Should we mix it up more?

[Donki]

I get the control and press but watching United with 2 very direct goals, at times should we add a few more direct phases in our play? We have deep players that can pass like Toby, Verts, Dembele and now Winks and a great target man and finisher in Kane. I'm not saying we play like a big Sam team but maybe every so often mix it up. It's obvious teams are setting up in a way to counteract our plan A.

 

[Spurger King]

I get the control and press but watching United with 2 very direct goals, at times should we add a few more direct phases in our play? We have deep players that can pass like Toby, Verts, Dembele and now Winks and a great target man and finisher in Kane. I'm not saying we play like a big Sam team but maybe every so often mix it up. It's obvious teams are setting up in a way to counteract our plan A.

Reminds me of the old Dawson days of punting it up to Keane and Berba.

 

[Donki]

Reminds me of the old Dawson days of punting it up to Keane and Berba.

Ha the old Dawson diagonal. 1 in 5 found the mark. I would prefer more of an accurate pass than a punt, look at Zlatan's goal for United today.

 

[scat1620]

I get the control and press but watching United with 2 very direct goals, at times should we add a few more direct phases in our play? We have deep players that can pass like Toby, Verts, Dembele and now Winks and a great target man and finisher in Kane. I'm not saying we play like a big Sam team but maybe every so often mix it up. It's obvious teams are setting up in a way to counteract our plan A.

Yes, yes we should.

 

[Bobbins]

I think we do it a lot already with Toby in the side - he hit about 5 or 6 long direct passes up to Son and Alli today when they tried to make runs in behind.

Dawson's long passes of course weren't nearly as bad as is fashionable to suggest, they were often quite effective. Nevertheless Toby's are much superior.

 

[Hoops]

Yes we should.

 

[Donki]

Has Toby's balls been into the box thou? I agree Dawson's weren't so bad, and think it would give deep sittings teams a lot more to worry about, Ali and Kane are big guys and can take a high ball well, I can't remember the last goal we scored form a long ball headed on or taken down from distance. I know it's not fashionable but repeating our style of play with no results won't work all the time.

I'm sure Poch is reading this post right now cursing me in Argentinian!

 

[Lilbaz]

As long as it's not vorm or lloris doing the punting.

 

[easley91]

We already do. We have the defenders that can pass the ball, and the attackers who make the runs. Toby does it often. Jan has done one or two.

 

[TheChosenOne]

Has Toby's balls been into the box thou? I agree Dawson's weren't so bad, and think it would give deep sittings teams a lot more to worry about, Ali and Kane are big guys and can take a high ball well, I can't remember the last goal we scored form a long ball headed on or taken down from distance. I know it's not fashionable but repeating our style of play with no results won't work all the time.

I'm sure Poch is reading this post right now cursing me in Argentinian!

Probably Spanglish

 

[Shadydan]

We do already with the Toby out ball.

 

[Roynie]

We do already with the Toby out ball.

+1.

I think one of the reasons our results have dropped of in recent games is that some of our key players have been injured. When we have 8 or 9 of our usual 1st eleven we have the ability to switch tactics without even thinking about it. We do it naturally at home. It's away we have the problem, unlike last season, where our away record was better than at home, IIRC. Despite our recent dip in form, I really do feel we are getting there. Next season is going to be a leap into the unknown. However, once we get into the new stadium, and I can't believe that any of our key players would want to leave now, things will improve massively.

 

[Sweech]

Statistically speaking I believe we're very high up there for long balls in the league. I'd actually venture to say we "mix it up" more than most top clubs.

 

[Shea]

Dele Alli very nearly scorer a very direct goal from a long pass today

Great take down but failed to really get his shot away when one on one with the keeper

With tobi, dier and Verts all capable of playING those types of passes and dele's runs beyond the back line I think we mix it up more than enough in that respect

Two goals dele scored last season stand out to me as perfect examples - against WBA away and Everton away

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

I get the control and press but watching United with 2 very direct goals, at times should we add a few more direct phases in our play? We have deep players that can pass like Toby, Verts, Dembele and now Winks and a great target man and finisher in Kane. I'm not saying we play like a big Sam team but maybe every so often mix it up. It's obvious teams are setting up in a way to counteract our plan A.

Agreed, things like early balls in the box from Eriksen or Trippier (when playing) running in to the box Dembele and Rose and the route 1 of Toby to Dele us important to mix things up.

Slow building from the back gets tedious when done consistently. It also gives the opposition time to get set up and makes it more of a chore to breakdown.

We just need to pick our times and be a bit faster with our play. I sometimes get infuriated when I see a few minutes of build up only to see the ball rolling back to the Gk.