Category: Team Analysis

Solving Manchester United’s defensive concerns

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coaching, Managers, Most Recent, Premier League, Team Analysis, World Football

It's no secret. Manchester United are struggling defensively right now, despite having very capable players all over the pitch. In David De Gea, they have one of the best goalkeepers in the world. In Lindelof and Maguire, the Red Devils have a defensive pairing that spearheaded one of the league's sturdiest defensive structures last season, and led a Europa League charge. Ahead of them, they have two defensive warriors in Fred and McTominay, who will never be world beaters, but are very competent in what they offer. Despite that, Ralf Rangnick's team have conceded 10 goals in their last 5 games, floundering under the German's style of play. So what's amiss?

Assessing Manchester United’s future centre-back options

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Centre Backs, Coaching, Data Analysis, Managers, Most Recent, Player Analysis, Premier League, Team Analysis

For the past few seasons, the attention on Manchester United's transfer business has surrounded their inability to sign a world class defensive midfielder. However, with United floundering under Ralf Rangnick's style of play, greater defensive concerns have been illuminated in the past few months.

How Crystal Palace shocked Arsenal – Match Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Managers, Match Analysis, Premier League, Team Analysis

Under the influence of Patrick Vieira, Crystal Palace have put on a show this season, beating several of the league's most formidable sides. Shock wins against Manchester City and Nuno's Spurs will live long in the memory of Palace fans, but few of their performances can top this past weekend, when they creamed Mikel Arteta's … Continue reading How Crystal Palace shocked Arsenal – Match Analysis

Tactical Thinker: How would you solve Manchester United’s defensive concerns?

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coaching, Managers, Most Recent, Premier League, Team Analysis, World Football

Things have been bumpy since Ralf Rangnick took over, with many players continuing to flounder under the new tactical ideals. The team's defensive problems have garnered particular attention in the media, with the likes of Maguire, Varane, Shaw and Wan-Bissaka continuously lambasted for their performances. So with that, this week we ask the following question in our third Tactical Thinker. How would you solve United's defensive concerns?

Ralf Rangnick – Manchester United – Tactical Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Managers, Most Recent, Premier League, Team Analysis, World Football

Since the start of Ralf Rangnick's temporary tenure at Manchester United, rumours have persisted about who the next permanent boss to hold down a legitimate tenure may be. Erik Ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino have been heavily linked, only continuing to take attention away from Manchester United's burning castle...and their desire to finish inside this season's top four. As the season nears Easter, the likelihood of Rangnick achieving that feat seems all the more unlikely, with Arsenal suddenly looking like the team to beat instead.

Oliver Glasner – Eintracht Frankfurt – Tactical Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, German Bundesliga, Managers, Masterclasses, Most Recent, Team Analysis

Like many of the managers to take place in last season's managerial merry go round ahead of the 2021-22 campaign, Oliver Glasner had a slow start to life at Eintracht Frankfurt. It took the team eight games to claim their first victory, and even that was a stale 1-0 win over Royal Antwerp in the … Continue reading Oliver Glasner – Eintracht Frankfurt – Tactical Analysis

What Jesse Marsch will bring to Leeds United

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Managers, Masterclasses, Most Recent, Premier League, Team Analysis

On a surface level, you may look at Marsch - a man who loves a high pressing system - and think to yourself that Leeds is a match made in heaven for 48-year-old (yes, we know he looks much younger). In reality, the jump from Bielsa to Marsch is a big one, going from an intense man-marking press, to a press that centers around the ball. So with that, today, we analyze what Jesse Marsch will bring to Leeds United, and whether or not the Lillywhites are prepared for the leap.

Juan Reynoso – Cruz Azul – Tactical Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Managers, Masterclasses, Most Recent, Team Analysis, World Football

In the massive amounts of football I've watched over the past two months, it seems almost crazy to say that I've witnessed more of Cruz Azul than just about any other team...having not watched them any time in the last few years before the start of 2022. I started watching the iconic Mexican team in preparation for Forge FC's CONCACAF Champions League double-header against them in February, and now I can't stop. With so much free flowing football, positional rotation and frantic, energetic vibrancy to their play, Cruz are one of the most exciting teams around. So with that, today I bring you my tactical analysis of Juan Reynoso's Cruz Azul in 2022.