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Post by matt on Jan 24, 2015 12:29:27 GMT
How about we drop that "philosophy" and have the perfectly balanced team?You're saying you think part of his philosophy is for us to be unbalanced? Of course not. What I am saying is that I feel like LVG is trying to implement his philosophy too perfectly, but with "little" end-product. He is longing for perfection in every department and player, forgetting sometimes the basics of football. I just think Van Gaal should adapt his philosophy to the English game a little bit. I think it would do us the world of good to have a few more physical players, who would offer better mobility and solidity. That's all, and I have been saying that for many years, under SAF already. I am not saying let's play it the Stoke way and buy Tiote, I am saying get a few more players in Rojo's profile (especially in CM), who will be able to drive the team forward. We already have quality/creative and inspirational players, but we lack the legs and stamina of a Schneiderlin/Strootman/Nainggolan for instance. But hey, English football is new for him too, I don't blame him at all. In fact, I am glad we have a better tactitian in charge now and it has showed already that we look more organised. But even the great LVG will have to adjust to get us at our best. I just hope his stubborness doesn't come in the way. That's how I feel about him and his "philosophy" now.
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Post by matt on Jan 24, 2015 11:14:34 GMT
To be fair, we're seeing the same flaws week in week out. Part of the blame goes to the players, part of it to LVG as well. But something that truly strikes me, beyond all the fair and unfair comments you see everwhere, is our lack of players able to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
You take Rojo: he has his flaws, but deep down you know he is 100% commited and will give it all and try his best to outplay anyone who comes at him. That's the type of profile we miss in key areas. If every player showed the same spirit as he did yesterday and since he came back, we would be walking past many teams with ease. The same can be said about Herrera: some flaws in his game, some misplaces passes here and there because he tries hard at times, but you know he will battle it out for 90min and offer solutions and drive.
It's fine to have great players like Carrick who reads the game like no one, but for every Carrick I believe you need a Rojo or an Herrera whose runs and tenacity will help balance the side properly. LVG obviously wants the best players, but sometimes the best players don't form the best team, especially in English football. That's something SAF completely understood like no one else, and something LVG may not catch completely yet. Shaw is supposedly a better LB than Young, yet this season I'd take Young any day, as he has been very good in LVG's system and a lot more lively and aggressive. It's strange to say, but we played better without Di Maria in the side as we had an unbeaten-for-11 ride.
Am I saying we should drop the likes of Shaw and Di Maria ? Of course not, the manager's role is to find a way to accomodate them to get the best out of them. But I think the team would benefit if we could add a few more players in Rojo's or Herrera's or Valencia-of-a-few-year-back's profile: not the best, not overly expensive, but who will never make it easy for the opposition and battle it out like pro, harassing the opposition and leaving more space for the Di Maria's to take advantage of.
Right now the side is unbalanced, because we're trying too hard to have 11 perfect players. How about we drop that "philosophy" and have the perfectly balanced team? All we lack imo are a couple of more aggressive and industrious players. It doesn't mean we have to go for sub-standard players, just adapt the view of the players we're looking for and our on-pitch philosophy.
That's also one of the reasons I was so pissed at letting Welbeck go: he would never have become the world n°1 striker, but he offered combativity, power, unselfishness and a ruthless attitude that a RVP will never offer. My only fear with Van Gaal is that he keeps splashing cash on perfect players instead of going for the right profiles. Tactically & football-wise, I trust him completely, but in terms of spotting those industrious players with the perfect mind set to make the side unplayable, I have to say I truly miss SAF.
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Post by matt on Jan 18, 2015 21:51:13 GMT
To be fair, City were atrocious. Lack of movement, mobility, inspiration. Their team was totally unbalanced today: Fernando, Fernandinho, Kompany, Demichelis, Milner : that was way too rigid, heavy,slow and uninspired and not adapted to face the quickness and mobility of Arsenal's players.
Fair play to Arsenal who took their chances well, but City's attacking display was atrocious. It just shows how well we coped with all our injuries: City are missing Nasri and Toure, and their whole balance and creativity was broken as they never threatened a (well-known) poor Arsenal defence. Bellerin and Monreal looked like world-class full backs lol, says it all.
I wish the gunners would have lost though, Arsenal are coming back slowly. No place for mistakes anymore. If we don't grabs the points in the next few weeks, we might fall out of the top-4, and who knows if we could claim back afterwards.
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Post by matt on Jan 18, 2015 21:37:21 GMT
If we were to let him go and not sign Falcao up permanently we will definitely be in need of another striker, one full of pace and power. Pace and power... like Welbeck? By the way, a bit off topic, we now officially have a better defensive record than Man City this season (this was my sarcastic post for the day)
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Post by matt on Jan 18, 2015 19:38:05 GMT
What you've suggested may be where we are heading, still see him wanting more pace upfront I think the formation showed above is pretty much where we should be heading. But like you, I believe Van Gaal will want to add more pace to his front line. And Rooney's partner should ideally have a bit more acceleration and pace. Wilson will obviously get a run in sooner or later, although I believe his role in the team now is just fine as I don't think he is physically ready to challenge the toughest defenders. But that will come with time as he develops his athletic skills. I am sure he will have more of an impact next season already. I am not sure either Falcao will be signed permanently, nor am I sure we should, because he will be 29 already. I'd rather we invest in a younger player, keeping in mind Rooney will probably not be first choice for 5 years anymore. What's the point of having Falcao, RVP and Rooney all ageing together when we could get a younger player who could be first choice and a direct replacement afterwards? If we sort out our midfield and our global game plan, regardless of the formation, I am sure we will be fine next season. I am still in doubt for this season though. Will we reach top-4? We definitely can, but no mistake will be allowed as Spurs, Southampton, Arsenal and even Pool are not that far behind. It will be a tough race, and to be frank I wouldn't mind a quality signing this January to give a boost where we need one.
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Post by matt on Jan 18, 2015 12:24:08 GMT
The truth is, we are riding our luck this season most of the time I see where you're coming from Nemanja, but I only partly agree with that statement. Yes, there are things that we can improve at the back, but as StrikerMo so rightly said, we are just as good as City and Chelsea at the back stats wise, and if this wasn't for that stupid Leicester game, we would have the second best defence after Soton. So how come our defence is to blame while it looks as if Chelsea and City are cruising? My point, as I said in another thread, is: not all the blame should go to our defence. How about looking at what our front line is doing? How about RVP's wasted chances Vs Spurs ? How about Falcao's wasting chances yeserday against QPR? When the game drags on until the 60th minute and we haven't scored,every team will feel they can make it against us and push harder than they usually would. If our strikers could convert their chances and put the game to bed soon enough, I am sure it would be a completely different story. Now I am not blaming our strikers only either, because there is also a lack of service due to that awkward midfield three of Mata/Rooney/Carrick and the gap it leaves in between our lines (Carrick too deep, while Rooney/Mata are too high). Right now, I believe we're crying out for balance and it is affecting our game. It's not even about LVG using 5-3-2. It's about LVG using 5-3-2 with the wrong personel. First in our wing backs position, where the selected players must offer a lot more forward instead of focusing so tightly on their defensive positioning (Young, in that regard, had an excellent game against Spurs and showed how 5-3-2 can be very effective if played the right way). Then, the midfield must be able to retain possession calmly, play very compact, and be able to launch quick counter attacking football. Right now it seems possession is the only thing our cm can do, but with no end-product. That's an improvement on last year, but that's still not enough at all. Herrera could solve some issue, and yet he is being left on the bench for whatever reasons. All in all, right now I am sure the defence is not the issue. It looks more to me as the ideal culprit, when our real issues are further up the pitch. It brings me back on topic: would I buy Falcao? - if LVG plays the very same football for the next few years, then no I would not buy him, and I would buy a powerful Benteke or Lukaku to collect all the long balls we are throwing or to be at the end of the meaningless crosses we can put at times. - if LVG decides to either drop the 5 at the back, OR to use it with the appropriate players, then Falcao could be ideal, because despite him being a bit wasteful, he is a very good player, works hard, is NOT selfish like RVP, and contributes a lot to our buildup play. That being said: would I put 50M to buy a 29 y.o. ? No , definitely not.
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Post by matt on Jan 17, 2015 20:34:14 GMT
There's no leader at the back Matt, it's the same mistakes game after game from Smalling, Jones, Evans simple tasks that they cannot seem to handle. You cannot have that at any club let alone a top club vying for a champions league spot, how many times has De Gea saved us due to their incompetence. Jones is still young but Smalling and Evans are experienced enough and should know better by now, the injuries are a big issue as well. I agree about the midfield but again he persists with the same personnel, try Herrera in there or Di Maria instead of Mata who has been poor for the last few games, get Rooney upfront. As for the game against Spurs, most of our chances came from Young's delivery who is the only one doing the job of a wing back without him we've been toothless. Not good enough. I am not saying our defence is perfect, but I think many critics have too quickly put the blame on our defenders. While I partly agree, I still believe our biggest concern is not in defence, but in midfield and the way we set up tactically (but on that we all agree I think), resulting of poor link up play in the final third, and way too little threat upfront with the quality of the players we have. To be fair, I think we need two new faces in our defence, a RB (and Clyne would definitely be my pick over Coleman) and a CB whose injury record is impeccable to partner Rojo as first choice. But in my books, Jones and Smalling have a role to play, and I wouldn't rule them out too soon because they're not doing such a bad job. Evans on the other hand should be sold to make space, and I would offer Blackett a contract ASAP. However, as I said, my prime investment would be in CM: first, play Herrera because we're desperatly missing a mobile player to make combination and through balls in the final third. Then, get an enforcer, a solid and aggressive box-to-box midfielder. That's a profile we're lacking and that shows particularly when we play more aggressive teams. Such a profile would take some pressure off our backline and offer a much needed resistance in tight, physical games. I am still dreaming of a 3-man midfield of Carrick(or Blind), Herrera and a strong, athletic box-to-box. I think it would improve the balance of the team and of our CM (compared to Carrick/Rooney/Mata), releasing Rooney of his defensive roles and allow him to play that free role upfront where he excels. De Gea Clyne CB Rojo Shaw Blind Herrera CM Di Maria Rooney Falcao
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Post by matt on Jan 17, 2015 19:06:37 GMT
Herrera being left out is the big mystery for me, because his introduction would solve a lot of the issues we're seeing. I wish we could have some way to understand his omission.
I disagree when people say our defence is shit. Sure we're still bound to make mistake because our defenders are still very young, but from what I see it's in midfield that the issue truly is. There is a lack of connection and mobility in tat CAM position behind our strikers, so much so that we are unable to take advantage of our possession spell. I believe the roots have been built up pretty well by LVG in terms of tactical awareness and possession (although there is still plenty f work to do), but now the times has come to move forward attacking wise or we won't be able to break the best teams.
I wish we could add some bodies behind our strikers closer to each other to penetrate from the middle, especially when you have players like Di Maria, Rooney or Herrera (and even Mata) who can play quick passes/one-touch football and offer great mobility.
All in all, I think that LVG is trying to implement a tactical and "philosophical" change, and I respect that because we're improving on many levels, but at the same time a part of me doesn't understand many of his decisions, such as the basic tactical set up, with Di Maria upfront, Rooney so deep, Herrera left out completely...
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Post by matt on Jan 17, 2015 15:54:34 GMT
I can't believe what we're seeing. LVG's stubborness is just unbelievable. He has no excuse if we don't win. I am a huge fan of his, but his tactical decisions of late are ridiculous. Get Mata off, put Herrera in, Put Rooney upfront, and get Di Maria a bit deeper to run at defenders. Why is that so fucking obvious for us?
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Post by matt on Jan 13, 2015 21:57:15 GMT
Welcome back Matt, are you Belgian Matt? Yep, that's me I am glad my post aren't going to be quanrantined anymore, I was wondering what that was all about as I was "infected"
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Post by matt on Jan 11, 2015 19:26:53 GMT
The Chosen One and LVG on same points after 21 games who'd have believed it True, but I do feel more comfortable with LVG because despite poor results lately I've been seeing improvements week in week out, and we're heading somewhere. With Moyes it was always the same "flatness" and uninspired performances for months. Not everyone might see, recognise or simply like the way LVG is handling this team, but there is a plan in place. Our defence is looking more and more solid, we're developing a more vertical approach and moving away from the width SAF sticked to for years and years. I agree with LVG that it takes time to revamp a whole system and unlike with Moyes I am ready to give him time because he is the right man to do so and has proven already that we're moving forward. I still think we lack a couple of key players to reach our full potential though. While many are saying we need to buy in defence, I think our weakness is definitely upfront as we fail to score goals: Di Maria, RVP, Falcao, Mata have all been disappointing, inconsistent and playing below their own standards. On Koeman and his comments regarding LVG, he should be careful what he says: Martinez displayed the same arrogance last year with Everton and look where he is now. Maybe Southampton has taken the league by storm because they weren't expected, but that will be over next season. United, on the other hand, is always expected.
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Post by matt on Jan 11, 2015 18:39:00 GMT
Hello everyone, do you mind me coming back after this short break following the previous forum's closure?
Hadn't time to come until now, glad to see this forum seems very much alive !
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