Thread by @EBL2017

I decided to analyse *EVERY* single one of Manchester United's goal kicks this season.

Erik ten Hag's team have been unlucky with injuries, but something has been 'off' about their build-up.

Below, in an-depth thread, I attempt to discover what exactly is going on..

THREAD! 🚨

Last season, Manchester United primarily went long from goal kicks because of David de Gea's technical limitations.

They tried to play out from the back with regularity early on in the season, but they quickly deviated from that plan due to the teams inability to do so.

As the season wore on, though, United did try to play out from the back more frequently as the team became more familiar with ten Hag's desired style of play.

To be honest, there is no wonder United took time to adapt to ten Hag's style, because it is very, very fluid.

Last season, United typically started in a 4-3-3 from goal kicks.

However, as soon as the ball was played out positional rotations would occur.

Ten Hag consistently desired a 2nd phase presence alongside Casemiro in the #6, whether that be through Martinez or Malacia inverting.

When Malacia inverted, Martinez would receive as normal as a left centre back.

However, when Martinez inverted, Malacia would drop deep to act as a momentary left centre back.

This dynamic was also present on the right-hand side, with Varane and AWB often interchanging.

For example, here we see United recycle back to de Gea.

Wan-Bissaka, the player closest to the centre back position, sprints to split either side of de Gea.

Varane holds his position centrally, and he becomes the inverted player in midfield.

This happened a lot on both sides of the defence.

It even sometimes resulted in both fullbacks receiving in centre back-type positions and both centre backs inverting into midfield alongside Casemiro.

The idea behind this was to build with 5 players deep & attack with 5 high.

Then, in settled play, United would change positionally.

United's most common build-up dynamic consisted of the centre backs splitting either side of the goalkeeper, the left back inverting into midfield alongside the #6, and the right back holding the width on the touchline.

It could be Martinez inverted into midfield with Malacia split either side of de Gea as seen below, but the same zones were consistently occupied.

There is fluidity allowed within that, though, as sometimes the left back, for example, would drift outside the lines into space.

We see that below as Dalot is positioned as a left back because that's where the space in that moment is.

Fluidity was also common in midfield as Eriksen often dropped deep into the #6 with Casemiro interchanging with him positionally in the left #8.

We could even see that on the far side when Wan-Bissaka inverted where he saw fit and Antony held the width on the right wing.

Ahead of that fluid build-up, though, was a disciplined attack positionally.

Each key lane in the final third was occupied consistently (picture 2).

In settled attacking situations, the left back could rotate with the left winger, the left #8, or the left centre back, and the #8 could rotate with the #6, the winger, the fullback, etc, etc.

The fluidity was common, but all within the confines of system dynamics.

The most common settled attacking shape was a 3-1-6, but the sheer fluidity of the group combined with someone like Bruno Fernandes' tendency to roam positionally meant the team often attacked in a variety of different shapes, but typically all key areas were occupied.

This was how United played as a whole last season *in* possession.

They were not without their issues due to a lack of technical quality in certain areas, but it was largely effective, particularly as they mixed playing out from the back with consistent long goal kicks.

This season, however, United have been remarkably different in this regard, and it led me to analyse *EVERY* one of their goal kicks taken this season.

I did this because I, as a full-time analyst, could not reliably figure out what United are trying to do.

So let's explore it.

To start the season against Wolves, United built play in the same fashion as last season with Martinez inverted from centre back and Shaw splitting to one side of Onana.

Then, in settled play, they continued to play the same way as last season with AWB holding the width.

Things started to change against Spurs..

Instead of the emphasis on having one of the left-sided players in the back four inverting alongside Casemiro, neither of them did.

Instead, it was Varane who inverted.

Below we see him & Onana combined to find the spare man (Martinez).

When Varane inverted, AWB split into a centre back-type position to offer himself as a passing option.

This was the same dynamic that was present when compared to last season.

However, again, on the far side it was different and there was a lack of left-sided midfield presence.

Onana played a pass out to Martinez, he carried forwards, and Shaw was his only option because Eriksen was high and in between the lines.

All of a sudden, United's build-up structure started to look a little bit more disjointed, making it harder for them to build play.

However,, against Arsenal, United had a particularly successful day at building out from the back as Onana consistently attracted pressure against Arsenal's man-to-man block.

United then effectively used third man combinations to find the spare man or Onana found him himself.

In terms of United's positional play dynamics, though, neither Martinez nor Dalot reliably inverted infield.

Eriksen was again high positionally as you can see at the bottom of the picture against Arsenal's man-to-man press.

On the day, Onana in particular helped United build.

I would also argue that United are considerably better at building out from the back when Lisandro Martinez is present, and there is no coincidence that their *best* build-up performance this season came with both of him and Onana on the pitch.

Both are elite technicians..

Since the Wolves game, though, United never returned to the dynamic of the fullback or centre back on the left-hand side positioning themselves infield.

Instead, they have changed again to play with the left-sided #8 dropping deep alongside Casemiro or Amrabat in the 1st phase.

The problem with that, though, is that sometimes the left #8 is positioned high (like against Arsenal), and other times they are positioned deep in the pivot (like below against Burnley).

Here we see McTominay drop into that position but Burnley easily match up on the flank.

Against Brentford, Evans plays it short into Onana before inverting (even though both Amrabat & Casemiro are already present centrally).

In this moment, Onana kicks it long.

The exact same thing happened against Copenhagen as Varane played it short, inverted, & Onana went long.

Manchester United have a 29% launch rate from goal kicks this season and last season they had a 63% launch rate.

However, they might as well have such a high percentage this season too because of how often they smash the ball long after playing it short to Onana.

After analysing *EVERY* single Manchester United goal kick this season, I can categorically tell you that they failed to progress play with success on even one occasion against teams who press high.

They have not done it once.

Yes, you read that correctly - not even one time...

Every time, without fail, United either kick it long or playing a direct pass into midfield.

The goal of building out from the back is to attract space deep, create space high, & penetrate it, but it is also to gain settled possession if that penetration is not the right option.

United can't even achieve that.

However, last season, they did achieve it on occasion (despite some errors which led to goals).

It's also key to note that United have been killed with injuries this season, and it led ten Hag to mention the difference between this & last season.

He is right. United have not had a consistent back four this season, and in such a fluid set up, that is not a good thing.

However, does that excuse United from being completely incapable of building play against any sort of pressure whatsoever?

Of course not.

United may have struggled with injuries, but the system dynamics have changed.

In fact, the left-sided #8 dropping deep alongside Casemiro is not a bad solution to the absence of Shaw, Malacia, and Martinez, but United's players have lost belief when building out.

Evans was not comfortable against Brentford, Lindelof did not position himself in accordance with system dynamics (as seen below where he should split and then invert into midfield), and United's players' body language almost accepts that they will play it short and then go long.

The left-sided #8 and the #6 don't demand the ball under pressure. In fact, they shy away from it.

The centre backs play it short to Onana and then the back four almost instantly positions themselves to run upfield because they *expect* him to kick it long.

Onana was not signed to kick the ball long - he was signed to help United play out from the back.

Injuries have definitely hampered the situation and United's subsequent ability to play out from the back, but United should not completely collapse with the squad that they have.

All in all, I think Erik ten Hag is to blame for United's struggles in the build-up this season despite injuries.

The reason I say this is because I don't think the collective mentality towards building out from the back is strong enough.

That stems from the coaching staff.

It is also absolutely key to note that the 'build-up' doesn't solely consist of the players in the first & second phase.

It also consists of those who are positioned high in the final third, because they are the ones that the build-up is ultimately designed around end-goal wise.

Not once have we seen the forwards express unhappiness at their teammates' inability to find them high or at the tendency to consistently go long in the build-up..

It's not like Brighton where the front 4 constantly show to feet between the lines.

There's no emphasis on it.

Combine that with the fact that United's players in the initial phase of the build-up seem comfortable with Onana consistently kicking it long.. well then it becomes particularly clear where the issue stems from - the coaching staff..

As I said, there's insufficient focus on it.

A build-up structure is one of the only moments in a football match where each player can position themselves *EXACTLY* where the coach wants them to be.

It is why we see Brighton build in a 4-2-4, Arsenal build in a 4-2-4 with Raya at left centre back to create a +1, etc, etc..

Manchester United, however, don't have an identity from goal kicks despite consistently playing short.

Alright, we have to have sympathy because of their injury situation, but a back 4 of Dalot, Varane, Maguire, & Reguilon have the quality to build play. There is no doubt there.

However, against Copenhagen, for example, the entire unit was disjointed. There was a complete lack of cohesion in the build-up.

Last season there were inverted fullbacks which knitted the unit together. This season nobody reliably inverts and Onana lumps it long to Højlund.

That is not good enough, particularly when over £100m was spent on Onana and Mount as a collective to improve United's ability to control games in the initial phase of the build-up AND in settled play.

Things must improve, because at the moment United are a mess in the build-up.

The bare minimum that we should see from ten Hag in future games is consistent positioning in the build-up & the collective being on the same page (not passing short to Onana & running upfield as he punts it long).

It was there last season. Now it needs to be there this season!!