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Thread on our Midfielders, the pivot, free 8s, 433 formation and what a single pivot quality DM could allow us to set-up with and what I think the plan is.
Retweets very appreciated as I think it is discussed very often with Man United fans.
Retweets very appreciated as I think it is discussed very often with Man United fans.
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McTominay/Fred are box to box disruptors, both double pivots types. Being the deepest/single pivot type would limit them and they lack the positional discipline/awareness which isn't easy to improve for the role. They job share the Matic role when together.
McTominay/Fred are box to box disruptors, both double pivots types. Being the deepest/single pivot type would limit them and they lack the positional discipline/awareness which isn't easy to improve for the role. They job share the Matic role when together.
The main pivot pairs are McTominay + Fred and Pogba + Matic.
McFred pivot are disruptors and bring energy at the cost of creativity. Better defence at the cost of attack.
Pogba is higher with Matic and normally the deepest with Fred/McTominay. Like in the Game vs Fulham.
McFred pivot are disruptors and bring energy at the cost of creativity. Better defence at the cost of attack.
Pogba is higher with Matic and normally the deepest with Fred/McTominay. Like in the Game vs Fulham.
I think this limits Pogba as his focus is more on deep progression than multiple elements that he is very good at when with Matic and able to be higher up the pitch. McTominay and esspically Fred can do the pressing for Pogba though, very much like Kante does for France.
Van de Beek is a 10 and a raumdeuter/box to box. He lacks positional discipline/awareness for the pivot. He also lacks creativity/progression, his game is largly keeping it simple and moving off the ball to find/create space. He is fantastic at this and will tackle and work hard.
Bruno is a 10/box to box who is extremely effective between the lines with his quick thinking, passing and movement. A constant goal threat in and around the box with his accuracy and willingness to go behind a defensive line.
With no progression in DM we rely on the CBs and Luke Shaw while also putting pressure on AWB as it is not his best attribute and he becomes a pressing target, He is much better at positioning himself higher like Telles is.
We currently have no single pivot DM without limitations that would allow us to play two free 8s/433 Matic is the closes and does allow Pogba to get higher but it involves a double pivot and sitting him deep to lessen the distance he would need to cover which he can't do anymore.
Currently we don't suit free 8s/433. We have wingers(RM mainly) who suit coming inside in the half space all the time where the free 8s will want to be. The overall aim is to have 5 attackers overload 4 defenders and we do that with our 325 attacking shape and triggers.
Pep has popularised free 8s as he keeps his wingers wide, tucks his FBs and allows the his central players to get in the half space over the rise of inside forwards. He can overload centrally and outwide with the smart movement. To me this is modern day total football.
Our triggers have limited us with our personnel imo. Normally Bruno and RM are in the half space so Pogba has to be deeper as AWB provides width so Shaw then has to tuck and the LM holds the width. I have noticed very few times Pogba could get in the half space from the triggers.
City are a bit more ridged with the triggers normally affecting just the wide overload and they could select FBs/CMs to suit where they will find themselves the most. Shaw for example has had to switch through LCB, LCM LM based on the triggers in the same game alone.
One of the best ways I seen us form the 325 shape was with Matic CB and the FBs providing width as Rashford and Greenwood went in the half space as Bruno dropped alongside Pogba. Shaw was immense in getting up and down and we had great control centrally.
It is expected Pogba will leave and Van de Beek will take his position. I think we will continue trying to form 325 and with the addition of players like a RM/DM the move to a Bruno/VDB as free 8s is possible. The links to Grealish, Left footed CBs and Sancho enforce this imo.
I believe VDB needs the freedom to attack off the ball and get in the box which I think the pivot would limit. Having Fred/McTominay alongside a deeper DM is also possible if the pivot remains.
We have profiles for what we need and have targets but need them to become available. A single pivot quality DM, LCB and RM each could all be so key to getting the balance spot on so getting it right is very important and taking time in the windows to get them is wise.
