𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙍𝙪𝙗𝙚𝙣 𝘼𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙢

1. Hojlund - Biggest beneficiary IMO. A typical Amorim CF is heavy on channel running, carrying and running into spaces. Lines up with Hojlund's best traits & usage. I see a blockbuster combo here.

2. Lisandro - I called Inacio a Licha copy in my CB scouting reports. So, needless to say, Amorim will enjoy the superior version. Those CB to DM and CB to LB rotations in build up will suit Licha. Might see Licha as situational DM often.

3. Onana - Amorim is very big on GK being part of build up and doing a lot of press baiting before playing short/medium. Again suits Onana traits a lot.

Predicting all 3 to be used much better than they have been at Man Utd so far & closer to how they were used at Atalanta, Ajax & Inter respectively.


My article on Hojlund from his Atalanta days. So this is essentially my take on "How to get the best out of Hojlund".

https://x.com/TheDevilsDNA/status/1688950699609174016?t=97zGz_T5USxO2QN6SutD3w&s=19

Barcelona's risky defensive setup & the new top team meta - THREAD

Lot of talk about Barca's defensive setup. Yes, I also think it's risky, could have ended differently if Bayern/Madrid made some better choices & I do feel Barca will suffer a drop off later in season.

BUT... A lot of this is planned & part of the tactic. Catching players (esp top players) offside repeatedly is an art & there is coaching involved in making such young players pull it off consistently. Flick also adapts pressing (Eg. Bayern 2nd half) when needed instead of gung-ho mode

Why doesn't Erik Ten Hag back the high press at Manchester United?

We've seen the data. We've seen the footage. Defenders not backing the front 6 high press, which creates a gap for opponents to dribble towards a retreating back 4. Let me explain the reasons it happens.
🧵 Firstly, I'd recommend reading this excellent thread by Jon. I often use "backing the press" & "playing a high line" in unison since they are linked to a certain extent. The act of compressing space from the back aids a team's high press effectiveless.

https://x.com/Jon_Mackenzie/status/1831030418486829069?s=08

How good is Manuel Ugarte in possession?

Quoted tweet & further quoted article highlight Ugarte's defending & basic traits well but I feel I can add more on his in-possession traits so here's a thread with examples on what I've noticed after seeing him over time for PSG & SP
🧵 It's tricky coz stats & highlights muddle actual tendencies. He either keeps it safe or tries long balls (usually a switch) when in space. I wouldn't say he's a central line breaker. In settled possession his usual dynamic is "pass short, pass short, oh I got space, easy switch"

What is the correlation between team height and set piece prowess? - THREAD

There is often an assumption that being a tall team aids set piece excellence at both ends. I put this theory to test using data for Premier League teams in 23/24 & find out the real key to success.
🧵 As a 1st step, I noted down the data for average team height by mins played this season (from @CIES_Football) & Set piece xG & xGA (from @OptaAnalyst). The below are the results. Newcastle & Man Utd had the tallest teams by mins played in EPL. SHU, Man City & Brighton shortest.

RW or LW: Where should Alejandro Garnacho play long-term? - THREAD

It has been a year of growth & transformation for Garnacho. Esp in a new position on the right which few predicted. And he impressed in those outings. So where is he better? I use data & eye test to analyze.
🧵 Let's start with some basic details. I will be looking at EPL & UCL stats only since the other 2 cups don't have underlying numbers. Garnacho played most of the first half at LW & even at times in 2nd half. Result: 2x more starts & mins, equal goals & a 2 more assists from LW.

How Manchester United frustrated Man City with their compact block - THREAD

#MUFC's glorious FA Cup win was built on a compact out-of-possession setup that has been absent all year. But when it mattered, ten Hag's defensive tactics completely bamboozled Pep. I explain how.
🧵

City formed a 3-2-5 in possession with Foden & KDB in the half spaces. United set up in a mid block 4-4-2 out of possession. The 4 midfieders marked the box 4 of City (Amrabat on Foden, Mainoo on KDB, Bruno on Kovacic, Scott on Rodri) similar to last year Barca UEL setup.

Why do we not see the best of players & coaches when they are at Manchester United? - THREAD

There are now many post-SAF examples of players & staff being inconsistent or just bad at #MUFC but finding more success before or after. It's not about quality. It's about fitment.
1/


We know how good Sancho was at BVB before we signed him.
We know how good Onana was at Inter.
We know how good Rashford, Bruno & Maguire were under Ole.
We know how good Erik Ten Hag was at Ajax.
We know how good Pogba was at Juve.
We know how good Casemiro was at Real Madrid
2/

Watch both clips. As I've said many times before, all the issues we're seeing were prevalent at Ajax too. Esp in UCL & big games. And ten Hag knows the risk. The issue is that the risk-reward ratio worked in Eredivisie with a league dominant team & doesn't in the PL with us.

https://twitter.com/ErikTenShelby/status/1775194027140272419

Which is why we haven't seen any adjustment all season long. He genuinely believes in this system & assumes that better players will make it work & shift the risk-reward balance to positive. I don't think it will. People assuming system/philosophy change will be disappointed.

Why is Hojlund not getting enough service esp from Bruno?🧵

Comes down to our main chance creation pattern:
Switch to winger -> take on -> cutback/shot

In this sequence, Bruno & central players are the ones switching. See below locations of his passes into final 3rd vs Newport.

https://twitter.com/_MUFCJames/status/1751896639852208552

Most of our entries into final 3rd are these quick switches to wingers esp LW. And it's often the first action of midfielders (Casemiro pass % was <60%). So they're playing the winger in without unsettling an organized opponent block. Below eg from Spurs:

https://x.com/TheDevilsDNA/status/1746950700704383141?t=X1LyfW0-TzL2qMMwA-5jHw&s=08

Manchester United 2-2 Tottenham: Tactical Analysis (EPL GW21, 23/24 season)

In this thread, I'll cover Manchester United's
— Build up intent, patterns & struggles
— Progression & chance creation issues
— Pressing structure & its easy manipulation

Let's go! 🧵


First, check the below thread for the lineups, pass maps & basic stats of the game. We had worse xG, possession, field tilt, PPDA & build up success against Spurs. With that context set, I'll explain why the game played out the way it did. Let's begin.

https://twitter.com/markstatsbot/status/1746601157785751607

How to get the best out of Marcus Rashford

— Strengths, weaknesses & traits
— Suitable in-possession patterns
— Complimentary profiles to support

Mega-thread.🧵

Before we dive into usage, let's jot down what we know of his profile.

Strengths:
🟢Movement in-behind
🟢Ball-striking & execution of shots/crosses
🟢Dribbling when 1v1 especially in wide areas
🟢Finishing variety & consistency
🟢Athleticism & agility

https://twitter.com/TheDevilsDNA/status/1715644411965755538

Erik ten Hag's biggest weakness - Rest defence

— The importance of rest defence
— Manchester United's structure & issues
— Top team examples
— Potential solutions

Thread. 🧵

What is rest defence?

Based on the German Restfeldsicherung, rest defence refers to the defensive structure that “rests” (remains) when a team is in the attacking phase. Basically how a team attacks knowing they can defend transitions when they lose ball

The starting XI & tactic that can still turn around Erik Ten Hag's fortunes

- The big issues plaguing Manchester United
- The tactical tweaks needed to bounce back
- The XI & players that can enable it

Thread.🧵
Firstly, what are the big tactical issues. The below post details what I feel are the big 3 issues
1. Out of possession setup leading to poor defence
2. In possession setup leading to poor control & creation
3. Other tactical choices & selections

https://twitter.com/TheDevilsDNA/status/1731968944637153740

How to get the best out of Lisandro Martinez

- Licha's strengths, weaknesses & traits
- Suitable tactical roles in & out of possession
- Pros & cons of each

Thread.🧵 Lisandro's strengths
🟢Build up ability - Positioning sense to show or create lanes for others + close control to recieve, turn & carry
🟢Progression - Passing range & technique to progress into attacking half
🟢Duels once locked - Pressing, intensity & physicality esp on ground

𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙'𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙀𝙧𝙞𝙠 𝙏𝙚𝙣 𝙃𝙖𝙜

Analysis of all build up variations across ETH's tenure with use cases & match examples.

Mega thread.🧵 Firstly, what is build up?

For a team in possession in the defensive 3rd of the pitch, the aim of the build up phase or 1st phase of possession is to break the opposition press & reach the middle 3rd. Has high importance today to combat modern aggressive & structured pressing.

Erik Ten Hag's Manchester United have a final third problem

Let me first state the problem upfront.

"Manchester United are consistently poor at entering the final 3rd, sustaining attacks & creating quality chances"

Now let me explain the issue with data & examples.
Thread🧵
We already have a season of life under ETH to give us insight into the final 3rd approach. Some 22/23 stats & our ranking in EPL:

Goals: 7th
xG: 6th
Passes into final 3rd: 6th
Carries into final 3rd: 6th
Progressive passes: 7th
Attacking 3rd touches: 6th
Pen area touches: 6th

What is Ten Hag's Manchester United's philosophy?

We're 17 months into the ETH era. And while the results have been largely good, there are some big questions that need answers.

A thread.🧵
Firstly, the fact that we often see massive drop offs when we are missing first-team players begs the question:

1. 𝑊ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝 𝑖𝑛 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑, 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑜𝑝 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 & 𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑑?

How Brighton manipulated Manchester United's pressing structure

Our new 4-diamond-2 shape didn't really go as planned. In this thread, I'll cover United's pressing in terms of:

📝The setup & initial success
🏃Brighton's manipulation
😖Wide area confusion
💭Major concerns

🧵1/




📝The setup & initial success

We lined up in a diamond with Eriksen & Scott as shuttler 8s & Bruno 10 behind the CFs. TBF this puts our best available players in their best positions esp in-possession. But it was out of possession where the doubts lay & what proved to be key.
2/

How Manchester United progressed vs Arsenal

In this thread, I'll cover our intent, execution, wins & struggles, with examples, in all 3 phases of possession:
A. 1st phase: Build up
B. 2nd phase: Progression
C. 3rd phase: Chance creation

RTs appreciated. Let's go!
🧵
1/




Firstly, take a look at the tactical blueprint of both teams below. Our broad strategy was:
- 4-2 build up with Eriksen dropping
- 3-2-5 in attack with AWB/Casemiro in back 3
- 4-2-4 high press & 4-4-2 low block

With some variations depending on state

https://twitter.com/TheDevilsDNA/status/1698372011066888685

What is Casemiro's future in Manchester United's midfield?

After re-watching the game again & building more on the below thread I posted 2 days ago, one thought I had was:

Casemiro may not be the most ideal #6 in this setup

In his current state anyway. Let me explain.🧵
1/ Firstly let me bring up this thread of Casemiro mistakes vs Wolves. It's a good compilation & while I obviously think he had a bad day due to our team deficiencies in build up & transition defending, I also think there's a role suitability angle.
2/

https://twitter.com/danieIscouting/status/1691450745923743745