Man United at home Sunday 19th Oct at 430pm

[Exiled_red]

This has been a recurring issue throughout the season. Players are not making themselves available to receive the ball, which raises the question of whether this is an intentional instruction. The current approach puts too much emphasis on finding difficult passing lanes, which slows our build-up and leads to long periods of possession without penetration. This in turn increases the number of turnovers and reduces control of the game. We need to return to building play through structured phases, creating multiple passing options at each stage. In possession, we must move the ball with purpose and support the player on the ball. Out of possession, we need to apply coordinated pressure to force mistakes and win turnovers higher up the pitch. The current pattern is not delivering effective outcomes.


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I agree with much of this, our movement off the ball is terrible, when we have the ball around the halfway line approaching the final third none of the forwards are making runs everyone is static which results in lots of sideways and backwards passes.

One other thing I did notice was that Kerkez was often making overlapping runs but Gakpo never used him, seems like an issue there either he shouldn't be making the runs if that's not the game plan of at least some of the time he should be getting the ball if nothing else to at least mix things up and make us less predictable

[Exiled_red]

Or Frimpong. HE caused problems getting beyond the fullback and pulling the ball back. Cheisa keeps getting telling contributions too (although he has no pace). We have so many good options up front.

The problem is further back,

The defence has no protection

We have good options up front but we are nowhere near clinical enough in front of goal despite how badly we played we created more than enough chances to win the game: Gakpo scored 1, hit the woodwork 3 times and missed a sitter, Isak had that 1v1, Salah smashed a chance wide that you would expect him to score, VVD had a decent chance that he put well wide and that's just off the top of my head, while we might not have deserved it from those chances we should at the very least have scored 1 more.

[DerKrampus]

I was skeptical about the Pedro Neto deal for Chelsea but he's been very good for them.

[danperkins]

Imo the one we should really be looking at as a wide option & possible Salah replacement is Semenyo. Still young at 25 but prem experience, so much talent, pace, work rate & just a specimen.

[BobTheCharmer]

Psg killed us with the pace of their attack.

For all the money we spent we didn't get a flying winger in that would have stretched teams and suited the long balls over the top.

[danperkins]

Psg killed us with the pace of their attack.

For all the money we spent we didn't get a flying winger in that would have stretched teams and suited the long balls over the top.

[Sus]

Psg killed us with the pace of their attack.

For all the money we spent we didn't get a flying winger in that would have stretched teams and suited the long balls over the top.

Yep and their mobility across the front three, all able to interchange at speed, which we can't do either

[frank the tank]

Anfield wrap fella Atkinson said this during the summer. That a fast wide player was still missing.

If we have signed Ekitike and Isak with the intention of playing only one of them, that is ****in braindead imo.

[Exiled_red]

In terms of flying wingers etc the other thing that we don't really have is someone who can run at opposition defences with the ball. Diaz used to do that but everyone we have now is set up to pass the ball around rather than run with it.

[baitman]

In terms of flying wingers etc the other thing that we don't really have is someone who can run at opposition defences with the ball. Diaz used to do that but everyone we have now is set up to pass the ball around rather than run with it.

And stand still while waiting for a pass... some arses need a proper booting

[vlahka]

Why has he suddenly stopped using Rio. Is he getting an allergy to productive players or something.

[Exiled_red]

My guess would be not wanting to bring a kid in when the team is playing so ****

[vlahka]

My curiosity is satiated and appeased with that explanation.

[peterbread]

In terms of flying wingers etc the other thing that we don't really have is someone who can run at opposition defences with the ball. Diaz used to do that but everyone we have now is set up to pass the ball around rather than run with it.

Frimpong is exactly this type of player. So much pace and can easily beat the defender and get a good cross in. Look what he did in his short time off the bench. He needs to be playing there for the next few games.

And while Chiesa isn’t fast he’s got the ability to beat players and create as he so intelligent with his play. Plus he’s much better than the other options at going on the outside or cutting in, don’t make it easy for the defender by doing the same thing over and over. Get those two involved more in the attack and it would make a huge difference. Maybe it’s time for a bit more of Rio late in games.

You could also play Frimpong at RB but make sure you have someone ahead of him who can get back and help defensively and that right side would function much better.