Mourinho's midfield plans for Pogba might not go down well #mufc https://t.co/Qwape18Vz4— Man United News (@ManUtdMEN) August 11, 2016 Seems from the way Mou is talking he will not change from 4-2-3-1 and sees Carrick as the 6 in this system alongside Pogba as the 8. More interestingly he suggests that Schneiderlin and Herrera are only seen as sixes and that Pogba is the only eight. Though he has used Fellaini as an 8 and Pogba/Fellaini was in the "leaked" whiteboard as eights. The Mata, Rooney, Miki being tens and not being sixes or eights is not new. Neither is the no mention of Schweini new. Would have thought Herrera could be considered an eight but Mou definition wants more physicality and dribbling skills it seems. Herrera has done the late arrival goal scoring stuff though LVG took that out of his game. Echoes of last season when we signed a number of players who would suit 4-3-3 only for LVG to switch to 4-2-3-1.
I'm wondering if Jose views Herrera as a 6/8 tweener and it will be interesting to see how he ends up using him. Him sticking with the 4-2-3-1 is hardly a surprise, even I still believe we could see him mixing things as necessary. The truth of the matter is that as long as Rooney remains a factor, that has to be Mourinho's go-to formation. Fellaini backing up Pogba is hardly a surprise either. Schneiderlin is primed for a big year since Carrick will only be able to play in so many games and I really hope he takes his chances. It looks setup for him to do and if he can't, Jose will surely be moving for a new 6 by next summer at the latest (Weigl perhaps?).
I'm hoping it is posturing. While having just one holding midfielder is workable against most Prem opposition, that one guy needs to be significantly more mobile than Carrick is right now. That is especially true if his partner has license to roam forward. If he doesn't, then no point buying Pogba, cuz MS or Ander would have done as well sitting deep. In any case, we absolutely have players capable of out playing Rooney and it is I only a matter of time before this is manifest. Ultimately, I don't care if it is Mkhitaryan at 10 (with Rash/Lingard outside) or Pogba at 8/10.
MEN follow up, basically making the same points as @johno ... http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester-united-news-pogba-mourinho-11733932
Exactly why I expect big things from Schneiderlin this term. Carrick simply can not go on a regular basis anymore so he'll have his chances and hope he can grab it. And if per chances he can not deliver, then it should be the signal for Mourinho to bring in another top CM next summer.
Strange one; - really happy we signed Pogba - concerned in a midfield pair that he will either not get forward enough (a Euro "Deschamps") or not get back enough (a Pelligrini "Toure") - would be much happier with him in a midfield 3 as nobody seems effective for us as a 10 anyhow (especially with Zlatan dropping into this area) - my ideal would be 4-3-3 with Schneiderlin at 6 (as we have to transition Carrick out though Carrick is the better passer/player ATM) and with Herrera and Pogba ahead with Pogba having the most licence to roam
Herrera played well as a single pivot in the one match where he played as a single pivot. He also had to deal with his MF partners being Fellaini and Rooney in that match.
He was too risky and careless in that game at times. Gave away several centrally located counters from poor balls. He'd need to reign it in a bit. Of course, hes play more neutered the last 6 months anyway.
What is several? He had a 94% pass completion that game. A 6 is supposed to play 'risky' passes (ignoring the fact that every single pass is risky).
He played two balls under weight. That happens. The poor thing about it was he chose to play those two particular balls from a wide position back across the middle. They got intercepted and sprang great counters through the middle that he was way out of position for. As the 6, you simply cannot do that. It's an elementary mistake.
Carrick has done that plenty of times. Carrick was directly at fault for a goal vs Liverpool that season for being a silly. Everyone occasionally makes mistakes except for Busquets, but he's the GOAT
When Busquets can play one man midfield with Fellaini, Anderson and whoever we could think of as partner then make the claim. Playing with Iniesta Xavi and claiming greatness, meh.
Still think he means roles, the 2ndary midfielder he described is the perfect Jose 10/8, goal threat, make runs with and without balls and still have defensive intensity while the other midfielders sit deeper. Kind of describing Frank Lampard (his running with the ball skills were poor). Does not mean that 2ndary midfielder plays deep and we play only 2 mid.
Thought Herrera did ok at 6 and Fellaini ok at 8 against Bournemouth, that said they are still at most third choices starters for those positions for me at present; 6 - Schneiderlin 1st, Carrick 2nd, Herrera 3rd, Blind 4th 8 - Pogba 1st, Herrera 2nd, Schneiderlin 3rd, Fellaini 4th This depends on Schneiderlin recovering form and fitness post-LVG/post-Euros. Of course if we ditched the 10 role (Rooney) and went 4-3-3 allowing us to play a pair of 8s ahead of a single pivot 6 ....
Schneiderlin isn't a 6. At best he can play 6/8 next to another 6/8. He is too poor against the press. Schneiderlin/Pogba would be a disaster against a good press. Schneiderlin would be an excellent foil for Pogba tho if Herrera or Carrick played deep. The physical presence, the pace/power combo and the tackling and covering would be useful in an open game.
Pogba Fellaini was a combo I didnt expect, more so that Fellaini switched sides and played on the right and Pogs left. Fellaini seems to have been told to play with less aggression to avoid his usual foul numbers, he is also keeping it simple and passing at a quicker tempo. Ave. position suggests Fellaini was more the 6 but not by much, very much a double pivot.
I agree with the less aggressive play from Fellaini and I believe it to be a by product of Mourinho's instructions to keep it simple in the role he's given. It's not spectacular, but playing next to Pogba, he doesn't need to be. And it worked again today and it will be interesting to see if it can last. Jose appears to be committed to the experiment for sure.