Having watched the game yesterday, I know we failed to score a goal and our attack was pretty pathetic, however I feel that the defense is a real issue. Yes we do have a great defensive record this year, but it’s more down to Mourinho’s defensive setup and De Gea being so good rather our defenders being solid. We seem to have quite a few shots against us and have to rely his brilliance which just shows what a great keeper he is, and if we lose him…we’re in trouble.
For a start, our full backs, they have to be the worst in the top 6, they’re not even full backs, they’re wingers converted to makeshift fullbacks. Young has been decent this season but he’s not a left back. Shaw needs to be given a run of a few games, he was playing well but then dropped straight away as soon as Young was back from suspension. If he’s not up to it, sell him and buy a new left back. Valencia, he’s way too predictable and just can’t cross, it’s so infuriating to watch him get to the edge of the opposition half and then just stand in one spot with the ball doing that stupid dummy dribble attempt, delaying cross, by then the opposition has regrouped and chance is gone, and when he does cross it always hits the first mans shin anyway.
That brings me to our centre backs. Laurel and Hardy…I mean Jones and Smalling. I just can’t believe how useless these two clowns are with the ball at their feet. Every time they get the ball, it’s like they are petrified of the ball so they just hoof it forward even when there is no pressure, most of the time to Lukaku who couldn't win a header against a midget. Rojo is the same, Lindelof seems to be a mistake waiting to happen.
At least if our defenders were comfortable with the ball, they’d be able to bring the ball forward into play so that we can attack much higher up the pitch, maybe build a coherent attack and not have huge gaps between the defense midfield and attack. But they're clumsy at defending and can't play football. Bailly seems to be the only decent one we have but even he can be rash, and injury prone.
We’ve gone from a team that was comfortable with the ball that had no idea how to attack (LVG days), to a team that isn’t comfortable with the ball and still has no idea how to attack. More on relying on individual brilliance to score, which is what the team is at the moment.
Is our defense the real issue?
posted on 12/2/18
Defense is not, on its own, the primary issue.
Yesterdays problem was line up.
But the overall problem is poor direction resulting in a poor, unbalanced squad.
united started yesterday with only two defenders (good ones, but still only two). They had two ageing wingers as stand-in full-backs, and consequently no wingers. Excacerbating the problem of supplying Lukaku.
Add to that starting an away game with weaknesses like martial and, especially, lingard at one of the most difficult grounds in the country, is asking for trouble.
Knew united would struggle with that line-up in that game. Although i did expect a narrow victory.
matic made a pass yesterday that was worthy of veron at his best. In any period between 1993 and 2006 i would have staked my house on that pass resulting in a genuine goal attempt. Not when i saw martial on the end of it. Knew it was going nowhere.
the club is in a period of mis-direction. The squad lacks completeness, cohesion, character and (unsurprisingly) direction
posted on 12/2/18
comment by AFCISMYTEAM (U14931)
posted 6 minutes ago
It shows how well Mourinho has done results wise when you look at the team.
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Really? That team doesn't look to shabby to me, i personally think he should be doing better than they have been.
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They have a host of mediocre players and a couple of genuine quality.
De Gea
Sanchez
Pogba
Martial
Nobody else is really that great and Pogba has been poor for a while.
posted on 12/2/18
Our defenders are all poor on the ball and this is a major issue for us. None are comfortable on the ball being pressed, although we also have an issue in that none of our midfielders show for the ball.
We have so many deep routed issues it's not as simple as saying it's the defence, the midfield or attack. Not even as simple as buying new players.
posted on 12/2/18
No, our defence is not the issue. The midfield is where the issue is.
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Think the midfield setup is the issue, not the midfield itself. We all can see a midfield 2 of Pogba and Matic doesn't work.
Our defenders on the other hand. We need to do what City did and invest in some quality full backs and maybe one defender. Look at the difference its made with City.
posted on 12/2/18
Also, excuses for Pogba about the midfield 2 thing. Yes it's an issue and we won't get the best out him in this role. However he has to shoulder the responsibility for being utterly tripe in possession, lazy in defensive duties and all round bad performances.
posted on 12/2/18
Pogba hasn't been great and he really needs to pull his finger out his ass and work harder, that I agree with.
Also having Lukaku upfront with the trio of Martial, Sanchez and Lingard or Mata who like to play quick passing doesn't seem to work. Just seems so unbalanced. Better off having Rashford up front.
posted on 12/2/18
Think the midfield setup is the issue, not the midfield itself.
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No it is the midfield itself. We just don't have the quality.
Matic isn't very good, Pogba is up and down, and Jose won't play the only other propper midfielder. All the rest are forwards and Groot, whom it is hard to put a finger on what his best position is.
posted on 12/2/18
Defensive set up
2 wimgers at fullback, pogba and Lingard in CM and 3 forwards is hardly a defensive set up
posted on 12/2/18
Defensive set up
2 wimgers at fullback, pogba and Lingard in CM and 3 forwards is hardly a defensive set up.
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Our full backs hardly ever attack as much as they should. Also the deep defensive line means a lot of the time they spend more time in their own half than the opposition.
posted on 12/2/18
comment by Man in Black (U21752)
posted 22 minutes ago
Defensive set up
2 wimgers at fullback, pogba and Lingard in CM and 3 forwards is hardly a defensive set up
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You could have 11 Messi's and Jose would find a way to make us defensive.