Football is a fickle business. Before Southampton came to Old Trafford, the mood around the club was one of optimism. A favourable fourth round draw in the FA Cup, an eleven match unbeaten run in all competitions and, most importantly, the injury crisis had eased and apart from Ashley Young’s absence, the squad was fully fit. There was a real sense that the ‘real’ United would now be able to flourish, then came defeat at home to Southampton. With that defeat came many questions. Questions about van Gaal, about Falcao and his future, the formation was scrutinised yet again and the quality of some of the players in the squad has been questioned too. Going into the game against Queens Park Rangers there are many voices calling for a return to a back four and a midfield diamond, similar to the one we saw at the start of the season. Where the side is being let down at the moment may not necessarily be in the formation, but more the way in which the players are playing. There is no risk, no fluidity, no speed of passing and incisive running in dangerous areas. When played correctly, a midfield diamond takes on a very similar shape offensively to the 3-5-2. It may just be that certain players need to be rearranged within a lineup to create the most efficient and purposeful team, because at the moment United are rudderless in attack and its creating stale, disappointing performances. This is a lineup very similar to the one we saw at the start of the season and the one that saw United play arguably their best football under Louis van Gaal. Key to this was the relationship between Mata, Di María and Herrera in that midfield trio, protected by the defensive intelligence of Daley Blind behind them. With so much clamour to get back to this back four, it is worth pointing out the similarities in attacking play between this system and a 3-5-2. The holding midfield player drops between the two centre backs and allows the fullbacks to push on and play as wing-backs. In essence, the diamond is present in both systems and there is not actually much to split either in terms of the shape of the team when going forward. It is fine margins, but actually a change to where certain players feature in this XI could mean the difference between the lacklustre performances we’ve seen recently and the attractive, riskier style we saw back in September/October time. I think the key to this is the selection of either Michael Carrick or Daley Blind and the deployment of Angel Di María. Starting with the choice of holding midfielder. Daley Blind and Michael Carrick are both adept as a holding midfield player or as a centre back in a back three. If they play from the back, they have the ability and the vision to start attacks from the middle of the back three and be the one to move the ball forward, breaking the lines and giving the creative players the ball in positions that they can progress the attack from. Let’s be honest, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans have looked thoroughly uncomfortable with that kind of responsibility this season. The second part of the equation is Angel Di María. He will help the back three and the entire team when playing from a central area because he will pick the ball up in deep areas and drive at teams. He is not the kind of player who is happy watching the ball go along the back three to one wing-back, only to see it stop and go back across the pitch to the other wing-back. His best work this season and last year for Madrid was done from a central position like this. Positive running, quick, dangerous passing and shooting on sight. He’s a risk taker. He will break lines, he will try to make things happen, he will bring others into play. He has to be the one creating and he certainly can’t be isolated up front like he was against Southampton, it doesn’t suit his style or United’s style of play. At times it has felt like United have too many attacking players and too many defenders in the lineup, with no one in control of the middle of the pitch. Redistributing the players in this way, particularly utilising Di María properly could be key to regaining the balance that has been missing recently. It is particularly important that United have a midfield presence that controls the game against QPR. Loftus Road is a small, tight ground at the atmosphere can get on top of teams and act as a real leveller. Given half a chance they will put United under immense pressure and in Charlie Austin and Eduardo Vargas, they have two absolute live-wires up front. Austin has scored goals for fun this season and Vargas is built in the same mould as his Chilean teammate Alexis Sanchez. He’s quick, full of running, skilful and won’t give the United defence a moments rest. There are dangerous players in the QPR team and United will need to control the game if they are to keep them quiet. There is more pressure on United now following last week’s defeat and the battle for a top four finish is intensifying already. The visit to Loftus Road is the start of a run of fixtures that United will expect to gain maximum points in. The away form this season has only highlighted how poorly United have played at points during the season and Saturday’s match is the first opportunity to put that right. There are no excuses now, Manchester United need to make a statement going into the second half of the season and they need to do so emphatically.
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 06:52:20 +0000
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