Manchester United: Tactics
Tactical Analysis: Can making bad passes be a good thing?
Risks are actually good, and United need to take more of them
Tactical Analysis: Set piece defending emphasizes need for backups
United are good at defending set pieces when their first choice back 4 is on the pitch. When they’re not...disaster.
Tactical Analysis: Were United running everything through...Fred?
Fred was the unlikely midfield quarterback at Villa Park
Tactical Analysis: Reds have come a long way, but still have a ways to go
Recent results and improvements show United’s growth this season, but we were reminded of their shortcomings against Leeds
Tactical Analysis: Did Ole see where football was going?
Solskjaer had the vision
Manchester United Tactical Analysis: Organization, Freedom, and Celebrations
The contrasts between Solskjaer’s United and Mourinho’s Spurs were on full display on Sunday
Tactical Analysis: Greenwood shows he may be ready to lead the line
It was only a glimpse, but Greenwood may now be better fit than Cavani to lead United’s attack
Tactical Analysis: Necessary rotation brings about predictable result
Solskjaer couldn’t afford to rest key players before, and when he was forced to, the back-ups weren’t up to it
Tactical Analysis: Reds show signs of attacking patterns, but fail to execute
United like to improvise in open play (for better or worse), but
Tactical Analysis: Solskjaer out-thinks Guardiola yet again
For the third time in two seasons, Solskjaer had Guardiola’s number tactically
Tactical Analysis: Solskjaer’s conservatism in big matches isn’t anything new
Solskjaer has refused to be bold in big games, and the results continue to reflect that
Tactical Analysis: James and Matić step up against Newcastle
Nemanja Matić and Dan James have become quietly important once again
Van de Beek can be more than a Bruno back-up for United
United’s new signing has been deployed mostly as a no. 10, but it’s time to try him in a deeper role
Tactical Analysis: Forwards need to carry more weight
Without Pogba, United lack creativity in midfield, and they need their forwards to pick up the slack
Tactical Analysis: Set piece and concentration problems rear their ugly heads again
United are once again giving away dumb free kicks, and paying for it
Tactical Analysis: Professional Reds take care of business
United may have gotten back on track after a stumble, but they need to kick on now
Tactical Analysis: Reds rewarded for bolder approach
For the first time under Solskjaer, United played their way against a top four rival and were rewarded for it
Tactical Analysis: Van de Beek shows his talent (and why he isn’t playing more)
Van de Beek is a good player, but he’s on a different wavelength to most of his teammates
Tactical Preview: Solskjaer faces his biggest test yet
Solskjaer has gotten the better of Guardiola before, but he needs to show that he can be bold
Tactical Analysis: The McFred midfield is holding the Reds back
McTominay and Fred provide energy in midfield, but at the cost of creativity
Tactical Analysis: Live by the sword, die by the sword
Against Leeds, Solskjaer took Bielsa’s preferred style of play and turned it against him
Manchester United Tactical Analysis: Why do United’s full-backs play so narrow?
Shaw and Wan-Bissaka often appear to be very narrow — that is by design
Tactical Analysis: The fire started in midfield
The blame for United’s shambolic defensive display on Tuesday lies in the middle of the park (and on the manager)
Tactical Analysis: Necessary squad rotation creates inconsistency
United’s topsy-turvy form is a byproduct of Solskjaer trying to keep key players fit and fresh
Tactical Analysis: Cavani’s subtle movement is key
Cavani’s movement is as crucial for United as his goals are
Manchester United Tactical Analysis: Not good, but not bad
United's limp win over West Brom wasn't quite the disaster we thought
Manchester United can’t be title-challengers because the squad isn’t fixture-proof
Solskjaer’s Reds lack critical balance, and as constructed, are built to be inconsistent
Tactical Analysis: Finding the balance between freedom and structure
United got the balance in midfield wrong in Istanbul, but got it right on Merseyside
Manchester United Tactical Analysis: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got it wrong, again
There is a worrying pattern developing, and United’s manager isn’t learning from his mistakes
Manchester United Tactical Analysis: The diamond worked
Solskjaer adds another tool to his tactical toolkit, and shuts this writer up
Manchester United Tactical Analysis: What makes a “Tactical Masterclass?”
United’s performances against PSG and Chelsea were more similar than they were different, but outcome bias leads us to think otherwise
Manchester United Tactical Analysis: Out with the old and in with the new
Mata adds more playmaking, and a promising new role for McTominay