Breaking down mid and low blocks
United have long struggled against teams that refuse to take the bait and wait in a mid or low block, and the switch to possession has not fixed it because the attack has nowhere to run to.
The posts
- Tactical analysis Carrick's basic positional attack has made United static A fundamentally different in-possession ideology has produced familiar output: plenty of entries into the box, few quality chances, and nowhere to run.
- Tactical analysis The Carrick approach Carrick’s in-possession ideology is detailed in the first two phases and deliberately loose in the final third; the worry is out of possession.
- Tactical analysis United gone long Long passes have doubled and own-third touches have collapsed: the numbers behind United's direct build-up, and its limits against compact blocks.
- Match analysis Are Grimsby better than Arsenal? Arsenal pressed high but passively, Fulham refused the bait and overloaded midfield, Grimsby pressed man-to-man: one system, three different results.