Manchester City returned to the Premier League summit this afternoon, after a dour scoreless draw against rivals Manchester United – in which both sides’ only effort on target arrived in the final ten minutes. Continue reading
A lot has been written about Louis Van Gaal’s obsession with control. Since his Ajax days, the Dutch coach has espoused a brand of football that seeks to minimise risk – the risk of losing the ball. His is a brand of football where dominating possession is an end in itself, not merely the means to an end. Continue reading
Louis Van Gaal had his fair share of opprobrium cast upon him in the wake of his side’s 3-0 away reverse to Arsenal, prior to the international break. The Manchester United boss’ deviation from his usual midfield combo of restrained passer and energetic runner, through the selection of two of the former (Carrick and Schweinsteiger) was roundly – and rightly – criticised. As was his bizarre decision to ask the German to move way out of position to press Arsenal’s deep-lying playmaker, Santi Cazorla – thus leaving acres of space in front of the left-side of United’s defence for number ten, Mesut Ozil, to exploit. Continue reading
1. Rodgers’ half-time switch kills Liverpool’s momentum
Liverpool began this game in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with both Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho in narrow roles supporting lone striker Raheem Sterling. Although they trailed by two goals at half-time, the decision to abandon this shape was an error of judgement that hampered their ability to get back into the game. Continue reading
1. Van Gaal reintroduces the diamond
Last month’s decision to dispense with the diamond in favour of a 4-3-3 was successful in stemming accruals to Louis Van Gaal’s goals against column. Unfortunately, it also had the unintended consequence of reducing his side’s attacking threat. United’s primary creative outlet, Angel Di Maria, looked particularly discommoded by this switch, forced to toil in wide areas rather than his preferred shuttler role on the left of the diamond.
Having ridden his luck with a shaky looking 3-5-2 against Arsenal, Van Gaal was expected to persist with that shape today – indeed, media present at Old Trafford reported that his coaches had drilled the side in this configuration during the pre-match warm-up. Van Gaal chose to spring a surprise, however – United started the game with a back four and a midfield diamond, forcing Hull manager Steve Bruce to rush (other verbs are available) to his technical area in the opening minutes to clue his players in on the situation. Continue reading
The following graphic tells you all you need to know about Manchester United’s performance yesterday at the Stadium of Light: Continue reading
The pre-season honeymoon period is over. In his first meaningful game in charge, Louis Van Gaal’s threadbare side fell to the club’s first opening day defeat at Old Trafford in Premier League history. Continue reading
Manchester United inflicted a second consecutive 4-1 defeat on Aston Villa to relieve some of the pressure on beleaguered manager David Moyes.
David Moyes answered the critics who pilloried him for not reacting during the defeat to Liverpool tonight. He threw three shapes of [redacted] at the wall. Unfortunately for him, none of it stuck.
After an anomalous 2011/12 season that saw the majority of clashes between the top sides produce goalfests, this season has continued last year’s reversion to caution, with this installment of the United/Arsenal rivalry providing us with the latest confirmation of this trend. Continue reading
Tactics Truck v2.0 