Ku did not have a good game. It wasn't just the turnovers or lack of combinations, but he was pretty static and I was expecting to see him a lot more active off ball. An example of this is from the goal, where not only does Benteke start the play, but rolls around and makes the run to get onto the end of it also. All the while, Ku is basically standing in one spot while all this goes on right around him. I don't expect him to have the savvy to know which are the right runs and how to coordinate with Benteke due to his lack of experience, but I want to see more willingness to make runs all the same. When in doubt, run near post or something at least.
You should watch that goal again - Ted made an outstanding dummy on the initial pass in to Benteke and then continues his run deep into the penalty area. It had to be HIM 😤 pic.twitter.com/gFUsesxx2O— D.C. United (@dcunited) March 26, 2023
Nice dummy, but the run is weak. He’s jogging and basically just turns around while Benteke makes the real run around him.
What are you even watching? Benteke doesn't make any runs around Ted. Benteke's run is dead straight to the goal after he passes to Ruan. Ted is off to the left side of the penalty area, as that's where his run took him, and is 10 yards into the penalty area before Benteke even starts his run. Ted is in an offside position at that point and does well to get back onside before Ruan threads his cross to Benteke. Here's a better look: BenteGOAL. 👊Christian Benteke gives D.C. the advantage headed into halftime. #VamosUnited pic.twitter.com/6tCKyGE0aa— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 26, 2023
You could even make the case that he's creating space for Benteke with that run. The defense is playing Ted offside. I do think he could have been more aware of the timing of the imminent cross, and doubled back maybe a step earlier.
Proner, you're right, Benteke didn't run around Ku. To me, it just shows how Benteke knows how to make a hard run and Ku is floating. You don't have to run offside to make a run, he should be going hard to either post at least. I thought it was emblematic of his play in the game in general, slowly reactive rather than aggressive.
Ok, so as we wait for O'Brien to get a work visa, speculation on who is out of the roster? As I understand he plays central Mid. I'm betting he gets put on the left with allowance to cut inside. Jeahze seems able to cover the outside in the attack so a smart midfielder out there will be able to handle the covering part for defense. Like Durkin and Najar on the right... This allows a Klich - Durkin - O'Brien - Canouse/Pálsson midfield in front of Najar - Jeahze - Birnbaum - Williams/Akimboni defense and a Benteke - Fountas front line. Which then gives Rooney the ability to put the kids on late in the match to add energy and unpredictability. Might be able to eke out some 90th minute winners with this...
They might play some kind of 4-3-3 so that they're not playing Klich too out of position on the flank. But we'll probably see in a week or two.
How do you see this positionally? The four man mid is Klich and Canouse/Pálsson central with Durkin and O'Brien wider but with freedom to go inside. I'm not sure what your thoughts are for 3 in mid and 3 up top.
If he's not, WTF are they doing? Once O'Brien is here, Canouse's inability to move the ball forward will be less of a liability, until then Palsson should be starting in place of Canouse. I also think Akinmboni is more likely a replacement for Birnbaum than Williams. Birnbaum couldn't organize a closet, let alone a defense. Pairing Akinmboni would mean reliance on the athleticism of Akinmboni and the declining skills of Birnbaum to stifle attacks rather than any organization structure.
Cannot see them benching the Captain instead of the guy that makes reckless challenges at midfield....
Some kind of rotation of Canouse/Pálsson, Klich, and O'Brien in midfield, perhaps with O'Brien a bit more advanced. Front 3 of Benteke, Fountas, and KDP or Asad or Durkin. It might look a lot like the 4-2-3-1 they ran against Orlando.
So completely reliant on one or two of the central mids to cover the outside backs as they move forward to provide width. I can see it but not sure if Rooney would go that way. I think he would like to get Benteke and Fountas to pair together at striker with Fountas running off Benteke...
Yeah, I think he definitely wants Fountas up there with Benteke. But I also don't see someone like Klich or O'Brien being asked to play left midfield, either. I do know that while we haven't seen it in the results, being able to ask questions like "who will play where?" is a different "problem" for us fans to have.
Well, if there was any doubt about how long Lewis O'Brien is planning to stay, this article pretty much makes it clear he expects to be back at Forest this summer. https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/lewis-o-brien-wayne-rooney-better-player-forest-2239454
I hope he plays well for us (obviously). I still don’t quite understand the move, but whatever. I’ll be in Spain for 10 days starting tomorrow. I’ll grab a few young players from La Masia in Barcelona. Thank me later.
That doesn't make me feel any better. Remember when Javier Mascherano tore his anus lunging to get in front of a ball for Argentina? You think the guy who's playing here for potentially four months until his paperwork gets sorted out elsewhere is going to do that for United? My guess is no.