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Manchester United 1-2 Sheffield United: Analysing the Good (it exists!), the Bad (it exists, too!) and the Constant.
Let's go!
Manchester United 1-2 Sheffield United: Analysing the Good (it exists!), the Bad (it exists, too!) and the Constant.
Let's go!
Average Positions
Firstly, I am unsure what to make of the formation. It was supposed to be a 4-2-3-1 but it lacked positional principles at times and ended up as a sort of 4-1-5. In many situations we had no CF until Cavani came on.
Notice how deep Pogba is.
Firstly, I am unsure what to make of the formation. It was supposed to be a 4-2-3-1 but it lacked positional principles at times and ended up as a sort of 4-1-5. In many situations we had no CF until Cavani came on.
Notice how deep Pogba is.
Pass Reception Heatmaps
We concluded recently that Fernandes receives the ball in central higher zones when Matic and Pogba play (mostly due to Pogba). However, this hardly occurred vs SHU. They were compact and forced Fernandes to receive the ball on the flanks instead.
We concluded recently that Fernandes receives the ball in central higher zones when Matic and Pogba play (mostly due to Pogba). However, this hardly occurred vs SHU. They were compact and forced Fernandes to receive the ball on the flanks instead.
Open Play Box Passes
We attempted 36 passes/crosses into the box. However, look at where we were successful and unsuccessful. Our success mostly came on the sides whilst our failures were mostly central.
We attempted 36 passes/crosses into the box. However, look at where we were successful and unsuccessful. Our success mostly came on the sides whilst our failures were mostly central.
Even 6 out of 9 incisive attempts were of longer distance and four of them were crosses. The two successful ones were to Fernandes — the first from Pogba which he failed to bring down and the second from Telles via which he created a chance for Martial.
The two successful incisive passes into the box were great in terms of precision but difficult to receive as Pogba's came directly from above with a lot of side torque whereas Telles’ was lofted.
We created no better in-box incisive passes which really isn't good enough.
We created no better in-box incisive passes which really isn't good enough.
Hastiness
Both Martial and Rashford played in a hasty manner. Here, Rashford looked for Martial in our early second phase, didn't execute it and then chased the ball poorly in a press.
Both Martial and Rashford played in a hasty manner. Here, Rashford looked for Martial in our early second phase, didn't execute it and then chased the ball poorly in a press.
Hastiness II
Martial did likewise. He received the ball in a good zone and the defender steps out to meet him. Here, he should play it to the left for Telles especially considering the latter's delivery quality. Yet, he turns into traffic and ultimately turns it over.
Martial did likewise. He received the ball in a good zone and the defender steps out to meet him. Here, he should play it to the left for Telles especially considering the latter's delivery quality. Yet, he turns into traffic and ultimately turns it over.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
AWB actually created decent to good chances. Here, he plays a touch-pass (i.e. a one-touch pass) to Rashford who misses whilst he also take-ons three players to create this look for Greenwood whose shot is blocked.
AWB actually created decent to good chances. Here, he plays a touch-pass (i.e. a one-touch pass) to Rashford who misses whilst he also take-ons three players to create this look for Greenwood whose shot is blocked.
Awareness
We have five players here whilst Maguire is moving to back up Telles. Rashford comes across and brings the CB with him. Yet, no one else thinks about making a run in behind until it is too late. There was little communication. It was give-it-to-my-feet football.
We have five players here whilst Maguire is moving to back up Telles. Rashford comes across and brings the CB with him. Yet, no one else thinks about making a run in behind until it is too late. There was little communication. It was give-it-to-my-feet football.
Their Goal I
During the game I said this wasn't enough for a foul and de Gea should be doing better. I stand by the latter part but not the former. This is clearly a foul on de Gea and there is no other plausible explanation for why it isn't. You cannot do this as per the rules.
During the game I said this wasn't enough for a foul and de Gea should be doing better. I stand by the latter part but not the former. This is clearly a foul on de Gea and there is no other plausible explanation for why it isn't. You cannot do this as per the rules.
Our Goal
I mentioned previously that a problem we had at corners was a lack of movement. So, we would be contesting with defenders almost with standing jumps — you'll lose here. This has changed recently and the goal was an example; Harry gets an excellent run on the defender.
I mentioned previously that a problem we had at corners was a lack of movement. So, we would be contesting with defenders almost with standing jumps — you'll lose here. This has changed recently and the goal was an example; Harry gets an excellent run on the defender.
Defending
Their goal was foreshadowed here. Rashford tells Harry to track the overlap even though it's his man. Then, once Harry does Rashford leaves the man Harry was initially marking! It gives Telles a problem but notice the pass. Look familiar? Remember the goal.
Their goal was foreshadowed here. Rashford tells Harry to track the overlap even though it's his man. Then, once Harry does Rashford leaves the man Harry was initially marking! It gives Telles a problem but notice the pass. Look familiar? Remember the goal.
Defending II
Martial plays a poor pass to Cavani — this is an easy pass for him — and whilst we have four men in front of the ball he makes himself a fifth even though he's behind it. Why? Because he complains instead of tracking. Rather, Fernandes has to do that work.
Martial plays a poor pass to Cavani — this is an easy pass for him — and whilst we have four men in front of the ball he makes himself a fifth even though he's behind it. Why? Because he complains instead of tracking. Rather, Fernandes has to do that work.
Their Goal II
The same pass is played twice and it's uncontested both times! For the goal, Lundstram isn't closed down effectively and then Fernandes and Rashford leave Pogba to guard two players — Burke and another at the edge. If one of them drops then this is solved.
The same pass is played twice and it's uncontested both times! For the goal, Lundstram isn't closed down effectively and then Fernandes and Rashford leave Pogba to guard two players — Burke and another at the edge. If one of them drops then this is solved.
Here, you can see the two players. Burke receives the pass but look how far Fernandes is when he does. If Pogba comes across and Burke dummies it then the player on the edge has an uncontested shot. All it takes is to just get behind the ball.
What if we go further?
What if we go further?
Using voronoi we can actually see the zone Burke occupies generally speaking. How can someone be allowed that sort of space against a team that wants to win the title? We afforded him that space twice in the space of 5-6 seconds!
What does Pitch Control tell us?
What does Pitch Control tell us?
Wow!
Look at the blue zone around Burke. The model predicts that even if the pass was misplaced he would still get to it first based on the total amount of space he already has!
Look at the blue zone around Burke. The model predicts that even if the pass was misplaced he would still get to it first based on the total amount of space he already has!
This was one of the worst pieces of defending from us since Solskjær took over. Why? Because the warning signs were there — Rashford's defending resulted in the same pass being made before and they shot from there too — yet when the situation happened again it wasn't solved.
The same situation happened three times in the space of 17 minutes and in each one the receiver was able to trap the ball and then had a decent look on goal. Yet, we didn't stop the first nor the second and suffered with the third.
Overall, we have no been successful when playing against very low blocks (3-0-5 record). Our success against low blocks is quite good (8-4-0 record). We have conceded 13 goals in just 8 games vs low blocks and a lot of that is due to poor defensive awareness.
This has been a problem since 2019/20 which is where my data starts from. I will spend some time analysing this further, delving into the various potential reasons why we have been unsuccessful in these sort of games.
Conclusion
We were not good against SHU. Our performance was hasty, lacked principles and ultimately detrimental. We must start to put games away earlier and not rely on stellar goals or comebacks to secure wins. This is not sustainable if we want to be a top team.
We were not good against SHU. Our performance was hasty, lacked principles and ultimately detrimental. We must start to put games away earlier and not rely on stellar goals or comebacks to secure wins. This is not sustainable if we want to be a top team.
End of Thread.
