Man U 0-1 Aston Villa post match thread

[LeeB]

Fewer.

Quite, sloppy work.

[markeeeebeeee2005]

I really like that we are now unpredictable. Opposition teams know we will play a high energy pressing game. But they don’t know what formation we will play or which players will play. That makes us really hard to set up against.

Apart from Greasy being out last year we became too predictable. The opposition knew they were getting a 433 and they could pretty much pick the team too.

Mixing formations and lineups up will help to develop more intelligent players as they develop their tactical ability through good coaching.

I personally love an overlap so like the 433 and don’t think 2 up top suits all of our players. But it’s working for now.

[danno]

Lord forgive me, but I'm coming around to the idea of three centre backs because:

A) Deano is an attack minded coaching genius and it means we actually play with less defenders as a result, Targett and Cash are midfielders.

B) We're dominant in either box at set pieces, and with our new coaching guru this will reap further rewards

C) Twice before, under Taylor first time round and then Brian Little, moving to three at the back triggered massive upswing in form, and it feels we might be on the cusp of that again.

D). It accommodates both Ings and Watkins.

E) Douglas Luiz plays better in a midfield three.

[Villan82]

It's hard to accommodate Buendia and Bailey in the 3-5-2. That's my main issue with it.

[Steve67]

We have a much better squad of players from which to call now.  Must be a bloody nightmare having to mark the likes of Buendia, Bailey and Traore when players are getting tired.  Great to have the options from the bench or the starting line-up.  Also, knowing we have the likes of Sanson to come back in, when fit.  Good options and good cover for the whole squad.

[ChicagoLion]

It's hard to accommodate Buendia and Bailey in the 3-5-2. That's my main issue with it.

or Traore

[brontebilly]

Maybe bringing in Ronaldo wasn't the smartest move.

Unnecessary signing, nostalgia and commercial reasons aside. With the likes of Hause particularly and Mings in our back 3, surely you need to press them hard without the ball. Ronaldo and Greenwood hardly broke sweat. Pogba and Fernandes not interested without the ball either. Then McFred and AWB....an average a trio as there is in the division.

They'll score goals against most teams but will also concede loads. We missed some sitters yesterday to bury them.

[LeonW]

With all the chat about tactics, etc, I wondered whether we are just continuing with 3-5-2 for now because it gets people use to the system and because (mainly) we had an unkind fixture list and 3-5-2 gives us more defensive stability. When easier games come along, Smith may switch back to 4-3-3.

I do wonder as well whether we may end up with lop sided team/system in some games where required.

We’ve certainly got way more tactical options and players to keep people guessing then we’ve had in a long time. The fact we’re not entirely sure yet says it all.

[VILLA MOLE]

Maybe bringing in Ronaldo wasn't the smartest move.

Unnecessary signing, nostalgia and commercial reasons aside. With the likes of Hause particularly and Mings in our back 3, surely you need to press them hard without the ball. Ronaldo and Greenwood hardly broke sweat. Pogba and Fernandes not interested without the ball either. Then McFred and AWB....an average a trio as there is in the division.

They'll score goals against most teams but will also concede loads. We missed some sitters yesterday to bury them.

Greenwood should be playing centre forward for them he is going to be some player, but he is being put out on the right to include the other Ronaldo

[Legion]

Maybe bringing in Ronaldo wasn't the smartest move.

Just as Ashley Young was for us in my opinion. Great player under MO'N and I love him to bits for that. Somewhat soured by his blatant dive whilst playing for Manchester United. Against us.

[LeonW]

Maybe bringing in Ronaldo wasn't the smartest move.

Just as Ashley Young was for us in my opinion. Great player under MO'N and I love him to bits for that. Somewhat soured by his blatant dive whilst playing for Manchester United. Against us.

Me too. Was thinking about this the other day; how many ex-Villa players can you say have our ‘best wishes?’ Mellberg, definitely. Then look at others; Yorke’s behaviour prior to leaving was pretty poor and then playing for Blues. Southgate talking about wanting to go to a bigger club and then going to Middlesborough. Barry throwing a paddy about wanting to go to Liverpool who then seemingly didn’t seem to really want him. The list goes on.

[Footy-Vill]

It's hard to accommodate Buendia and Bailey in the 3-5-2. That's my main issue with it.

or Traore

And that's why it has to be used sparingly.  Having to witness Targett as our chief left sided attacker this season is a crime
Especially after Grealish.
And on that Targett worked wonders as overlapping and playing with Grealish but as a flying wing back Matt in any form of aggressive or determined attacking play this season he isn't.

It's a real issue.
And to have quality and proven attackers on the bench can only go on for so long.

Plus the midfielders don't shoot at goal so offer very little in an attack bat the odd shot by McGinn. Ramsey and Douglas are no go threat what so ever. Its literally up to Ings and Watkins to score or a set piece. That's not healthy in long run and many would identify as a somewhat varied approach to Southgates cautious england approaches.

[SoccerHQ]

That was a dodgy penalty decision wasn’t it? His hand is pretty much by his side.

I thought it was a penalty tbh. Decent distance and if it didn't hit Korts hand Pogba would've probably scored so worked out well in the end for us. In the modern climate it's a penalty and we had similar one called v Newcastle and that was closer range.

Would've summed up this fixture to a T if they'd scored that but finally we get some luck. Hopefully some more is saved for the VP game.

[SoccerHQ]

It's hard to accommodate Buendia and Bailey in the 3-5-2. That's my main issue with it.

Disagree. We can slot in Buendia as the attacking midfielder v likes of Burnley, Watford, Newcastle although may upset the balance of the central trio but Buendia can press and get on ball in final third.

Ideally you slot Bailey into 4-3-3 but he certainly has the feel of a player who can burst into forward areas so I think for some games him just off Watkins would frighten many defences to death with Ollie's workrate and pace of Bailey.

[Rory]

Maybe bringing in Ronaldo wasn't the smartest move.

Just as Ashley Young was for us in my opinion. Great player under MO'N and I love him to bits for that. Somewhat soured by his blatant dive whilst playing for Manchester United. Against us.

Me too. Was thinking about this the other day; how many ex-Villa players can you say have our ‘best wishes?’ Mellberg, definitely. Then look at others; Yorke’s behaviour prior to leaving was pretty poor and then playing for Blues. Southgate talking about wanting to go to a bigger club and then going to Middlesborough. Barry throwing a paddy about wanting to go to Liverpool who then seemingly didn’t seem to really want him. The list goes on.

Quite a few from that era actually, largely because they retired or moved overseas. Angel, Bouma, Laursen, Petrov.

If somebody leaves because they can't get into the first team, has given us years of service and wants one final challenge overseas, or whatever, I generally would wish them well. Anybody who is a permanent fixture in our first XI and moves to another English club, thinking they're better than us - they can fuck off.

I don't mind Ashley Young. He served us well, left us in a dignified manner over ten years ago, and is now a squad player for us. He's not a legend, but I'm happy to have him at the club