I apologize if someone's already posted this.
https://totalfootballanalysis.com/h...anchester-united-tactical-analysis-statistics. It is a good analysis. After Ole became permanent manager, we were having very short breaks between the games. Young, (32 y.o), was tired and was leaving huge gaps.
We were playing Rojo, Jones, Smalling interchangeably. Under Mourinho, our players used to play man marking system and this had its consequences too.
In short, our defensive unit was completely disorganized. If one of the players in defensive unit (usually it's Young) fails, the whole back line starts to panic. However, the same players were excellent against Chelsea, Arsenal, and PSG.
A CBs pace is a secondary quality. Teamwork, calmness, composure, ability to read the game and organize partners are far more important. I don't care who we'll buy, scouting department, Ole, and money guys will identify the target and determine the price. I want a stable back four, a stable reserve back four and I want them to be drilled like nuts during preseason. Football is not all about transfers. Professional footballers at the highest level are not amateurs. Clubs pay millions pounds for them. They do their job. The manager should do his job. It's his job to outline a clear plan, drill the players, and motivate them. If they are not motivated, then sell them.
British players usually are (or used to be) less technical but they are less individualistic too. Everything comes at cost. The more you train technique when child, the less time for teamwork. The team play advantage comes from British coaching ethics: die for team, etc. And what we need in defense now is a team play. in the age of pressing, British football will dominate. 2 English finals this year. EPL is indisputably best in the world.
Plus, as I mentioned in my previous posts, our defense is too short in height. And we need a defender who is not afraid to carry the ball. Maguire ticks all the boxes. If United is able to identify a cheaper target who ticks all the boxes, it's fine. But who is that target? Another option is to teach Smalling to pass. is it achievable?