Good article on The Athletic this morning which is rather damming of our midfield and highlights some of the things many of us will have picked up on watching us this season. Link and small extract below which then goes on to show multiple examples from the Newcastle game with images I can't embed otherwise I'd link some more.
https://theathletic.co.uk/1284650/2019/10/14/manchester-united-2019-the-team-who-cant-create-chances-from-open-play/
Anyone who hasn't yet subscribed it's well worth it as the quality and quantity of articles is a level above what you get elsewhere. 40% discount with the link below too.
https://theathletic.com/checkout?pc=raf40&plan_id=45&shared_by_name=Alexander&shared_by=2907861
"But this, of course, is also a damning indictment of United — the fact their xG depends on set-piece chances shows they’re not creating enough chances from open play. Solskjaer has turned them into a side who have pressure, and then create chances from set-pieces, rather than a side that can penetrate the opposition in open play.
Once you restrict xG figures to open play, only Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Newcastle have created less. That’s an alarming statistic, but it’s in keeping with what supporters have seen.
United’s performance in the 1-0 defeat to Newcastle was their worst of the season so far, at least in an attacking sense. They recorded just 1.0xG — their lowest of the season. That was against a side who conceded five goals the previous weekend. Solskjaer’s team looked completely short of ideas about how to break down a deep block.
The biggest problem for United was the inability of their midfielders to play line-breaking passes through the opposition midfield and in to players between the lines. Yes, it can be difficult playing against a deep 5-4-1 — see below — but the combination of Sean and Matty Longstaff shouldn’t have looked quite so comfortable throughout. Matty’s match-winning performance was, in itself, a fantastic story, but should also be something of a humiliation for Solskjaer’s side, who allowed a 19-year-old debutant to shine."
Why do we create so few chances?
posted on 14/10/19
comment by Ole-Dirty-Baz ta’rd (U19119)
posted 3 minutes ago
Would be funny if we smash Liverpool.
And mighty annoying too (that we could after so many crap games)).
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Even if it did annoy me I'm sure I'd take the smashing bit!
posted on 14/10/19
comment by Diafol Coch 77 - A Reputable Poster (U2462)
posted 6 minutes ago
Irish.
It's all set up isn't it? You've won goodness knows how many in a row. We've been poor recently. We have a manager and board under pressure.
If you do win though I think then it's really time to believe you can win the title.
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17 in a row mate. Trying to equal city's record of 18 (although to be fair they won all theirs in one season and not across 2).
I shall be watching it inebriated in a bar in Bratislava.
posted on 14/10/19
Yeah I hate this 17 in a row stuff...it's over 2 seasons. It's null & void ffs
Unless we're using it to wum...then it's okay.
posted on 14/10/19
comment by Irishred (U2539)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 - A Reputable Poster (U2462)
posted 6 minutes ago
Irish.
It's all set up isn't it? You've won goodness knows how many in a row. We've been poor recently. We have a manager and board under pressure.
If you do win though I think then it's really time to believe you can win the title.
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17 in a row mate. Trying to equal city's record of 18 (although to be fair they won all theirs in one season and not across 2).
I shall be watching it inebriated in a bar in Bratislava.
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Impressive to be fair. Even if across two seasons.
Enjoy Bratislava and I hope the drink will flow as you try and drown your sorrows rather than celebrate!
posted on 14/10/19
comment by Michael Edwards FC {Proud owner of the 5 000 000th comment} (U2720)
posted 43 minutes ago
comment by HB Fash (U21935)
posted 43 minutes ago
There is a lack of creativity in midfield especially when Pogba has an off game.
McTominay, i have seen quite a lot of now and i'm not sure what he's good at. He's had good games but i wouldn't play him against teams you expect to dominate as he fits into the destroyer category of midfielder closer than any other. Fred is a nothing footballer, Matic over the hill and never a creator anyway and Pereira not good enough.
From wide you would expect more chances to be created but James seems more of a goal scorer than a creator as are Martial and Rashford when played out wide so United are heavily relying on their midfield to create which basically means if Pogba doesn't play or play well neither do United.
Wan-Bissaka should create from full back but he's a better defender than most full backs but needs to develop his attacking side more and having an equally competent full back on the other side would help.
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This is what happens when you buy players for the sake of buying players and there's no thought into how they fit in the system...if there is any system at all.
70% of Utd's problems can be solved with someone that has a vision for the team.
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Agreed.
Some notes from Juventus on getting players in on frees wouldn't hurt either.
And whoever is handing out new contracts at United needs that responsibility taken off them.
posted on 14/10/19
comment by Michael Edwards FC {Proud owner of the 5 000 0... (U2720)
posted 41 minutes ago
Yeah I hate this 17 in a row stuff...it's over 2 seasons. It's null & void ffs
Unless we're using it to wum...then it's okay.
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Especially considering we're gonna do 38 in a row for this season.
posted on 14/10/19
We’re just so predictable
Ole plays the most basic counter attacking style that any manager with half a brain can stop by setting his side up to sit back and defend.
Our whole game plan is to go one nil up and then break on a side who overcommit (like the Chelsea game).
Against the smaller sides they won’t fall for it as they’ll get men behind the ball and break on us.
posted on 14/10/19
Man Utd had 101 shots in last 7 leue away games and scored 4 goals. Less than a goal every 25 shots. In same time frame we have allowed 69 shots and conceded 13 goals. This means Man Utd are conceding 1 goal every 5.31 shots away from home for 7 league games and scoring 1 goal every 25.25 shots This has led to Man Utd getting 3 points from last 7 away games. The opposition being about 4.76x more efficient in front of goal than Man Utd over a period of 7 league away games. So realistically to win Man Utd need to have 26 shots and allow 4 shots against Man Utd and that is to just win 0-1.
I say best manager in the league as he is getting some average players to dominate every side but there inefficiency at both ends is killing us. Media perception is we are a laughing stock and in crisis when really we are insanely dominant but insanely inefficient at both ends.
You may say how do I know all of the above is true ?
To clarity, I work for the National statistic office, that’s what I do for a living. I gather data and turn them in to meaningful results.
Hence my research, shows that Ole is the best manager and at the same, the most unluckiest manager in the world football. I believe sacking Ole without consulting my research would be catastrophic. Instead, Man Utd should sack the entire team, and replace them with efficient machine players, and we will soon notice, that the scoring conversation ratio will increase, well as shots allowed to conceding ratio will reduce to the bare minimum level.
Few tweaks to the team, will make Man Utd an unstoppable machine, battering teams to annihilation.
#inspirationalhafistats.
posted on 14/10/19
Funny thing about hafi is he doesn't take into account so much and then when stated to him he just ignores it. His stats such as shots can include 50 yard pot shots. Rather than actual chances and good chances at that
posted on 14/10/19
A bit of perspective required here. Hafi is unique, He single handedly is transforming the way of our thinking and approaching a football discussion.