The above image certainly tells a story. Bemused and perhaps perplexed as to how Manchester United didn’t manage to come away from Old Trafford with three points against Newcastle United, Louis van Gaal has some serious thinking – and maybe spending – to do this week.
Unbeaten in the Premier League without having conceded in the competition since the penultimate game of last season sounds wonderful; and it is, as a standalone. However, couple it with the fact that only two league goals have been scored by the Red Devils since then and the picture becomes clearer; something isn’t right at United.
In this feature, I’ll analyse why United have been so strong defensively, as well as explain what’s going wrong in attack; including why everyone’s getting it wrong when they’re blaming the goal-barren Wayne Rooney.
1) United are perfectly balanced – defensively
Let’s start off with the positives of Louis van Gaal’s current 4-2(1)-3 system. This lies purely in the back 6; Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Shaw, Carrick/Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin.
Matteo Darmian and Luke Shaw are perfect examples of modern full-backs. The pair of them love to bomb forward and overlap their respective wingers, but also get back with speed to thwart counter-attacks. With slower players such as Mata, Carrick and Schweinsteiger in the midfield, the pace has to come from elsewhere, so van Gaal’s recruitment has worked wonders in that sense.
Something I have consistently noticed this season is that when Darmian and Shaw push forward, Smalling and Blind aren’t left alone; United switch from 4-2(1)-3 to 3-5-2.
Chris Smalling shifts across to the right, with Daley Blind moving to the center of a three and Morgan Schneiderlin fills in as a third centre-back on the left. This allows the defense to push up as a unit.
This is the reason Schneiderlin was brought in by van Gaal this summer. It’s no coincidence that United have kept three clean sheets in the league whilst Southampton have leaked goals without Morgan in their side. United’s transition from 4 at the back to 3, when they move from defending to attacking, is flawless and will serve them well in Europe this season, should they finish the job against Club Brugge on Wednesday and qualify for the Champions League proper.
2) Rooney’s lack of goals is NOT his fault
Right, we’re on to the reason I’ve written this feature – a good 99% of people I’ve seen on social media are stabbing around in the dark as to their opinion on Wayne Rooney’s season so far. Yes, he’s not scored yet, but no, it’s not because he’s a bad player, lazy or any other false criticism you can come up with.
United’s current system, on paper, suggests that Rooney is the focal point of van Gaal’s attack, which he would be if the system were a proper 4-3-3 with a natural right-winger. I love Juan Mata and his industry is fantastic, but he shouldn’t be playing out wide; I’d genuinely rather have Paddy McNair out there because he drives at players.
Rooney loves to run across his marker and towards the front post. This is something which only Luke Shaw seems to have realised so far this season, with Memphis launching balls to the back post with his crosses and Darmian never really aiming at all. This, coupled with Mata’s tendency to drift in-field to a more central position, has led Rooney to take the initiative and move out wide himself.
If United sign a fast right-midfielder with good crossing ability (a role which Angel di Maria, unfortunately, would have been perfect for), Rooney won’t need to drift out wide and United will instead be able to counter-attack as a trident, with Memphis, Rooney and the new player moving forward together. This will leave our captain with time, space and opportunities in and around the box in a central position – things which are at a premium for him right now.
3) A true 4-3-3 would be more effective
Something that will see the team score more goals, as well as Rooney, would be to tweak – not change – the current system. Right now, Januzaj is playing as the foremost of a midfield three, with instruction to push on and act as a “number 10”. This role doesn’t suit Adnan, as he’s not a player who gets up and down the pitch.
A much better style of play would be seen if the idea of a “number 10” were to be dropped all together, and a ‘proper’ 4-3-3 formation played; but not with Januzaj.
Ander Herrera suits the box-to-box role which would be required of one of the three core midfielders and I’d go as far as to say that my aforementioned want for a right-winger would be less of a priority with Herrera on the pitch.
Herrera not only has a brilliant understanding with Juan Mata, which would certainly speed up United’s build-up play but is a hard-working player who presses and tackles very well. The Spainard has all the attributes required to boost what needs to be a very dynamic Red Devils midfield.
He’d also solve the problem as to Rooney’s lack of support when he’s forced to move out wide – Herrera’s always buzzing in and around the box and has a very acute eye for goal. He’d certainly offer more than young Adnan in that department although I do see Januzaj as someone who will eventually make the step up as a striker for United.
Ander is the link between midfield and attack that United need, so I can not understand why he sits on the bench. Rooney’s often stuck somewhere in his own defensive third whilst Memphis is counter-attacking. This is because Januzaj doesn’t provide the defensive industry needed, so Rooney has to pick up the slack. Herrera, on the other hand, is a very good box-to-box midfielder who can, has and will continue to allow Rooney to sit much further up the pitch.
Conclusion
There’s not much left to outline; United are making their own problems and it’ll only take minor changes to solve them.
It’s early in the season and anyone writing the boys from Old Trafford off at this stage needs to give their head a wobble.
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