"when we switched to a 4-4-2 diamond with Donny in the last twenty minutes we had some control of the game"
Maybe start playing him then? We haven't controlled a single game in midfield yet since he took over because of this utterly absurd fascination of playing two upfront. We're not good enough to play two up top. Nowhere near really. Last night we went back to 4231 and it was a little bit better, especially first half, but we still got over ran in the middle in the second half.
If we want to be difficult to beat and have control of the ball then maybe we need to look at the Diamond more and then try and get the width from Dalot and Shaw/Telles. It's not like the wide players are doing much anyway. Rashford's woes are well documented now but Greenwood and Sancho have been really poor too really.
You can't control football games with Mcfred plus Bruno as a 10. It doesn't work. If control if what is needed then change the system and team to help with it.
Interesting Ralf quote from last night
posted on 11/1/22
Donny was better than the majority when he came on but he’ll be back on the bench Saturday you can be sure.
All we as Ralf is that you give him 6-7 games. If he’s rubbish then fair enough but he’s never had the chance either way.
posted on 11/1/22
Team for the weekend:
DDG
Dalot
Varane
Lindelof
Telles
Jones
Fred
VDB
Bruno
Ronaldo
Elanga
Jones because well why not? Elanga because he was better last night in his cameo than the other attackers were. It also wouldn't be as much of a drama taking him off at HT if needed.
The ideal scenario on Saturday would be a Rash winner. Boy does he need something to go for him.
posted on 11/1/22
comment by dunc - johnny lawrence is my sensei (U11713)
posted 57 minutes ago
comment by RB United (SE85) (U21241)
posted 32 minutes ago
Interesting to see what he chooses on Saturday. Shaw and Mctominay are out suspended so you'd assume Telles and Matic come in.
Also think Cavani has looked very leggy in recent games and might be rested this weekend.
--------------------------Matic
-----------------Donny--------Fred
--------------------------Bruno
--------------Greenwood----Ronaldo
Why not give it a go? The ironic bonus of us being as bad as we are is there is very little risk to trying new things out I suppose.
Villa will murder us if we play like last night.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
youve contradicted the hell out of yourself here... the above has 2 up front, yet in the op youve put
We haven't controlled a single game in midfield yet since he took over because of this utterly absurd fascination of playing two upfront
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No That's what I mean. Maybe that's the only way he can do it by getting rid of the wingers. I wasn't clear. Apologies.
posted on 11/1/22
comment by RB United (SE85) (U21241)
posted 15 minutes ago
comment by dunc - johnny lawrence is my sensei (U11713)
posted 57 minutes ago
comment by RB United (SE85) (U21241)
posted 32 minutes ago
Interesting to see what he chooses on Saturday. Shaw and Mctominay are out suspended so you'd assume Telles and Matic come in.
Also think Cavani has looked very leggy in recent games and might be rested this weekend.
--------------------------Matic
-----------------Donny--------Fred
--------------------------Bruno
--------------Greenwood----Ronaldo
Why not give it a go? The ironic bonus of us being as bad as we are is there is very little risk to trying new things out I suppose.
Villa will murder us if we play like last night.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
youve contradicted the hell out of yourself here... the above has 2 up front, yet in the op youve put
We haven't controlled a single game in midfield yet since he took over because of this utterly absurd fascination of playing two upfront
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No That's what I mean. Maybe that's the only way he can do it by getting rid of the wingers. I wasn't clear. Apologies.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
it takes a big man to apologise.. i accept
for me Bruno is a big problem at the minute.
if ralf is intent on playing 2 up top then we lose our width and pace out wide having to fit him in.
posted on 11/1/22
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 2 hours, 6 minutes ago
Team for the weekend:
DDG
Dalot
Varane
Lindelof
Telles
Jones
Fred
VDB
Bruno
Ronaldo
Elanga
Jones because well why not? Elanga because he was better last night in his cameo than the other attackers were. It also wouldn't be as much of a drama taking him off at HT if needed.
The ideal scenario on Saturday would be a Rash winner. Boy does he need something to go for him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I like that lineup - a lot. I doubt we'll see it, because our "experts" have a different opinion on how to play. The result will be Villa marches right through our midfield and our back 5 play Keystone Cops - again.
I just don't "get it".
posted on 11/1/22
Maybe we could see the 442 diamond more if Ronaldo's hip injury was more serious.
posted on 11/1/22
I don’t think any formation will be very successful until Utd have players who can set a tempo
posted on 11/1/22
comment by Paulpowersleftfoot (U1037)
posted 2 minutes ago
I don’t think any formation will be very successful until Utd have players who can set a tempo
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And pass the ball to each other
posted on 11/1/22
comment by Sat Nav (U18243)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Paulpowersleftfoot (U1037)
posted 2 minutes ago
I don’t think any formation will be very successful until Utd have players who can set a tempo
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And pass the ball to each other
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And make the right decisions consistently.
<keep it going>
posted on 11/1/22
RB, you quoted Ralf in your OP. He said that in the second half we had “some” control of the midfield, not “total” control.
I am sure he is very, very aware of the problem. He just needs time to figure out solutions and to have them implemented. It’s been far from easy to find the time to do that since his arrival.