Vdb didn't do much wrong today.
He also didn't do much wrong vs young boys.
And yet somehow, united would be miles better if he was not playing or was playing further forward with an actual pivot player deeper.
Thts the reality.
He roams too much, which leaves u without passing options deeper.
And leaves u exposed in transition.
A player being good doesn't make the player right for you.
And equally, if a player ain't great for someone else doesn't mean he won't be top for you.
Donny van de beek cannot play in the pivot for me.
He just roams forward and to the wings too much to be considered a good pivot player.
Martial was an issue, but vdb being in the pivot was a bigger issue
Utd could win with martial by sustaining pressure enough.
Utd cannot win playing a double pivot with a player who roams this much.
There are so many systemic issues that stem from that. SO MANY
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
HOW SHOULD CITY BEAT CHELSEA?
Pep’s side played Chelsea under Tuchel on 3 occasions last szn and lost.
In light of their clash today, I had a look at the 2 key issues that City had in the CL Final and what might be done to mitigate them.
BUILD UP ISSUES:
City built up in a 3-1 shape in the Cl final, with walker dropping to make a 3 and Gundogan as a single pivot.
Further forward, city had 3 options between the lines with zinchenko pushing up.
Kdb would hold the lines and could easily interchange with Foden.
The issues was that chelsea’s 5-2-3 midblock with a narrow front 3 meant that Che blocked the pivot easily and forced City wide into the trap.
City struggled to find their btl options and build through the centre.
City’s set up also left CHE’s narrow 3 free to counter.
The Artful Dodger: A case study on Edinson Cavani.
Match Analysed: Tottenham 1-3 Man Utd
I decided to look at the movement of Edinson Cavani using his performance vs Spurs away, one of his best in a Utd shirt and look at why ole wants him to stay.
In this thread we’ll see:
1.The positions he picks up+ how he stays unmarked
2.favoured runs
3.Corners
4.Him vs the rest
5.Involvement in goals
NOTE: due to character limits, I have used some short forms
1. Positions Picked Up & Method of Staying Unmarked:
Cavani is a CF similar to pre-Pep Aguero. He stays upfront, mostly on the blind side of the opp. CB to the ball. Hence, he is always ready to attack a cross if the play continues down that side.
This is Blindside positioning
DECODING: Aaron Wan Bissaka- Part 2
Man Utd 4-2 Everton
in light of UTD's interest in Trippier, i analysed some of AWB's pre season performances.
This is a breakdown of AWB vs Everton.
AWB played 59 minutes in this match before getting subbed for Dalot.
(note: no audio on clips)
Utd lined up in their familiar 4-2-3-1, with many first teamers like Shaw, Bruno etc. returning from post euro breaks.
VDB interestingly lined up in the double pivot and all though he did push on sometimes, he generally performed a fairly similar function to Scott or Fred
Everton lined up in a 4-2-3-1 ( 4-4-2 block) with James & Gray interchanging in central areas.
Iwobi & Townsend were outwide and they stayed wider by the lines. When they did tuck in, the fullbacks would push up.
*Iwobi played on the left and Townsend right unlike in the graphic
DECODING: Aaron Wan Bissaka
Part 1: Derby
in light of UTD's interest in Trippier, i decided to look at take a look at some of Awb's pre season perfomances
first, we will have a look at the match against derby in which Awb played 45 minutes.
(NOTE: no audio on the clips)
UTD lined up up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Awb at right back. We didn't see any of the rumoured 4-3-3 that Ole apparently will use.
UTD looked to build up with a 2+3 shape with one of the full backs ( generally Awb) tucking in to form a band of 3 and the other pushing up
Derby played in a similar 4-2-3-1 formation with ex UTD academy graduate Ravel Morrison as part of the attacking quadrant.
he was most commonly in central areas with Tom Lawrence high and wide on the left, although the line up shows him to be playing on the left