TACTICAL CAM: Manchester United’s subpar draw against Southampton was more than just poor player performances. It was the entire team — let me explain why.
Passing Networks: a thread.
Manchester United’s structure in possession saw them feature NO strong exchanges between the midfield or forward line. Why?
Forwards struggled to see the ball, #MUFC struggled to get it out of their own half. Let’s go in more detail.
Football isn’t just about scoring. I mean, yes — fundamentally it is, but it’s more so about *increasing the probability* of scoring.
The way to do that is very straightforward: get the ball forwards. #MUFC struggled in the fundamentals as a team & individual players.
The issue begins with United’s buildup structure. DDG’s lack of general involvement and ball playing means #MUFC have one less player.
His passes even often put players in trouble rather than safe ones by passing to those blind to pressing markers behind them i.e Maguire, Fred.
Manchester United’s strongest exchange came in the form of sideways passing between Maguire & Lindelof!
Structure is all about giving players multiple passing options to move the ball.
United’s backline didn’t have any. #SOU closed down the preferred left *and* midfield.
While Southampton’s press was great — #MUFC struggled to find solutions.
A narrow double pivot & an inaccessible right flank.
United’s structure gives their players little options on the ball = take longer to make decisions = cause turnovers.
The very narrow double pivot was both a victim and a leading cause of the dysfunctional structure.
A lack of communication left them occupying the same spaces and an old Matic meant that they were frequently exposed.
It didn’t stretch #SOU’s press.
United’s lack of instruction in buildup and an inadequate double pivot was a disaster combo — in and out of possession.
Matic should be positioned to receive after Fred, yet occupies the same space. AWB should be in closer proximity.
The very common stick we beat United with is it’s right flank — that’s for good reason.
AWB had poor connections with every player expect passing back to Lindelof, he wasn’t found in good positions because he didn’t occupy them. More so, he couldn’t progress infield or forwards.
#MUFC’s right flank is not just it’s fullback, Scott’s unnecessary overlapping run leaves Lingard *and* AWB with no options to move the ball infield.
The right flank is where possession went to die — same problem, little options on the ball.
I actually have no clips of Martial, that’s how isolated he was.
He had NO (NO!) connections with Bruno.
He failed to make runs into the backline, or even drop deeper to hold up and drifted to the left that made #MUFC easy to defend against & gave them no outlet to pass to.
Manchester United had a bad performance. Yes, that was due to personnel but it was also due to structure — it didn’t place players in ideal positions to succeed i.e exposed Fred.
That’s a pre-existing coaching issue. It lacks central penetration and struggles in the right.
It’s a domino effect — a team that can’t get out of it’s own half can’t buildup, can’t progress and therefore can’t create.
The poor structure i.e positioning that leaves players in trouble when receiving, exacerbated an already poor performance by players.
END.
Oh, also a very special thanks to @ScoutedSxv & @AIiRadhi for helping me with footage.
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