Author: Doron
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United set a new club record with a 19th straight home league win albeit in far from convincing fashion. Norwich had the best chances of the game and it took two late goals from Anderson and Danny Welbeck to ensure United head into the international break at the top of the table. For a change no fresh injuries were picked up and a Premier League debut was given to Anders Lindegaard in goal. Here we discuss some of the key talking points from the game and welcome discussion from both United and Norwich fans.
Another back four combination but one man stands out again:
Injuries to the defence this year has meant that the same back four has only been named in consecutive games twice – against Spurs and Arsenal. However, the extent to which injuries have disrupted United’s selection is maybe only apparent when the various back fours are put like this:
Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra
Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Fabio
Smalling, Jones, Evans, Evra – used three times
Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra
Fabio, Smalling, Evans, Evra
Valencia, Carrick, Fryers, Fabio
Valencia, Ferdinand, Jones, Evra
Fabio, Ferdinand, Jones, Evra
Valencia, Jones, Evans, Evra
Yesterday’s back four of Valencia, Jones, Evans and Evra was the ninth new back four named in eleven competitive games this season. It’s therefore somewhat incredible that United have only conceded eleven goals or on average one per game. It does not though excuse the lacklustre displays from individuals at the back lately, it’s been too cavalier and often too sloppy. Yesterday was another example of space unnecessarily being available to opposition forwards and when Norwich counter-attacked United presented them with some wonderful chances to score. Anthony Pilkington missing the easiest of them all, skewing his shot wide when he had only Lindegaard to beat.
Jones once again showed glimpses of immense promise both in last ditch tackling and in direct driving forward runs. However, whilst much of the attention was on Jones’ erraticism, Evans was once again an assured presence on his return from injury.
Chalkboard 1. Evans passing and clearances
Jonny was assured in possession with 96% pass completion success but more impressively he won 10 out of 13 challenges resulting in a clearance. Along with Jones, he’s started more games than anyone at centre back this season and has been increasingly solid and reliable after 18 months of inconsistency and poor form. The signing of Jones and the progression of Smalling has clearly been a wake up call to Jonny who has responded excellently.
The regular changing will hopefully subside as injured players return though – a settled back four is the foundation for any good team.
Deep, organised Norwich force Rooney to play high:
There’s no clear indication of what is the best way to set up at Old Trafford when facing United and unable to compete in footballing terms. Some teams will try to attack United and get picked off on the counter-attack; some will try to kick United off the pitch usually without success; others will try and do what Norwich did for nearly 70 minutes – play deep, with discipline and organisation and frustrate United.
Norwich with men back
Norwich played with their two central midfielders sitting just in front of their defence, shielding them and frustrating United’s central midfielders, Anderson and Fletcher. With eight outfield players almost always behind the ball, it became seemingly impossible for United to break them down. Norwich’s deep tactics meant that Hernandez was stifled as space behind the back four was non-existent:
Norwich not allowing United any space
At times, as shown in the image above at times the majority of Norwich’s outfield players were all within two stripes of grass of each other. Some players were man marking whilst some were marking space. It meant that Hernandez had little space in behind the defence and it rendered Rooney somewhat useless in his more comfortable deeper role. Every time he dropped deep there was a sea of yellow shirts in front of him and no space to thread passes and attempt to dictate play. Instead, Rooney found himself playing higher up the pitch than he usually would:
Chalkboard 2. Rooney vs. Norwich and Rooney vs. Bolton
It’s not that Rooney’s rendered useless when playing high, just that he’s more effective when he can drop deep and control play; picking and choosing the times he wants to push higher up. For example, away at Bolton when he scored a hat-trick this season he played 28% of his passes in the final third of the pitch and 32% from within his own half. However, against Norwich he played 52% of his passes in the final third of the pitch and just 14% from within the United half.
Rooney wasn’t alone in being denied the space he works best in – Nani and Hernandez both also suffered. Credit to Norwich though for getting their tactics spot on and implementing them well. However, as soon as United took the lead Norwich were unable to keep sustained pressure on United. As shown below, Norwich played only 36% of their passes from within the United half; by contrast, United played 60% of their passes from within the Norwich half.
Chalkboard 3. Norwich vs. United passing heatmap
It’s a brave tactic from Norwich to have and clearly it’s only one they’d deploy away from home against the biggest teams in the league. However chance creation may be hard to come by and then they need a goalscorer to put the chances away. With all due respect, United gifted Norwich chances rather than being cut open by wonderful Norwich attacking play – and then no one was able to finish any of the chances off. With James Vaughan out for at least six months, Norwich may have to spend in January and try and get a goalscorer.
The good (Welbeck), the bad (Anderson), and the ugly (international break):
Danny Welbeck came off the bench to cap a good goalscoring week by getting United’s second goal after very unselfish play by Park. He now has five goals in eight appearances this season and stands every chance of being the club’s first long-term home-produced striker since Mark Hughes. To cap it all off, Welbeck has received a call up to the full England squad for their latest Euro 2012 qualifiers.
When United needed the breakthrough, of all the people to pop up with a header it was Anderson. It was quite telling however that in his post-match press conference with MUTV despite being prompted into praising Anderson, Sir Alex Ferguson somewhat dodged the question and wasn’t drawn into praising Anderson. Despite good early performances alongside Cleverley, Anderson has struggled since his injury and alongside Fletcher he seems to have regressed.
Chalkboard 4. Anderson passing and tackling vs. Norwich
Despite a passing rate of 86%, Anderson played with little penetration and tellingly, most of the balls he gave away were in the final third of the pitch. He didn’t make a single pass from within the final third of Norwich’s half and generally played too deep. His work rate in attempting to win the ball back was also questionable with just one tackle attempted (and lost). One would expect a central midfielder to be attempting more than just 1/34 of the team’s attempted tackles.
However, Ferguson clearly has belief in him as he’s started all of the league games this season (7), already half as many as he started in 2008/09 and 2009/10; exactly half the number he started in 2010/11 and nearly half the number he started in 2007/08 (16). The international break may therefore come at a good time for Anderson. He’ll have a chance to reflect upon his recent form and Tom Cleverley will hopefully be able to return for the games coming up soon as well.
In general, the international break has for a change, probably come at a good time for United. Vidic, Smalling and Cleverley should all be available for selection again after the break whilst the side in general needs time to work on some basics such as defensive responsibilities and positioning. Whilst the side haven’t lost, the past three performances against Stoke, Basel and Norwich have been far from convincing. The side can and must improve.
Crucial October?
Looking ahead, October could be a very important month for United. In the league United travel to Anfield to face a hit-and-miss Liverpool side, fresh from a Merseyside derby win. Just three days after that test, United are off to Romania for what is now a crucial game against Otelul Galati in the Champions League. Following that it’s Man City at home, the top two (as it stands) meeting to battle it out for outright leadership of the league. A trip to Aldershot in the League Cup then separates the City game from an away trip to Everton – a place United haven’t won at in the league since 2007/08.
United’s unbeaten league run will undergo a stern test this month.
In summary…
Norwich’s defensive set-up worked for 70 minutes but Anderson’s header from a couple of yards was enough to seal victory for United. As Norwich pressed for an equaliser, Welbeck combined with Park to make the three points safe. United didn’t have it all their own way though, long periods of possession were broken up by easy Norwich chances; on another day United could have been two behind with twenty minutes to play. With an international break coming up Ferguson will be able to concentrate on getting payers fit again as the schedule takes a step up with Liverpool and Man City to come in the next few weeks.
Your analysis of TheWayneBoy’s ineffectiveness is really similar to your slating of Anderson except that you seem to be more charitable in assessing Rooney’s performance. Norwich denied these guys – and Nani, too – space.
As long as the match was level, parking-the-bus worked for them as it has for many other teams over the years. Once Anderson scored, the situation changed – space opened up and the second goal was as much due to the neat interchange between Park and Welbeck as it was the result of Norwich’s resources being spread out.
Dont get me wrong…Wayne Rooney is a fantastic player but the English media and fans alike are very bias towards his performances. United were poor on the weekend against Norwich and so was Rooney! Its amazing how many times you see Nani try something audacious and the commentators slate him … calling him greedy or inexperienced yet when an english player (rooney) does the same thing they only remark on the creative genius and how close that was! Prime example was Rooney’s clear chance against Norwich on the weekend where he should have done what he does best and rifled the ball past the Ruddy…instead he tried a Cantona-style chip which landed on the roof of the net! The commentators were quick to lavish praise on him…had Nani done that he would have been slated! Rooney is a great player but other United players need fair treatment as well…Nani has been a fantastic player for United over the past two seasons and deserves far more credit than he receives…particularly from Rooney who always seems disgusted when Nani does not pick him out when going forward…
@Denton Davey
Understood, but the point was more a case that Norwich forced Rooney to change the way he played (had to play higher up). Anderson’s game wasn’t forcibly changed, he, like everyone was simply denied space.
Sure…Norwich did close us down well on the weekend, but we should expect that from other teams at Old Trafford and the players should be able to adapt and change the game plan. United biggest strength has been the ability to adapt, to play as a unit making use of individual brilliance! Thats what makes it so annoying when two of the best players on the pitch are throwing their hands in the air in frustration…Rooney and Nani are brilliant when combining … would just like to see Rooney curb his temperament towards Nani when the ball does not always land at his feet…there are 9 other class Utd players on the pitch…
Hey there Ryan,
Totally agree with what you said. Nani isn’t even my favourite player but I still feel that our supporters are still so critical towards him (e.g wasteful, frustrating). I beg to differ such occasions. His positive points outweigh these negativity so much. Just look at amount of assists and goals he has made over the last 3 years.
Lastly, I frickin agree with your last point. It almost happens in every match. Rooney always screams at Nani when the ball doesn’t land at his feet. But when Valencia delays his cross or gets deflected, I don’t see the same reaction. I do not know why the hell he does that and he seems to only do that to Nani.
Glad to know there’s someone out there that realizes this point as well 🙂
@Zayne @Ryan
Only thing I can think of RE Rooney is that he expects perfection – Roy Keane used to be the same, he used to shout at players if they didn’t give the ball to him or play the right pass. I wouldn’t read too much into it; the players voted Nani their POTY at the club awards last year… he’s held in high regard
or maybe it’s the larger the hopes/expectations, the greater the disappointment. haha.
nani always look as though he can make something happen. and it’s annoying when he didn’t.
Interesting article. It maybe was not Rooney best match every but overall I thought United overcame a Norwich team who battled well for the 90 minutes.