Thread:

Tweaks, mistakes and ideas.

Man Utd 3 v 2 Liverpool — Tactics #MUFC
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In this thread, we'll look at couple of the highlights and tactical tweaks both teams used to attack each other. We'll look at Man Utd's mistakes that lead to the goals as well. #MUFC

Right from the off, Liverpool looked to hurt United with quick switches of play to catch out their out of possession 442 setup. A quick switched ball from Robertson to TAA catches Rashford, Shaw and Maguire OOP & force them to adjust quickly. Rashford is vital here for TAA's run.

United looked to do the same but with Rashford. Switch the play or drag Liverpool out, find Rashford, and Rashford looks for Cavani and/or Greenwood. Liverpool adopt a very highline as they usually have the possession, so this can be exploited heavily. LIV: 442 OOP. #MUFC

Notice where Firmino is. Liverpool used the same idea of overloading the midfield to create 4v3. United adapted at Anfield and had one of the wingers tuck when the ball is on the far-side. Look at Rashford. #MUFC

Thread:

Are Man Utd recent wins as a result of Individual brilliance from Paul Pogba or coached & tactics?

Fulham 1 vs. 2 Man Utd — Tactics #MUFC

Much has been made of the wins against Burnley, Wolves, Fulham as United are winning games narrowly with "Individual Brilliance". They are not dominating games. "Scrappy wins", if you will, and said this form will not be sustainable. #MUFC

Let's look at the Fulham game:

United usually buildup in 2 different shapes/patterns:
1. 244(424) or

2. 3-1 shape where one of 2 CMs drop as a 3rd CB to create a 3v2 superiority v the opposition 1st line.

424 shape come from #mufc transitioning quick as mentioned in my threads prev. when #mufc are out of possession their defensive shape 442.

This is not the best ex.👇Sorry

United's shape in the final phase of attack is 235. Luke Shaw is an inverted Winger as AWB stays wide on the other side while Pogba sits in the right half space.

The positioning of the players was great all game.

Thread:

Highlighting a couple of improvements from United's Europa league R32 win over La Real. #MUFC

La Real 0 v 4 Man Utd — Buildup & Pressing. #RSOMUN

Pressing & traps:

Often #mufc are hasty & over-commit in their pressing, especially from players like Rashford and Bruno. Thus leading their press to be dis-jointed and by-passed easily. On Thursday, they nailed it. They formed a pressing cage around #RSO entire midfield.

Aim was to minimize #RSO creative players' involvement on the ball. In fact, Merino & Silva had the fewest touches of their teammates. Bruno & MG11 focused on cutting passing lanes to midfield instead of rushing the press. MG11 pressed nearside CB when ball went out-wide.

The trigger for United's press was when the ball is played to the FBs. This is where a ball nearside Winger pressed the FB, while the CF closes the ball nearside CB & the CM (Scott) & FB (AWB) pressed the dropping CM (Merino) & LW (Oyarzabal).+CB pressed dropping CF (Izak). #mufc

Buildup:

#MUFC built-up in a 2422 where the CF & CAM dropped to help the buildup. #RSO pressed in 4132 with Silva pushing up. Th improvement was how Fred and Scott communicated & opened up angles for their CBs to cut through the press.+ Bruno dragging Illarramendi OOP.

Thread:

Man Utd 2 vs 1 Aston Villa — Tactics #MUNAVL #MUFC

One paper, it looked like United lined up in a 4231 however that was not the case on the pitch. OGS always like to use a hybrid of 2-3 formations in the different phases of the game. United in this case used 4-2-2-2 in possession which, in the final phase became a 4-2-4. #MUFC

Pogba was used wide left and Fernandes wide right as a 10 double pivot but the wide forwards. It is difficult to call Martial and Rashford STs in this game as the move wide a lot ( Hybrid Wingers/Wide forwards) & interchanged with Pogan and Fernandes. You'll see below. #MUFC

Example of Rashford moving wide and looking to play the other 3 forwards, (PP6,BF18, & AM9).

One of the main principles in United's playing style under OGS, the front 4 are always fluid; they interchange with each other frequently. Both teams were not concerned with their 2nd phase which resulted in an E2E game with a lot of space in midfield for quick transitions. #MUFC

Thread:

West Ham United 1 vs 3 Manchester United. A tale of two halves. #MUFC

United buildup with double pivot staying central and the 2 FBs pushup to form a 2422/2431. Martial and VdB would drop and try to be available to receive the ball if United can't progress centrally. #MUFC

WHU buildup in 343 shape from the 451 or 3421 (depends on how you see it). Fornals and Bowen positioned in the half spaces looked to make runs into the spaces left by United FBs - especially Telles. #MUFC

WHU OOP: In the own half WHU would drop into the 541 and in Utd's half they would push the 2 wide midfielders to close all central angles to Utd's double pivot. #MUFC

WHU was very compact and organized in their defensive shape. If any of the forwards drop to receive the ball, a CB move out to close him down and cause a turnover.+ they used AWB as pressing trigger when he receives the ball. #MUFC