Gio, I've been saying for a long time, that this is the shite that Ole has inherited. We have an attacking 3 that are based on speed and if there is no space there, their speed is nullified. In the middle third today we were passing the ball around nonchalantly but to the pass to break through to the final third wasnt there till pogba came on.
I agree with you Poch or any change in tactics wont change trying to beat a low block unless you try what Lampard did today and play a proper 3-4-3 but then your picking formations to suit teams you are playing against. Problem with all these formations is that 10 yards either way is a 3-4-3 becomes a 5-4-1. Are United playing a 4-2-3-1 or are they playing a 4-5-1, which by the way was Fergies formation of choice when away from home in big euro games. At home it was always 4-4-2. Formations have been sexied up ( is that a word?) in the last 10 years but if you play 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 3-4-3 you are playing with one striker and 2 wingers no matter what wat you dress it up. Man utds best days were always with 2 strikers and 2 wingers, 4-4-2. How about this for a front 6, mc tominay holding midfielder,Pogba attacking midfielder, rashford and james on wings, greenwood and martial up front. Ditch the 3rd midfielder against low block teams.
Sounds easy doesnt it. But you have to look at the coaching, or rather the possible lack of it. And the management and selection/ tactics angle. For me i feel there's gulf in respect from the players towards the manager and coaching staff. Absolutely convinced of it.
I see clear and obvious similarities to the Van Gaal and Jose tenures in the way we play.
There's a clear lack of leadership on the pitch. No one is communicating, nobody driving us on. They all individually look like they are waiting for somebody else to do something special. They are not playing for the manager or the coaching staff, they are playing for themselves. And that is exactly what we have to get away from.
Pep has no hesitation subbing off the likes of Aguero or De Bruyne if theyre not performing, Klopp the same with the Dirties. Thats how you command respect. Making big decisions. Its not a popularity contest, its about letting the team know that you are not afraid to make them big decisions. Does anyone think any of the players actually liked Fergie when he was in charge. They hated him with a passion. But they all admit in hindsight that he got the best out of them. Because that was his job.
We are so far away from that now it is frightening. There's practically no competition for places, and the players know it.
I think also what isnt helping is that the players see Ole as a mouth piece for Woodward. I dont think there is much, if any respect for him because he is there because he was a legend player, not because he has a track record of managerial experience. Maybe there is case for the players to feel that the club has let them down a little. Its a difficult one to call.
One thing is for sure, this can not continue.