Man Utd Build Up & Match Thread

[DHSC]

So pumped for this; but yet incredibly nervous as well. Beating them could see us gain a huge psychological edge this stage of the season.

I didnt watch the Swansea match but by all accounts, Monk seemed to be able to negate our 3-4-3 by allowing our centrebacks to have the ball. I wonder if Van Gaal will do the same. If so how should we set up to counter them? Should Gerrard start at the base of the diamond as it seemingly worked quite well? If so for whom? Should we start Sterling in place of Sturridge?

The rest of the team picks itself:

Mignolet
Can
Skrtel
Sakho
Markovic (or Henderson if Gerrard starts, or Sterling if Sturridge starts and Gerrard doesn't)
Henderson (or Gerrard)
Allen
Moreno
Lallana
Coutinho
Sterling (or Sturridge)

 

[Ryan]

I know Moreno was a bit meh last night and we improved when we switched him out in the second half, but I think you've gotta play him in this. He's about the only one on that side with the legs to go with Valencia down that flank.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Teams have been giving the ball to our CBs for a while now; it's just that with Sakho and Can, we had guys who were able to take the ball out or play it out from the sides pretty well. We were poor yesterday in playing the ball out from the back, though we seem to do okay with the dribbles out. Has to be said - Sakho's was probably the coolest awkward-looking piece of dribbling I've seen. Can's head didn't seem to be screwed on right yesterday the whole game, while Sakho looked shaky in the first 45 minutes. As much as Monk deserved credit for his team's performance in the first half, our atrocious individual performances served Swansea that first period on a plate.

So I'm not too fussed with what Van Gaal might think he can do to negate us - if our guys don't fuck about like they did in the first half this morning, I can see us causing them more problems than they think they can stop.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

Stop Rooney = Stop MU.

 

[Roopy]

Stop Rooney = Stop MU.

Yep.

And we need De Gea to not put in yet another super human performance in goals.

 

[Ryan]

Stop Rooney = Stop MU.

Nah, stop Carrick = stop MU.

As good as Rooney is, Carrick's the most important player in that side to their overall structure.

 

[Frogfish]

Teams have been giving the ball to our CBs for a while now; it's just that with Sakho and Can, we had guys who were able to take the ball out or play it out from the sides pretty well. We were poor yesterday in playing the ball out from the back, though we seem to do okay with the dribbles out. Has to be said - Sakho's was probably the coolest awkward-looking piece of dribbling I've seen. Can's head didn't seem to be screwed on right yesterday the whole game, while Sakho looked shaky in the first 45 minutes. As much as Monk deserved credit for his team's performance in the first half, our atrocious individual performances served Swansea that first period on a plate.

So I'm not too fussed with what Van Gaal might think he can do to negate us - if our guys don't fuck about like they did in the first half this morning, I can see us causing them more problems than they think they can stop.

I literally laughed and applauded at the same time for Sakho's dribble yesterday, and unlike Can's runs which always end in lost possession, he actually managed to offload it to a red shirt too !

 

[cloggypop]

Man Utd are built around Fellaini these days.

 

[jexykrodic]

Stop Rooney, Carrick and Fellaini = Stop MU.

Plus any others who might be a bit handy.

 

[Athens]

Man Utd are built around Fellaini these days.

Hopefully the pointy elbowed fucker gets sent off.

 

[cloggypop]

Stop Rooney, Carrick and Fellaini = Stop MU.

Mata looked much better than he has against Spurs. Best keep an eye on him as well.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Probably most importantly, stop this guy ruining the game:

 

[jexykrodic]

Mata looked much better than he has against Spurs. Best keep an eye on him as well.

And disable their goalie first opportunity as well.

 

[cloggypop]

Oh yeah. Their team is built around De Gea.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

STOP MU.

 

[cloggypop]

MU MU!!

 

[FoxForceFive]

I need to rewatch the match from last night again cos I was bit distracted, but it was the pressing at the back that had us most in trouble in the first half, & imo you can't blame the cbs for that.

They need to have a constant outlet or outlets for the ball if they have it at the back (cos we know they're told not to hoof it), so the movement of the full backs & at least two of the midfielders has to support that by constantly moving for the ball.

If we can get the midfield dropping more for the ball as an option it will help with that pressing a lot.

 

[mark1975]

------------------Ming------------------
------Can-----Skrtel-----Sakho-----
Markovic--Hendo-Allen--Johnson
------Lallana------------Coutinho----
----------------Sterling-----------------

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

....is the way to go....

 

[mark1975]

I need to rewatch the match from last night again cos I was bit distracted, but it was the pressing at the back that had us most in trouble in the first half, & imo you can't blame the cbs for that.

They need to have a constant outlet or outlets for the ball if they have it at the back (cos we know they're told not to hoof it), so the movement of the full backs & at least two of the midfielders has to support that by constantly moving for the ball.

If we can get the midfield dropping more for the ball as an option it will help with that pressing a lot.

The problem was, Swansea compressed the space between the midfield and defense, so the outlet always had players around them. Sometimes you have to just go long, but we were too intent (in the first half) on playing it into people who were already under pressure. We only overcame it a bit more in the second half when Sakho and Skrtel were then instructed to bring it forward, with the midfield instructed to take opposition markers with them to create space for the CB's to move into. It was simple but effective, because if then allowed us more bodies forward and the ability (which we don't use enough) to play more direct passes into the danger area, like the one for the goal.

A big issue is Mignolet, regardless of instruction to "not hoof it", when he picks up the ball and you see around 6-7 players break off him ready for his kick/throw, he hesitates and hesitates, slowing the game down, until the opposition regroup and he then rolls it to a centre half who is immediately under pressure. It's frustrating, especially when we're one of the best counter-attacking sides in the league.

 

[Frogfish]

The problem yesterday, as I said at HT, was the space being afforded Swansea in CM. Not only did it make it difficult for our CBs to find a decent pass forward but it also meant there was acres of space for Swansea's MFers, especially Siggurdson, to run into with no-one around them. This was a failing of Allen and Hendo as much as tactics.
In the 2nd half either Allen or Hendo dropped into a virtual DM slot to pick up the ball, and to stop their attacks thru the centre of MF. They were not getting much luck out wide despite Can's best efforts to aid them.
In the 2nd half it was also noticeable how much further forward Can played .. almost leaving us with 2 at the back at times ... but this created the extra man in wide midfield we were missing, relieving Sterling of much of his defensive work and making him (and the team) far more threatening from an attacking perspective.

It will be vital we find a way to nullify Fellaini next week, forcing the ball either wide or into Mata (if he starts - with Di Maria returning he may not, depends on where LvG is going to play DiM).

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

LVG is gonna flood the midfield and keep it narrow, and then try to play off speedy runners to beat the offside trap 1-on-1.

 

[cloggypop]

I think he will probably just twat it up to Fellaini.

 

[Frogfish]

I think he will probably just twat it up to Fellaini.

Ditto. Plus try and get the wingers past our WBs / FBs, Young + Blind vs Sterling + Can and Di Maria + Valencia vs Moreno + Sakho. I'd go with Moreno over Johnson simply because of his pace, though if he continues with his fouling that will be a major concern.

 

[red_maradona]

------------------Ming------------------
------Can-----Skrtel-----Sakho-----
Markovic--Hendo-Allen--Johnson
------Lallana------------Coutinho----
----------------Sterling-----------------

He needs a few more games before he is fully match-fit but Studge is a big game player. You can't drop him. He will scare the jeebies out of Manure and give space for Sterling and co.

Lallana will be out-muscled for this game probably dropped.

 

[Mystic]

LVG is gonna flood the midfield and keep it narrow, and then try to play off speedy runners to beat the offside trap 1-on-1.

Who are their speedy runners? Rooney, Fellaini, Mata hardly scream pace. Unless you mean down the wings, of course.

 

[cloggypop]

Who are their speedy runners? Rooney, Fellaini, Mata hardly scream pace. Unless you mean down the wings, of course.

Young and Di Maria is about it. Maybe Jannyjizz but not sure he still exists.

 

[mark1975]

Valencia always seems to play well against us.

 

[doctor_mac]

He needs a few more games before he is fully match-fit but Studge is a big game player. You can't drop him. He will scare the jeebies out of Manure and give space for Sterling and co.

Lallana will be out-muscled for this game probably dropped.

Completely agree. Studge was really important to turning that game around last night. Despite Ryan not seeing any running, I saw plenty, and whilst he is definitely lacking a bit of form I think it is crucial we have him in. He repeatedly received the ball in good positions after making runs last night in the 2nd half. I wish he'd scored that late goal (which was an impishly clever attempt).

As I predicted a few weeks ago, Studge has a few repeat critics on here (Ryan being one). We just need to remember he is by far our best finisher. If he had been on the end of all the chances Sterling squandered at OT it would have been a different game. Yes, he's not 100%, but he has to play.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I don't think Manure can play the same way Swansea did. @rurikbird mentioned in the Swansea thread that Monk had figured us out, and I really don't think that is the case. We ALLOWED them to dominate us by sitting back (Henderson, Allen & WBs) and putting very little pressure on them ourselves. Manure cannot do that - they don't have the players or discipline. If we start with Mark's line up, we'll cause them trouble ... Coutinho, Lallana and Sterling should make Carrick's ability to impose himself on the game harder, and then hope De Gea isn't as fucking good as he was in the 3-0 loss.