Much of the discussion around Manchester United this season has been about their defensive problems.
Of course, this is a valid concern when a team's first-choice back four consists of the erratic Rafael, either Phil Jones or Chris Smalling, who still play like inexperienced, promising youngsters even though they're both in their fourth season at Old Trafford, and the 19-year-old Luke Shaw.
It's even more of a concern given their current injury and suspension problems that could force them into playing Michael Carrick and Paddy McNair in the centre of defence for the visit of Crystal Palace on Saturday. These issues have played out in their performances, shipping five goals at Leicester, two against West Brom, conceding sloppily to Chelsea and so on.
However, the problems with their defence have almost masked issues at the other end of the pitch. Of course, Louis van Gaal is in the process of building his new side, but he doesn't seem to know what his preferred formation is and it will take time to gel these players together. United have lacked the sort of attacking potency one might expect from a team containing Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao.
United have 16 goals in their 10 Premier League games, 10 fewer than leaders Chelsea and the same number as Crystal Palace, who currently sit fourth-bottom and were swept aside by Sunderland on Monday.
Furthermore, that high-profile striking trio of Rooney, Van Persie and Falcao have seven goals between them in 21 appearances: Not a terrible return, but equally not what you might expect from such an illustrious forward line.
The relative underperformance of that front three can be explained away. Rooney has been suspended, Falcao is getting used to a new country and division while Van Persie simply hasn't been the same player that almost won the 2012/13 title on his own for a year or so now.
The Dutchman's performances this season have been sporadic at best, largely contributing little to the side other than the late equaliser against Chelsea, one in the defeat to Leicester and what turned out to be the key goal against West Ham.
He has been listless and looked suspiciously like he is carrying an injury, although Van Gaal denied that and defended his countryman. As quoted by the Guardian in October, Van Gaal said:
I think he is more fit than ever. He don’t score so much. In the Dutch team he has scored more than now for Manchester United and then he was not so fit as now.
That’s remarkable, but he scored in [almost] every game for me in the World Cup in spite of maybe his 80% fitness. He scored four goals out of six games and then also a penalty. So maybe now he is playing better but doesn’t score as much.
It is tempting to think that with this sort of striking talent available, United's attack will come good soon, particularly given the more attacking style of play that Van Gaal has adopted, going into some games with a three-pronged forward line.
Indeed, one problem could be that they are not receiving enough help from midfield. Angel Di Maria has been quiet since being shifted onto the wing, so much so that Van Gaal must surely think about tailoring his entire formation to making sure the Argentinean is in the centre, where he can do the most damage.
The rest of the midfield hasn't played consistently enough to provide any sort of threat, with the likes of Ander Herrera, Adnan Januzaj and Juan Mata in and out of the side for various reasons, and producing uneven performances when they are there.
One possible solution would be to give young James Wilson a chance. He is highly rated at Old Trafford, to the extent that Van Gaal was happy to let both Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck leave in the summer because Wilson was there to provide back-up.
He has looked lively in a couple of cameo substitute appearances, notably against Manchester City at the weekend. It is perhaps not a coincidence that United looked most threatening in the closing 10 minutes, when the livewire Wilson replaced Van Persie.
Whatever Van Gaal tries, it is clear that as well as shoring things up at the back, if this season is to be any sort of success, he needs to tinker with the other end of his team as well.
from Bleacher Report http://ift.tt/1GoNXSb
via IFTTT November 05, 2014 at 02:24AM
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