The Manchester United Thread

[craig curtis]

Dont know what anthony complaining about like people have said friendlies are about building match fitness for that all important 1st game of the season, dont forget we were playing like 9 players who were in reserves last season and all aquited themselves very well against team who were stronger and had superior fitness to us we will only get better!

 

[I7IDanny]

Dont know what anthony complaining about like people have said friendlies are about building match fitness for that all important 1st game of the season, dont forget we were playing like 9 players who were in reserves last season and all aquited themselves very well against team who were stronger and had superior fitness to us we will only get better!

This. Carrick, Scholes, Ferdinand and Chicha (Who was completely off last night) were the only real first teamers there (Save Anderson and Kagawa from the bench). Berba hasn't started a game since January, so you couldn't really count him (As impressed I was with his performance in the "Rooney role" behind the strikers). AmaZulu also had an extra 4 WEEKS of preseason matches than us... and the first half we walked all over them.

Brady and Lingard really impressed me with their performances, Lingard looked as if he was right at home. Petrucci when he came on was unlucky not to grab a goal but again, looked impressive.

Berba's volley, Chicha's attempt in the second half just after their sub keeper came on and Petrucci's bar-hit all could have gone in with a bit more luck/skill/keeping error/whatever. Would people be complaining about the same performance if we'd have won 4-0? I don't think so.

 

[craig curtis]

This. Carrick, Scholes, Ferdinand and Chicha (Who was completely off last night) were the only real first teamers there (Save Anderson and Kagawa from the bench). Berba hasn't started a game since January, so you couldn't really count him (As impressed I was with his performance in the "Rooney role" behind the strikers). AmaZulu also had an extra 4 WEEKS of preseason matches than us... and the first half we walked all over them.

Brady and Lingard really impressed me with their performances, Lingard looked as if he was right at home. Petrucci when he came on was unlucky not to grab a goal but again, looked impressive.

Berba's volley, Chicha's attempt in the second half just after their sub keeper came on and Petrucci's bar-hit all could have gone in with a bit more luck/skill/keeping error/whatever. Would people be complaining about the same performance if we'd have won 4-0? I don't think so.

Agree with you i watched hole match was very impressed with all youngster especially lingard was my MOM. Dont think anthony knows what he is talking about these game are more important for fitness not results, even look at city played 2-3 games i think and not even scored a goal yet cant wait for saturdays game

 

[Anthony]

Dont think anthony knows what he is talking about

He's talking about his own opinion kid and how the match made him feel. Not you... Him.
I've been a supporter for 35 years, I've earned the right to voice an opinion.

I fully understand how friendly matches work and why they are used to build fitness. I could join in and throw out the cliche's that I garnered from football manager games over the years and try and come across like a seasoned punter but I'd rather say how I really feel about the match.
I wasn't as impressed as some others on the site.

Now... I'm not going to get into a running commentary with you on the internet.
Enjoy the rest of the pre season.

 

[craig curtis]

He's talking about his own opinion kid and how the match made him feel. Not you... Him.
I've been a supporter for 35 years, I've earned the right to voice an opinion.

I fully understand how friendly matches work and why they are used to build fitness. I could join in and throw out the cliche's that I garnered from football manager games over the years and try and come across like a seasoned punter but I'd rather say how I really feel about the match.
I wasn't as impressed as some others on the site.

Now... I'm not going to get into a running commentary with you on the internet.
Enjoy the rest of the pre season.

Never said you was not allowed your opinion evryone is i just disagreed with it and thought was harsh considering was only 1st pre season against team who have far more match fitness than us and were stronger physically than our younger players. Whats with kid remark? no need to be like that matey

 

[Matt Kult]

It was interesting to see Fergie experiment tactically. It's highly unlikely to be seen during the season but it does show that he is open to the idea of having more tactical flexibility. It could also be that he has taken a leap out of Italian playbook and tried out the shape Italy used in Euro 2012. Indeed, reactive football which has been so successful in the past twelve months or so has been based around narrowness and rigidity and it wouldn't hurt to be able to resort to this at some point in the future (again it will probably be very unlikely to happen).

The formation can roughly be described as a 4-4-2 diamond although the shape was something in between the 4-3-1-2 and a Brazilian narrow 4-2-2-2.


When United had the ball, Lingard pushed forward giving United a 4-2-2-2ish shape. The midfield lines are roughly as shown here.

Without the ball, Lingard dropped deeper and formed a defensive 3 in midfield.

The problem with applying the diamond properly on a regular basis is that it requires top class attacking full backs to provide good width. As this following image shows, the Amazulu midfield became narrower as the game went on to cope with United's strength down the middle and this left both full backs free. But without full backs who can be quality offensively, it will be quite easy for a side to frustrate us by simply staying deep and narrow, a bit like how QPR frustrated City for so long in that final day fixture.

If you are going to experiment with a new formation and with a few players out of position, these sort of fixtures are the perfect opportunities to do it.

 

[Raikan007]

Lingaard played really well last night! Berbie was fantastic, Anderson just makes passing a ball look like the hardest thing in the world.. Wooton looked strong, like an English Vidic and Carrick/Scholes were good!

It was a boring match in truth, Anders had to make two good saves as well to keep the score at 1:0

Just remember, it was an invitational game and they (United) are not going to come here and destroy teams as it would be embarrassing, you can see they were barely even trying last night! Amazulu are not even the top 10 teams here in SA! not that I watch this ****** league here!

We played a 433 type formation last night, Berbie was more of an AMC than anything else, Mechada cut in from out wide!

Agree with the above post as well.. Lingaard was given a free role last night and did very well! Berbie roamed just as much, sort of two AMC's with Chicho upfront and Scholes/Carrick behind..


----------------St--------------
Aml-----Amc----Amc----Amr
-----------Cm--Cm-------- or even deeper like DM"s

 

[craig curtis]

Lingaard played really well last night! Berbie was fantastic, Anderson just makes passing a ball look like the hardest thing in the world.. Wooton looked strong, like an English Vidic and Carrick/Scholes were good!

It was a boring match in truth, Anders had to make two good saves as well to keep the score at 1:0

Just remember, it was an invitational game and they (United) are not going to come here and destroy teams as it would be embarrassing, you can see they were barely even trying last night! Amazulu are not even the top 10 teams here in SA! not that I watch this ****** league here!

We played a 433 type formation last night, Berbie was more of an AMC than anything else, Mechada cut in from out wide!

Agree with the above post as well.. Lingaard was given a free role last night and did very well! Berbie roamed just as much, sort of two AMC's with Chicho upfront and Scholes/Carrick behind..


----------------St--------------
Aml-----Amc----Amc----Amr
-----------Cm--Cm-------- or even deeper like DM"s

What did you think to macheda thought he looked very sharp and his finish was composed and taken well, also your thoughts on sub petrucci please mate?

 

[GodCubed]

Niiiiice stuff on the tactics! Liking it.

 

[sunilvk7]

Lingard is very good talent, he has improved a lot in last 2 seasons. It was great to see him playing his natural game rather than keeping it very very simple as some youngsters try to do in their first game. Ge gets into good positions to receive the pass and comfortable on the ball.

Petrucci, like I said few months back, has improved and adapted to the deeper role superbly. His passing is just on another level for reserves. Yesterday he displayed flashes of it with superb pass from left wing from half field which other player failed to bring it down. His shooting from distance was always top class. He is a goal scoring midfielder.

I didn't see many mentioning about Vermijl, for reserves he is a great attacking threat from RB position and even yesterday he made very good runs. He is versatile too.

And Brady had almost nothing to do in defense, so can't rate his performance as LB, but he made very good forward runs. He was the one who provided width from the left side.

It was great to watch all our reserves players very comfortable on the ball and not afraid to express themselves.

It was Berba's night yesterday, but I was really pleased to see our young players getting chances. Wootton didn't back away from any challenge, he should go out on loan to a PL team as we have enough talent in that position.

Hopefully next game Petrucci will start along with Tunnicliffe.

 

[Mike.]

Niiiiice stuff on the tactics! Liking it.

Indeed. Matt, if you watch more of the pre-season games, would like to see more of the same please.

Interesting shape though, last time we used it competitively was against Southampton, and it didn't work too well, side was quite uncomfortable with the shape (we had tried to mirror them), and they were the better side until we switched up.

 

[Raikan007]

What did you think to macheda thought he looked very sharp and his finish was composed and taken well, also your thoughts on sub petrucci please mate?

he did look pretty good, to be honest, he played the best footie I have seen him play in a red shirt...

Petrucci looked decent, nice step overs and a few little tricks, he looks a bit slow and lethargic, sort of like a Totti in a way and he had an awesome shot from outside the box that hit the crossbar, would have been a cracker!

Blackett looks decent enough too, very lanky and a bit awkward, more of a Cb me thinks!

 

[sunilvk7]

he did look pretty good, to be honest, he played the best footie I have seen him play in a red shirt...

Petrucci looked decent, nice step overs and a few little tricks, he looks a bit slow and lethargic, sort of like a Totti in a way and he had an awesome shot from outside the box that hit the crossbar, would have been a cracker!

Blackett looks decent enough too, very lanky and a bit awkward, more of a Cb me thinks!

Pterucci is slow mate. That's his pace. IMO he is as quick as Gibson.

Re Blackett, in a tour pic it looked he was the second tallest in the squad after Rio. He is around 6.1 and he is just 18. May end up like Crouch lol. He is good on the ball, yesterday he didn't show it maybe because of nerves. He has good shot in him, can strike from distance.

 

[craig curtis]

he did look pretty good, to be honest, he played the best footie I have seen him play in a red shirt...

Petrucci looked decent, nice step overs and a few little tricks, he looks a bit slow and lethargic, sort of like a Totti in a way and he had an awesome shot from outside the box that hit the crossbar, would have been a cracker!

Blackett looks decent enough too, very lanky and a bit awkward, more of a Cb me thinks!

Yep agree with macheda not sure about loaning him out not been to good for him been very unlucky. Petrucci will only get better and to good for reserves imo,cant believe size of blackett!

 

[DMF]

Nice article on the 'Can They Score?' blog about possible tactical options for United this season including a 4-1-2-1-2, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 and more... Attack, Attack, Attack! | Can They Score?

Really good.

 

[LFCMarshall]

Even as a Liverpool fan, the prospect or Rooney, Kagawa, Nani, Valenica, Young and Van Persie is mouth watering..

will be such a good title race this year between the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea imo...

 

[zzeezzy]

Even as a Liverpool fan, the prospect or Rooney, Kagawa, Nani, Valenica, Young and Van Persie is mouth watering..

will be such a good title race this year between the two Manchester clubs and Chelsea imo...

Van Persie? Would be nice but I can't see us getting him, that would officially kiss good bye to Berbatov and we have much bigger priorities than a striker. Where would we fit Rooney/Van Persie/Kagawa in the side anyway even if it did happen.

 

[sanketutd]

if we sign RVP and block welbeck's progress then I don't think I would ever feel more angry.

 

[Mike.]

Livid. I will be livid if this goes through and we don't get a central mid.

 

[Raikan007]

Livid. I will be livid if this goes through and we don't get a central mid.

agreed! We have enough upfront for the season ahead!

I was hoping that the Javi Martinez & Iker Munian stories would be true..

Do a nice combined £45m or so deal for them both like PSG did with AC for Zlats/Silva!

I mean £38m rejected bid on Moura himself... not worth it especially as we have Shinji.....