It would seem that SAF is working on a new style of play and hence the mentioned need for pacier players (great technical slow player like Berba = out). I am curious how that would work because at first glance it sounds like old school kick and rush. I'd rather focus on players who can press opponents as a group and hold well onto possession under pressure. Goals like Nani's equalizer vs City in Charity Shield should be a template for our attacking play. But then again, SAF knows better most of the time. Rant over.
Like how the 'Pool play? I think he's trying for a more quick passing counter attacking style,so when we do break we can be effective.
Some of their fans have mentioned that in their glory days they used to play like Barcelona today: possession and passing and pressing. Some even go further to say that the Barca model is based on the Liverpool of the 70's &80's.
Fergie wants to revert to the style that has won us many of our dominant seasons. Quick fast counter attacking with wing play.....man utd
The problem with that style of play is that it works well in cup games but can fall down in the league when sides park the bus and counter attack all the time. That's the problem Barca are facing in La Liga right now, and the problem Arsenal have faced for years. Ultimately, under SAF we will always be first and foremost a league team - able to get results consistently but not always able to match the absolute highest level of other teams. And tbh I'd much rather be like that than like Arsenal or Liverpool - able to get to the final of cups and compete with top side, but **** all chance of a serious title challenge more than once in a blue moon.
Nistelrooy was a lot faster than he looked in his prime, he was a big guy but he could shift, and I wouldn't have said Solksjaer wasn't fast either.
What did pace get against Bilbao, Rooney's quality finishing got you 3 goals, quality, not pace. Pace has its uses but without quality its headless chickens when you meet good opposition. Sadly, Pace can win you the prem. Pass and move beats pace almost every time
The reason Bilbao outplayed us twice was they closed us down fast and then broke with speed. Pace certainly helped them keep us on the back foot and carve open attacking chances. Having speed and quality easily trumps just having the one.
I think what Fergie really wants is pace in our play. When we beat Arsenal 8-2, the couldn't cope with how fast we could attack. We had this directness in our attack that was scary good. Our problem with that is our defense we exposed with no proper cover from the midfield. With Anderson and Cleverly in the midfield we had two players that can play the quick passing game, but they don't have defensive capabilities Carrick or Fletcher has. Which is why we need a defensive minded box to box midfield who can play the quick passing game. That way we can attack teams like we did at very beginning of the season, but not leave our back four so exposed.
I think that's the closest I've ever seen you get to a compliment for Liverpool, and even then, it's a back-handed one. By the way, why are you including Arsenal in that comparison?
Totally wrong. Quick attacking football almost always beats tippy tappy pass stuff. ( Man Utd v Arsenal ) In Europe its not quite as effective mind.
Bilbao beat us because they were bothered and we were not. The players were clearly trying to conserve energy for bigger games. Had we gone into the game level or ahead then we may of tried harder but staying in the EL for another round or being fresh for Wolves was a simple decision in the end.
Lol, how like you to only look at Liverpool I include Arsenal because over the past few years they've done much the same as Liverpool. Since 2005 they've won the FA Cup, reached the final of the league cup twice, final of the Champions league, semi finals a few times and gotten some pretty good results including beating Barca at home last year and giving Chelsea a good hiding in the league this year. That's not a bad record, but over the same period they've never mounted more than a token challenge for the league. Their style of play is different to Liverpool's, but the net result seems the same - cup runs with big scalps and impressive results, but underachievement in the league.
this have people already forgotten how utterly outplayed we were by atheltic, both at home and away? its much rather have players who can retain possession and do it under pressure over "fast wing play" such as young who has all the pace but at times seems blind. it can work in the premiership, but in europe has no chance. our midfielders dont retain the ball well enough in the middle of the pitch, it breaks down far too often. bit late now..but in europe next season watch how much we give possession away between our 18 yard box and the half way line. criminal
