Sometimes United are facing the same deep defending tactics we are. But you dont see Carrick and Scholes passing the ball slowly to each other at that point when they need a win.
Against WHU it was painful from the 75. minute to see Nasri-Yaya passing to each other, slowly, slow turn, back to Yaya, slow pass out wide, back to Nasri.
Yeah I understand we were looking for a mistake by WHU but not putting enough pressure on them is a huge mistake.
Pace is huge in this league, a huge factor. Our average build is is so slow. You dont see this slow build up play at other top teams in Europe. But we are getting punished for it in Europe.
United's whole passing, attacking play is about pace as well. You dont really see them turning back, pass it back regularly.
When Nasri, Clichy, Barry facing some trouble, like pressing from opponent, they turn back 99% of the time. Even pass it back. And it starts again.
Pretty sure it is coming from Mancini. Thats what he asks from them.
No wide options another huge factor. Mancini also doesnt like wingers. No pace on the wings.
Maybe Clichy or Zabba comes up sometimes but first he faces a midfielder/winger then a fullback. If they still have the ball they are not good at crossing.
Kolarov is good at crossing but he rarely plays because his weak point is the defending. No coicidence Clichy is startint now every match nearly.
Oponents know this as well. They planning for these things. They have to organize themselves to the middle, where Yaya, Nasri, Silva trio is playing and on top of that Tevez dropping deep.
They take each others place most of the times while opponents fullbacks have more than enough energy to help out for the central defenders for the def. midfielders. Because they face no opponent to mark.
Even if they do they have time to reorganize as we are building attacks in the slow way.
Pace would be very important for us but it is not just about fast players.
Wehave very fast players but our tactics are far from getting the best out of our fast players. Agüero, Balotelli, Nasri are very fast players.Their real pace is nowhere near used enough they getting the ball to their feet or even they are stopping/standing when they get it.
We dont move enough, many times Yaya has the ball looking for a pass, everybody is standing. They are waiting the ball. not running enough to move opponents, open channels. Slow, standing, not enough movement, no wings, no pace.
I hoped some improvement in these elements this year so far it only got worse as opponents can plan for this even more, even easier. They know us even more, our strengths, our weaknesses.
It was enough last year against a very weak United only on level points tho. We were beating every team at least once, many of them twice. This year they raise their game a little bit more as well. (Of course they do.)
Mancini has a certain way he likes the team to set up, with a certain build up play, I'm not sure it is good enough.
We struggle with this even against opponents who arent putting 10 men behind the ball.
Also the form of our players is worrying. No one is in his top class form since August. Maybe only Tevez who gives everything so far. We saw Dzeko, Balo, Agüero, Silva, Nasri, Yaya, Barry playing lot better than now.
New signings had about zero effect so far. Ok Nastasic is alright, great prspect. But Rodwell when played he always made a huge mistake. We conceded about 3 goals because of him. Soton, Pool and Dortmund matches come to my mind...
So pace, form, tactics all have a role why we dont score as many goals overall and from open play situations this year.
For United their form (RVP), their pace is better as well. Also they are more easily beaten in midfield and defence but who will outscore them when RVP hits the form like this?
They easily could draw all of their 3 CL matches they won all 3.
