Why has our creativity dropped off?

[Large Mendonca]

I think injuries have played a major part, we can barely play a settled team from one match to another. I know we have some of our names back playing, but I'm not convinced they're 100% fit either.

I think we're in an amazing position given what we've been up against this season, all that is credit to both the players and the playing staff. I don't get the negativity at all - yes it's frustrating at times I agree, but we're doing fine given the circumstances.

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

I dont think its all that different to last season tbh. The back end of last season, particularly away from home, we were devoid of any creativity whatsoever. It was our home form that got us in to the play-offs last season.

That away mentality has crept in across all our games this season, however, it seems we are far more formidable in terms of just doing enough to grind out results.

Comes down the old question of whether you view football as a results business or an entertainment business. As it stands, no one can argue with the results which for United as a club is all that really matters. If you go to matches to be entertained, you’re not getting much value for money at the Lane this season.

I don’t mind the results as it will get us up of which we have done the hard work and are barring a distaster up

But if you look at the performances in isolation there is absolutely no way we deserve to be 2nd by 10 points and no way we will be successful next year

And that’s down to Gareth unfortunately

He isn’t good enough and that’s a Fallowfield fact

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

I think injuries have played a major part, we can barely play a settled team from one match to another. I know we have some of our names back playing, but I'm not convinced they're 100% fit either.

I think we're in an amazing position given what we've been up against this season, all that is credit to both the players and the playing staff. I don't get the negativity at all - yes it's frustrating at times I agree, but we're doing fine given the circumstances.

Who’s injured right now ? Or since the World Cup


The negativity is based off the abject performances for the past 3 months

 

[Large Mendonca]

Who’s injured right now ? Or since the World Cup


The negativity is based off the abject performances for the past 3 months

"Abject"

I can't be arsed going into a long and drawn out response as it'll only go over your head anyway.

 

[Snowflake]

It’s a mentality issue in my opinion. Since we had the poor run before the World Cup we’ve come back and setup a lot more cautiously.

The ‘creative’ moments now come from individuals and not from team moves. Ndiaye, McAtee, Bogle, Berge need to produce or we just don’t bother.

In the early stages of yesterday’s match there were some good team moves of quality. Sadly the end product was missing. There seems to be a reluctance to shoot when the opportunity arises.
Ndiaye is also closely marked now which reduces our overall creativity.
I think both Wrexham and Swansea will give us a little more space and we will see the flowing football we all crave. What then happens against Middlesbrough is anyone’s guess !

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

"Abject"

I can't be arsed going into a long and drawn out response as it'll only go over your head anyway.

Those are our must recent matches ^^^^

Rotherham - Bang average
Wrexham - Awful
Hull - Average scraped a win
Stoke - Average did enough to win
Milwall - played well but cup
QPR - We were awful last minute saved us
Blackpool - Average
Coventry - Half decent but didn’t control the game
Wigan - Played well for 20 minutes
Huddersfield - Average did enough to win
Cardiff - Bang average
Rotheram - Even worse
Burnley - Battered them for 30 mins best performance of the season
Bristol - Bang average Kevin Blackwell football

The results are covering up bang bang average performances and it’s been like it for a long time

The sooner Ralp hassenhutl takes charge the better

I’m just a troll though

 

[Houston_Blade]

In the early stages of yesterday’s match there were some good team moves of quality. Sadly the end product was missing. There seems to be a reluctance to shoot when the opportunity arises.
Ndiaye is also closely marked now which reduces our overall creativity.
I think both Wrexham and Swansea will give us a little more space and we will see the flowing football we all crave. What then happens against Middlesbrough is anyone’s guess !

We seem to have spells in a game where we play good stuff, but then realise and get scared to continue.

Like last season with MGW, if Ndiaye is double marked then someone else is hiding. We really need 2 creative midfielders on (Berge and McAtee) but then we don’t seem to be able to defend.

We’ve never been great at striking a balance between entertainment at 1 end and keeping the opposition out at the other end, it’s 1 or the other with us.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

View attachment 153071View attachment 153072

Those are our must recent matches ^^^^

Rotherham - Bang average
Wrexham - Awful
Hull - Average scraped a win
Stoke - Average did enough to win
Milwall - played well but cup
QPR - We were awful last minute saved us
Blackpool - Average
Coventry - Half decent but didn’t control the game
Wigan - Played well for 20 minutes
Huddersfield - Average did enough to win
Cardiff - Bang average
Rotheram - Even worse
Burnley - Battered them for 30 mins best performance of the season
Bristol - Bang average Kevin Blackwell football

The results are covering up bang bang average performances and it’s been like it for a long time

The sooner Ralp hassenhutl takes charge the better

I’m just a troll though

don't know about Hassenhutl taking over but I'd agree with those assessments.

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

Got to agree on the midfield comments. We only have Norwood in CM that can create.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

Because its the 2nd half of the season and we need to start playing nervously

 

[robbiez666]

eah this is an issue i was thinking yesterday that last years play off team would probably beat us because they caused so many attacking problems

I don't buy that. If a team goes at us we tend to do better. There's more space to play in and we explore gaps. Sure, we could attack more and take more risks but we would concede more. That's the pay off. We scored more when we passed it around the back more instead of playing long balls but we also conceded more.

 

[Charlieblade]

I was pondering this last night in Shoutbox with Carlton Blade and others and thought I'd throw it out there for discussion.

It feels like our creativity has dropped off considerably compared to the back end of last season. The stattos will no doubt be able to back this perception up, or challenge it...

The notable change we've faced is the loss of MGW, but that side and shape (front 3 of MGW, N'Diaye and Berge) was borne out of necessity due to a lack of fit forwards. Even so, we played with more intent and on the front foot.

Now, we feel considerably cagier in our approach, IMO. We feel solid and well organised but far from creative. That's with several key additions coming in: Anel, McAtee, Doyle, the return of Lowe and the return to form of McBurnie.

It feels like when you're seeing a game out, final 15 and you make a few subs, take a CF off and bring a CB on, run to the corners, don't take any unnecessary risks, avoid putting the ball into the box. Except, it feels like we're applying that approach to our entire game plan and our season as a whole. Stick to what we've got, stay steady.

Are we worried about being caught by the chasing pack and therefore going for solidarity over anything else?

Have we learned from or are we worried about injuries? The squad is looking thin at the mo, after all. Are we refraining from going full throttle for that reason?

Again, we're short up front, why aren't we looking at a front 3? Berge, N'Diaye, and one other: McAtee or Jebbo, McBurnie? We worked hard to coach an attacking intent into Berge last season, almost stumbled across it by accident and he was superb. Why did we stop using that?

Thoughts?

Sorry but putting 3 midfielders up front is not the answer IMHO. Midfield is our weak spot. It is also our most inconsistent supply route for strikers. It is too much to expect Norwood todo it all alone He needs regular partners who can help with defensive cover, allowing N’Diaye to supply assists and goals from AM.
Our only options are the Man City loanees and Berge now he’s fully fit. McBurnie has proven his worth as a flexible striker who can help out if we need him for set pieces.

 

[robbiez666]

We seem to have spells in a game where we play good stuff, but then realise and get scared to continue.

Like last season with MGW, if Ndiaye is double marked then someone else is hiding. We really need 2 creative midfielders on (Berge and McAtee) but then we don’t seem to be able to defend.

We’ve never been great at striking a balance between entertainment at 1 end and keeping the opposition out at the other end, it’s 1 or the other with us.

We used to get round this by having two advanced wingbacks. We only have one at the moment because we're lacking strength on the left side.

 

[SwissBlade]

I was pondering this last night in Shoutbox with Carlton Blade and others and thought I'd throw it out there for discussion.

It feels like our creativity has dropped off considerably compared to the back end of last season. The stattos will no doubt be able to back this perception up, or challenge it...

The notable change we've faced is the loss of MGW, but that side and shape (front 3 of MGW, N'Diaye and Berge) was borne out of necessity due to a lack of fit forwards. Even so, we played with more intent and on the front foot.

Now, we feel considerably cagier in our approach, IMO. We feel solid and well organised but far from creative. That's with several key additions coming in: Anel, McAtee, Doyle, the return of Lowe and the return to form of McBurnie.

It feels like when you're seeing a game out, final 15 and you make a few subs, take a CF off and bring a CB on, run to the corners, don't take any unnecessary risks, avoid putting the ball into the box. Except, it feels like we're applying that approach to our entire game plan and our season as a whole. Stick to what we've got, stay steady.

Are we worried about being caught by the chasing pack and therefore going for solidarity over anything else?

Have we learned from or are we worried about injuries? The squad is looking thin at the mo, after all. Are we refraining from going full throttle for that reason?

Again, we're short up front, why aren't we looking at a front 3? Berge, N'Diaye, and one other: McAtee or Jebbo, McBurnie? We worked hard to coach an attacking intent into Berge last season, almost stumbled across it by accident and he was superb. Why did we stop using that?

Thoughts?

When you swap in Osborne for McAtee it’s not going to have a positive impact in terms of creativity.

I also think that whilst Bogle is a better player from an individual creativity perspective, Baldock isn’t quite as advanced so, as a team it allows the right sided centre half to get forward down the right more and overload that side.

It seemed that yesterday Anel was coming through more centrally and it just looked crowded and tighter in there and we lacked the width not basing this on heat zones or stats but how it seemed to play out

 

[robbiez666]

Who’s injured right now ? Or since the World Cup


The negativity is based off the abject performances for the past 3 months

We would never led a declared Wednesday fan act like this on the forum, so why are we letting an attention seeking undercover one?

The only think that is abject is the ease of which a clueless troll can get a coaching badge.

 

[robbiez666]

And at the moment we have few good attacking options from the bench. In comparison:

Boro's bench: Jones ,Mowatt, Fry, Barlaser, Roberts, Crooks, Bola
Watford's bench: João Pedro, Koné, Hamer, Assombalonga, Morris, Hoedt, Adeyemo
WBA's bench: Ajayi, Grant, Swift, Reach, Thomas-Asante, Chalobah, Griffiths
Burnley's bench: Taylor, Twine, Foster, da Silva, Bastien, Churlinov, Casper

 

[diode_blade]

We need Bob Ross in midfield.....very creative..
My apologies
A very long weekend

 

[Carlton Blade]

I was pondering this last night in Shoutbox with Carlton Blade and others and thought I'd throw it out there for discussion.

It feels like our creativity has dropped off considerably compared to the back end of last season. The stattos will no doubt be able to back this perception up, or challenge it...

The notable change we've faced is the loss of MGW, but that side and shape (front 3 of MGW, N'Diaye and Berge) was borne out of necessity due to a lack of fit forwards. Even so, we played with more intent and on the front foot.

Now, we feel considerably cagier in our approach, IMO. We feel solid and well organised but far from creative. That's with several key additions coming in: Anel, McAtee, Doyle, the return of Lowe and the return to form of McBurnie.

It feels like when you're seeing a game out, final 15 and you make a few subs, take a CF off and bring a CB on, run to the corners, don't take any unnecessary risks, avoid putting the ball into the box. Except, it feels like we're applying that approach to our entire game plan and our season as a whole. Stick to what we've got, stay steady.

Are we worried about being caught by the chasing pack and therefore going for solidarity over anything else?

Have we learned from or are we worried about injuries? The squad is looking thin at the mo, after all. Are we refraining from going full throttle for that reason?

Again, we're short up front, why aren't we looking at a front 3? Berge, N'Diaye, and one other: McAtee or Jebbo, McBurnie? We worked hard to coach an attacking intent into Berge last season, almost stumbled across it by accident and he was superb. Why did we stop using that?

Thoughts?

We are a reactive team. Our approach to every game seems governed on the opposition and as such, with teams looking to defend against us and be direct, we mirror them.

In my opinion anyway

 

[Berkshire Blade]

I am a big fan of Bogle but I have noticed with him we do less of the getting in behind their defense and getting balls in from almost the touchline or passing it back to s totally free Norwood or Berge being able to brush past a static defender. That was good for at least a few good chances a game.

 

[BigBed]

Hecky arght.

 

[Half Bond Jls]

I'd like to see us hit a few more from long range. I know that's how we play by little passes but ffs have a go from distance some times, surely they hit them in training. A lot of times we have one pass too many and get caught in possession.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

It’s a mentality issue in my opinion. Since we had the poor run before the World Cup we’ve come back and setup a lot more cautiously.

The ‘creative’ moments now come from individuals and not from team moves. Ndiaye, McAtee, Bogle, Berge need to produce or we just don’t bother.

This is very true. The goal of the season competition - and there's already some cracking candidates - will so far come from the first part of the season, largely, and many of those contenders we're superb team goals. That's disappeared now.

 

[71Blade]

Appreciate MGW was always going to leave a big creativity gap however 2 of the best performances I've seen in recent years in my opinion came earlier this season Blackburn and Reading at home we simply blew them away. In the front foot and both performances were let the other team worry about us the pace the swagger was very impressive.

Appreciate injuries have played a part but it does seem we are more worried about the other side

Also the 2nd half against Burnley emphasises the above point ... Let them worry about us JUST GO AND PLAY OUR GAME BLADES

UTB

 

[blade67]

I was pondering this last night in Shoutbox with Carlton Blade and others and thought I'd throw it out there for discussion.

It feels like our creativity has dropped off considerably compared to the back end of last season. The stattos will no doubt be able to back this perception up, or challenge it...

The notable change we've faced is the loss of MGW, but that side and shape (front 3 of MGW, N'Diaye and Berge) was borne out of necessity due to a lack of fit forwards. Even so, we played with more intent and on the front foot.

Now, we feel considerably cagier in our approach, IMO. We feel solid and well organised but far from creative. That's with several key additions coming in: Anel, McAtee, Doyle, the return of Lowe and the return to form of McBurnie.

It feels like when you're seeing a game out, final 15 and you make a few subs, take a CF off and bring a CB on, run to the corners, don't take any unnecessary risks, avoid putting the ball into the box. Except, it feels like we're applying that approach to our entire game plan and our season as a whole. Stick to what we've got, stay steady.

Are we worried about being caught by the chasing pack and therefore going for solidarity over anything else?

Have we learned from or are we worried about injuries? The squad is looking thin at the mo, after all. Are we refraining from going full throttle for that reason?

Again, we're short up front, why aren't we looking at a front 3? Berge, N'Diaye, and one other: McAtee or Jebbo, McBurnie? We worked hard to coach an attacking intent into Berge last season, almost stumbled across it by accident and he was superb. Why did we stop using that?

Thoughts?

Here's a thought.

In October we had an injury crises and that lead to a pretty shit run.

As we emerged from that we took a less expansive approach. Since then we've won 9, lost 1 and drawn 2 of the 12 games in the league.

It's not totally mad for the manager to stick with that whilst it works.

It's not very sexy but it is working so far.

 

[blade67]

I dont think its all that different to last season tbh. The back end of last season, particularly away from home, we were devoid of any creativity whatsoever. It was our home form that got us in to the play-offs last season.

That away mentality has crept in across all our games this season, however, it seems we are far more formidable in terms of just doing enough to grind out results.

Comes down the old question of whether you view football as a results business or an entertainment business. As it stands, no one can argue with the results which for United as a club is all that really matters. If you go to matches to be entertained, you’re not getting much value for money at the Lane this season.

I don't think our results are that much better than under Hecky last year

O e big difference is how inconsistent everyone under us has benn.

 

[Chazzer]

As others have said, the loss of RND has had a huge impact. He was continually passing and crossing from the left side and shifting play into the opposition box. Hope he will be back before the end of the season.

 

[Lupa The Noa]

I've got him on ignore, so I'll be fine!

Ditto!

 

[JJBlade]

I'm not sure it's the managers mindset, and even if it is he can't influence what comes naturally to players on the pitch, those that want to attack will attack no matter what they've been told.
I just think we have a very weak willed injury prone set of players who are easily affected mentally, and have started to do as little as possible to coast through a game as much as they can, until the time comes when they can't coast through a game.

I said before the game started yesterday that the best thing for us fans, as a spectacle, would be for Rotherham to take an early lead.

 

[ton-up]

A few reasons. Our frontline has often lacked runs in in behind. This allows teams to play high, congest the middle and deny room to Ndiaye, Mcburnie, Berge, Mcattee etc that like to operate in this 10 space. The players that run in behind are Jebbo and Sharp.

Jebbo in particular (due to his pace) makes defensive lines drop deeper creating space in between the lines for midfielders and forwards dropping deep. He also gives you the longer pass in the channel or over the top. This allows us to get through the lines before the opponent is set. There was one run by Sharp yesterday that underlined this. Berge played an excellent long diag from left to right. Sharp made the run off the shoulder but couldn't quite get his shot away. If it was Jebbo?

Our goals often come from set pieces and bits of individual brilliance rather than exploiting space this way.

The loss of RND has been big. The only time the overlapping centre back overloads have worked from both sides post JOC is when RND has been playing well. We have less overloads without him and are easier to neutralise.

High pressing. All the injuries and personnel changes have taken the edge of this. Winning the ball high is an obvious way to break lines.

Good post.

 

[ton-up]

yeah this is an issue i was thinking yesterday that last years play off team would probably beat us because they caused so many attacking problems

is it finish line itis. have they seen the pot of gold at the end of the rain & theyve become defensive through nature. but then yesterday v rotherham. i thought we created some good chances but couldnt finish. as we had anel 6yd header, Berge couldnt get out of his feet 12yds out. bogle's 2 or 3 shots over the crossbar

Half chances at best and we lacked both initiative and insensitivity yesterday. But like many have already stated, we play all our nearest rivals soon, so can probs expect a slight downturn, saving the players for the bigger challengers soon to be upon us (it could be game/season management by McCall, etc?).