10 Apr 2024 07:39:08
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Manchester United v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

1.) 10 Apr 2024
10 Apr 2024 14:18:02
Ed001 - Fair assessment and even though Liverpool are an infinitely better team this season Utd do have individuals capable of moments of class if you don’t put them away!

it’s ridiculous to me that a Liverpool fan can diagnose our problems more clearly than some of our own supporters.

Many claim EtH doesn’t have a style of play but it’s obvious he wants to play a higher defensive line and press aggressively from the front. He wants to transition quickly, winning the ball high up the pitch. He also wants to try and dominate the ball in the final third that’s why he pushes so many players forward, trying to create overloads in attacking areas.

He bought a ball playing GK during the summer and whilst not perfect, Varane and Martinez can push that defensive line further forward. Martinez is also fantastic on the ball. He wanted KMJ in the summer, he probably knew Varane would get injured at some point but couldn’t have predicted he’d lose Martinez and Shaw for most of the season.

We obviously have a huge problem because none of the CB’s have the courage or pace to push that line higher, they drop deeper as the forwards press leaving a massive hole in midfield. Casemiro doesn’t have the fitness, mobility or pace to plug the gaps. In addition Rashford is a terrible presser and Bruno is often positionally indisciplined and has a tendency to jump out of position and press on his own making it incredibly easy for the opposition to progress the ball forward.

EtH has been left exposed by incompetent decision makers and negotiators that have outrageously overspent on several deals and failed to move players out. He’s also missed out on several key targets paramount to his philosophy.

Supporters must decide what they want. If they want to see more adventurous, modern football, this cannot be achieved over night especially with the majority of these players.

EtH could stop the team conceding shots over night. It’s not difficult and doesn’t take a tactical genius. Abort the high press, allow the opposition possession in their half, drop the team deeper and get players behind the ball.

The only way to implement a new style is to expose the players that can’t play the system and move them on. This is a process.

If Ineos don’t have the appetite to move most of these players on maybe a more pragmatic manager like Southgate makes sense. Drop deeper, with two holding midfielders and play percentage football. That would certainly suit the likes of Maguire, Lindelof, Evans, AWB, Casemiro, Mctominay, Bruno and Rashford but is that went we really want?

How do we want to play? Maybe that’s the most important decision Ineos have to make.

{Ed001's Note - thank you DLIB.}

2.) 10 Apr 2024
10 Apr 2024 15:52:09
Good posts both and spot on IMO.

3.) 10 Apr 2024
10 Apr 2024 16:15:49
Ed001 be interested in your view on Elliott's pen, whilst in full speed I 100% thought it was a pen when you watch the replay it seems Elliot wasn't contacted then initiated contact. a lot more subtly then sake. For me incidents like that and the dalot incident against Chelsea are exactly what var is for something that looked a certain pen but when looked at properly it isn't. I agree on Casemiro think he got away with it as it was so late in the game and he got some of the ball.

{Ed001's Note - I don't know on the Elliott one. At first I thought it wasn't, but then it depends on the angle it is viewed from as to what you see. But I would say at most it is soft, so wouldn't have complained if it wasn't given. It does look from some angles like Elliott initiated contact but in others it looks like he just got caught with a follow through. It really is impossible to know what is or isn't a pen these days. Look at the Mac Allister incident with the high boot as he was bursting into the box. If that is not a pen then I have no idea what is. So I just give up on trying to understand the laws of the game now as it seems the referees just makes it up as they go along.}

4.) 10 Apr 2024
10 Apr 2024 17:12:31
Ed1 and DLIB - absolutely spot on. Great posts.

I know which camp I’m in for style of play. If I’m INEOS, rip it all up and get rid of the squad. I’d give ETH a chance, but don’t think he’ll get it.

5.) 10 Apr 2024
10 Apr 2024 18:07:33
Great Post DLIB. I give credit to ETH for sticking with the high press when he is under such pressure to shore up and get results. I know not everyone will agree with that though.

6.) 10 Apr 2024
10 Apr 2024 18:10:22
Definitely get rid of most of the squad.

But ETH has to adapt his tactics to suit the reality of what he has available.

7.) 10 Apr 2024
10 Apr 2024 18:30:11
Interesting read. ETh was berating the defense when i was at the FA cup games againt liverpool to move up.

When you watch us all it takes is one dropping off the rest of the line has no choice to but drop back. Its nothing new and we have not played high up the pitch with our cb since vidic legs went.

When we decide to defend we defend in a low block, which brings its won issues and hard to do for prolonged periods without someone making a mistake.

8.) 10 Apr 2024
10 Apr 2024 21:00:24
Great post Ed and equally good points DLIB. It's refreshing to see constructive discussion regarding the style of play and tactics rather than the usual ETH bash and debate we see.

I agree Ahmad, I think ETH wants us to play high but the defence always seems to drop off. Maybe it's to compensate for a lack of pace. But it's clear to see we aren't compact between defence and the midfield which is why teams have been able to play through us so easily. There is so much space.

9.) 10 Apr 2024
10 Apr 2024 21:15:14
One additional thing that concerns me though is how bad we are at set pieces and in the air. We are so vulnerable at corners and free kicks. Why?

{Ed001's Note - maybe a lack of specialist coaching? Though a lot of it can simply be down to a lack of players actually attacking a ball played in.}

10.) 10 Apr 2024
10 Apr 2024 22:00:07
Whilst I agree with a lot of what has been said I still think that Erik is culpable for a lot of what is happening.

If he is implementing a style of play and players are not conforming to that then why is he picking them? Why does he say we played well if they are not conforming to his style of play?

Plus he still rewards mediocrity by picking certain players who continually underperform and show little or no desire.

I spent a long time on the pro ETH bandwagon until recently when I have concerns over his ability to succeed and he is not doing a lot to pull me back onto it.

I would be happy if he stays but equally not too bothered if he goes. That’s kinda where a lot of people are I suspect.

11.) 11 Apr 2024
10 Apr 2024 23:08:28
How do you think the senior team at utd would respond to rashford being dropped due to poor performance? Do you think EtH can drop bruno for mount? I wonder sometimes if he is free to make these decisions or not.

12.) 11 Apr 2024
11 Apr 2024 08:59:16
Surely during the interview stage these are the things that any coach worth their salt are going to insist on. Will I have complete control over team selection? You read these stories on clubs where the president of the club gets to choose the team, like his plaything. Surely no club can run like that.