Absolutely right. The 3-5-2 would work if we had a couple of backs who are good at playing out from the back, but we don't have that. You notice that Rodgers and now Lambert are using the same formation against us because they know that by having a reverse thrust (when we're running short on solid MF players), you will get chances on the counterattack. So they basically let us get the 75-80% possession and wait for us to screw up at some point. And we have Jonny Evans holding the fort in the back, with no protection from Carrick or Blind.
Our lack of creativity in the attacking third...
- Thread starter The Azzurri
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Absolutely right. The 3-5-2 would work if we had a couple of backs who are good at playing out from the back, but we don't have that. You notice that Rodgers and now Lambert are using the same formation against us because they know that by having a reverse thrust (when we're running short on solid MF players), you will get chances on the counterattack. So they basically let us get the 75-80% possession and wait for us to screw up at some point. And we have Jonny Evans holding the fort in the back, with no protection from Carrick or Blind.
Good post.
Villa utilised the 3-5-2 very well today. They had good defenders and bags of pace up front, something we don't have.
I can see Vlaar being at United at 12.01a.m. on New Years Day.
Why can't our defenders defend like that? Why do they continently looks clueless and yet one game and bam Villa get it?
Vlaar looked world class tonight.
World Class?
Well... not world class...but definately a huge improvement of what we have at the moment...
I think it stems from our poor options out wide. Valencia and Young have actually played well lately in unfamiliar positions but they are both so limited with their movement it hurts our overall flow. If you look at Chelsea and City their fullbacks are bombing past the opposition, coming inside sometimes, staying wide other times and it's very effective, it means that the player making the run is prone to going missing in defence, especially on the counter, but when we're playing with 3 CBs and a holding midfielder that really shouldn't be a concern.
Mata, Rooney, Herrera, Carrick, Di Maria are all more than capable of finding these runs but instead they get the ball and look out wide and see Young/Valencia standing there waiting to receive it. It's a reason why I think we miss Rafael so much, and Evra too, as they both are infinitely more positive with their movement than what we have out wide at the moment.
Mata, Rooney, Herrera, Carrick, Di Maria are all more than capable of finding these runs but instead they get the ball and look out wide and see Young/Valencia standing there waiting to receive it. It's a reason why I think we miss Rafael so much, and Evra too, as they both are infinitely more positive with their movement than what we have out wide at the moment.
Well if you play Rooney and Mata in the whole you get this, class players but not the most creative; as I pointed out earlier. It sounds weird but we need another no 10, a pure one with creativity (Eriksen? Firmino?)
I sure hope so, would much rather have him over Evans any day of the week.
Inexperience and injuries I'd gather. Villa's defenders understand each other much better than ours who barely played a game together last season.
If we're so adamant on playing 352, why did we not get Vlaar? Such a wasted opportunity.
Even the Netherlands looked inept without creativity in most of their World Cup matches using the 352, bar of course a few where Robben was amazing.
The issue is we look as inept but also woeful at the back. Rafael/Shaw can't come back soon enough so we can return to the diamond.
The issue is we look as inept but also woeful at the back. Rafael/Shaw can't come back soon enough so we can return to the diamond.
Experienced, organised and a leader. Which is what we need at the back.
But they've lost players as well. Hutton and Sendaros. There are no excuses.
Exactly, our slow zombie passing played right into their hands.
It's like we have to play the perfect ball or no ball at all, nothing on, pass it back, no movement, pass it back.
That seems to be the problem some people have with Herrera, that he gives the ball away sometimes. I would rather someone tried to get us going forward, than the cowardly route we played of sideways or backwards.
Indeed, it's so obvious that he is our best player.
However at the moment it seems like it's a sin to give the ball away, or not make the perfect pass/through ball. It's all well and good keeping the ball but when no ones moving in the final third what other option do our defence have?
To some our attacking players are exempt from criticism, but for me they need to do a hell of a lot more than they currently are.
You have explained perfectly. Rooney does not try a through ball unless he thinks he can get it 100 percent right. He would much rather pass it wide and wait for the cross. Through balls through the middle are so rare with us because of this.
Best player?...nah not sure about that.
Maybe not, but industrious and the player who spots a good through ball.
It's debatable I agree, but when he plays the team clicks.
He definitely gets the tempo of the team and as you say everything seems to click into place.
Which to me makes him our best player, without him we look stagnant and short of ideas, there is no one else like him in our squad.
Exactly, one game and Villa get the concept of 3-5-2 and use it well, our players are too rigid, it's abnormal.
I remember a lot of caf members bagging Vlaar over the summer. How we wish we had him now, how things change in football so quickly.
Because they want the sexy name. Vlaar knows how to play for LvG.
We need players who are able to run at a team and stretch them regardless of the formation, we are easy to nullify when we play so slowly and have two #10's playing square of each other. Rooney at least tried some creative passing, Mata seems allergic to it.
Vlaar....slips of the tongue very well haha
I appreciate no one has brought up predictive texts 'continently' 
.
.With the players we have up front you'd think that would be a banker, sadly, for some reason it's far from it.
Yep too many players who don't contribute enough in general play and despite it being a strong team on paper today there was an obvious lack of balance and pace. Two out and out strikers and mata is never going to work because there is too much burden on the three players in midfield. We do have players toco e. Back and make a difference but a lack of balance, lack of pace and the constant injuries are the three big issues with the squad and the team.
Balance has been the word LvG has used almost as much as philosophy since he came here and today was a perfect example of why. With 2 #10 and 2 #9's, no width and no pace it was a chore to try and break down a well organized Villa defense.
Again this is being overshadowed with everyone focusing on our defence. It's starting to become a real worry, I can't remember one shot on goal other than the one we scored, if there was any none of them were in anyway troubling Begovic.
Edit
Possession
Stoke 34% Man United 66%
Shots (on target)
Stoke 10 (2) Man United 6 (2)
Corners
Stoke 11 Man United 7
Edit
Possession
Stoke 34% Man United 66%
Shots (on target)
Stoke 10 (2) Man United 6 (2)
Corners
Stoke 11 Man United 7
Missing Di Maria badly in this regard.
The front 3 of Mata, RVP and Falcao is too one paced and static.
The front 3 of Mata, RVP and Falcao is too one paced and static.
This season we've already broke the record for lowest number of shots in one game by us since records began. Clearly there is a real issue here.
Did not know that, not at all surprised though.
Think it was against Southampton. Won 2-1 but only managed 3 shots all game.
No idea what the stats are on this, but it feels like a trend this season has been that we never have a great number of shots, but our conversion rate has been good. Perhaps I'm wrong but it feels like we've been very clinical with relatively few shots.
Other than Di Maria who shoots regularly and speculatively from distance, we rarely seem to have a shot unless we've worked a very promising shooting opportunity.
We look as clueless as England, passing it around the back until we lose the ball, put in a rubbish cross or hoof it.
We've got injuries but its no excuse. I don't know if he's just stubborn or genuinely thinks that without all our players fit that we can't play 442. I expected a lot more tactical nous from him
We've got injuries but its no excuse. I don't know if he's just stubborn or genuinely thinks that without all our players fit that we can't play 442. I expected a lot more tactical nous from him
We also have passed it long more than any other PL team this season.....stats wise.
I know some will mention Di Maria missing but it shouldn’t be an issue, look at the attacking players we have, Rooney, Mata, Herrera, Januzaj, RVP, Falcao, Wilson, we should be creating a hell of a lot more chances than we are. Something’s not working up front and LVG has to either sort it fast or drop a big name player for the good of the team.