Mike Smalling
Full Member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2018
- Messages
- 13,874
He played as a central defender today. No one knows why.
He played as a central defender today. No one knows why.
No World Cup for Bruno Martins Indi. That's why I wanted to see Tyrell Malacia there.Translation?
No World Cup for Bruno Martins Indi. That's why I wanted to see Tyrell Malacia there.
Asked about Malacia’s rather experimental position, Van Gaal told ESPN NL after the game: ‘I put Malacia in the left centre-back role because Martins Indi is not going to make it to the World Cup squad in time due to injury.
‘I have to look at other players who can play there and I wanted to see what Malacia could do, so Ake was substituted.’
Van Gaal was happy with plenty of aspects of Malacia’s performance in his new role, particularly how he shackled Kevin De Bruyne, but seemed to feel his work on the ball could have been better – with the two even sharing a heated conversation on the touchline after one marauding run forward too many.
This time speaking to NOS, Van Gaal said: ‘I put him on the left of the central defence because De Bruyne played a lot on that side. It’s better to have a pit bull like that instead of someone like Blind who tries to solve it tactically.
‘De Bruyne has more acceleration than Blind as well so I put Malacia there. I had already discussed this with him the day before yesterday, that he could play as a left centre-back.
‘The defensive work he did very well, but the constructive work in the build-up could have been a lot better.’
He was fine, didn't have a lot to do. But nervous in the build up as he is clearly not at all used to play in the centre of the pitch. It was very weird seeing him marking someone twice his size though and in the end his man nearly scored an insane overhead kick.How did he play?
You see something like this and think of how logical Van Gaal is, including when he picked Krul who was trained specifically for penalties.Thanks.
https://metro.co.uk/2022/09/26/man-...lled-tyrell-malacia-in-new-position-17448033/
Interestingly as I've said in Dalot's thread, I think him and Malacia are more akin to Walker and Zinchenko at City than the likes of Robertsons, Cancelos, Trents etc that people are hoping/expecting when they say they expect more from our full backs.
I think Malacia has a lot more to show on the ball and going forward but it does seem even ETH is (understandably) liking the stability of passing and defensive aggression he brings rather than the overlapping runs and attacking expansiveness.
You are not alone, he is absolutely mental but in a very funny way. His managing of the Netherlands has been sensational, he knows what he is doing.No matter what anyone says I still like Van Gaal.
I still think that Krul move was more just being lucky rather than anything special. To the point, that in the next match, they went to penalties again and Krus wasn’t put in for penalties.You see something like this and think of how logical Van Gaal is, including when he picked Krul who was trained specifically for penalties.
And then you remember he also picked Phil Jones to take corners and realize he's not logical, he's just mental.
Classic LvG. I remember that one time that Ander Herrera scored a goal from midfield, it was either a long shot or he'd made like a great late run into the box and it was revealed afterwards that van Gaal berated him for coming out of position and scoring the goal.https://metro.co.uk/2022/09/26/man-...lled-tyrell-malacia-in-new-position-17448033/
"Van Gaal was happy with plenty of aspects of Malacia’s performance in his new role, particularly how he shackled Kevin De Bruyne, but seemed to feel his work on the ball could have been better – with the two even sharing a heated conversation on the touchline after one marauding run forward too many."
If I am not mistaken it was cause he didn’t first trap the ball and then shoot, but shot directly. Or a combination of both what you and I said.Classic LvG. I remember that one time that Ander Herrera scored a goal from midfield, it was either a long shot or he'd made like a great late run into the box and it was revealed afterwards that van Gaal berated him for coming out of position and scoring the goal.
I still think that Krul move was more just being lucky rather than anything special. To the point, that in the next match, they went to penalties again and Krus wasn’t put in for penalties.
I like Van Gaal though. I think that he is mental, that a lot of his genius moves have nothing to do with him being genius but are total random moves, with the majority backfiring. But when some go right (cause of luck), they look incredible and people are more willing to talk about them, then for example for that game when he played Di Maria as No. 9 and Rooney as No. 8. It didn’t go well obviously, but imagine if Di Maria scored a couple of goals, people would have been all in praise about Van Gaal doing that.
Other incredible moves he did: playing Lingard as right back, putting Nick Powell who had not play at all that season, in a must win match, Jones in corners, selling pretty much every winger we had and then complaining and so on. He is a very good coach though, but not a very good manager.
Not even sure he did that great at the international level. Sure he got third place (4 years after Holland almost won it and was beaten in the final), but expect the group stage, they weren't that good. They were losing against Mexico until stoppage time when they scored twice to win 2-1, they needed penalties to win against Costa Rica, and then were second best before losing in penalties against Argentina. And in 2002, they weren't able to qualify for the World Cup at all.Yeah that sums him up. No wonder he does better at International level, because he just has to work with who he's given.
Not even sure he did that great at the international level. Sure he got third place (4 years after Holland almost won it and was beaten in the final), but expect the group stage, they weren't that good. They were losing against Mexico until stoppage time when they scored twice to win 2-1, they needed penalties to win against Costa Rica, and then were second best before losing in penalties against Argentina. And in 2002, they weren't able to qualify for the World Cup at all.
Thanks.
https://metro.co.uk/2022/09/26/man-...lled-tyrell-malacia-in-new-position-17448033/
Interestingly as I've said in Dalot's thread, I think him and Malacia are more akin to Walker and Zinchenko at City than the likes of Robertsons, Cancelos, Trents etc that people are hoping/expecting when they say they expect more from our full backs.
I think Malacia has a lot more to show on the ball and going forward but it does seem even ETH is (understandably) liking the stability of passing and defensive aggression he brings rather than the overlapping runs and attacking expansiveness.
You can say that again. He has yet to complete a single pass or cross into the box, has 0.00 xA, has about half the number of passes/90 and touches/90 you get from TAA or Reece James or Kyle Walker, does very little progressive passing (1.5 passes/90), practically non-existent Shot creating actions, actually non-existing goal creating actions, very few progressive carries, doesn't dribble a lot (and not especially successfully). He does do a lot of defensive stuff well, except he gets dribbled past a lot.
Have to admit I expected it to be a much more balanced picture, but statistically at least he comes across as defensively impactful, but with very, very little presence on the ball.
I think the stats reflect what we've been seeing. Very tidy but unadventurous on the ball and susceptible to being beaten but very industrious in defense.Those stats do come across as quite bad but I still think he has been playing well to very well. He's playing an inverted position, tucking in centrally to help control the midfield and progress the ball; as such he would be going out of position to overlap and get involved in the attacking third. It doesn't help that we're not dominating possession and creating waves and waves of attack either so it's not like there is lots of opportunity for him to drift on the wing and expect lots of switches etc. He's playing quite conservatively and not busting a lung on the overlaps, which is fine for me at the moment. On a technical and mental level, I'm quite pleased with what he's shown.
What might be useful to see is other measures like touches and carries coming from a press, a heat map or perhaps defensive contributions? His link up and passing with Martinez has been a nice little () partnership.
The dribbled past stat is interesting because I think that is definitely true and aligns with the eye test. He plays on the edge and apart from against Saka, where he 'adapted' better, his style of aggressive defending and lots of recovery runs/tackles has worked out decently so far. I 'expect' for him to get rinsed and overcommit one day but at the same time I think he's learning at a high rate on the fly.
Maybe we'll see Malacia deeper in the derby, closer to a third cb to nullify De Bruyne again.
You can say that again. He has yet to complete a single pass or cross into the box, has 0.00 xA, has about half the number of passes/90 and touches/90 you get from TAA or Reece James or Kyle Walker, does very little progressive passing (1.5 passes/90), practically non-existent Shot creating actions, actually non-existing goal creating actions, very few progressive carries, doesn't dribble a lot (and not especially successfully). He does do a lot of defensive stuff well, except he gets dribbled past a lot.
Have to admit I expected it to be a much more balanced picture, but statistically at least he comes across as defensively impactful, but with very, very little presence on the ball.
Sounnes will commit suicide on live television.Let’s play him and Martinez in CB at the same time, just for fun.
Imagine we still had Pogba. I think his head would literally explode in fury.Sounnes will commit suicide on live television.
Interesting how this thread hasn't been bumped. This guy is utterly wank. Aside from his pathetic showing defensively today he's averaging a cross every 4 games. Not a goal or a key pass but an actual cross, a single cross every 4 games! I'd say he was like an AWB but with better balance but he's neither better at attacking or defending than AWB.
We need to pump the brakes with the praise indeed. He was shocking and so scared todayInteresting how this thread hasn't been bumped. This guy is utterly wank. Aside from his pathetic showing defensively today he's averaging a cross every 4 games. Not a goal or a key pass but an actual cross, a single cross every 4 games! I'd say he was like an AWB but with better balance but he's neither better at attacking or defending than AWB.