Last night I had the opportunity to go to Old Trafford to watch the game. First game I've seen live since we lost to Villa 0-1 thanks to an Agbonlahor header in 2009!
I'd forgotten how brilliant the view of the pitch is, the different sense of space you get compared to watching at home on the screen and some of things you can spot that you can't on TV if it's just out of shot.
Firstly, you can't drop Lingard and Herrera and put in Mata and Lukaku without expecting a drop in intensity and running. Lukaku's movement isn't non-existent by any means, but its very, very basic and minimal. He looks on the shoulder throughout most of the game but to find him requires a very, very good long pass from back to front more often than not and frankly, I'm never confident he can control a difficult long ball any way.
We desperately lack two things:
1. A player who can go past his opponents with the ball. Without Martial, we're somewhat left to try and pass our way around the opposition, which is hard when they give us little space like Burnley did. We need someone who can commit opposition players, open up space and create a goal or assist by themselves. We lack a bit of individual brilliance, especially when Martial is out. City have three excellent players in this mould: Sane, Mahrez & Sterling. We need another one to add to our ranks.
2. Burnley played 4-4-2 with the two strikers dropping in front of our midfield to cut off the supply line from defence to midfield. We had a lot of space out wide as a result, but we kept coming back inside because that's what Mata, Rashford and then later on, Sanchez and Lingard like to do. It's where they are best. We need a genuine wide player, ideally one that meets the criteria from point 1; someone who can stay wider, stretch the pitch but also take players on, draw defenders to them, make space for others or come up with some solo magic. Lingard and Sanchez certainly added more energy and movement, but the space was out wide and we needed to draw the Burnely defence across and shift them about more.
If it were me, I'd seriously be looking at Zaha as an attacking option that might be available.
Observations from the NE Quadrant...
posted on 30/1/19
Busby,
I think it does need to be a winger. We need a specialist right sided attacker in any case as we're short in that position.
I'd really be going after Zaha.
And yes, padded seats and an excellent view. Not bothered about the atmosphere to be honest.
posted on 30/1/19
We still haven’t developed press resistant football, we had one dimensional patterns of play, unable to work in tight spaces and our full backs were inaccurate with their passing.
Our players need to be trained all over again with a different philosophy and methodology of play. They’ve been taught to play it long and not in and around the opposition.
I still personally feel we are five or six players away from being able to challenger properly. Five or Six individuals who can’t play creatively or use space correctly also need to be shipped out.
My only hope is that Ole and his staff can effectively train our players how to work around a press and utilise small pockets of space.
posted on 30/1/19
comment by -bloodred- (U1222)
posted 25 minutes ago
NE Quadrant, I think I was there for the Reading game (they take my seats in the cup), padded seats, nice view, poor atmosphere
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Pretty much. I quite like it up there though. Normally seats available too due to the misconception (IMO) that the view is shīt
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Yeah the view is really good.
posted on 30/1/19
"We still haven’t developed press resistant football, we had one dimensional patterns of play, unable to work in tight spaces and our full backs were inaccurate with their passing."
Yeah, you can see the players revert to crossing the ball in when things get tight, and we don't have the ability to cross or attack the ball.
Although Rashford came really close with a shot out of nowhere from the edge of the box, Lukaku had a good chance and Rashford two. Heaton was on fire (again).
We certainly thrive on attacking space, on the counter.
posted on 30/1/19
Agree with all that Berba. I have often banged on about wingers and how useful they are, I would like two, but one would be an improvement. I like Martial and would always have him in the team, but he's not a true winger. Still if we could get one on the right it would give us a much more balanced attack.
I don't think we need half a dozen new players though, three would do imo.
Right winger, box to box midfielder, striker/
posted on 30/1/19
I've never sat in the corners of the stadium, always tend to sit behind the goals or nearish the halfway line.
Always try to avoid the higher levels of the north stand now after sitting up there when we played AC Milan many years ago.
posted on 30/1/19
comment by Pride of the North (U6803)
posted 13 minutes ago
I've never sat in the corners of the stadium, always tend to sit behind the goals or nearish the halfway line.
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Previous trips were behind the goal. I must say I much preferred the view from the corner. Definitely the way to go I think.
posted on 30/1/19
comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
comment by Pride of the North (U6803)
posted 13 minutes ago
I've never sat in the corners of the stadium, always tend to sit behind the goals or nearish the halfway line.
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Previous trips were behind the goal. I must say I much preferred the view from the corner. Definitely the way to go I think.
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Will have to try it sometime. I've seen a couple at Wembley from the corner.
posted on 30/1/19
Good post, I especially agree about the lack of dribblers outwide. It’s a major concern with this squad, from both the attackers and the full backs. I’m not sold on this idea that the width has to come from the full backs, the best teams all have forwards that can dribble and provide width as well as coming inside when the full backs come forward, we lack that in the squad.
I don’t know enough about Ole’s wide men at Molde, but given his time at United I’m sure he appreciates the value of wingers, so should he get the job I’m hoping that’s an area we’ll look to invest in.
The squad still needs a lot of work, in my opinion. So it’s going to be an interesting summer because I don’t think we have the budget to strengthen in all the areas needed in the squad if we want to sign the calibre of player needed to get us challenging the best.
posted on 30/1/19
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 4 hours, 36 minutes ago
comment by -bloodred- (U1222)
posted 25 minutes ago
NE Quadrant, I think I was there for the Reading game (they take my seats in the cup), padded seats, nice view, poor atmosphere
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Pretty much. I quite like it up there though. Normally seats available too due to the misconception (IMO) that the view is shīt
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Yeah the view is really good.
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I was in the NE quadrant when we crashed out of the FA Cup v Leeds.
The view was a bit too good if I remember correctly.