π΄Enhances the right flank? yes to a degree...
π΄Freedom to roam (is AWB a good fit?)
π΄Likes to switch flanks...
π΄What formation/signings will maximise his potential?
Pre Sancho signing, United have really struggled down the right hand side. At one stage they even put Rashford there but he did not look happy at having to vacate his favoured left sided role.
Greenwood and Mata, came inside often and AWB did not bomb on enough...
Sancho when he does stay out on the right, can drive at men and beat them in all manner of ways (drop of shoulder, skills, quick one two and get in behind). Therefore he will definitely improve the flank.
However as he has evolved as a player, he drifts away from this flank...
He tends to come inside, act as a 10 or inverted forward and link up/control play. He is more than just a winger. He is the English 'Neymar'.
United's attacking shape could become narrow yet again, which means the problem he was brought in to solve remains unsolved.
One solution (not a popular one and not guaranteed to work) is to play him on the left instead. Which begs the question - why spend that money to solve a problem position to play him on the left (where you have strength).
In-game switches is better... him and Rash take turns.
Another solution is to bring in a more aggressive right back. Think Lamptey or Maehle... but these type of right backs may leave gaps behind for the counter.
This could lead to defensive instability and Ole does not like this. He is abit Southgatesque in this respect.
A crazier solution but one which almost certainly gets the best out of him is make him an inside forward in a 3-4-2-1.
This doesn't get the best out of United's main man Bruno Fernandes, so is in effect a non-starter.
Looks beautiful though doesn't it?
Is Sancho a surefire hit? I am fairly sure he will not be a 'flop' but whether he hits expectations is a tough question to answer as he may need a new tactical system/new signings to help get the best out of him.
Very intriguing time to be a United fan. Welcome Jadon!
@maramperninety keen to see your series and if it reflects the findings above.
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π΄Sterling a world-class talent when in the mood
π΄3-4-3 pinned the Germans back
π΄Low's leaky backline bites again
π΄Grealish Game-Changer
π΄Back 5 helped English midfield (options)
Starting lineup thoughts, the Saka decision was brave and the correct one as he can penetrate space inside and outside. Perfect for a counter attack set up.
Abit too perfect as its effectiveness ended up pushing the Germans back...
As we can see the beauty of the 3-4-3 is that by matching the German formation, England went man for man and the Germans were forced to match them.
This freed up Saka and Sterling from double marking and they were dangerous in the 1st half. Germany got caught out several times.
Key points:
- Lack of width from France
- Switzerland bully Lenglet and Varane
- Rabiot is not a defender; barely a midfielder
- Both sides style of play is a reflection of their mentality
To accommodate Rabiot filling in at LWB, #FRA had to adjust their defensive structure.
They started in a back five but would have the ball sided wingback press the player in possession, joining the midfield line, forming a 4-4-2 as #SUI are forced to go backwards.
In doing this, #FRA give #SUI time to switch to the opposite flank, isolating the French central defenders as they change positions, making crosses into the box easy... as we saw.
Key points:
- Croatia looked to defend from the start
- Modric's attempts at man-marking expose Croatia
- Spain's off the ball movement
- Croatia COMEBACK after Spain collapse
- Football is mad
Croatia looked to defend from the moment the game began.
Spain's attacking structure resembles a 3-3-4 or 3-2-5, so to defend against this, #CRO would have their wide players Vlasic and Rebic track Gaya and Torres.
While the Croatian wide players defend the Spanish wide players, Kovacic, Modric and Brozovic were free to remain central and press Spain's midfield passing options.
As the game went on, Spain was able to move this defensive unit out of position and create space to play in.
π΄Portugal Xmas Tree (Off the Ball)
π΄Belgium bringing their wing backs inside
π΄Portugal build up is awful (Huge distances)
π΄Time to move on from Ronaldo?
π΄Portugal right flank poor.
Portugal adopted a low block in the first half and it was a 4-3-2-1 (Xmas Tree) when they did not have the ball.
The plan was to make Belgium keep passing into wide areas and flood the middle so that KDB and Hazard could be locked off.
This did not work when Belgium rotated the position of their forward line, confusing the Portuguese defence.
More importantly, Belgium outnumbered in the middle by bringing in Meunier and Thorgan, who was then able to shoot from distance shell-shocking Patricio and Dias.
β½οΈMalen over Weghorst was a mistake, as Czech press and then dropping deep when Dutch got through made a physical presence up front important
β½οΈBlind nullified and exposed
β½οΈDe Ligt π±
The Czech man-marked the Dutch from Steklenburg's goal kicks adopting an aggressive 4-3-3 marking a 3-4-3. This made it impossible to play out from the back and forced the Dutch long... where there was no Weghorst as a target man.
This destroyed Dutch rhythm and confidence.
Before the sending off... Czech's failed to put enough men into the box despite dominating the right flank and putting in good crosses.
Soucek was not gambling enough, but after the sending off was another story as the absence of De Ligt have the Czech's confidence to bomb on.
Germany built up down the right predominantly and switched the ball out to the left whenever they wanted to go for the kill.
When this switch was made, Havertz went central and Muller took Havertz position. This confused Portugal's defence and Kai's physicality is so effective.
With Germany's front three moving so fluidly compared to the French game, it sucked Semedo inside to try and help the bewildered central defenders and CDM's.
This opened it up for Gosens to get in behind in that right wing/right half space.