๐ดShaw & Sancho = Aerial Service ๐คค
๐ดDo not play him as a winger!
๐ดIncompatible with Pogba? 4-1-4-1...
๐ดCan he work with Greenwood?
๐ดCan't create/press
Ronaldo is a GOAT aerial threat, arguably just behind your Pele's.
Sancho rarely stays out wide these days but there is no denying the fact that his crossing is elite and Shaw seems to have recaptured the art of crossing.
Rashford and Bruno could also cross from half spaces.
Ronaldo in transition is usually a threat, but he is older, Rashford is injured and Sancho is a killer passer in transition rather than a space eater. English defences aren't going to yield as much space as in the Bundesliga.
I think Cavani has more legs for the counter.
If Ronaldo is deployed out wide and someone like Greenwood used up top, I worry for United on counters.
It just doesn't scream pace to me. There is a lot of intelligence and clinicality there, but across an entire season and in the UCL, there just needs to be more athleticism.
Can Ronaldo play with Pogba and Bruno in the same lineup? The only possible route for this is a 4-1-4-1 (or a 3-5-2 but then so many talents miss out).
Flaws in this include Bruno lack of defensive work, Fred as the sole CDM and Sancho possibly not holding the width - important.
Some surprising stats... Ronaldo's ball progression still seems to churn out elite numbers - he is not just a poacher.
The question is whether he can translate these numbers into the English league which will be more of a physical test but I wouldn't put it past him.
Ronaldo can't press for shit or do any defensive work. Now for most modern sides that would be a big issue... but Ole plays a pragmatic style of football - or did.
Can't say this makes me feel positive as was hoping United keep improving their pressing game and evolve.
Can't pass and won't pass. Ronaldo fans get pissy about his 'creative' deficiencies versus Messi but it is true that he's not an elite supplier.
But United have enough creativity in their squad - they need a killer up top and in Ronaldo they get that in spades.
In conclusion, I think it could be a smart purchase for United but only if Ole uses him when needed and does not shoehorn him into the side and worship at Ronnie's altar.
Ronaldo needs to be an addition to the project, rather than the entire team revolve around him.
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๐ดVVD showed Lukaku's true level
๐ดLiverpool need Origi against low block
๐ดJames = handball but not a red
๐ดHavertz and Mount dangerous first half
๐ดLiverpool fall asleep from corner
Havertz has always been a major set piece threat from his Leverkusen days, so why he's being marked by Henderson and not a VVD is poor man marking strategy by Liverpool.
He should be the main focus from a corner, not Lukaku.
Havertz and Mount were excellent in the first half and supported Lukaku with interchanging runs, runs in behind and Fabinho struggled to get to grips.
James and Alonso holding the width, allowed Chelsea's CAMs the freedom to wreak havoc centrally and in the half spaces.
๐ดSouthgate bottled it after taking lead. No lessons learned from Croatia.
๐ดTime taken to unleash subs was criminal, Mancini was proactive.
๐ดSubbing Immobile changed the game
England fired out of the blocks. Italy did not expect English wing back to push up high from both flanks, let alone Kyle Walker making a surprise foray forward to outnumber Italy on the blindside.
Italy shifted across in haste, this time leaving space on the other flank.
England then began to play on the counter which was fine, as Chiesa was the only real threat. What a threat he was though, I have rarely seen Luke Shaw troubled as he was.
Chiesa's 1 v 1 ability is truly special, very direct and reminds me of Andrei Kanchelskis.
๐ดSouthgate releases the shackles in extra time, learns from 2018 (Foden, Grealish and Sterling to the right)
๐ดSaka did not hold width - England too lopsided
๐ดKane in Spurs mode
England made a blistering start, once again combining down the left. The mids went wide in order to progress the play and Shaw's wonderful one touch flicks and passes kept finding Sterling.
It soon got clocked on to and Denmark shifted across, flooding that area with bodies.
Saka was poor outside of the assist.
He was too narrow and did not run at Maehle and Vestgaard enough out wide. With Walker not overlapping, England's attack down that side was non existent.
Considering Italy's weakness is down the left - this needs sorting.
As expected England sat back in the opening exchanges - feeling their way into the new shape and frustrating the Germans early doors (notorious for their fast starts and putting teams away).
Now out of the opening period, England begin to take control of the game. At this stage they had 66% possession and were winning the ball in midfield areas as well as at times inside the German half.
An intriguing feature of #EURO2020 is how teams adapt their pressing strategy depending on the game state.
Teams rarely stay as a low block or press like mad men all game.
Here is a look at #ITA defensive actions heat map in different stages of their QF v Belgium.
[THREAD]
In the first 15 minutes, the Italians keep it tight with the focus on keeping KDB quiet - the opposition dangerman.
There is a slight attempt now to win the ball higher up the pitch but most of the action takes place in their penalty area - suggests a lowish block and inviting pressure.