Thread: Are Man Utd recent wins as a result of Individual …

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.

United use their FBs asymmetrically meaning 1 FB stays up and 1 FB stay back depending on where the ball is. Here in AWB's case, he's the inverted FB and while Shaw is the FB that pushed up.

These are clear tactical and coaching instructions. #MUFC

This is why both FBs were not running forward all the time. #MUFC don't rely on their FBs to create, this is why they have Fernandes and Pogba. United's FBs main priority is to maintain shape and width and contribute occasionally with crosses/assists when they get the chance.

As the ball comes to the right-hand side AWB pushes up. Pogba takes the right half-space so he can dictates from that area.

The spacing between the players where great and they all maintained position. This pushed Fulham deeper and deeper. #MUFC

Pogba was positioned in the right-half space; an area that can be utilized with dangerous crosses and helps dictate the game from deep in the half space. Technical players such as Pogba and KDB excel in the half space because of their vision and range passing and accuracy. #MUFC

The goal Paul scored was out of this world. The technical ability needed to control a ball in tight areas with your 1st touch, cut in, position & open your body and take a shot with such accuracy on your left foot, is very high. #MUFC

PP was able to do this though because of where he was told to position himself & his role to hold the right half space. He had multiple tasks:

1. Dictate.
2. Progress.
3. Create.
4. Push up &shoot if possible.
5. Help AWB progress by providing him right angles for passing. #MUFC

Ole was very clever in his use of Paul's abilities as we have seen him perform multiple roles:

1. Left or right of a pivot as DLP.
2. Double pivot Left CAM
3. False Winger.
4. Left of a diamond.

#MUFC

The goal was a piece of brilliance but it needed the correct setup & positioning to manifest or have the chance to. This comes with good coaching & positioning.

You don't win games just by "Individual Brilliance" unless you have a player that can go through 4-5 players alone.

The only negative I have @utdarena has already said:

We need to create more as our forwards are not clinical at this moment. This will remove the need for a special goal.

#MUFC
https://t.co/81r3Nl2dA6

I do think I was unclear here:

I am not saying we aren't creating sustainable chances. However, teams often miss sustainable chances \u2014 it's just how football is. Based on that we need to be creating more that caters for the misses in that regard. We're just below that level.
— UtdArena (@utdarena) January 22, 2021

Conclusion: It is not one or the other. You need individual brilliance + a plan to help that individual brilliance come to the fore. This why you need Quality players. You put them in the right place and they find the creative solution.

End. #MUFC