The right players for the right tactic

[AngeloHenriquez]

We are being linked with some top players recently, but after being linked to Muller it confused me. For all his greatness, I can't see where he would play in the system we apparently due to employ next season. So, looking at the formation against out squad.

The back 4 have the same job as always except slightly more emphasis on attacking full backs due to lack of width in the middle of the park. After that is what concerns me, the front two lines are both made of 3 players each, the midfield consists typically of a defensive minded player, an attacking and a support. The front line consists of a lone striker, flanked by two inside forwards.

Come away from terms of positions, but to highlight my point, I'll refer to the defensive minded CM as the (DM), and the other two CM's as AM and SM. I have also used LIF and RIF as Left and Right inside forwards respectively.

DM - Carrick, (Blind), (Jones)
AM - Herrera, Mata, (Di Maria)
SM - (Carrick), Blind
LIF - Depay, (Mata), (Young)
ATT - Rooney, Wilson, Fellaini
RIF - Di Maria (Valencia)

*In Italic if they can also play that position to show squad depth

For me, this highlights our lack of depth in inside forwards, Mata and Valencia seem to be the only back up to Depay & Di Maria who I assume will be first choice, and neither are as direct or attacking.

Perhaps LVG is thinking of pushing Rooney to the inside forward position and buying a new striker? Or will buy some attacking players capable of playing wide?

We need someone of the Schweinsteiger mould who is the perfect support midfielder, he transitions defense to attack beautifully, while not being very direct himself, he brings others into play and we have a dearth of that in our CM too, while attacking mid is stocked, I can see the need for Schneiderlin to cover Carrick if he is injured too as fairly necessary. However, I do now believe Schwein would have a greater impact to our XI than Schneiderlin.

TLDR; We need wide attackers, unless LVG is pushing Rooney to a wider position, we need a supporting midfielder as well more than a defensive. Or do you think LVG will actually not use the 4-3-3 and it will become like the 3-5-2 and fade into history?

 

[antohan]

Not sure what's confusing about Müller when he can play anywhere across the front, but preferably that RIF role which definitely isn't nailed down for Di Maria (did he even play there much at all last season?). Not that Angel looks nailed down for anything with LVG.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

Not sure what's confusing about Müller when he can play anywhere across the front, but preferably that RIF role which definitely isn't nailed down for Di Maria (did he even play there much at all last season?). Not that Angel looks nailed down for anything with LVG.

It's more that we seem to be mainly linked with centre forwards, rather than wide forwards. I can't imagine we plan on switching from the 4-3-3 now RVP is gone and Hernandez due to follow, which makes the lack of links to wide attackers all the more strange. Even if we bought Muller, I'd argue only him and Depay can prefer to play those positions (Out of what's available) and I think we would need a few additions. I'd like to see Lingard brought into the fold.

EDIT: Forgot about Januzaj, but LVG doesn't seem to be ready to put him in for a starting birth yet.

I think a wide forward or a supportive midfielder is/was more important than a RB/CB yet we've been focusing on Otamendi/ Ramos it seems.

 

[ADJUDICATOR]

I actually think it's more like this:

DM - Carrick, Blind, (Jones)

Carrick is first choice there because he performs the key jobs needed here to the greatest effect: controlling the team's tempo, and shutting down passing lines in front of the defence. Blind is also good there because although he doesn't quite have Carrick's experience in holding midfield, he is very good shifting and controlling the ball under pressure and is more mobile and aggressive in tracking runs and opposition play. The rest will probably come with experience but there is also the possibility that Blind won't develop into a Carrick-esque player and will continue in his current mould- in which case we need a proper replacement for Carrick who is defensively sound while being adept at controlling the tempo of our game.

I think this is actually Schweinsteiger, and not Schneiderlin, because though the latter has shown a 'good' passing range for Southampton, Schweinsteiger has years of experience defending in midfield and controlling games at the highest level. In any case it wouldn't hurt to have them both and have Morgan learn from the two veterans. If we're dreaming, then Verratti (who is not only one of the best distributors and retainers of the ball in football at present, but is also a talented and aggressive ball winner).


AM - Herrera, Mata, (Di Maria)

Pretty much set in this area. Herrera hasn't yet peaked, Mata just needs to come into proper form from consistent game time in the centre, and we know what Di Maria can offer from here. This is the area in midfield where we are strongest.


SM - Fellaini, Mata, Di Maria, Blind, (Carrick)

I'm guilty of repeatedly claiming that Fellaini isn't good enough to be starting in this position for a team of our stature and ambitions, but he does bring quite a few things to the table in this position. He lacks vision, game intelligence and technique in comparison to most top level midfielders. What he does have, is physical presence, a decent defensive effort, a great aerial presence both in defence and as an outlet in attack, and an extra body in the box when we're on the front (whether it's at the back post, or running in late). Whoever we get to replace him doesn't have to provide all these same qualities at a greater level, but at least a good handful of them. Fellaini is ahead of Mata and Di Maria in this position because he balances the midfield and supplements the attack, and despite Mata's excellent retention or Di Maria's creative play, they can't offer that.

This is where we need a better option, and for me that signing has to be players like Vidal, Nainggolan or maybe even Schneiderlin. They can cover ground, press and win the ball with the security of a proper holding midfielder behind them, while also getting forward and aiding the forwards to good/decent effect. Ideally Schneiderlin plays here I reckon, and uses his confidence in midfield to facilitate the transition from defence into attack, which frees Herrera up more.


LIF - Young, Depay, Di Maria, (Mata)
ATT - Rooney, (Fellaini), Wilson
RIF - Mata, Di Maria, Young, (Valencia)

As far as wide attackers goes, it looks like we're fairly stocked in those areas unless Mata or Young leave.