05 Dec 2021 21:07:14
Really looking forward to see this style develop over the coming months.
5 or 6 of our key players are going to have to adapt and change their ways considerably or they will get left behind.
Rashford is a player who should relish this tactic. He has all the physical attributes but needs to be open to being coached.
Comfort zone no longer exists .
It will take time but its a journey I'm looking forward to.

1.) 05 Dec 2021
05 Dec 2021 21:27:42
It'll be interesting to see how Ralf develops this group of players and the tactics he uses to get the best out of them.

Today he said he intentionally didn't change too much due in part to the lack of time to train he had. He just tweaked the shape and altered the tactics to press more and aim to win the ball higher, and played the back four further forward.

That shows a great deal of tactical acumen and a clear understanding of the limitations and ability to adapt.

I think that suggests it will be more of a drip feed, evolution from what we have done towards what he would like due to the limited amount of time he has to train the players that way.

So far I'm over the moon with what I have seen and heard from Ralf. I think one of the biggest changes for fans might be that the interviews and press conferences will be a must watch and something we can feel like we actually get something from.

A lot of managers rarely say anything worth listening to during interviews. They are guarded, not
wanting to discuss their tactics in case the opposition might be listening, and they often trot out the same old lines.

Of course the reality is that all sides have dozen of people scouting and analysing the opposition so there is probably very little to nothing you could say in an interview that will tell them something they aren't already aware of.

With Ralf's honesty and openness in speaking with the media it actually makes fans feel closer to the squad as they actually get to look through the looking glass and gain some real understanding about their team.

2.) 05 Dec 2021
05 Dec 2021 23:22:35
Agree Ken. Rashford is an enigma. He could be devastating on his day, but he's not got a football brain. Whether a good coach like Rangnick can help him develop, remains to be seen.
First half, we were superb.

3.) 06 Dec 2021
06 Dec 2021 00:29:26
I think the 4222 with the front four interchanging could work very well. It does give fluidity to overload the wings when in possession and allow bruno or even sancho to drop into a midfield three when out of possession.

4.) 06 Dec 2021
05 Dec 2021 21:29:26
Rashford needs to up his game. He often runs with his head down.

5.) 06 Dec 2021
06 Dec 2021 09:02:44
Apparently we won the ball back 12 times in Palace's half, something we haven't managed since the Fergie era. Lots more movement off the ball as well, making themselves available for a pass rather than being static. Positive start.

6.) 06 Dec 2021
06 Dec 2021 10:08:35
I like the fact that he brought on Elanga having obviously seen something in him in one training session, and brought him on at 0-0 with us still chasing the game as opposed to bringing a young player on when you’re three up and the game is over .
Ole liked to talk the talk about giving young players a chance but it was more of a PR exercise as he mostly always played it safe with team selections.

7.) 06 Dec 2021
06 Dec 2021 14:05:44
Well the pressing was fantastic and I like the 4-2-2-2 thing allowing for two centre-forwards. If Ronaldo starts the other one will have to do a lot as Rashford did.
Not sure if Dalot in particular will retain his place but no qualms over either Telles or Dalot staying in the side.
Nice to see Elanga involved although it was only because Lingard was injured, it would have been the case either way.
Interesting that we've invested in a handful of exciting young wingers only to look like we're using a different shape for now.

8.) 06 Dec 2021
06 Dec 2021 15:17:04
I think that the 4222 type structure suits our squad well.

We have Ronaldo, Rashford, Cavani and Greenwood as four top class or potentially top class options fighting it out for the two spots up top.

We have Sancho, Bruno, Donny, Lingard, Amad and Elanga fighting it out for the inside No.10 positions. Pogba could slot into one of these positions when he's back fit, although with Rangnick he isn't likely to give uncommitted players much time in the team.

We then have McTominay, Matic, Fred and possibly Donny fighting it out for a role in the double pivot. With Garner likely to be able to challenge for a role here long term.

While if Dalot can keep his form up, and AWB can develop better getting forward then we have two very good RB options. While Shaw and Telles can provide good options at LB.

Long term we'll need another CDM to replace Matic and add competition and quality to Fred, McTominay and Garner.

Depending on how the full backs do we might need either a LB or a RB.

Varane, Maguire, Lindelof and Mengi at CB could see competition/ upgrade added, but it shouldn't be vital. Injuries are the issue and why Bailly, Jones and Tuanzebe won't likely have a future at the club.

With Sancho, Bruno and Donny we have three top options for that No.10 role. Although Donny will have to prove himself. While Amad, Pellistri, Elanga, Shoretire and Hannibal are potentially future options going forward. Only if Donny doesn't prove himself in this role do I see any need for a quality first choice back up to bridge the gap with the kids.

Up front is an odd one. Greenwood should be a future star, while Rashford if he can recover his form will be a great asset. Ronaldo and Cavani don't have long term futures. Cavani will be gone in the summer, with Ronaldo possibly the summer after. It might be difficult though to sign someone who would know they will be fighting it out probably with Rashford and Greenwood for one spot alongside Ronaldo most weeks. Hardly an enticing option for most strikers. It might be that someone like Elanga deputises as the fourth choice ST next season, or one of Hugill or McNeil step up from the academy.

9.) 06 Dec 2021
06 Dec 2021 18:45:21
Shappy a new right back will come in Jan…. AWB won’t get any better, he is poor full stop, he suits this system even less then before, he will look even worse in it.

10.) 06 Dec 2021
06 Dec 2021 20:16:23
Maybe Jens, or maybe with a top class coach he might be able to learn adapt and develop.

11.) 06 Dec 2021
06 Dec 2021 20:35:02
I really don’t think AWB as got it in him, don’t matter who the coach is.
He is ok making last ditch tackles but there only because he caught out of position so often ball watching, he would not get in any potential top 4 side, he just not good enough.
I would not call Telles or Dalot great but they are far better moving forward, controlling and passing a ball, and keeping game flowing not dithering taking 3 touches and turning back when 1 does and forward, so that just shows how bad AWB is, you even said Shaw was one of best left backs in world, I would not even start him in my opinion, too inconsistent and so predictable.

12.) 06 Dec 2021
06 Dec 2021 20:48:29
Jens, I guess we'll see. AWB will have 6 months working with Ralf and his team. If he isn't showing signs by the end of the season then he probably won't. But I think he isn't as bad as many think. He played most of his youth football as a winger, so he knows what to do, let's see if he can show it on the pitch under a different manager.

13.) 06 Dec 2021
06 Dec 2021 20:57:19
Played as a winger but look at the level, he can hardly cross a ball, he needs 2-3 touches to get ball under control, and always comes to a standstill.
Plus imo I would also have to doubt his intelligence to take onboard, but like you say we will see after 6 months, if he here that long because don’t he have a little court date to contend with this month for no little matters either! Which again brings his intelligence into play!

14.) 07 Dec 2021
07 Dec 2021 00:49:11
I think give everyone a fresh start, AWB as much as anyone else, easy to slag him off before he’s played a game under the new manager. Some will absolutely love this new style and some will fall away, AWB seems like a player who needs coaching to me, an athlete with no football brain, take the thinking part away and tell him his job and I think he’s capable of doing it, let’s see, I’m giving every player a fresh start (except pogba, he’s had enough chances)

15.) 07 Dec 2021
07 Dec 2021 18:20:04
Oh but GDS. you now condone “take the thinking away from him and tell him his job and he’ll be capable” two things wrong there, Jose got slaughtered for saying exactly same about Shaw as you now say about AWB

2nd we not got much time to try get 4th position so you want to continue trying with a player who actually gone backwards in last 3 years that maybe he will turn into some marauding full back within the next month! That’s a tad optimistic don’t you think, time is against starting over I’m afraid unless your willing just to write this season of in December, in which case we might as well stayed with carrick.

16.) 08 Dec 2021
07 Dec 2021 18:26:22
Rashford for me goes down too easily and very one dimensional. He wants to run at players but most of the time just runs into giving the ball away. He has been pretty underwhelming for over a year now. Greenwood much better finisher but my god so bad at defending or putting foot in.