Chat Man. United + Ten Hag’s Tactics

[DanEnglish]

This fascinating article (from the Athletic) outlines why DIRECT passing is the most authentic FMM option to describe Ten Hag’s tactical plans at Manchester United!.  
 

Key Point #1
Man. Utd. played the MOST direct passes of all the English Premier League teams last season!

They also played the 2nd most DIRECT  passes of any clubs in Europe’s top five leagues!

Key Point #2
Ten Hag’s team are also PRESSING HIGH - winning the ball high up the field much more often than under previous managers.

Here you can see they are PRESSING + regaining the ball exceptionally high … though their finishing last season was poor (except for Rashford).

 
Key Point #3
While it’s likely this will change - their formation often looked like a very aggressive 4141 - with the front 5 pressing high.

 

But how would you replicate this in FMM?

… or … 

… or … 

… or something else …

 
Summary
What does this mean for YOUR Man. Utd tactic in FMM? 

• Certainly it suggests (1) DIRECT passing plus (2) a high / intense PRESS …
• … but does it also mean a 4141 formation + if so, what type?!
   

What do YOU think? 🙂 

Edited August 7, 2023 by DanEnglish

[Uncleseekx]

I'll try this but with a whole set of different players. I already have a United 4-2-3-1 set up down. Can't put in the work to sign the players we have.

[DanEnglish]

29 minutes ago, Uncleseekx said:

I'll try this but with a whole set of different players. I already have a United 4-2-3-1 set up down. Can't put in the work to sign the players we have.

Yeah I’d normally also prefer a 4231 - but surprisingly a 4141 seems to be more authentic … don’t know how effective it would be in the FMM match engine though 🤔 

[Uncleseekx]

2 hours ago, DanEnglish said:

Yeah I’d normally also prefer a 4231 - but surprisingly a 4141 seems to be more authentic … don’t know how effective it would be in the FMM match engine though 🤔 

The match engine's is a dud this year. The attacking steups for the tactic will get you killed in the midfield, the 4-1-2-2-1 is too defensive for the game. Can't wait for November to be honest 

[Reshetnikov]

Oh, how I missed this topic, I can't imagine 😀

First of all, let's speak about difference in-game DIRECT passes and definition of Ten Hag's 'best transition' team.

Never played with ONLY DIRECT passes, so it's just my questions: do back players (SK, BPD, FB, DM) tend to pass directly to the players upfront, OR do they rend to attack the space? I think Ten Hag will do the second most the time, as Bruno finds the space perfectly with his through passes in real life.

So I assume in-game will be MIXED passes + through balls, or as in Black Hawk's tactics, short passes, through balls + high creativity. That's for the first key point I would take:

1) MIXED passes + through balls, normal creativity.

Key point №2 depends on general plan - would it be balanced, control or attacking
With Attacking Mentality it's totally OK with normal press + normal defence line, I had a lot of pressing thought due to aggressive players' roles in the center: two BBMs, two BPDs, SK.

2) Narrow width, Attacking mentality, balanced defence line + balanced press.

Oh, there's another interesting question. With new transfers (Onana, Mount, Hojlund, possible Amrabat), I'd play 4-3-3 all the way. It could one WB, depends on player's ability, other FB + DLP in the center, or RP with less powerful teams. With big teams - an Anchor, for sure.

3) 4-3-3,

SK

FB - BPD - BPD - WB

DLP

BBM - BBM

IF - PF - IF in one line upfront.

Edited August 11, 2023 by Reshetnikov