It’s incredible that even towards the end of SAF’s time our midfield was being neglected and 12/13 years later it’s still an issue which seems to be getting worse east season. The Pogba, Herrera, Matic axis was decent for about 6 months and somehow the Fred, Bruno and Pogba was okay during the lockdown era but other than that it’s been absolutely derro and it’s genuinely baffling why every manager neglects it.
How hard is it to bring in a couple of attack dogs in there to shake things up and win midfield battles? I understand having a calamity keeper and a shocking defence (I’d genuinely be stunned if Martinez turned out to be a good signing) doesn’t help but having a midfield that controls games keeps the ball well away from the calamity area of the pitch would. We were bossed by Brighton’s midfield of Caicedo and Kevin McAllister last week and this morning Brentford must have laughed when they saw the predictably soft Fred (he tried god bless him) and Eriksen combo.
If ETH wants to keep his job he needs to take a large step to fixing this midfield before the end of the window or else pretty much every PL side will boss us in games and yet another manager will come in and Groundhog Day shall repeat itself. Ohhhh the difference Bissouma and Guimares would made had we brought them in 😒
Our midfield - or lack thereof
posted on 14/8/22
comment by RB&W - Whiteside has done it again (U21434)
posted 45 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 6 minutes ago
Team for next week v Liverpool
Heaton
AWB
Varane
Bailly
Martinez
Garnacho
Garner
Fred
Malacia
Eriksen
Rashford
Get all of our new signings in there and a youth or two and tell Rashford just to run for an hour. Malacia has something about him so play him at LW and he can also help as LWB. AWB in there just to add a bit more physicality and bite.
It's unrealistic I know but I'd rather that than see us play our 'first team' and get done again.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
its a bold move to be seen to be doing something. to ring the changes... but that team would get absolutely trounced by Liverpool or City.
Next week could be a bad week for ETH. Its not even his fault he's just dealing with the cards he was given.
Its the ownership model and methods that needs replacing and resetting. It will just get worse which if not checked which will lead to relegation. Eventually. It sounds dramatic now but it's how it happens at all clubs in the end. Still plenty of time before then but United's circles are only going one way now under the current owners and ways. Downwards.
BTW I don't mind that if it means a reset.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That may well be the case but Fulham showed Liverpool can be got at if you hassle and harry them. I just want players out there who will give their all. Hopefully we get one or two signings in this week.
posted on 14/8/22
CNN Portugal analysis team absolutely tearing strips off the club’s executive management, Neville-style.
The words ‘estrutural’, ‘fundamental’ and ‘mudança de treinadores’ (change of coaches) have been used a lot.
The best part of it all, though, is Abel Xavier’s haircut. Absolutely magnificent.
https://www.coachesvoice.com/cv/abel-xavier-everton-liverpool-la-galaxy/
posted on 14/8/22
Players and owners getting a lot of stick but am I the only one that thinks ETH hasn't actually set up well? Twice.
Changed the system completely halfway through the game against Brighton, made three changes at half time yesterday. Why aren't you getting it right from the start?
Every man and his dog knows DDG is mince with his feet and that Maguire is slow and can be pressed so he has them playing it short in the box? Really?
People quoted stats from Holland but you'd have to be incredibly optimistic to think that a 5ft 8in centre back is going to match up well one on one in the air in the Prem.
Starting McFred last week? Really? Then going with Fred and Eriksen.
Play that system against us next week and we will annihilate you I'd have thought.
posted on 14/8/22
comment by Robbing Hoody - Legacy Fan (U6374)
posted 1 minute ago
Players and owners getting a lot of stick but am I the only one that thinks ETH hasn't actually set up well? Twice.
Changed the system completely halfway through the game against Brighton, made three changes at half time yesterday. Why aren't you getting it right from the start?
Every man and his dog knows DDG is mince with his feet and that Maguire is slow and can be pressed so he has them playing it short in the box? Really?
People quoted stats from Holland but you'd have to be incredibly optimistic to think that a 5ft 8in centre back is going to match up well one on one in the air in the Prem.
Starting McFred last week? Really? Then going with Fred and Eriksen.
Play that system against us next week and we will annihilate you I'd have thought.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He’s certainly gotten a few things wrong this season so far. Perhaps he’s underestimated how competitive the league is even with the smaller sides. I know he doesn’t have a wondrous canvas to work from but I’m sure there are smarter choices to make. It should have been obvious to him before he joined that DDG just isn’t good with the ball at his feet or that McTominay is the most limited midfielder we’ve ever had.
It will be very interesting to see how he sets up against Liverpool as a third straight loss is not acceptable
posted on 14/8/22
comment by Robbing Hoody - Legacy Fan (U6374)
posted 5 minutes ago
Players and owners getting a lot of stick but am I the only one that thinks ETH hasn't actually set up well? Twice.
Changed the system completely halfway through the game against Brighton, made three changes at half time yesterday. Why aren't you getting it right from the start?
Every man and his dog knows DDG is mince with his feet and that Maguire is slow and can be pressed so he has them playing it short in the box? Really?
People quoted stats from Holland but you'd have to be incredibly optimistic to think that a 5ft 8in centre back is going to match up well one on one in the air in the Prem.
Starting McFred last week? Really? Then going with Fred and Eriksen.
Play that system against us next week and we will annihilate you I'd have thought.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes; he’s made big mistakes, particularly yesterday. He was quite naive with the shape, roles of the personnel and tactics, and seriously underestimated Brentford.
That’s normal though. He’s still very much getting to know the players and the league.
posted on 14/8/22
I disagree that starting McFred against Brighton was a serious mistake though, Robbing.
They played pretty well in preseason, and the much bigger mistake was starting United’s best midfielder at linking play at false nine, and having United’s most dangerous player but least careful with the ball link the midfield with the attack.
He should have had Eriksen in midfield and Bruno at false nine.
posted on 14/8/22
comment by Rosso out here drippin’ in finesse (U17054)
posted 2 minutes ago
I disagree that starting McFred against Brighton was a serious mistake though, Robbing.
They played pretty well in preseason, and the much bigger mistake was starting United’s best midfielder at linking play at false nine, and having United’s most dangerous player but least careful with the ball link the midfield with the attack.
He should have had Eriksen in midfield and Bruno at false nine.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fwiw I thought the change in midfield in the second half against Brighton worked very well and Erikson had a good influence on the game from deeper.
I've seen a few people moot Bruno at false 9 but I just don't see it myself. I don't like him as a footballer anyway, mainly because I like players who keep possession (plus he comes across as a d!ckhead - I saw him put in a terrible ball into the box against Brighton and then moaned at his team mates. I'd have loathed playing with someone like that) but I also don't think he has the qualities to play there.
He's an advanced 8 in midfield three for me and that's about it.
posted on 14/8/22
Forest in talks to sign Houssem Aouar, even they’ll have a better midfield than us soon.
posted on 14/8/22
comment by Robbing Hoody - Legacy Fan (U6374)
posted 1 hour, 1 minute ago
comment by Rosso out here drippin’ in finesse (U17054)
posted 2 minutes ago
I disagree that starting McFred against Brighton was a serious mistake though, Robbing.
They played pretty well in preseason, and the much bigger mistake was starting United’s best midfielder at linking play at false nine, and having United’s most dangerous player but least careful with the ball link the midfield with the attack.
He should have had Eriksen in midfield and Bruno at false nine.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fwiw I thought the change in midfield in the second half against Brighton worked very well and Erikson had a good influence on the game from deeper.
I've seen a few people moot Bruno at false 9 but I just don't see it myself. I don't like him as a footballer anyway, mainly because I like players who keep possession (plus he comes across as a d!ckhead - I saw him put in a terrible ball into the box against Brighton and then moaned at his team mates. I'd have loathed playing with someone like that) but I also don't think he has the qualities to play there.
He's an advanced 8 in midfield three for me and that's about it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That change did work well, but it was a different game by that point.
McFred, if they’re going to be used against a hard pressing team, need a more progressive passer in with them. Bruno is too erratic to do it.
I feel ETH has actually been far too open and attacking the first two games, yesterday in particular. He’s wanted control of the ball, but he’s also loaded the fullbacks and midfielders far too high up the pitch rather than have them get their hands dirty with the transition. I know he wants a quick transition and playing with two eights can help with that, but it was daft yesterday and left De Gea, the CBs and Eriksen completely overrun.
posted on 14/8/22
Quite ridiculous that Eriksen has started two competitive games for United now; one as false nine, and the other on his own at six effectively behind two eights (one of which was Fred)