build up affording our opponent to set up camp, so cannot then attack through the middle hence the long range shots from distance. Januzaj has got to be wondering what he's done wrong.
Barca also have 3 of the best and most skillful attacking players on the planet, Messi, Neymar and Toothboy but to do the maximum amount of damage they need space.
edited: Arsenal, especially Nasri, tore us a new one at OT a few years ago with this passing game that we've adopted. Notice how Wenger has dumped this and uses the attributes his players have to win matches now.
) but I did get to see Falcao and RVP shooting from long range, always a sign that you're struggling. The philosophy is good - deny your opponent the ball to win matches. Sounds about right? The execution is flawed due to the lack of quality from wide. Barca attack through teams from the middle third, rarely do they rely on widemen to create. This is the problem we labour in build up affording our opponent to set up camp, so cannot then attack through the middle hence the long range shots from distance. Januzaj has got to be wondering what he's done wrong.
Barca also have 3 of the best and most skillful attacking players on the planet, Messi, Neymar and Toothboy but to do the maximum amount of damage they need space.
edited: Arsenal, especially Nasri, tore us a new one at OT a few years ago with this passing game that we've adopted. Notice how Wenger has dumped this and uses the attributes his players have to win matches now.
Edited by anniesdad on Tuesday 5th May 14:18
Wenger is mixing his tactics up and compromising on his passing tactics when he needs to stand up to a more physical team. He's realised his teams can be bullied, so he's going at them the same way.
We seem stuck with a style that will beat opponents if they too want to play an open style, but we'll struggle with anything else. In fact I'm not sure we'd even beat teams that want to play open football if we don't have Carrick in the team.
We seem stuck with a style that will beat opponents if they too want to play an open style, but we'll struggle with anything else. In fact I'm not sure we'd even beat teams that want to play open football if we don't have Carrick in the team.
Precisely, he's not stuck in his ways, tried things didn't work, evolved.
We're still very much a work in progress, so I guess it's not right to expect too much but I do think LVG has learned a lot about his squad this season and with the extra games that next season should bring he'll be able to use them all more.
If he does not adapt his style of play to suit the game and opponent then frankly we'll struggle to achieve anything.
We're still very much a work in progress, so I guess it's not right to expect too much but I do think LVG has learned a lot about his squad this season and with the extra games that next season should bring he'll be able to use them all more.
If he does not adapt his style of play to suit the game and opponent then frankly we'll struggle to achieve anything.
ORD said:
That's not really his style. He discourages risk-taking, dribbling and switching positions.
Uuh..the Chelsea forum is the other way. Playing offensive, posession style football is a lot more risky, not to mention a lot more difficult to master than parking the bus. I think currently in Europe only Barcelona and Bayern seem to master it too an extant they can pretty much impose their playing style upon every opponent and be succesfull with it. (Boring) Chelsea probably could too with the quality of players they have, but we all know Mourinho.
I see quite a bit of improvement in Manu's game and so do opponents, the way they encounter Manu the last couple of weaks speaks volumes. Just a shame players like DiMaria, RvP and Falcao, given their quality and pricetags, aren't delivering.
LoonR1 said:
Wenger is mixing his tactics up and compromising on his passing tactics when he needs to stand up to a more physical team. He's realised his teams can be bullied, so he's going at them the same way.
We seem stuck with a style that will beat opponents if they too want to play an open style, but we'll struggle with anything else. In fact I'm not sure we'd even beat teams that want to play open football if we don't have Carrick in the team.
I just thought teams has figured out the 'lump it up to Fellani' tactic recently and you haven't figured out how to open up teams another way yet. We seem stuck with a style that will beat opponents if they too want to play an open style, but we'll struggle with anything else. In fact I'm not sure we'd even beat teams that want to play open football if we don't have Carrick in the team.
DeltonaS said:
Uuh..the Chelsea forum is the other way.
Playing offensive, posession style football is a lot more risky, not to mention a lot more difficult to master than parking the bus. I think currently in Europe only Barcelona and Bayern seem to master it too an extant they can pretty much impose their playing style upon every opponent and be succesfull with it. (Boring) Chelsea probably could too with the quality of players they have, but we all know Mourinho.
I see quite a bit of improvement in Manu's game and so do opponents, the way they encounter Manu the last couple of weaks speaks volumes. Just a shame players like DiMaria, RvP and Falcao, given their quality and pricetags, aren't delivering.
Utd do not play offensive football. We play a controlled, possession-based game with low-risk approach play and then try to nick a goal from a cross or, strangely, on the break (which does not really fit with a possession game). We do not play expansive, intricate, risky football. Not under LvG.Playing offensive, posession style football is a lot more risky, not to mention a lot more difficult to master than parking the bus. I think currently in Europe only Barcelona and Bayern seem to master it too an extant they can pretty much impose their playing style upon every opponent and be succesfull with it. (Boring) Chelsea probably could too with the quality of players they have, but we all know Mourinho.
I see quite a bit of improvement in Manu's game and so do opponents, the way they encounter Manu the last couple of weaks speaks volumes. Just a shame players like DiMaria, RvP and Falcao, given their quality and pricetags, aren't delivering.
I have no problem with it as long as it is working. But LvG is very clear that he does not like players that dribble and take risks. I think he is on record as saying a team should have 1 "dribbler".
ORD said:
Utd do not play offensive football. We play a controlled, possession-based game with low-risk approach play and then try to nick a goal from a cross or, strangely, on the break (which does not really fit with a possession game). We do not play expansive, intricate, risky football. Not under LvG.
I have no problem with it as long as it is working. But LvG is very clear that he does not like players that dribble and take risks. I think he is on record as saying a team should have 1 "dribbler".
I'm quite surprised you don't find it offensive. That sledgehammer Fellaini is LVG's plan A through to Z. Some might have said a calendar year ago that 'it isn't the United way'.I have no problem with it as long as it is working. But LvG is very clear that he does not like players that dribble and take risks. I think he is on record as saying a team should have 1 "dribbler".
m3sye said:
Well that was obvious - makes you wonder why us (LFC) waste our time looking at players that are quite obviously going to sign for another club
Good signing - well done
Your guys would be a title threat if they could sort out their transfer policy! You have been utterly hamstrung as a result of paying over the odds for some right old tripe in recent years. If LFC had got anything like value for their money over the last few years, Utd would be trailing them by some way. Good signing - well done
Utd have bought tolerably (certain no more than tolerably) in recent years; LFC's transfers have been utterly diabolical (excluding Bitey McBitleton).
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