Maybe I should have been more clear. I meant, building towards a front three of Sancho, Rashford and Greenwood as per the thread, not the formation I put out.
Will we see a front 3 of Rashford - Mason - Sancho?
- Thread starter The Corinthian
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Maybe I should have been more clear. I meant, building towards a front three of Sancho, Rashford and Greenwood as per the thread, not the formation I put out.
I agree then! I think 4231 with Bruno behind the three you mentioned was the goal.
Certainly, and I think if Ten Hag comes in next season, we could see something similar, as I know he's a big fan of a 4231. They will need to improve, though.
I’m not sure if I’m just scarred but I never feel like 4231 works well, maybe that’s just for united?
I just feel like it has never really worked for us, but saying that with a manager who can encourage good pressing then maybe it’ll work well. Really hope ETH comes.I’m not sure if I’m just scarred but I never feel like 4231 works well, maybe that’s just for united?
I thought we did relatively well playing it last season, and I personally believe it suits most of our players.
Bruno - our best player plays in his best position, so everything goes through him
Double pivot - we haven't got a specialist holding midfield, so a double pivot is more suited to our midfielders, where they can act as a foil for the attacking quartet.
Full backs - We haven't got the best attacking footballers in the world, so having a winger, who plays quite wide, takes some of the pressures of getting forward from them.
Going forward, if Ten Hag was to come to United, I think he would need to change:
Sancho Forward Greenwood
Bruno
Vdb/McT Holding Mid
Shaw Maguire Varane Right Back
De Gea
Bruno
Vdb/McT Holding Mid
Shaw Maguire Varane Right Back
De Gea
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Yeah I’d like that line up to be fair, wouldn’t mind seeing Laird at right back giving his attacking qualities, holding midfielder who can pass between the lines is of upmost importance.
This is massive.
Regards the full backs, Ten Hag this season has opted to use his full backs, especially Blind at left back, as an inverted full back, while his wingers stay high and wide. Think Shaw, as we've seen, would be fantastic in this role. His passing is really good.
In an alternate reality we never signed Ronaldo, Rashford/Greenwood/Sancho has been our front 3 and we're top of the league
They don't. Because they aren't the focal point of the attack unlike him, and they aren't penalty takers unlike him.
Moreover, you're conflating goals with good performances. They aren't the same. He's been just as woeful as either Sancho or Rashford.
No he hasn’t Rashford and Sancho have offered absolutely nothing. Ronaldo whilst being poor especially lately had various decent games the same can barely be said about Rashford he’s looked god awful for the whole season and tbh this dates back to last season.
Doesn't matter who we have upfront anyway we’re creating feck all as a team it could be Ronaldo, Kane or Lewandowski they aren’t doing anything in this team
Yes he has. Scoring penalties doesn't mean you're offering more. He hasn't been any better than either.
100% shaw would be a cracking inverted fullback, his touch and passing are absolutely good enough.
Yeah ok Ronaldo been as bad as Rashford
We are watching different games I think. Like I said the striker role in this current team is a graveyard shift there’s absolutely no creativity or build up play at all.
Cba arguing anyway it’s clear on form that Rashford, Sancho and Greenwood would be a waste of time.
We evidently must be.
I like this. People like to blame Rashford for about everything (I think many simply don't like his politics). He does run on the ball into 2-3 players and then lose it, but so do Fernandes, Ronaldo, Greenwood, and others but they don't get the same negative treatment. Of course, part of the problem is the standing around by other players on the pitch, leaving no one to pass to. Plus, Rashford has always been more effective on the left, and he has played there less frequently this PL season.
In any case, the front 3 needs 4-5 attackers who can play throughout the year. We might have those in our youth players (Amad, Elanga). For now, Cavani does well when a more traditional striker is needed.
I am not committed to the inward transfers of Trippier and Rice. I would be happy with any improvement over Dalot/AWB and a solid, disciplined CDM. McTominay is a great backup in midfield, but he should not be the first choice. Fred is better than many give him credit for, but he lacks the discipline to be a solid CDM. He deserves to play a different role elsewhere. I don't think that Pogba is a long-term solution. And, who knows about VDB? It might be necessary to bring in another CM until (if) Hannibal is ready.
Everything you've said there about Rashford equally applies to Ronaldo. Both play for themselves, not the team.
1st - I am not advocate to play Ronaldo over Rashford. Ronaldo can be dropped too. My point is to again that guy's point "Ronaldo ruined Rashford". My point is Rashford issue is his own.
2nd - I singled out the Europa League final as an example of the issue with Rashford attitude. We didn't have Ronaldo yet at that time as an excuses for Rashford.
3rd - I have yet to hear manager question Ronaldo commitment and suggest that he need to prioritize and focus on his football. I can't say the same for Rashford.
Obviously you can say Rashford and Ronaldo are the same regarding attitude, that's your observation, and your right.
We could see a front 3 of them, but it would be an uncoirdinated mess as it is now. Those lads don't know how to press or defend from the front properly.
As a 3 it’s looks great on paper.
But it would be a lazy trio and offer very little cover for the midfield/defence.
But it would be a lazy trio and offer very little cover for the midfield/defence.
Rashford has 91 career goals and 57 assists in 285 appearances for Utd
Sancho has 2 goals and ZERO assists in 22 appearances
Rashford and Sancho has been 2 of the worst wide forward in the league this season, while Greenwood has been quite inconsistent in terms of goalscoring, so I hope not.
I think it might be Sancho-Greenwood-Rashford because Rashford is more of a straightline type who could do a Sane at Bayern and not play inverted.
I still think this should be our plan going forward and all our money should have and should continue going to the back 7, where there's not a single player under 25 you'd bet on to be a quality long-term starter here.
Our team is too slow, and this front 3 might struggle against teams doing a low block, but there'd be runners in behind for Bruno to hit and as Pep keeps saying, you don't need height in the box if players are coming into the box as opposed to just standing there.
Sancho-Greenwood-Rashford
-------------CM-----Bruno-------------
-------------------DM----------------------
Shaw---LCB-------Varane-------RB
----------------Henderson-------------
is how I think of the team going forward. If we keep going with the 4-2-2-2 then move Bruno up and Sancho a bit inside and back and the rest is the same really.
I still think this should be our plan going forward and all our money should have and should continue going to the back 7, where there's not a single player under 25 you'd bet on to be a quality long-term starter here.
Our team is too slow, and this front 3 might struggle against teams doing a low block, but there'd be runners in behind for Bruno to hit and as Pep keeps saying, you don't need height in the box if players are coming into the box as opposed to just standing there.
Sancho-Greenwood-Rashford
-------------CM-----Bruno-------------
-------------------DM----------------------
Shaw---LCB-------Varane-------RB
----------------Henderson-------------
is how I think of the team going forward. If we keep going with the 4-2-2-2 then move Bruno up and Sancho a bit inside and back and the rest is the same really.
Why in the world are you quoting me including Sancho in your post? My post had nothing to do with Sancho.
Regardless of the above, do any of those stats excuse his worthless performances this season? You can read a lot about a persons body language. I’ve been to most the home games this season and you can tell he doesn’t want to play football. Either that or he is incapable but I trust our top class physios to know if a player is incapable of running or trying.
Rashford should be embarrassed of himself. What so many people would give to play for such a legendary club as United, and Marcus comes on with his shrugging shoulders and half arsed attempts to close down the ball, no intensity. It’s inexcusable
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Ronaldo is a problem but using him to hide the performances of Rashford and Sancho is a bit rich. I'm not even sure Ronaldo is the worst performer of the three, it's just that his presence causes tactical rigidity but that doesn't absolve Sancho who has been shite in every position and Rashford whom the less said about the better. They've all been played in their natural positions and didn't look like functional contributors being completely held back by the person up top. They've all sucked.
Edit. I actually want Ronaldo moved for a facilitating forward to help the forward cohesion but the hiding everyone's incompetence behind him needs to end. He's in the team because no one has made a strong enough case and that in itself is also a problem with the frontline. Earn the place so you can be backed to take his spot. Otherwise we're just playing musical chairs with poor performers. The 100 minutes or so Rash played up top under Rangnick was absolutely diabolical.
Edit. I actually want Ronaldo moved for a facilitating forward to help the forward cohesion but the hiding everyone's incompetence behind him needs to end. He's in the team because no one has made a strong enough case and that in itself is also a problem with the frontline. Earn the place so you can be backed to take his spot. Otherwise we're just playing musical chairs with poor performers. The 100 minutes or so Rash played up top under Rangnick was absolutely diabolical.
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I don’t know what you’ve seen, but Rashford has to be one of the worst pressers out there. He presses even less when he loses the ball.
Hopefully, those geriatrics are taking us nowhere.
what you say can be applied for Sancho too so just being fair
Key point. He hasn't put in any sort of consistent performances for at least 18 months. Plus he now has an entitled attitude, has regressed as a player and physically doesn't look the same. I'd cash in this Summer tbh.
All 3 of them should rot on the bench at the moment, so no, we won't.
Rashford hasn't shown anything in a very long time that would lead me hopeful of being worthy of a regular in the team.
That ain't happening so you may as well get over that quickly.
Rashford will come again. This is the first real drop in his game since arriving on the scene. It won't last forever.
Hope you're right, but i'd wager on that probably not happening. Physically he isn't the same, he hasn't developed a good football brain, and needs to sort out his attitude. That's alot of question marks on him. Looking like wasted potential now, ala Martial.
I was thinking about this yesterday. Although Ronaldo is a legend of the club and football in general United would've been better signing a good target striker to rotate with Greenwood whilst keeping Cavani as a backup.
Then again I still think the squad is suited for a 442 diamond; especially if you had a more rounded right back.
De Gea
Dalot Bailey Varane Shaw
Matic
Mctominey VDB
Bruno
Greenwood Cavani/Ronaldo
Rb, Cb positions should be upgraded alongside a younger deeplying midfielder and Shaw must add consistency to his game.
It's important Greenwood starts regularly as he's a generational talent like Saka and Martinelli imo. Could become the best striker in Europe if he reached his potential.
Then again I still think the squad is suited for a 442 diamond; especially if you had a more rounded right back.
De Gea
Dalot Bailey Varane Shaw
Matic
Mctominey VDB
Bruno
Greenwood Cavani/Ronaldo
Rb, Cb positions should be upgraded alongside a younger deeplying midfielder and Shaw must add consistency to his game.
It's important Greenwood starts regularly as he's a generational talent like Saka and Martinelli imo. Could become the best striker in Europe if he reached his potential.