The Manchester United Thread

The art of defending is definitely on the wane, I think the implosion of Italian football probably had some bearing on it with Italy not being IMO at least a top tier league anymore. But I also think that attacking has found another level what with some of the passing and development of player movement and pressing (you could argue that these are old methods brought back from the dead however).

i think that the changing of how a full back is used has also had a massive impact on the change in defending I think personally too, you still get some excellent defensive fullbacks but I think that elite level defensive fullbacks are rare and it is more so about what they can do going forward now and their ability to get up and down the flank, I think the full back has turned into one of the key positions in football but as they get forward more and more this also puts more pressure on the CBs too and can leave them exposed.

I am really hungover but this is my two cents hope it makes sense ;)
 
smith123 said:
I must have missed it during the game or i'm taking the image out of context but how did joe hart get away with getting right in the refs face virtually touching noses, if that was wayne....
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If that a Swansea player then red and penalty ;)
 
Well, Its worth pointing out that typical 90s wingback was often the only guy providing witdh. And Maldini for that matter was just as ridiculously good at attacking down the wing as he was at everything else.

Which is why I'm not entirely buying Neville's explanation that people nowadays train differently, because most of those iconic Italian defenders were not only superior defensively to the current crop, but also very competent and confident on the ball. Thiago Silva gets praise nowadays for being "modern defender good with the ball", but I see nothing from him that I didn't see Baresi do 20 years ago. And Nesta's ability to perform unflappable backheel clearances in the box was quite astonishing as well.
 
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Shaw, I thought, was our best player. Hardly put a foot wring all game, kept Jesús Navas quiet apart from the chance he got bursting through into the penalty area. Valencia had an even better second half than the first, after looking shaky against Milner. Blind what was generally required of him.

Fellaini's holding up play was again superb and crucial in our fightback. If only for the missed chances. Disappointed again with Di María, his deliveries on set-plays were bizarrely sub-par, again and again. Makeshift defence actually held up well. Still annoyed with Smalling, needs to sharpen up. Can't be having that.

In spite of defeat, that was encouraging. We need more of that resolve, which should soon enough become wins in the league standings. Gave a good account of ourselves in the face of adversity, just a bit unlucky with the result.
 
Tyton said:
Well, Its worth pointing out that typical 90s wingback was often the only guy providing witdh. And Maldini for that matter was just as ridiculously good at attacking down the wing as he was at everything else.

Which is why I'm not entirely buying Neville's explanation that people nowadays train differently, because most of those iconic Italian defenders were not only superior defensively to the current crop, but also very competent and confident on the ball. Thiago Silva gets praise nowadays for being "modern defender good with the ball", but I see nothing from him that I didn't see Baresi do 20 years ago. And Nesta's ability to perform unflappable backheel clearances in the box was quite astonishing as well.
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Yeah we saw a proper CBs who had ability on the ball in 90s, now a days it's a very rare trait. Ball playing CB is not so good in defense and viceversa.

Maldini (he played as CB late in his career), Nesta, Pallister, Stam, Blanc, Carvalho, Puyol, Rio and many were very good CBs and were good on the ball. Not comparing all the players ability but they were ball playing CBs. It's so obvious that there are hardly any quality CBs left.
 
Hummels is out for 3 weeks. His injury record is getting dodgy every year.
 
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Btw Luke Shaw was very good. Just 19 but his composure and maturity is way beyond his age. Defensively he is very good, once he settles in properly and team as well we might see more attacking game from him but his defensive game is very impressive which is very rare for a young full back.

27 Million well spent if that means LB is sorted for a decade.
 
Only one center-back pairing has completed 90 minutes twice this season for Manchester United - McNair & Rojo.

Compare that to Cahill and Terry starting every game for Chelsea so far, that's your difference (effectively, not literally.)
 
Really think we should be looking elsewhere than Hummels. His injury record since 2012/13 has been shocking tbh!
 
Theatreof Dreams said:
Really think we should be looking elsewhere than Hummels. His injury record since 2012/13 has been shocking tbh!
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Agreed. Don't want another player who has questionable injury record. We need someone like Vidic and Evra in their prime, available for every single game.
 
sunilvk7 said:
Agreed. Don't want another player who has questionable injury record. We need someone like Vidic and Evra in their prime, available for every single game.
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Agree mate, not to much choice atm. Would like Laporte or Kongolo. Or maybe persuade Chiellini as his contract is out will be very hard! Maybe Pique?
 
Theatreof Dreams said:
Agree mate, not to much choice atm. Would like Laporte or Kongolo. Or maybe persuade Chiellini as his contract is out will be very hard! Maybe Pique?
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Yeah Pique was linked, not sure how good he is defensively when not protected like he is at Barca.
 
Mark Ogden ‏@MOgdenTelegraph 4m4 minutes ago
Manchester United's Marcos Rojo could face three months out if shoulder injury is as bad as initially feared
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sunilvk7 said:
Yeah Pique was linked, not sure how good he is defensively when not protected like he is at Barca.
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You have obviously not been paying attention at whats happening in La Liga boys, obviously. Pique has regressed dramatically over the past couple of years to the point of guaranteeing at least one glaring error per match when he plays (which now is not that often).
 
MANUMAD said:
You have obviously not been paying attention at whats happening in La Liga boys, obviously. Pique has regressed dramatically over the past couple of years to the point of guaranteeing at least one glaring error per match when he plays (which now is not that often).
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Aye although I dont know if thats because hes regressed, or because Barca arent actually good at basic defending.
 
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