There will likely be a few signings this week in response to this. I feel like we should have moved on from deJong weeks ago. Hopefully this will be it. If swapping Fred for McTominay wasn't it, I don't know what it will take.
We’re just seeing with De Gea what we knew we would. Tbh almost all of our big names at the club are detrimental to or awkward fits for EtH’s system, and will have to go eventually. But De Gea is probably the biggest issue we need to deal with. He’s been pretty poor over since 2018, with only half of last season to counteract the rest of it. Bear in mind too that this is what his performance overall contribution looks like in one of his ‘elite’ seasons. And when his shot stopping goes, what does he bring? Those extra close range shots #DDG faces would’ve likely never happened if #DeGea was better at coming for crosses. So he’s making saves others wouldnt need toMy overall value in goals model therefore finds #Ramsdale does jump above #DeGea as his shot prevention is far superior pic.twitter.com/zJvQOXsLXQ— John Harrison (@Jhdharrison1) July 23, 2022
Bigger issue, why is Eriksen marking Toney on set pieces in the first place. That’s bad organization/coaching.
DDG has been good for season but I think we should move on and give Heaton a chance. Many of the issues we have with DDG are things we don't have to worry about with Heaton. It's early but there's no time to waste being patient with how bad things look already.
Its the same zonal marking with blockers BS we have done for years. Telegraphs to oppo managers where players like Mag will be so their main threats will go elsewhere (eg Toney going back post). The big defenders take the zones and the weaker defensive players like Eriksen are meant to just block the runs. Have hated it and commented on it before. Was hoping EtH would change it.
I tried to have this conversation in the DDG thread earlier this year - because he didnt suit Ralf system either and got hammered for it. He was player of the season last year, however he visibly saves our bacon but invisibly causes us major issues. A lot of fans dont see it apart from when issues more visible like today. Mag / DDG / AWB are just not first teamers / starters in a high-line, pressing / possession based, play out from the back EtH / Rangnick system full stop.
I am convinced our set-piece guy doesn't exist or he's some no-show son-in-law of the Glazers, a ghost on the payroll. The Bebe of set-piece guys who is ripping off Danish museums on the side.
I know we’ve used zonal in the past but it didn’t look like it today. I’ll have to watch the goals again. But several times they ran the same routine off the corner and it worked every time. They would have everyone crash the near post and Toney would peel back post and while making that run a Brentford player would set a pick. It worked literally every time.
We have too many issues to blame one thing. DDG has his flaws but it is exasperated by the rest of the team, midfield in particular being useless. Martinez is fine as a short center back, if the team played to his strengths. I guess we can blame the manager for imposing a system we don't have the players for but then again that goes up to the administration and why don't we have these players. I don't understand why we bring in a new manager with the team decidedly weaker than last season. I think what Barcelona's doing is horrible but just pay them the money for the guys salary and just bring them over like we need to figure out what we're trying to do here and if we're trying to play a competitive team and win then get the players in and give this coach a chance
re:this it's not that DdG can't be upgraded or shouldn't, or that we think the's perfectly ideal (likewise Ronaldo) but these are guys that at least offer something in their primary direction. our squad is unfortunately littered with too many players that don't offer anything in either direction. you even named some of the main culprits already. getting rid of those should be priority over the likes of DdG who at least contributes something positive since we can't revamp the entire squad all at once
Exactly this. We need to just drop everyone who won't work or move people. I say move Fred to RB, we don't have a good one right now and he is better going forward than the current two. Like if we're going to struggle just play the team at best works and if you got to sit big names like Shaw and Maguirre then do it.
I understand this and as an individual player it is true that he is far down the list of those not making the grade. However in terms of what is causing systemic issues to the team he is a big part of the bigger problems. Specifically playing out from the back, playing a high line and defending set pieces. Everyone had the same “why start there given player issues elsewhere” when Pep ditched Hart (and the replacement) - but with these managers it is all about the system not the individuals.
i get the idea but Guardiola isn't the best example. he gets to play the game in cheat mode. United don't offer that luxury to their managers
Pep whole career has been with teams with enough money and admin to buy him whoever and get rid of whoever he wanted.
We've always had players like Gary Neville and Park Ji-Sung. To sign someone like AWB at the age we did and to see him regress rather than improve as a player is saying something. A player like that would have developed into something more under SAF. Ten Hag has to coach these players. They might not be long term solutions, but coach them to a level we can get some decent results for now and sell them for a decent sum in the summer if they really aren't cut out for us. We won't even be able to sell them if we don't at least do that.
We need an exodus, most of these players arent technical and brave enough to understand and play his system.
btw this was funny - was b4 the game "I'm going Tom Heaton in net..." 😂Does Ste's starting XI get United three points against Brentford? 👀@rioferdy5 @joelbeya @MrStephenHowson pic.twitter.com/aYxJNMVKbn— FIVE (@FIVEUK) August 8, 2022
The loss for me shows we cannot execute ETH's style of play. All the goals (whether the ball lost led to a corner or to a counter) came from us failing to build from the back. I want to see a bold lineup against Liverpool. Martial better recover.
It’s going to be a tough season if we don’t give De Gea the Joe Hart treatment. I have no faith in us finding a good backup for £10-15m or whatever we might up our budget to.
Yep. ETH is like Klopp in that it’s important he has players that fit his system even if they aren’t world class. A keeper shows good with his feet and can play out of the back is more valuable in his team even if he’s an average shot stopper.