Michael Carrick, his staff and the players arguably put together one of the best post-SAF performances, blowing Pep’s City away in the derby.

While the overall game could be described as “flawless”, this 2 minutes and 23 seconds in the second half highlighted several concepts and methods Manchester United used, should look to reimplement and build on going forward.

Here’s my attempt to analyse this passage of play, both from a collective and an individual point of view.

Video annotations tool: @LiveTagPro
Data visualisation: @sahiligdwn & @adnaaan433’s Insight90 Streamlit app.

This is the full passage in question with no annotations or commentary. I’d recommend watching it in full before going through the analysis, but feel free to do as you wish.

Were Manchester United solid defensively vs Aston Villa, and more importantly, is there improvement in the press?

Annotations: @LiveTagPro
Data visuals: Insight90 from @sahilgdwn & @adnaaan433 Bruno & Mount locking Villa’s pivots, with Sesko leading the press and locking play to one side.

This triggered ball-side M2M as the near WB backed the press and the other dropped back.

Ugarte protected central space as the backline shifted ball side.

Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba are without a doubt among the most sought-after midfielders in the Premier League.

Same position, almost the same height, and honestly, you could even argue they share similar intentions when it comes to progressing the ball.

The difference, however, lies in how they execute those actions.

Annotations: @LiveTagPro
Imo, Wharton’s consistent and high-quality scanning is what sets him apart from the other two.

It’s also why he can disguise his actions so well, especially when playing forward passes

🧵 Giovanni Leoni - Scouting Report.

Physical Profile, Strengths and Weaknesses.

Data Graphs: @sahilgdwn
Illustration tool: @LiveTagPro

Likes, shares and any feedback are all appreciated. Physical Profile:

At just 18 years old, Gio already has the kind of height you want in a centre-back. Standing at 6 foot 4 (1,96m), he’s got the potential to become a real presence at the back.

His frame is still a bit slender, especially in the upper body, but that’s something that will likely improve as he develops and spends more time working on his physical strength.

For someone his size, Leoni moves really well. He’s got impressive acceleration and top speed which he can maintain over distances. That is not always the case for tall defenders. Combine that with solid footwork and decent agility, and you’ve got a player who can shift direction quickly and recover his position smoothly. Whether it’s in one-on-one situations, chasing back to sweep, or carrying the ball, Gio stays composed and balanced.

That said, there are a few things to note. His jumping ability, for example, is a bit hit or miss. When he’s got a run-up or some momentum, he can rise pretty well. But from a standing position, his leap doesn’t always have the same power or timing. It’s something to keep an eye on as he grows into his body.

🧵PSG vs Liverpool: Key Tactical Takeaways of the Season’s Biggest “Smash & Grab.” (So far)

🔴 How Arne Slot completely avoided PSG’s m2m press (Did it really work?)

🔴 Why did Vitinha pick up the ball during goal kicks?

🔴 Liverpool’s passive OOP & PSG’s “fluidity: a Match made in Heaven. (For the wrong reasons?)

🔴 A back five to limit PSG’s threat in the 2nd half. Arne Slot’s approach to PSG’s aggressive man-to-man press was simple—avoid it entirely.

https://twitter.com/anfieldsector/status/1897000181197078934

Is Rúben Amorim Too Stubborn, or Is Manchester United’s Squad Holding Him Back?

Manchester United have looked more structured and in control whenever they’ve used a 3-diamond-3 shape in possession.

But while this setup has clear benefits, its effectiveness is still limited by the squad’s player profiles. Structures alone aren’t enough—without the right personnel, even the best tactical ideas have their limits.

{Random thoughts thrown in a mini thread} The 3-diamond-3 (or 3-1-3-3) shape in possession has given Manchester United more control in games like FCSB, certain phases against Crystal Palace and Everton, and more recently against Ipswich before Dorgu’s red card.

Sure, these were against ‘lesser’ opponents—but isn’t that exactly what United fans have been asking for?

We’ve seen the team struggle against Burnley, Coventry, and others due to a lack of control. By using this shape more consistently, United can avoid chaotic back-and-forth game states and improve central progression.

With this structure, United can overload the center, allowing one of the pivot players to push into a half-space while the other stays deeper to link play between the lines.