Has Ten Hag SOLVED Manchester Uniteds Defensive Problems!?

[@EshawMohammad]

the 4-4-2 mid block pressing shape or rest defensive shape is something rudd used to use in psv he talks about in detail on the coaches voice yt channel

[@alexfielding7191]

Amazing what can happen when you have CB's that can play a high line. The reason for giving away so many chance last season, outside of injuries, was the fact there was so much space in-between the attack, midfield and defence, it's that simple. A deep defensive line due to Maguire and Evans playing a lot but also wanting to press stretched us way too thin and easily carved through. If De Ligt, Martinez and Yoro (when he's back around Christmas) stay fit we will be much improved defensively.

[@shishsuke]

Our line hasnt been consistently high yet this season though so I'd probably wait on that assessment And Maguire consistently played a higher line when Ole was manager. He wasnt the problem, more likely it was Evans and Varane who were more resistant to it. There were even rumours of Varane and Casemiro asking ten Hag to play more conservatively at the end of last season

[@benjaminngopwaamos6878]

And to think we're still going for at least another CB next summer. We now have people who understand what the team needs and act on that exactly.

[@mm2801]

​@@shishsukebecause they recognised they had to cover for maguire😂

[@OserojiemenKing]

We had the same backline from the Liverpool game and they played deep in that game. We had Maguire in the Fulham game and we played on the halfway line. It has nothing to do with the defenders, it has everything to do with the FACT that EtH has a small club coach mindset (which is why he can't coach a style of play that consistently controls the game and dominate oppositions. Also why he keeps going on about winning the fa cup and the league cup) so he can't decide what he wants (or can't coach it very well,) so he keeps changing game to game.

[@nakiyame2606]

​@@joni.sirvio8867honestly maguire and lindelof is a decent backup option, but not with their salary right now....

[@SihlonitshiweVazhure]

zirkzee link up play oh my god how does a guy who is 6'4 have such technique on the ball

[@lykon2201]

Honestly😮‍💨

[@cameronhennigan810]

@@Humble.Genius1 0 ball knowledge

[@SihlonitshiweVazhure]

@@Humble.Genius1 whatever you say man

[@Aarya-v5n]

He has insane vision too, because he doesn't delay those passes too. The whole segment of him dragging 1-2 players and simply laying off the ball in the space vacated where our player has arrived is going to be lethal. Loved his awareness.

[@SchmeichelJackson]

He’s crazy good isn’t he

[@Aarya-v5n]

I hope ETH flips pages from his own tactics book from the 22/23 season and becomes pragmatic at times. Some fans saying ETH just doesn't focus on defence and lacks tactical accumen are just blabbering for the sake of it. Ik you are only good as the last match you played/managed but lets not forget 22/23 when we had 17 clean sheets, very solid at the back and there were so so many games when ETH changed the game with his subs at HT. Ik his stubbornness with the high press last season caused us so much harm but that wasn't because he was a "clueless manager" but actually wanted us to move to playing front-foot football. If he really would be that clueless, he wouldn't last till 2023 only because he literally sacrificed all his ideas after the 4-0 Brentford after realising the squad he inherited played SAFE football which "protected" them. Yes, we continued to be safe in 22/23 but the 2-0 Spurs, 2-1 Barca and some other games, felt like we demolished those teams with dominance. Maturity is when you realise if he would only care about his job, he would have continued with that safe approach. People saying we don't have a play-style, we have, its just that their idea of style is only possession. I was bored to death watching Spurs in possession against Arsenal. They somehow made possession with penetration look useless. Still, if some ppl say Howe & Ange have better style of play, fine, but I love transitional style of play & it was the right approach and we must give ETH time. I think we already are top 5-7 teams in attacking transitions (desperate need to improve converting chances) and now its about those defensive & OOP patterns.

[@abhishekabhishek3950]

Object Oriented Programming pattern?? 🤪

[@michaelkabaso8587]

😂​@@abhishekabhishek3950

[@Hihihii7ii]

Not a single world class team play transitional football, even madrid plays possession football majorly

[@jean-paulwalters8855]

​@@Hihihii7iidid you see their recent game, did you see the ties vs Manchester City, sometimes game environments and situations, can dictate the way you play, you may want to play possession, but sometimes the game state and opponents won't allow it

[@soundboy_stk6510]

This comment is world class ❤

[@harleeclark6397]

Whilst there is plenty of positives to take away from the game. Lets not forget this also a struggling Southampton side, truer litmus tests are needed.

[@EmmanuelgaiDung]

Games like this are where Coaches try new ideas and we can all see it Some lack of personnel hindering us but surely and finally we will get there.

[@nadiratariq796]

Our style of play under Erik Ten Hag is possession but we won't stay with the ball for such a long time. We will then go direct. The transition begins from there.

[@Manutdhighlights136]

Basically it's about playing a higher defensive line That has been a major difference this season Last season we were dropping off too much, leaving spaces in front of our defense and that only invites the opposition to shoot

[@Nightwing184]

mostly a necessity based on our available options on the backline.

[@Liamomentje]

Mostly because of Harry Maguire and Lindelof.

[@shitvideoquality4856]

This is why Licha and De Ligt has to start

[@valzor2562]

@@Liamomentje The highest lines weve played this year so far have been with harry maguire in the team, we played a deeper line in this game for the first 45 and in liverpool then we did against fulham and brighton. its not personell related, its a choice by EtH. Also we havent played a particularly high line, its still a major issue.

[@cameronjones8641]

​@valzor2562 THANK YOU! I completely agree. I made a replay of a gap we had in midfield in the first half and their no.6 ran unchallenged, without a single player in front of him, from the halfway line all the way to outside our box. If he hadn't fallen over himself it would be a goal. Any decent player or team would have scored or created a goal from it. It was criminal. That is the hallmark of Ten Hags tactics since Wolves at the start of last season. I predicted 3 nil before the game and another delay to him being exposed as the fraud I think he is. I actually hope I'm wrong though.

[@LDElmi]

Stumble upon is not giving the manager the credit for resolving an issue from last season! Given the number of changes we’ve had in the back line due to an precedented injury list

[@emmanuelugoh4270]

Exactly cos i dont know why this fuvkers keep undermining the coach and diminishing his efforts

[@LDElmi]

@@Humble.Genius1 best manager after Pep! He needs more time to implement his playing style. Once it clicks, I want the apology to be as loud as the disrespect!!

[@Vharll]

It was a question.

[@LDElmi]

@@VharllI didn’t see a question? Enlighten me?

[@OrangeManBaddd]

​@@LDElmibest manager after pep after finishing 8th and winning fa cup

[@OpaG]

Good analysis!

[@drdranix2264]

90 percent of the problem was that our defensive line wouldnt connect to the press thats why we always have this massive uncovered space in the middle of the pitch this game even in first half, i didnt felt like defensive line is disconnected there were still one or two occasions i think i saw defensive line not playing high enough but in general it was fixed i hope eth and the team keep it up cuz now with this defensive line, theres no excuse, theres no maguire in the starting line-up anymore

[@billinglumbalumba]

Maguire and also linde 😂

[@HansonFrancis]

Thanks mahn for you insightful thoughts about our darling club

[@Ozone280]

We've played only one top team so far, Liverpool, and we got stuffed 0-3, so I would imagine thinking United's defensive problems are solved is a little premature.

[@feranmiquadri6279]

I'm curious to see how we would press with a team that builds up with 3 at the back.

[@GangeloffMD]

It was a good adjustment. I don’t think he started off with the idea to play a 442, I think at the beginning it was the hexagon again, but with Southampton’s fullbacks sitting pretty high on the pitch, it naturally became a 442.

[@tahmidistheone]

Ten hag is a tactician, weve seen him change when he wants to like the fa cup final. He is just stubborn and has had to deal with a lot of injuries.

[@cybermanne]

"Stumble on" Way to not give EtH any credit.

[@ChadYu]

Nice hoodie AJ

[@dylanshane5559]

i love how you don’t get ahead of yourself as a united fan. this whole time i kept saying in my head “it’s not completely fixed because we only did it in one game against southhampton” and you reiterated that as a common sense individual

[@khawajaahmad7225]

Good analysis

[@nicholasdunson8308]

The answer to the question is De Ligt and Mazraoui.

[@zeeone4492]

The answer to the question is it was Southampton

[@sumethanarulanantham9676]

Dalot was good on the right last year !

[@sumethanarulanantham9676]

@@Humble.Genius1 Dalat was awarded as the best player last year

[@EyeIn_The_Sky]

All 4 games this season. Faced far fewer shots and had 3 times the xG creating chances. Don't speak about football again.

[@jackwoods05]

​@@Humble.Genius1 yeah just united's player of the season last year and probably their most consistent player, but no worries

[@Tankpacqikcao]

Ferguson era, bench majority are Defenders. ferguson puts priority on defence. There is a reason Liverpool, city, arsenal concede less because of superior defence. The passing game is just technical. The attack and goal comes if you execute properly. The defence is no tactic. Is basically a feel for the game, the defender needs to read the game ahead of everyone. Intercept when needed. Do i need to remind you of the galatasaray game where the striker bulldozed Dalot and scores.

[@medabdi4440]

Briliant❤

[@frederickomoerah6094]

Man to man. Is a risky tactics. If the opposition player beats his man, then the entire system is in disarray and the gaps will be disastrous.

[@billinglumbalumba]

A risky tactics which led atalanta won UEL 😂

[@peacefullyforever]

One day… Hosjlund Zirkz Rashie Bruno Diallo Ugarte DeLigt Mazzy Martinez Yoro After first goal: Zirkz Garnacho Bruno Diallo Ugarte Mainoo Mazzy Martinez DeLigt Yoro Mainoo should come off the bench at this point. Based on quality of opponent, these lineups change to include Ericksen, Mount and Maguire. Shaw and Malacia will improve the team 100%. Our corner kicks will have much taller targets this season: Zirkz Rashie DeLigt Yoro Mazzy Maguire There should be set plays for corner kicks as we can’t score at all this way. If Man City get relegated: 1. Arsenal 2. Man Utd 3. Aston Villa 4. Chelsea 10. Liverpool

[@omarsamuda5511]

Good job fam

[@NuclearNadal14]

EtH has been stubborn with his system and rather than creating a system out of his players,he is force fitting them into a system.Though he made tactical adjustment against SOTON,the adjustment would have been very late had SOTON scored in the early 30 mins.And against team like Liverpool,we concede goals.He learns and then adjust only when it is too late and it seems the guy always came unprepared.He never strikes me as a tactically sound guy and until his opponent strikes first dearly,he sticks with his system.The win is against SOTON,a team at the bottom so hold your horses for a while,my fellow fans.

[@EyeIn_The_Sky]

ETH has stumbled upon winning more trophies than season as manager. Elite stumbler...

[@elkamliomar6985]

I think ETH ideas could be a reality if u give him fede valverde i think he matchs exactly what u need in that kind of system but its just my opinion

[@Pat14922]

United haven't had control of the midfield for 2 seasons, and that's partly tactical - i.e. the 4 2 3 1, leave 2 midfielders against 3 or 4 opposition, and they just can't do it. the 4 4 2 right now would suit us. It makes the midfield stronger, so we dont get passed around, the 2 in the middle don't get worn out for running the whole 90 minutes, and the full backs get some protection directly in front of them and don't have to mark 2 (a winger and an attacking full back). Plus, when they g forward, they are close to our winger. giving their full back something to worry about.. We saw 2 things at the weekend, we haven't seen for ages , an overlapping full back and some wide crosses to 2 strikers, after some neat 1 2's between full back and wide player. I know 4 2 3 1 is fashionable, but right now , 4 4 2 would do us nicely, let us bed in our new players, and start conceding less, and scoring more.

[@gregoryho9307]

it seems rather basic to set up tactics based on individual player weaknesses/strengths but Ten Hag should have played a mid block a year ago. United would have won more games if he wasn’t trying to squeeze square pegs into round holes. Slow defenders like Maguire also should not be there unless we playing a back 3 or playing park the bus and counter attack.

[@xg_zack]

Does anyone know if Colyer or Amass have already played a match with the youth team this week. Could be an indicator of where there at in Ten Hag's head.

[@Jdlundy12]

I reckon both will start the cup tie. Especially because eriksen can't play that many minuted and mainoo can't play every game either. Mazraoui was taken off at the weekend as well so we probably won't see a dalot and mazraoui starting at fullback.

[@sadeqError]

No we haven't solved individual defensive errors

[@Account_CB]

hmm...so after 2 yrs of trying 4-2-4, 3-1-6, 4-2-1-1, 4-2-3-1....what has worked best is our traditional SAF formation of 4-4-2....... we always played great aggressive football under SAF with the 442....with flying wingers & overlapping FBs... it just seems like ETH finally realised trying to over complicate things has not worked.... In the 2nd half we had total control of Southampton.. Utd don't have the intellect & composure to play like City & Arsenal...it would be good if we did...but we dont...so simplifying things seems like it will let the players concentrate more on the game & be more certain as to their roles....it will definitely make us more of an attacking threat....but now ETH has to let the wingers cross the ball into the box....not just wait for the under/overlap or the perfect cutback.... although saying that this worked a dream for Garnacho's goal...albeit Southampton played us well onside.

[@GangeloffMD]

Formations aren’t fixed. It could be a 4-2-4 high press, 4-4-2 mid block and 3-1-6 or 3-2-5 in possession. That 442 refers to an out of possession shape and it was a necessary byproduct of them playing from the back through pretty high FBs.

[@TheReddances]

Or defenders without a recovery run will need to bully in a man-to-man tactic - "let him know you're there" as they say/stop the attacker much more, rather than be turned. Is that why when McG came on vs Soton, the first thing he did was get booked?🤔 - which meant he couldn't do it again, of course. Sigh! Unless ALL compensate with even more energy to support the legless. So, more rotation in general in the squad to rest harder working players..? We will see vs Bansley, a perfect opp to rotate, how far the attempts to eliminate the donut positioning of last season has permeated the entire squad, as it needs to! I expect McG to feature, hopefully to work on the ability to bully without stupid cards. Alternatively, much improved skill in reading the game when playing (as opposed to our - the viewers' - easier job) is the other emphasis slowcoaches can work on, so to make interventions &/or organise others to that effect. I am sure McG, etc know that. Not beating Barnsley under any circumstances would be a bit of a problem, though, so I would take an awful attritional slugfest and a nasty goal trickled-in in the 90th, if that's what it took.

[@dvo66]

question is will our players do this against top 6

[@billinglumbalumba]

"It was soton" *forgot 0-3 humiliation by liverpool*

[@acardy1804]

People think ETH fixed everything when he got a result vs Southampton. Just wait until he goes up against anybody in the top 6 and gets exposed again.

[@joshuapianist]

Also wait if the opposite happens too

[@ambroseokolo]

It is wrong for you to say that Erik Ten Hag stumbled on the defensive solution. It is insulting.

[@jeffkeller7090]

It's more lik he stumbled on ten hags defensive prowess😊

[@Ev3rNoor23]

So we turned into wingers into wide midfielder’s? Doesn’t this mean Bruno and Rashford should swap places?

[@Ev3rNoor23]

Actually in a system like this do we even require a player like Ugarte? Can’t we just run Bruno and Mainoo in the middle, Diablo and Garnacho wide mid, and Rashford and Zirkzee up top?

[@189x]

let's not pretend 1 win means we solved our defensive issues.. this is gonna take a while to fix bad habits and all that crap

[@Jdlundy12]

Until the attack is threatening every time we get the ball, the defense will always be exposed.

[@JasonOmotosho-q2g]

Against Southampton?

[@JDVRadio]

lads it’s southampton

[@kdtushaberoland3088]

Imagine ten hag won against Southampton but you re shouting here and there If he won Brighton, Aston villa, Spurs, I wd hv praised his tactics But next match he gonna loose and the same people who are praising him now will attack him

[@foxxyfem983]

Then another set of defensive problems would surface next game 😂😂

[@awcarpetsflooring9380]

Rashford will always be a weak link in pressing he's so passive

[@00mpa1oomp4]

I think the coaches have instructed him to save his energy to remain a threat on ghe break for 90 mins but yes it has backfired massively a lot of times

[@somegeezer4058]

Brazilian Ronaldo was passive, so what?

[@awcarpetsflooring9380]

@@somegeezer4058 was that premier league? No football is different now

[@awcarpetsflooring9380]

@@joni.sirvio8867 he never attempts to tackle & the opposition always play down his side that tells you everything

[@somegeezer4058]

@@awcarpetsflooring9380 No. It was when he won a world cup medal and numerous Ballon D-ORs.

[@jayhamm586]

It was Southampton! The worst team in the league without question. We’re reading wayyyy too much into this performance-we should’ve won by another 4 goals

[@billinglumbalumba]

"It was southampton" Remember where we started from bruh 😂😂

[@goodputin4324]

Nope. And I am a United fan.

[@DirkAndDestroy]

The defensive solution is to play Soton every week.

[@jacobfield4848]

Man Utd beat a very poor Championship team, Nothing else.

[@onii-chan2811]

Ten hag is when you apply with little knowledge but learn on the job role😂

[@armyaj]

because southampton is bad

[@avianand1339]

Bro you need to learn how to pronounce “Licha”

[@zeeone4492]

The answer is was Southampton

[@Skauwg]

Mate, last season Newport and Luton had 17 and 22 shots respectively, so it didn't mather if the opposition was Championship standard or not, we could't control a game of football. This was a big step in the right direction, but Like AJ said: we have to do it consistently now.

[@wisalmahmood9696]

@@Skauwg Don’t forget we bottled a 3-0 lead to Coventry.

[@milans.4505]

we have just played against very weak team, next time we will lose. Because nothing had changed, we are still bad with ETH.

[@WolePhoenix]

Weak team that dominated us for 30 minutes whilst completely outplayed them in the second half. There are still issues in the team but the weaker team narrative wouldn't be considered if United had lost that game. Based on the second half, the tactical change was positive but time will tell eventually.

[@milans.4505]

@@WolePhoenix Southampton is undoubtedly a weak team, having lost all four of their games with a goal difference of 1:8. The fact that they dominated the first 30 minutes of the match highlights our own shortcomings. Despite facing such a struggling opponent, we continue to perform poorly, indicating that nothing has improved. This suggests that we are likely to face ongoing challenges and potentially lose many upcoming games.

[@habiladam6363]

​@@milans.4505 Luton had 22 shots, Newport had 17 shots on us last season. Southampton had 6, non after the penalty. This season so far, we have not conceded over 10 shots per match. We have a 2-0-2 w-d-l, one of those losses being the LFC game.