31 Aug 2014 01:01:05
From watching every minute under LvG I must say that my underlying issue has been the predictability of our change of tact. Both offensively and defensively.

I remember listening to an interview with LvG prior to him joining the club and he used the words total football and suggested that whilst 4-3-3 was his favoured formation as such, it was much more to do with the philosophy and much deeper than a simple set of numbers representing a formation.

However, defensively I find that we defend in 3 lines, which is not an issue, but I honestly feel that we don't press high enough, thus allowing the opposition to comfortably have the ball in their own half and pick out a pass forward when it's finally on. The great Barca team of the late noughties for example pressed the ball as high as possible as a unit and won the ball back quickly. I remember er an interview with Xavi which suggested that they made every effort to win the ball back within 5 seconds of surrendering possession. This in turn leads to chaos when they do win the ball back as they were often in the final third with the opposition shapeless and allowing the forward players areas to exploit.

My next point is one which LvG has also made during his stint. Adapting to suit and allowing the best players to play in their best positions. Surely that means Di Maria playing a more advanced role where he can really hurt the opposition. I believe Mata is playing too advanced this becoming starved of time and space. All of his best moments in a United shirt have come from playing a deeper playmaker role and arriving into the box late rather than already being there pre key pass/cross. It especially doesn't help with too eye tenderture to drop slightly deeper than the last man himself.

I am not in any way criticising LvG, as he's made it perfectly clear these things take time, on top of unfortunate injuries to key players and lack of fitness to others and indeed confidence. I just wanted to make a couple of remarks to areas I see as a potential area to be improved upon and take advantage of. I am looking forward to the new boys being fit and available and I honestly believe LvG will get it right as we progress.

1.) 31 Aug 2014
31 Aug 2014 08:19:52
The current formation just is not giving us the width we need to pull the opposition cm and full backs out of position to make room in the centre. A good winger or winger/full back combination will force to oppotion to cover the flanks with an extra man. Every team in the PL knows that young and Valencia pose little threat of going past their man and can be easily cover by their full backs whilst keeping a good formation.
Unless we play Di_Maria and Janauzj every game we need full backs in the line up. For a long time now its been Rafael and Evra that have made Valencia and young look even remotly good with the extra width and support on the overlap they gave.

2.) 31 Aug 2014
By too eye I meant Rooney* autocorrect strikes again

3.) 31 Aug 2014
I would love to see janujaz mata and di maria behind wellbeck , fast direct players mixed with class (cept wellbeck but he brings the pace ) I love rvp and rooney but they look to be on the slide , rvp esp .(I think Wilson could also do the wellbeck role for a few games ) Add herrera and blind behind this and a back four of shaw rojo jones an rafeal and give it time to gel and we will reap the rewards in the later part of the season , never going to happen of course but lvg has always stated that young players pick up his 'phil of the sea' quicker