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Despite early season issues, it seems that Manchester City have started to hit a consistent run of form after netting 7 in their last two league games and keeping clean sheets in both.
This thread will discuss what Ole can do to halt the inform City and claim all three points.
This thread will discuss what Ole can do to halt the inform City and claim all three points.
Specifically, this thread will look over:
• Overview of City’s tactics
• Stopping City’s ball progression
• Dealing with their attack
• Bypassing the City press
• Chance creation
• Summary
• Overview of City’s tactics
• Stopping City’s ball progression
• Dealing with their attack
• Bypassing the City press
• Chance creation
• Summary
1. Overview of City’s tactics
City lineup in a 4231, which in possession shifts to a 343, although with positional rotation this can become a 325 or even a 361.
Defensively, Guardiola has his side defend in a rigid 442, looking to press high and cut off passing angles.
City lineup in a 4231, which in possession shifts to a 343, although with positional rotation this can become a 325 or even a 361.
Defensively, Guardiola has his side defend in a rigid 442, looking to press high and cut off passing angles.
They play Pep’s infamous tiki-taka style, with quick pass and move interchanges through the half-spaces.
They have a number of standout players in their squad that are adept at this sort of style, boasting excellent movement, decision-making, close control and passing ranges.
They have a number of standout players in their squad that are adept at this sort of style, boasting excellent movement, decision-making, close control and passing ranges.
2. Stopping City’s ball progression
To beat City, you have to stop them playing their game. Spurs did this by deploying a compact narrow mid-block, to force City wide.
In the example, Spurs cut off any of City’s forward options, reducing them to passing either wide or to a CB.
To beat City, you have to stop them playing their game. Spurs did this by deploying a compact narrow mid-block, to force City wide.
In the example, Spurs cut off any of City’s forward options, reducing them to passing either wide or to a CB.
Leicester achieved similar results by slightly different means. Both sides were compact, but Leicester looked to go for more of a man-to-man marking system.
Either of these styles are effective, but it’s important United use at least one of them, or they’ll end up like Burnley.
Either of these styles are effective, but it’s important United use at least one of them, or they’ll end up like Burnley.
Pep often looks to play through Rodri, so when Leicester marked him, it really stifled City.
However, since the Leicester game Pep has evolved. The LB now looks to come inside to the base of the City midfield. So, if United were to target Rodri, the LB needs to be marked also.
However, since the Leicester game Pep has evolved. The LB now looks to come inside to the base of the City midfield. So, if United were to target Rodri, the LB needs to be marked also.
3. Dealing with the City attack
Firstly, we will talk about a matchup on the City right wing, Mahrez vs Telles.
This season, no player has scored more premier league goals for City than Mahrez and Telles has been shakey in terms of defending. (Shaw injured at time of writing)
Firstly, we will talk about a matchup on the City right wing, Mahrez vs Telles.
This season, no player has scored more premier league goals for City than Mahrez and Telles has been shakey in terms of defending. (Shaw injured at time of writing)
Looking at the stats, Telles has been dribbled past 4 times in 3 games, boasting a measly 33% take-on defence rate. Whilst Mahrez has already dribbled past 13 players this season.
We’ve also seen Telles lose his man, so United will have to address Mahrez (even if Shaw starts).
We’ve also seen Telles lose his man, so United will have to address Mahrez (even if Shaw starts).
One way to solve this would be to have a defensive pivot on United’s left side to support him.
Someone like Fred with his work rate could do the job pretty well. Naturally, Telles will try and force Mahrez outside, but when Mahrez does cut in, Fred can be there to cut him off.
Someone like Fred with his work rate could do the job pretty well. Naturally, Telles will try and force Mahrez outside, but when Mahrez does cut in, Fred can be there to cut him off.
United also have to deal with underlaps.
City’s wingers like to push wide, stretching the full back out, before playing in the underlapping run of a midfielder. This is something we’ve seen United struggle with, so the CM’s will have to be alert in this situation.
City’s wingers like to push wide, stretching the full back out, before playing in the underlapping run of a midfielder. This is something we’ve seen United struggle with, so the CM’s will have to be alert in this situation.
4. Bypassing the City press
City are a really good pressing side, looking to press high with their front six but you can catch them.
One of the best ways of bypassing a press is to stretch the pitch and we’ve seen sides do this against City to great effect.
City are a really good pressing side, looking to press high with their front six but you can catch them.
One of the best ways of bypassing a press is to stretch the pitch and we’ve seen sides do this against City to great effect.
What Spurs and particularly Leicester did well was to stretch the pitch vertically.
In the case of Leicester, they pushed Vardy and Barnes forwards to the channels. This forced the City backline back, so when City pressed high, they were really disjointed.
In the case of Leicester, they pushed Vardy and Barnes forwards to the channels. This forced the City backline back, so when City pressed high, they were really disjointed.
From here, you do what Spurs did and stretch the pitch horizontally.
When you stretch City vertically, they leave a big gap between their midfield and defence and this opens space out wide. Spurs dropped their midfield pivot to draw City in, and then played out to the fullbacks.
When you stretch City vertically, they leave a big gap between their midfield and defence and this opens space out wide. Spurs dropped their midfield pivot to draw City in, and then played out to the fullbacks.
I also think United should look to play Van de Beek in the midfield pivot.
He’s press-resistant, got fantastic football IQ and is good in 1v1’s which are all really useful when playing a high pressing side. I could see him being a key part of United’s build up in this role.
He’s press-resistant, got fantastic football IQ and is good in 1v1’s which are all really useful when playing a high pressing side. I could see him being a key part of United’s build up in this role.
5. Attacking City
It’s fairly obvious the best way to attack City is in transition. Spurs did this by dropping Kane into the space previously mentioned.
But one additional point from the Spurs game was how Bergwijn would drag Walker out of position.
It’s fairly obvious the best way to attack City is in transition. Spurs did this by dropping Kane into the space previously mentioned.
But one additional point from the Spurs game was how Bergwijn would drag Walker out of position.
This didn’t happen throughout the game, however on occasion Bergwijn would drift wide in Spurs’ offensive transition.
This forced Walker wide, where he couldn’t get back and make the recovery tackle, so this could be an interesting idea should Walker become an issue for United.
This forced Walker wide, where he couldn’t get back and make the recovery tackle, so this could be an interesting idea should Walker become an issue for United.
Also, when United are looking to progress up the pitch, City don’t seem to protect the half spaces.
Rodri doesn’t have the mobility of his predecessor Fernandinho and can’t cover these areas. So, I’d expect to see the wingers of United drop into these areas often.
Rodri doesn’t have the mobility of his predecessor Fernandinho and can’t cover these areas. So, I’d expect to see the wingers of United drop into these areas often.
There is also a point of weakness in the right inside channel for City when Mendy plays.
Mendy is decent, but his defensive awareness leaves a lot to be desired, and he can be caught out. We saw Leicester target underlaps on his side, and they created two goals from this.
Mendy is decent, but his defensive awareness leaves a lot to be desired, and he can be caught out. We saw Leicester target underlaps on his side, and they created two goals from this.
Whilst part of the blame may fall on poor communication between himself and the now benched Ake, it’s still definitely worth looking at this.
To do so, we could see the either a direct run in behind from the RW, or Greenwood could roll off the LCB and make the run.
To do so, we could see the either a direct run in behind from the RW, or Greenwood could roll off the LCB and make the run.
I also think United can target City’s other fullback, Walker.
He’s already given away two penalties this season and has looked a real liability. Having someone like Rashford to run at him for 90 minutes could work well for United and I expect Ole to target him.
He’s already given away two penalties this season and has looked a real liability. Having someone like Rashford to run at him for 90 minutes could work well for United and I expect Ole to target him.
6. Overview
With the injuries to Cavani and Martial in mind, I would lineup as below.
Imo, Greenwood should already be a consistent starter for United, likewise Tuanzebe should be seeing more gametime, but I don’t think this is the right game for him to come back to.
With the injuries to Cavani and Martial in mind, I would lineup as below.
Imo, Greenwood should already be a consistent starter for United, likewise Tuanzebe should be seeing more gametime, but I don’t think this is the right game for him to come back to.
While United have excelled in 5backs against City in the past, I wouldn’t be too keen.
The Leipzig game highlighted so many issues with the system and I’m sure Pep Guardiola would’ve been paying attention, so it’d be a risk to go 5back again so soon.
The Leipzig game highlighted so many issues with the system and I’m sure Pep Guardiola would’ve been paying attention, so it’d be a risk to go 5back again so soon.
END OF THREAD
Likes and RT’s appreciated. I’m looking to do one match preview a week, sometimes alongside other analytical posts, so follow if you enjoyed!
Likes and RT’s appreciated. I’m looking to do one match preview a week, sometimes alongside other analytical posts, so follow if you enjoyed!
