Welcome to Old Trafford #7 Alexis Sánchez :)

Sanchez is already making his mark at United.

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-utd-transfer-alexis-sanchez-14255081

 

I came to United to win everything - Sanchez

www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11243041/alexis-sanchez-exclusive-i-joined-manchester-united-to-win-everything

 

He will score two against Newcastle

 

Thierry Henry interview with Sanchez.

www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11243115/alexis-sanchez-exclusive-full-interview-as-thierry-henry-sits-down-with-man-utd-star

 

Reports have surfaced of how the Arsenal dressing room did not care for Alexis.

www.balls.ie/football/reports-emerge-much-arsenal-dressing-room-hated-alexis-sanchez-385008

It's really not much of a surprise tbh. We've seen clearly how frosty things looked between Alexis and his teammates at Arsenal at the end of his stay at Arsenal. He wants to win, above all else, so when his expectations are not met, it's no wonder he must be a hard guy to be around.
Not to mention that the lackadaisical attitude towards excelling and winning at that club, must have driven him nuts. He made it very clear as soon as he won the FA Cup in his first season at the club that he was looking forward to challenge for the big trophies: big fail in that dept...

 

Concern about Sanchez's form is warranted, but he was after a January transfer and it's generally fairly difficult for a January transfer to make a massive, instant impact.

Still, I have my doubts as to whether Sanchez is a good fit for us. Probably, but maybe not.

 

Mourinho expects Sanchez to be at his best next season.

www.espn.com/soccer/manchester-united/story/3417730/jose-mourinho-alexis-sanchez-will-be-even-better-by-manchester-next-season?src=com

Precisely why bringing him in at this time was the right move. Not only gives Sanchez a few more months to get used to the club and his new teammates, but it also gives Jose the time to figure out where he will fit better in the context of the team.
Couple that with a full summer off (his first in 4yrs btw) and we can expect to see Sanchez at his world class best next season, right from the start of the season.

 

🗣 “When he was at Arsenal, he was the man everyone looked at for motivation. He looks like a stranger in this team.”

- Rio Ferdinand. pic.twitter.com/wulAX9W1yC

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) March 13, 2018

 

973842355546673152 is not a valid tweet id

 

42 times is absolutely inexcusable. That's ground for getting benched for a couple games after a shocker like that.

 

Jose should try one game without him. Let's see if that brings any improvement to our formation.

 

I didn’t watch the game last night but based on the average touch position map I saw, and previous games in general, we desperately need to start telling our players to stick to their positions far more often. Fluidity is fine, but it also needs players to realise when the best thing they can do for the team is hug the touchline and create space for others.

United’s average touch match against Sevilla is damning. Were the front four ignoring Mourinho, or did he not tell to them to hold their positions? You could throw a blanket over them! So easy to defend against
via @TimesSport pic.twitter.com/9OGypzQC3a

— Sam Joiner (@samjoiner) March 14, 2018

 

It's time for Sanchez to get dropped - Charlie Nicholas

www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11288963/alexis-sanchez-does-not-deserve-to-be-in-manchester-united-team-says-charlie-nicholas

Sanchez's performance level simply has not been up to scratch, it's that simple. And that's why, for the good of the team, for the time being he needs to be dropped.
Not only it will perhaps give Jose a chance to find out how best to use him in the context of the team as a whole. But also, it just might give Sanchez the desire to really prove himself when he does have an opportunity. His salary r status gives him no divine right to start, that much is certain.

 

That goes back to the coach of teaching the when and where concept. Citeh players know that, if Silva slides to the left Sane will not stay on the touchline he ll to the middle to create a passing lane, etc... you get the point.

I still do not know what Mourinho's football philosophy is, can someone please explain to me? (not the psychology stuff)

 

973928061841428480 is not a valid tweet id

 

I think this is still on Jose. There's been a handful of times this year where the wide players held their position and provided width. Its after he brought on certain players [basically Rashford and Martial]. There's been one or two occasions where Mata was hugging the touchline for an extended period. Almost like last resorts in some games where we couldnt break down the opposition.

-------------------------------

I would not bench Sanchez at all. I realize things dont look good. He needs to play to get to know his teammates. He needs to adjust [unfortunately Jose will be here for at least another year] Jose's "game plan".

I really hope we just play him upfront with Lukaku.

DDG

TFM
Bailly
Lindelof
Young

Herrera
McTominay

Mata
Sanchez
Martial

Lukaku

 

Personally, I think Sanchez's problem is trying too hard. He needs to settle the ******** down.

 

He needs to first and foremost stick to a much more forward position on the pitch. So he can actually do what he does best and have a real influence on the attack.
Him dropping deep and be another de facto CM does him, nor the team/attacking scheme no good at all (especially when he's as prone as losing the ball as he is).

 

If he is not a possession/passing manager, so he is a defensive manager and we hired him knowing that to get results and we know defensive tactics only get so many results.

 

My problem is this heat map is simple. Mourinho is trying to play short passing link up play with this front players, I am good with that.

1) Look at the space between the front players and the full backs. There is no outlet for the front four when they run out of options or when they want to stretch Sevilla. The full backs are too far behind, by the time they do come over the final third like Young he is double teamed because the opposition has time to regroup. We were defending too deep.

2) Look at the gap between the midfield number 14 and number 31. Another big gap, another difficulty to keep the ball when under pressure as there is no outlet. when our player plays the ball backwards to Matic, he is too far away to keep the pressure in the final third, so he has to play it back to the center back. We saw smalling and Bailly being pressured by Muriel and Vazquez centrally and Sarabia and Correa on the full backs.

Solution under Mourinho:

1) McTominay links the midfield with his positioning and simple passing, he is the rope between Matic and the front four, he needs to play.
2) A ball playing center back needs to partner Bailly, preferably Jones for me or Blind. Push the line up higher get the front attackers closer to their defense midfield (Matic).

 

Sanchez is a shadow of his former self - Rio

www.squawka.com/news/rio-ferdinand-alexis-sanchez-is-a-shadow-of-his-former-self/1021416

 

if he's not going to do anything on the left, he might as well not do anything on the right instead

Martial should play on the left

 

These players do not perform because they are not given the platform to perform. Fergie, with these same players, would have the club in a much better position.