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Where do Manchester United's Struggles Lie?
(tactical & statistical thread)
(tactical & statistical thread)
Manchester United have been poor this season. They lie 19th in the Premier League xG table, and have endured mixed results. Two impressive Champions League wins versus PSG and Leipzig have been sandwiched by dour draws/defeats home and away.
(xG table: https://twitter.com/xGPhilosophy/status/1323965878111789057?s=20)
(xG table: https://twitter.com/xGPhilosophy/status/1323965878111789057?s=20)
United are largely poor in possession; they simply haven't created many chances at all from open play. They particularly struggle against deep blocks, although Arsenal used a man-oriented press to great success last weekend. This thread helps to explain why.
Manchester United simply do not retain possession in the 2nd phase (midfield third) well enough. There is a plethora of reasons for this issue. The knock-on effect is that they struggle to maintain pressure on opposition in the final third.
1) Manchester United struggle in build-up.
- Lack of structure results in lack of progression
- When progression occurs it is rushed
- Lack of structure results in lack of progression
- When progression occurs it is rushed
Here is an example of how Arsenal's man oriented semi-press exacerbated United's lack of structure:
Lindelof drives in to a congested zone:
- due to a poor starting position he is desperate for options
- he simply exacerbates the issue at hand
- Arsenal funnel United to Shaw, where progression is halted
- due to a poor starting position he is desperate for options
- he simply exacerbates the issue at hand
- Arsenal funnel United to Shaw, where progression is halted
Careless passes are soemthing Fred (to a lesser degree than 2019/20), Bruno and Pogba are all culpable of. It reduces United's ability to retain the ball in more congested zones, rendering United:
- Poor versus a press
- Unable to shift the ball efficiently versus deep blocks
- Poor versus a press
- Unable to shift the ball efficiently versus deep blocks
Careless passes also exacerbate United's issues in transition. Since careless passes are also a knock-on effect of poor positioning, this is just as much (if not more) a coaching issue than a player issue.
United conceded twice from turnovers in Istanbul.
United conceded twice from turnovers in Istanbul.
In the attacking third, United lack ideas, balance and execution.
- United make many touches in the attacking third, but rarely enter the box.
- United therefore generate few chances & rarely score vs deep blocks.
- Versus pressing teams, United barely reach the final third.
- United make many touches in the attacking third, but rarely enter the box.
- United therefore generate few chances & rarely score vs deep blocks.
- Versus pressing teams, United barely reach the final third.
A deeper look into these stats show that United are poor at crossing to enter the box, and passing to enter the box:
- United's width comes from fullbacks who struggle to cross successfully
- United lack discipline & positioning to station players between the lines consistently
- United's width comes from fullbacks who struggle to cross successfully
- United lack discipline & positioning to station players between the lines consistently
Shaw had a rare half of quality crossing versus Istanbul Basaksehir F.K. yesterday (1st half):
- Assist for Martial's goal
- This dangerous driven cross
Both good crosses occurred when build-up progressed centrally, giving Shaw an un-pressured crossing angle.
- Assist for Martial's goal
- This dangerous driven cross
Both good crosses occurred when build-up progressed centrally, giving Shaw an un-pressured crossing angle.
For Martial's goal, Bruno stationed himself between the lines, giving Shaw the perfect opportunity to create a good cross.
Shaw typically receives by default, not through choice on the left, as he is the only width provider. He usually therefore has no angle to cross.
Shaw typically receives by default, not through choice on the left, as he is the only width provider. He usually therefore has no angle to cross.
Wan Bissaka may be better 1v1, but is far worse at executing crosses. He often opts for safe crosses (see picture), or low driven crosses which rarely reach United's strikers.
Like Shaw, when Wan Bissaka receives by default, he is often forced backwards:
- He receives too high up, and has no room for 1v1s
- Lacks the technical consistency to whip crosses around a defender (as does Shaw)
- He receives too high up, and has no room for 1v1s
- Lacks the technical consistency to whip crosses around a defender (as does Shaw)
Solutions to United's issues: the way I see it, is United's issues have three *distinct* sources. These issues then all mesh together to see United fail to perform well:
1) Poor structure in 1st phase
2) No balance in attacking third
3) Susceptible in transition
1) Poor structure in 1st phase
2) No balance in attacking third
3) Susceptible in transition
1) Poor structure in 1st phase:
a) needless turnovers -> transitional issues
b) rushed passes into 2nd phase -> turnovers
c) lack progression -> pressing teams prevent United from reaching attacking third
a) needless turnovers -> transitional issues
b) rushed passes into 2nd phase -> turnovers
c) lack progression -> pressing teams prevent United from reaching attacking third
2) No balance in attacking third
a) only positioning comes from fullbacks out wide; who can't cross -> we don't enter the box
b) we congest central areas, hindering play between the lines -> we don't pass into the box
c) all attackers want ball to feet -> no runners into box
a) only positioning comes from fullbacks out wide; who can't cross -> we don't enter the box
b) we congest central areas, hindering play between the lines -> we don't pass into the box
c) all attackers want ball to feet -> no runners into box
3) Susceptible in transition: this is fairly self-explanatory, we lost possession all too often, in bad locations, and lack recovery pace or security to shut out good counter-attacking teams.
If a 35 year-old Demba Ba is scoring against you, you have problems.
If a 35 year-old Demba Ba is scoring against you, you have problems.
Solutions:
1) establish a basic structure in each phase
2) establish fundamentals for players in each phase (effectively limiting the level of player decision-making variance, eradicating high frequency mistakes; E.G. poor turnovers)
...
1) establish a basic structure in each phase
2) establish fundamentals for players in each phase (effectively limiting the level of player decision-making variance, eradicating high frequency mistakes; E.G. poor turnovers)
...
3) don't pile on attackers needlessly when United are behind; maintaining a basic structure supersedes number of attackers on the pitch. When United substitute on all of their attackers, it exacerbates the lack of balance
4) have a defensive mid ready to defend transitions
4) have a defensive mid ready to defend transitions
To conclude; I saw Ole as a very good ''big picture'' manager; the net effect he had on the club was profound. I no longer see him as the right man to take this club forward; teams have worked out how to play us:
1) deep block
or
2) semi-press + medium block
1) deep block
or
2) semi-press + medium block
Ole has lost his ability to get the best out of these players. He is in fact, exacerbating our issues:
1) risky, unbalanced possession approach -> turnovers vs a high line of Maguire and Lindelof;
2) lack of structure for low-discipline players (Bruno, Pogba, Fred) is stupidty.
1) risky, unbalanced possession approach -> turnovers vs a high line of Maguire and Lindelof;
2) lack of structure for low-discipline players (Bruno, Pogba, Fred) is stupidty.
Manchester United need more, if they are to progress with this core of players.
End of thread. As usual, if you made it this far, thanks for reading!
Feedback and discussion is encouraged!
Let me know who you'd bring in, or whether you think Ole can solve this.
Feedback and discussion is encouraged!
Let me know who you'd bring in, or whether you think Ole can solve this.
