The people saying rodri deserves it are the same people calling rodri and Haaland overrated last season because I prefer not to speak you know why π
No more ten hag ballπππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππππ
ROOTS OF THE PROBLEM How Ten Hag's initial success created a ghost
In 2022 / 2023, his first season at United, Erik Ten Hag created a pragmatic tactical model that maximized individual quality and got great results, until it started collapsing.
And 2 years later, United are still haunted by it. π§΅
The model relied on a compact mid / low block off the ball and quick vertical movement on the ball, an effective cocktail of box defending and fast attacking of the opposition's box.
There were important differences between that and what Ole did in previous seasons.
While Ole was looking to win the ball in the midfield, compressing it with a high defensive line, ETH was content to soak up more pressure and rely on reactive box defending.
Why? Because the model actually invited teams to press us, so that we could play through them. We wanted Licha and Shaw to have time on the ball, baiting opponents into high pressing.
It was, in fact, the model's key feature: when teams took the bait, we'd quickly get the ball to Eriksen or Casemiro, who would then spray risky progressive passes up front to Rashford or Bruno.
It was simple, but very effective, maximizing quality in the team:
- Varane's box defending
- Casemiro's ball-winning & progressive passing
- Eriksen's connective passing & switches
- Bruno's progressive passing & finishing
- Rashford's runs in behind and finishing
For a few months it seemed like a magic potion, a cheat code, god mode enabled, because it did what a model is supposed to do. It gave the players context to successfuly excecute, while masking some of their weaknesses.
Which is why Casemiro looked so good - minus problems with rest defense, we were relatively compact and gave him the ideal platform to dive into tackles with minimial risk and play it forward.
Why is why Rashford scored so much - freed from playmaking & defensive duties, he was given the ideal platform to utilize his running, carrying and finishing from wide positions.
It was clearly not a high ceiling approach, but seemed like a triumph of short-term pragmatism, tactical micro-ploys and correct usage of key players.
Even when we didn't play very well, you just had a sense we would get the win. United were back and all was good. All was good, that is, until we stopped getting the wins. π
Leading 2-1 against Galatasaray, ended up losing 2-3. Up 2-0 against Copenhagen, but it turned into a 3-4 defeat. Ahead 3-1 vs Galatasaray, only to finish 3-3. Had a 1-0 advantage against Twente, but settled for a 1-1 draw. Currently leading Porto 2-0, but it's now 2-2... for the moment.
Our ability to defend and hold leads in Europe is a joke.
#MUFC #PORMUN