Thread:

Highlighting a couple of improvements from United's Europa league R32 win over La Real. #MUFC

La Real 0 v 4 Man Utd — Buildup & Pressing. #RSOMUN

Pressing & traps:

Often #mufc are hasty & over-commit in their pressing, especially from players like Rashford and Bruno. Thus leading their press to be dis-jointed and by-passed easily. On Thursday, they nailed it. They formed a pressing cage around #RSO entire midfield.
Aim was to minimize #RSO creative players' involvement on the ball. In fact, Merino & Silva had the fewest touches of their teammates. Bruno & MG11 focused on cutting passing lanes to midfield instead of rushing the press. MG11 pressed nearside CB when ball went out-wide.
The trigger for United's press was when the ball is played to the FBs. This is where a ball nearside Winger pressed the FB, while the CF closes the ball nearside CB & the CM (Scott) & FB (AWB) pressed the dropping CM (Merino) & LW (Oyarzabal).+CB pressed dropping CF (Izak). #mufc
Buildup:

#MUFC built-up in a 2422 where the CF & CAM dropped to help the buildup. #RSO pressed in 4132 with Silva pushing up. Th improvement was how Fred and Scott communicated & opened up angles for their CBs to cut through the press.+ Bruno dragging Illarramendi OOP.
This allowed Fernandes opened angles for Fred who was excellent on the night in scanning his positioning to get out of press.

Just like the pressing can be dis-joined if the backline doesn't push up, the buildup can also be dis-jointed with no angles to get out of press. #MUFC
MG11 and Fernandes dropping while MR10 shifting to CF to pin the CBs was very clever and helped #mufd by-pass #RSO press often. Notice Greenwood's position and he was the CF on the night...
#MUFC maintained their final phase shape, which was 325/235. It was fluid, however, as on the transition it was a 424. The change was Bruno maintained as high a position as Greenwood. He was a second striker. Bruno becomes less effective the deeper he drops...
Since #RSO don't really defend in a low block, he was not needed to drop to progress the ball often & it was a smart thing to be that high. A valuable quality Bruno has he makes a lot of striker-like runs off the shoulder of defenders. It was evident in his 2 goals.

End. #mufc

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What a year it's been. It hasn't been easy for anyone in 2020, but we've seen @spfl clubs and community trusts across Scotland step up to support those in need.

Let's have a little thread to celebrate 12 months of extraordinary commitment.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍

/1


We kicked off the year with Football Fans in Training.

#BeYourOwnHero


Alison wasn't actually a @PartickThistle fan (albeit she kinda fell for the Jags with help from her partner). This was her story... 💪🏽

#BeYourOwnHero


Also in January we revealed that @JamTarts would join our @JoyofMovingUK programme, becoming the third club in Scotland to deliver the project to primary schools, across Edinburgh.

In Feb, we revealed @CashBackScot is to fund a new SPFL Trust project with five @spfl clubs / communities trusts to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Off the Bench will feature:

⚪️ @DundeeFCCT
⚪️ @falkirkfcf
⚪️ @bighearts
⚪️@community_mfcct
⚪️
I don't think people understand the vital difference between a well-rehearsed (and physical) team vs a collection of individuals with no real understanding - new players, makeshift centre-backs, other players out of position. Make do an mend when missing a ton of quality = v.hard


Add fatigue,with less option to rotate, and big effort in 3 away games in previous 9 days. Team lacks height and heft without VvD, Matip, Fabinho, Gomez. Team lacks pace and goals without Jota, Mané. Lacks pace at back without VvD and Gomez. No senior keeper undermines confidence

Team has been disrupted constantly this ssn. Rarely below 6 injuries, often = 10. Thiago a real bonus after months out, but the proper team is not around him. Even Gini looked knackered yesterday. 5th/6th-choice strikers and centre-backs will always be a big drop from 1st choices

Last night was a bit grim, and Brighton were excellent. But it was a strong XI for them, in terms of usual players and in terms of physicality. LFC full of skilful slower little guys right now - lacking the skilful bodyguards and pace. Kabak should help, but he's young and new

You can read Mentality Monsters or Perched for how much I talk about the unity of a team, the practiced understanding from years of intense training together, knowing each others runs and movements. Right now it's a team of semi-strangers and stand-ins.

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