13 Mar 2018 10:26:53
Morning all, if ed 1 about or other posters, I watched the city game last night and it followed a pretty familiar pattern, opponent's retreat and the result looking pretty inevitable from an early stage in the game, this formula very rarely works and they often win with their opponents not really laying a glove on them . If this continues next season then no matter how much utd improve if everybody plays that way against city then they are going to rack up masses of points.
I think basically my point is what can teams do different not just utd to start giving them more problems in a game and not keep following a plan most use that duznt work and duznt even look like working. Thanks if anyone has any insight.
{Ed001's Note - press them, particularly Fernandinho who is very poor in possession and will turn it over repeatedly if pressed. It is because no one puts pressure on them on the ball that they do what they do.}
13 Mar 2018 11:51:43
Teams’ approaches to City baffle me. Their strength is in attack, but offer the centre backs on real protection. Yet, teams constantly sit back and hope to absorb the pressure and nick a goal. 🤔
Pep plays with 8 attack minded players, it’s not rocket science to think that targeting their defence might be more productive than allowing them attack. They could still win because they’re a great attacking team, but it’s better than just letting them do what they do best.
13 Mar 2018 12:15:59
I think teams feel if they attack city and mess up then city’s counter attack will blow them away. Teams go into games aiming for damage control and to not get embarrassed rather than go for them. Psychologically city have won before they have stepped on the pitch and that’s what we used to have under Fergie.
I think if we play similar to the way we did against Liverpool and play that long ball into Lukaku then I think we could really trouble city. Lukaku’s hold up play has really improved and getting runners going off him will allow us to get at city’s defence. Kompany and otamendi are very good in the air so it will be tougher than Lovren or Van Dijk but we really have to go at city. Ed is right putting pressure on Fernandinho is key as well as he pretty much holds the fort when the rest of the attackers go forward. They have defensive frailties to be exposed and teams have no been able to do it as city are so good in possession.
13 Mar 2018 12:26:52
If you sit back against a good team they will do what they like,
Get in their faces, You can have all the good players in the world but you need that one player in a team that will harass players. get in their faces give them no time on the ball.
A lot of managers now set up their teams not to lose.
13 Mar 2018 13:25:39
Can't believe I am going to say this but if you watch Liverpool's tactic against them, they were spot on. They pressed high and brought a lot of energy to the game. Like all the others have stated, you can get at City by pressing them, especially their weaker players on the ball. City's weakness IMO is their defence in possession, press them and they will give the ball away or look to go long.
13 Mar 2018 14:06:37
You would think teams would have watched them roll over teams all season who have sat back passively, but most teams seem to just keep doing it, teams like stoke and Newcastle have always got stuck in at home but against city just seem to surrender and keep the score down, even Chelsea appeared to offer nothing and follow the sit bk and take the inevitable defeat . Liverpool got more joy having a go and pressing and I hope somebody else does so next season teams will follow a different blueprint against them and stop this almost acceptance of defeat .
13 Mar 2018 15:35:53
I think the fact that city's movement and ball retention is so good has a lot to do with it .
13 Mar 2018 16:22:54
Spot on Ed001, Fernandinho is the weakest link there. He's a bit flaky and doesn't like it when he's getting pressured. I really think Mctominay could do a good job by getting in his face and haranguing him the for the whole match.
{Ed001's Note - agreed, he really does not like it. Very good player when given time and space but rush him and put him under pressure and he gives the ball away time and time again.}