Are Manchester United lacking a midfield spark?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thefootballtacticsblog/2011/02/are_manchester_united_lacking.html.
So Manchester United's 29-game unbeaten run in the Premier League has come to an end. Who guessed it would have been Wolves, the division's bottom club on Saturday morning, who inflicted the damage?
Not many, perhaps. Yet coming after the wins over Chelsea and Manchester City at Molineux, the 2-1 victory showed that Mick McCarthy's side are more than a match for some of the league's biggest teams.
Goals by George Elokobi and the industrious Kevin Doyle cancelled out Nani's opener but there was evidence from the back to the front that Wolves deserved their victory.
The problem now for McCarthy is to maintain that sort of form against lesser teams, a key factor if the Midlands outfit are to stay up.
"Wolves were absolutely sensational," said Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer.
"During the second half you were expecting an onslaught by Manchester United and they attacked in little bursts. But whatever they threw at Wolves, the home side handled really well and defended so well too."
Resolute defending was also a feature of Wolves' wins over Manchester City and Chelsea at home this season, where they only allowed two and three shots on target all game.
Chelsea usually average more than double that figure but the reduction was, in part, down to the Wolves defence willing to put their bodies on the line, blocking six of their attempts on goal.
On Saturday, Manchester United only had four shots on target all game, where they usually average about six, but with Wolves only blocking three other shots it shows how much the visitors petered out in the second half.
Some of that was down to the indefatigable Doyle, who allowed the Wolves defence time to breathe by maintaining possession even when the ball was hit long to him. Judging by the passes he received in the graphic to the right, that was an awful lot.
McCarthy's team were also clinical in front of goal. From only five shots they scored twice, a similar story to when they beat Chelsea with a goal from only three shots.
In three other games this season - against Aston Villa, Birmingham and Blackpool - their shot total has hit double figures with only one goal as a return, whereas in five other matches more than 10 shots on goal have yielded nothing.
"Kevin Doyle up front was magnificent," stated Shearer. "He worked his socks off, he worked the channels, he held the ball up and he was brilliant.
"I'm still not totally sure if he got a touch for the second goal but he deserved it because of his work rate all afternoon."
As good as Wolves were, Manchester United finally came unstuck having spent most of the season getting results without playing well. This time they forgot the first part.
The signs were there: only an injury-time winner from Park Ji-Sung separated Sir Alex Ferguson's side and Wolves at Old Trafford in November.
More recently, another late comeback saved United from defeat at Blackpool, where Ryan Giggs helped turn their fortunes around, and a similar scenario was repeated in the FA Cup tie at Southampton where they came from behind to win 2-1.
Even before then at Tottenham in January, it was a vintage performance by centre-backs Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand that were the most outstanding aspects in a display in which the forwards and midfield failed to fire.
In all of this, the reliance on veterans Giggs and Scholes may be the most worrying aspect for United fans.
While others have scored goals, they have provided more zest and energy to the centre of midfield, where the likes of Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Anderson have failed to do so.
Driving runs by Giggs on the ball have been matched by Scholes' never-ending capacity to gamble on getting into the box. This was emphasised when he replaced Carrick on Saturday and was more involved in advanced and wider positions.
Comparisons with the other top four teams show that United appear to be lacking a creative influence from the middle of the park.
Arsenal have Cesc Fabregas, Tottenham have Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric, Manchester City have David Silva and Yaya Toure, while Chelsea can usually rely on Frank Lampard, whose injury-hit season has contributed to his team's stuttering form.
Only Manchester City are in the same category when it comes to shots and goals from central midfield but that is only because manager Roberto Mancini prefers a more defensive approach, with the likes of Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry anchoring the midfield.
From their regular central midfield players, Tottenham average 1.59 shots per game, Chelsea 1.41, Arsenal 1.17 and Manchester City a lowly 0.69.
Fletcher, Carrick and Anderson make up three of the six central midfielders from the top five clubs who have taken the least number of shots. (John Mikel Obi, Nigel de Jong and Wilson Palacios are the other three.)
And together with Scholes, they have totalled 31 attempts on goal, at an average of only 0.6 shots per game.
Does that indicate where Manchester United need to improve? Or with them still sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table is it an overplayed issue?
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as one of the comments was - Knee Jerk?
some already have been calling for a creative MF after the "collapse" of carrick and anderson/fletcher aren't the creative force, rather destructive.
with so many ageing stars, too many holes to be plugged?
can MUFC stagger across the line after going 29 unbeaten, a minor hiccup? or worse?
sigh...
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i wonder if anderson works on his finishing in games. He's running into goalscoring positions these days but his final shot....is abyssmal.
He can be a spark, a pity the shooting. Carrick used to fire shots like these but he has become a sad case. They need someone like van der vaart.
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Originally posted by Rock^Star:
i wonder if anderson works on his finishing in games. He's running into goalscoring positions these days but his final shot....is abyssmal.
He can be a spark, a pity the shooting. Carrick used to fire shots like these but he has become a sad case. They need someone like van der vaart.
wonder why they let him go thru their nets, he is a class act.
anderson, he may have to cut his locks.. he run, get into good position, ready to shoot, the locks hits his eye, and he ballooned it. LOLs.
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this has been a cause of concern not for this season, but for a few seasons liao. united does not have a play maker and a midfielder who can both create or score goals. goals from midfield came from Park and Nani, and they are playing in the wings. fletcher does the dirty work in midfield, carrick seemed lost for the past few seasons and Anderson still does not do enough to merit a regular place in the starting 11. united need to buy sneider or henderson next season. Just cant believe why fergie did not buy a midfielder as his priority.
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
this has been a cause of concern not for this season, but for a few seasons liao. united does not have a play maker and a midfielder who can both create or score goals. goals from midfield came from Park and Nani, and they are playing in the wings. fletcher does the dirty work in midfield, carrick seemed lost for the past few seasons and Anderson still does not do enough to merit a regular place in the starting 11. united need to buy sneider or henderson next season. Just cant believe why fergie did not buy a midfielder as his priority.
well, fergie rely on gingerhead, and now realises time and tide waits for no-one, and he has to replace sooner than later.
one red flag was the GK, and then RB, and now, CM..
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Originally posted by iceFatboy:
well, fergie rely on gingerhead, and now realises time and tide waits for no-one, and he has to replace sooner than later.
one red flag was the GK, and then RB, and now, CM..
I've mentioned in the other thread that Fletcher has switched his style of play if you notice. He's now playing the Scholes' role: Deep-Lying Playmaker. Usually Carrick will be the one tracking back while Fletcher plays the ball forward. I'm sure that is part of Fergie's plan to buy yet another defensive midfielder instead of an attacking one.
Futhermore, we MAY get to see Valencia back and Park too. So my guess is an attacking midfielder may not be on Fergie's shopping list:
Fergie's Shopping List:
1. A Goalkeeper to replace retiring Van der Sar2. A Defensive Midfielder to take over Hargreaves.
Therefore as such, Neville was replaced by Rafael (taking over number 2 maybe?), Michael Owen will be ask to leave since the out on loan strikers are back: Macheda, Welback and Diouf, Scholes to retire without any replacement.
Giggs just signed for yet another year (how old is he again?) so my guess is Fergie will use him to either lure Bale over or impact his skills to that kanjiong spider Obertan, that is if he's not sold off mercilessly like Tosic.
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Originally posted by CKeer:
I've mentioned in the other thread that Fletcher has switched his style of play if you notice. He's now playing the Scholes' role: Deep-Lying Playmaker. Usually Carrick will be the one tracking back while Fletcher plays the ball forward. I'm sure that is part of Fergie's plan to buy yet another defensive midfielder instead of an attacking one.
Futhermore, we MAY get to see Valencia back and Park too. So my guess is an attacking midfielder may not be on Fergie's shopping list:
Fergie's Shopping List:
1. A Goalkeeper to replace retiring Van der Sar2. A Defensive Midfielder to take over Hargreaves.
Therefore as such, Neville was replaced by Rafael (taking over number 2 maybe?), Michael Owen will be ask to leave since the out on loan strikers are back: Macheda, Welback and Diouf, Scholes to retire without any replacement.
Giggs just signed for yet another year (how old is he again?) so my guess is Fergie will use him to either lure Bale over or impact his skills to that kanjiong spider Obertan, that is if he's not sold off mercilessly like Tosic.
yep, i think the initial plan was reverse, carrick to provide the balls, and fletcher to be protector just infront of defence. but it took a turn for the worse when carrick's form drops.
i agree with you on the transfer list. but given EDS's public declaration, MUFC is going to be held to ransom and they may end up giving the poles or the new buy a chance (if funds are unavailable).
obertan not lighting the skies in that aspect, he is pacy, reliable, but has no special sparks like a nani, ronaldo or a younger giggs. and his days are numbered. I recall Blanc was amazed MUFC picked him up.
I think giggs' influence on/off the field is impt to the younger players on how to conduct themselves, and given an icon is on the field with them will calm their nerves.
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Originally posted by iceFatboy:
yep, i think the initial plan was reverse, carrick to provide the balls, and fletcher to be protector just infront of defence. but it took a turn for the worse when carrick's form drops.
i agree with you on the transfer list. but given EDS's public declaration, MUFC is going to be held to ransom and they may end up giving the poles or the new buy a chance (if funds are unavailable).
obertan not lighting the skies in that aspect, he is pacy, reliable, but has no special sparks like a nani, ronaldo or a younger giggs. and his days are numbered. I recall Blanc was amazed MUFC picked him up.
I think giggs' influence on/off the field is impt to the younger players on how to conduct themselves, and given an icon is on the field with them will calm their nerves.
Bro, I take it that you meant Edwin van Der Sar's retirement announcement.
I neither doubt nor agree, since it's already clear that he will move on at some point in his career. A new keeper has to replace him just like how Bosnich (Blardy hell), Taibi (. . . .) and van Der Ghouw replaced Schmeichel, how they were taken over by Carroll, how Howard takes over Carroll, how Van der Sar takes over Howard and how Foster fails to live up to his billings.
It is whether Fergie is willing to wait and sieve through the keepers and find the bargain + quality he needs.
Ronaldo did alot of stepovers and tricks but he suck initially wasn't he because he just cannot make that crucial last ball. Do you recall there was once Fergie even had to make Solskjaer play right midfield because of this problem?
Same for Nani, he was a right midfielder but played on the left initially. He did all the tricks but always fail to deliver the final cross. Now that he switches back to his preferred Right Wing, he played with more confidence and with the experienced gain, he was changed to an assist master.
But I do agree that I'm not enjoying what I'm seeing when Obertan plays. The youtube videos of him at Bordeaux must be heavily edited.
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Originally posted by iceFatboy:
wonder why they let him go thru their nets, he is a class act.
anderson, he may have to cut his locks.. he run, get into good position, ready to shoot, the locks hits his eye, and he ballooned it. LOLs.
maybe he and harry redknapp ever had a good talk over post match wine lol.
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Originally posted by CKeer:
Bro, I take it that you meant Edwin van Der Sar's retirement announcement.
I neither doubt nor agree, since it's already clear that he will move on at some point in his career. A new keeper has to replace him just like how Bosnich (Blardy hell), Taibi (. . . .) and van Der Ghouw replaced Schmeichel, how they were taken over by Carroll, how Howard takes over Carroll, how Van der Sar takes over Howard and how Foster fails to live up to his billings.
It is whether Fergie is willing to wait and sieve through the keepers and find the bargain + quality he needs.
Ronaldo did alot of stepovers and tricks but he suck initially wasn't he because he just cannot make that crucial last ball. Do you recall there was once Fergie even had to make Solskjaer play right midfield because of this problem?
Same for Nani, he was a right midfielder but played on the left initially. He did all the tricks but always fail to deliver the final cross. Now that he switches back to his preferred Right Wing, he played with more confidence and with the experienced gain, he was changed to an assist master.
But I do agree that I'm not enjoying what I'm seeing when Obertan plays. The youtube videos of him at Bordeaux must be heavily edited.
Fergie cannot made those same mistakes again. you need to pay top money for a top top goalie. I hope he doesnt made the same mistakes again and again. I repeat, you need to pay top dollar for a top goalie.
Goalie is different from other positions. Imagine the goalie always made the same odd mistakes once every few matches and result the team in losing and going out of CL, like howard last min goal conceded in 2004 against Porto.
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how about this fella Christian Eriksen? seems he has a glowing reputation after game vs England?
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Originally posted by CKeer:
Bro, I take it that you meant Edwin van Der Sar's retirement announcement.
I neither doubt nor agree, since it's already clear that he will move on at some point in his career. A new keeper has to replace him just like how Bosnich (Blardy hell), Taibi (. . . .) and van Der Ghouw replaced Schmeichel, how they were taken over by Carroll, how Howard takes over Carroll, how Van der Sar takes over Howard and how Foster fails to live up to his billings.
It is whether Fergie is willing to wait and sieve through the keepers and find the bargain + quality he needs.
Ronaldo did alot of stepovers and tricks but he suck initially wasn't he because he just cannot make that crucial last ball. Do you recall there was once Fergie even had to make Solskjaer play right midfield because of this problem?
Same for Nani, he was a right midfielder but played on the left initially. He did all the tricks but always fail to deliver the final cross. Now that he switches back to his preferred Right Wing, he played with more confidence and with the experienced gain, he was changed to an assist master.
But I do agree that I'm not enjoying what I'm seeing when Obertan plays. The youtube videos of him at Bordeaux must be heavily edited.
bro,
I do hope that "once bitten twice shy" theory works with SAF in his hunt for Edwin's successor after PeterSchmeichel left and MUFC suffered such a dip. And the owners will seriously back SAF after another american owners loudly raise their battle cry to knock MUFC off their perch.
Ronaldo in his first game vs Bolton was all flash, but somehow, for me, you can see that quality. He has pace, but his eagerness to perform,his "give me the ball", his unpredictability sets him apart, Same with nani. but this obertan seems to be playing safe. maybe, I watched too many negative videos.
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Originally posted by Rock^Star:
maybe he and harry redknapp ever had a good talk over post match wine lol.
FUCK U LA NIGGA.DUN TALK COCK CAN?? -
seems another has been thrown into the hat - >
Mario Goetze.
however, after reading this (http://www.goal.com/en/news/184/player-profile/2010/09/17/2123328/goalcom-player-profile-mario-goetze), seems a bit too injury prone.
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go buy sneider please. united badly needed a centrak midfield playmaker, one who can create and score goals from midfield.
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Originally posted by iceFatboy:
seems another has been thrown into the hat - >
Mario Goetze.
however, after reading this (http://www.goal.com/en/news/184/player-profile/2010/09/17/2123328/goalcom-player-profile-mario-goetze), seems a bit too injury prone.
ok lah next you'll see lewis holtby, nuri sahin, javier pastore linked to man u not to mention the already linked marko marin
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Originally posted by The man who was death:
ok lah next you'll see lewis holtby, nuri sahin, javier pastore linked to man u not to mention the already linked marko marin
i suspect it is the works of the agents trying to stir their players and their wallets up.
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
go buy sneider please. united badly needed a centrak midfield playmaker, one who can create and score goals from midfield.
if he wants, when he re-contract, he would have come already. this one is too settled already.
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Please fergie, your priority for summer spending is a goalie, midfield play maker and central midfielder. dun go spend on a winger or another striker. a top class goalie to replace VDS and a play maker is long overdue.
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Originally posted by Rock^Star:
i wonder if anderson works on his finishing in games. He's running into goalscoring positions these days but his final shot....is abyssmal.
He can be a spark, a pity the shooting. Carrick used to fire shots like these but he has become a sad case. They need someone like van der vaart.
u should be talking about clown,tats ur forte,to make people like me laugh my ass off. -
Originally posted by Rooney9:
Please fergie, your priority for summer spending is a goalie, midfield play maker and central midfielder. dun go spend on a winger or another striker. a top class goalie to replace VDS and a play maker is long overdue.
let not any stupid scouting reports blind him...
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oh yeah too many headless chickens running around in the middle... we need a raging polar bear & a fuking unicorn to storm the midfield ARGHHH!!!!!
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Originally posted by iceFatboy:
how about this fella Christian Eriksen? seems he has a glowing reputation after game vs England?
He's more of a playmaker kind, but I don't think it is the right time to move over yet.