Rob Dawson ESPN: Solskjaer tells players he wants to implement a more attacking 4-3-3 this season.

[Renegade]

Bruno would need to add a lot of subtlety to his game for this work. Not every pass has to be the killer pass.
If we play this I’m sure after a few months we’ll see him play as a false 9.

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

I can see this going terrible in the first game and Ole never using it again

 

[MinGin]

Would Ole push Lindelof forward to become DM/Half-Back if we have Varane in the team to form a 4-3-3
Lindelof is good at blocking the ball passing line.

 

[ayushreddevil9]

Would Ole push Lindelof forward to become DM/Half-Back if we have Varane in the team to form a 4-3-3
Lindelof is good at block the ball passing line.

That would be a disaster since he is so passive he is gonna let every other ball pass by him hoping someone else deals with it.

 

[Champ]

Because the question isn't whether we're good at scoring goals in games where the opponent has a man sent off in the 2nd minute. I'm willing to bet everything I own that the vast majority of our games won't be like that.

So yeah, scoring goals is an issue. We don't score enough, and we fail to score too often. Again, we didn't score a goal in 8 games out of 38 in the league. I'm hopeful Sancho will improve that but our relative lack of creativity is not solely a personnel issue.

Again, do goals against teams who have a man sent off not count either? Did we not score them goals? Do Brightons three goals against Man City not count because City had a player sent off after 10 minutes?

Creating chances is of more concern to United, we lack creativity, scoring is less of an issue. Every stat points towards our finishing being top class and over achieving what was expected, which points to creating chances as the main issue rather than goal scoring, of which we do plenty of.

 

[Bebestation]

This was always going to happen once he finds his choice of CDM - the type that can do it by themselves.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

I don't really buy this. I think they'll try it against the little teams in pre-season but it won't stick when push comes to shove. We still have too many weak spots in the team.

 

[podurban2]

Would Ole push Lindelof forward to become DM/Half-Back if we have Varane in the team to form a 4-3-3
Lindelof is good at blocking the ball passing line.

Can’t envision anything worse than this. Lindelöf will be a good bench option and an alternative to come on when we need to see games out. He should never be a regular starter.

 

[RUCK4444]

This was always going to happen once he finds his choice of CDM - the type that can do it by themselves.

Yeah but WHO? We definitely do not have this type of DM in the team right now, in fact we have only one DM in the entire team who is Matic, who's legs have gone.

So one hopes that we will be signing a top DM?

 

[Bebestation]

Yeah but WHO? We definitely do not have this type of DM in the team right now, in fact we have only one DM in the entire team who is Matic, who's legs have gone.

So one hopes that we will be signing a top DM?

Yeah that's why this being highlighted as a change that should be trained or practiced with in pre-season gives me hope that he has found a CDM or 2 that he likes and he will get one of them.

Van De Beek is another player who might have a much bigger role to play in the 433 - hence there was talk that Ole said that VDB was a next season player when we initially bought him.

 

[Devil may care]

I don't think there's a DM alive that can allow Pogba and Bruno to play as #8's, Pogba needs a more dynamic box to box next to him and Bruno is often reckless with the ball, which is why he's best as a #10. The biggest issue though is that we don't have any DM, nevermind a top class one, if Ole is thinking of playing McTominay there we'll be back to 4-2-3-1 quick sharp.

 

[Judas]

As most have said, this falls flat without signing a new DM. You can't trust Fred or especially Mctominay in that role.

 

[sparx99]

Varane is key to that system BUT if we are to play with 1 DM then we need a DM as Fred or McT ain’t up to that task meaning a DM is just as important as is Varane!

Does Pogba, Bruno and McFred have a significant difference to say Kross, Modric & Casemiro. That Real Madrid three didn't have a true DM. Kroos and Pogba play similarly with Kroos having a bit more attention to detail (doesn't get caught on the ball so often). Casemiro is an energy player, box to box, putting in tackles. Not dissimilar to McFred. Then Modric who tends to get further upfield than Kroos but is maybe more a true CM than Bruno is.

 

[M Bison]

I'm very much in the minority but i think McT can play the DM role. He doesnt currently because he has to get up and down with us playing 2 holding midfielders, but i do believe he can play it.

 

[Champ]

I'm very much in the minority but i think McT can play the DM role. He doesnt currently because he has to get up and down with us playing 2 holding midfielders, but i do believe he can play it.

I agree with you,

He has the defensive capabilities, as well as the positional sense to play a holding role.

I think Carrick has helped his game immensely and McT can play a similar role as Carrick once did.

 

[RUCK4444]

Yeah that's why this being highlighted as a change that should be trained or practiced with in pre-season gives me hope that he has found a CDM or 2 that he likes and he will get one of them.

Van De Beek is another player who might have a much bigger role to play in the 433 - hence there was talk that Ole said that VDB was a next season player when we initially bought him.

Yeah that’s the hope becuase we don’t have that player right now.

Also where does VDB fit in this three? A box to box? He’s not a sitting CDM and he wont get in ahead of Bruno.

 

[RUCK4444]

I agree with you,

He has the defensive capabilities, as well as the positional sense to play a holding role.

I think Carrick has helped his game immensely and McT can play a similar role as Carrick once did.

I’m not sure, I’d love him to be that player but I think the game passes him by sometimes and he might be overrun in a CDM role.

 

[sparx99]

Yeah that’s the hope becuase we don’t have that player right now.

Also where does VDB fit in this three? A box to box? He’s not a sitting CDM and he wont get in ahead of Bruno.

Van De Beek would get more games rotating in for Pogba or Bruno than he does for McFred. There are two spots to rotate with whereas at the moment we wouldn't play in a holding two.

 

[Can7onA]

I'm very much in the minority but i think McT can play the DM role. He doesnt currently because he has to get up and down with us playing 2 holding midfielders, but i do believe he can play it.

Agreed.

 

[Mark Pawelek]

I need to hear a tape recording of Ole saying it, before I believe McFred is no more. Or, alternatively, watch at least 4 matches of United playing without McFred.

 

[RedDevilRoshi]

Definitely needs a quality DM then if this is to work.

 

[Bebestation]

Wasn't there a rumour that Wan Bissaka would be given a chance at CDM? Maybe we see this in pre-season.

His ability to make a quick and accurate pass to feet is very good its actually quite eye catching at times, he has a good first touch and good tackling abilities. Positioning is more questionable.

This is the only way I can see the 433 without signing in a new CDM, otherwise I'd be surprised if it wasn't a sign of Ole potentially going in for Rice because I don't know of the other CDM that is available that can hold "2 attackers" in the way I think Ole wants- ie he wants his version of fernandinho.

Who else plays a bit like Fernandinho?

 

[RUCK4444]

Van De Beek would get more games rotating in for Pogba or Bruno than he does for McFred. There are two spots to rotate with whereas at the moment we wouldn't play in a holding two.

Yeah I suppose he would have more chance to get on the pitch, just not sure what he adds defensively to a system that will be dropping a defensive player.

I’m all for an attacking 4-3-3. Just need to make sure we have the personnel for it.

 

[Trequarista10]

Concerned about Bruno in CM tbh. He will have to be less direct with his passing at times. It could go either way, it could work fantastically or we could end up completely stifling our best player.

 

[RUCK4444]

Wasn't there a rumour that Wan Bissaka would be given a chance at CDM? Maybe we see this in pre-season.

His ability to make a quick and accurate pass to feet is very good its actually quite eye catching at times, he has a good first touch and good tackling abilities. Positioning is more questionable.

This is the only way I can see the 433 without signing in a new CDM, otherwise I'd be surprised if it wasn't a sign of Ole potentially going in for Rice because I don't know of the other CDM that is available that can hold "2 attackers" in the way I think Ole wants- ie he wants his version of fernandinho.

Who else plays a bit like Fernandinho?

Imagine we turned him into Kante 2.0

 

[Siorac]

Again, do goals against teams who have a man sent off not count either? Did we not score them goals? Do Brightons three goals against Man City not count because City had a player sent off after 10 minutes?

Creating chances is of more concern to United, we lack creativity, scoring is less of an issue. Every stat points towards our finishing being top class and over achieving what was expected, which points to creating chances as the main issue rather than goal scoring, of which we do plenty of.

We're talking about different things then. I'm not claiming our finishing isn't good enough, I'm saying that as a team we don't score enough goals. And yes, that is because we don't create enough, because we find it difficult to break down teams who don't give us space. That's why the Southampton game is irrelevant: of course we're going to create more than enough chances when playing 90 minutes against ten men.

Again, the point is that 1) our attacking play needs serious improvement because it's not good enough for a title challenge, 2) it's not just an issue of personnel. So I'd be happy to see changes.

 

[Tom Cato]

James Garner has entered the chat

 

[unplayable]

 

[Stobzilla]

Wasn't there a rumour that Wan Bissaka would be given a chance at CDM? Maybe we see this in pre-season.

His ability to make a quick and accurate pass to feet is very good its actually quite eye catching at times, he has a good first touch and good tackling abilities. Positioning is more questionable.

This is the only way I can see the 433 without signing in a new CDM, otherwise I'd be surprised if it wasn't a sign of Ole potentially going in for Rice because I don't know of the other CDM that is available that can hold "2 attackers" in the way I think Ole wants- ie he wants his version of fernandinho.

Who else plays a bit like Fernandinho?

One of my mad bastard plans for him will come true. I said CDM or Centre-Back would be more suited for him.

Can I come on the pod and gloat if this comes to fruition @Rood ??

 

[Tom Cato]

One of my mad bastard plans for him will come true. I said CDM or Centre-Back would be more suited for him.

Can I come on the pod and gloat if this comes to fruition @Rood ??

AWB's main defensive attribute is the slide tackle. The amonut of times I want my CB to be slide tackling is 0

 

[Rozay]

Can’t see this being great news for Bruno. Think asking him to be a CM makes it far easier to improve upon him in an elite team. In a role where he isn’t primarily expected to score and create loads, I doubt it would take too long before the question of whether more conventional ‘midfielders’ would be better suited. Like when Bellingham comes onto the market perhaps, or if we get Camavinga or Mejbri kicks on.

His current role extracts the optimum from him I believe.

 

[jamesjimmybyrondean]

Ducker saying this means its legit. I'm so hyped for next season. Which isnt good

 

[Stobzilla]

AWB's main defensive attribute is the slide tackle. The amonut of times I want my CB to be slide tackling is 0

How will you know unless we try it ?

In fairness it was only as a very specific CB role on the right of a 3 whereby he cover the wingbacks.

 

[Bebestation]

Yeah that’s the hope becuase we don’t have that player right now.

Also where does VDB fit in this three? A box to box? He’s not a sitting CDM and he wont get in ahead of Bruno.

For me there's 2 ways - I'm going to sign Varane, trippier and Rice just to show what I think he will do (not what's right or wrong)

The 433 with central striker (235)

Rashford-Cavani-Sancho
Pogba- Bruno
Shaw- Rice - AWB
Maguire - Varane

VDB rotates with both Pogba and Bruno in this. Its important that our creative players are there and forward to set up the striker. Cavani and Greenwood rotate as central strikers and playing off our creative players.



The 433 Shadow striker/false 9 (4-1-2-1-2/343)


Rashford - Greenwood
VDB
Shaw- Pogba - Bruno - Trippier
Rice
Maguire - Varane


In this VDB plays as our false 9 shadow striker (the style of position he was making a name for at ajax in my opinion). He is there interlinking the inverted forwards and linking the creative midfielders together and to the forwards too. The most beautiful thing about is that VDB makes some really clever runs and he gets to do this in front of Pogba and Bruno trying to find them - whilst they also have the ability to find the forwards. I see this as a diamond where we have a false 9 at the top interlinking the forwards & a false CB at the bottom interlinking the defenders (you probably saw Rice do this for England).​

 

[Kaos]

I don't get this fear of hampering Bruno. Yes he probably won't be getting the same numbers, but its surely a good thing to have more goals being shared across the team and our front three in particular. There's also no reason why he can't continue to look to play the killer pass in a midfield 3 - De Bruyne plays as part of a 3 for City doesn't he?

 

[DWelbz19]

Interesting, will take a couple things though:
1. An actual DM. Please not Rice.
2. Bruno to act like an actual CM and not a no.10. Think his individual play will lessen a little, but it will be at a strength of the team as a whole - we become far less reliant on him and a bit more balanced in midfield.

 

[Sunny Jim]

Bigger role for Van De Beek?

is he going to take two seats on the bench or what?

 

[RORY65]

Can’t see this being great news for Bruno. Think asking him to be a CM makes it far easier to improve upon him in an elite team. In a role where he isn’t primarily expected to score and create loads, I doubt it would take too long before the question of whether more conventional ‘midfielders’ would be better suited. Like when Bellingham comes onto the market perhaps, or if we get Camavinga or Mejbri kicks on.

His current role extracts the optimum from him I believe.

We played more this way after the lockdown last summer and he was very productive because he's a really high quality player so I would imagine he'll be fine. The bigger issue is that Matic had one of his short-lived good spells for the first few games back and once that dropped off it no longer worked because we haven't got a holding player who is good positionally and can pass the ball forwards (McTominay is probably the best option in that role but he's far from ideal) and by the end of that season and very quickly at the start of last season, when Ole tried it again, he resorted back to Fred and McTominay together.

 

[Champ]

I’m not sure, I’d love him to be that player but I think the game passes him by sometimes and he might be overrun in a CDM role.

Maybe,

I think he has the attributes for it, only one way to really find out I suppose...

 

[Bilbo]

Its nothing news really. Top teams need to be able to play a variety of strategies well in order to succeed these days. As @Regulus Arcturus Black has said we will very likely retain a similar safety-first mindset in the biggest matches this season, and we'll probably see a back 3 on occasion too. What this change in approach will mean, if anything, is that we have recognised - or more importantly now have the personnel - to be slightly more forward thinking in the games that we are expected to control.

I'm still perplexed by peoples view of a CDM and what that role is though. There is no midfielder alive that allows us to play with two undisciplined number 8's so however we play we will need midfielders that are prepared to cover ground, and know when to retain the ball and when not to. Bruno works well because he does that and Pogba still raises doubts because he sometimes doesn't, but Pogba in a team with (insert fashionable DM here) still leaves the same holes as Pogba next to McTominay would, but people have less patience with the latter because of how Scott is perceived. Having a more attacking strategy will inevitably come with an increased risk defensively and people need to accept that.