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TAKTISK ANALYSE: Manutdtactics.com har vurdert Fulham – United for united.no.
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CHANCE TAKEN
Tactical analysis by manutdtactics.com, twitter: @manutdtactics
Haven’t we just played Fulham? What would a trip to Craven Cottage teach us about this United team, anything? Fulham were so poor last week in the FA Cup that they had to perform better in all departments and they would have to do it without United’s ex marmite player, Berbatov who was missing and replaced by Rodellega. Along with Dejagah they gave Fulham more pace and an option to play behind the defence particularly through the former Wigan man. Personnel Out: Jones, Smalling, Vidic, Anderson, Kagawa, Welbeck In: Evans, Ferdinand, Valencia, Nani, Cleverley
Key Points
• United’s profligacy in front of goal was a concern in this game. This season their average shot accuracy is 53% • Rooney continuing his goal scoring run, he has hit double figures in nine successive top-flight seasons • Nani made a sound contribution in the first half and his movement across the box showed cunning and he was more generous with his passing
• However, United’s crossing wasn’t up to much, as the graphic below shows
• De Gea had a great game
• United’s tackling success rate was an impressive 89%
First Half
United looked a typical 4-2-3-1 but there was a difference, the wings had two very different proponents; Nani and Valencia. This created an imbalance in terms of movement, i.e., no switching of wings. However, it was intended to allow Nani freedom to roam particularly into the zone in front of Hangeland who was a target. Nani was active when sometimes forming a triangle at the D thus causing Baird and Hangeland to push up then drop off; trying to find space where possible.
Two other interesting positional matters were Cleverley, key in some of United’s early phases, playing high and working very horizontally whilst the second, Valencia, tucked in when Fulham attacked. 
Fulham were a 4-4-1-1 and Ruiz was more effective without getting bunched up with Berbatov, dropping deep to try and influence play whilst Karagounis was fairly static as Baird could be seen pushing level with him. Chances came by both teams and the first 15 minutes were played at a real pace but it was Dejagah, who had made an impact in the cup game, whom needed to be watched. United were coping with any Fulham threat although Ruiz and Rodellega were doing their best to oppress Carrick and Ferdinand respectively. This had an upshot in that it allowed Evans a lot of scope to move forward, something he is inclined to do. Rooney and Nani were effective in this half and they served to highlight that Van Persie was having a quiet game, as was Valencia who had drifted out and when he did have the ball his crosses were not accurate enough. It was obvious by the amount of play down the left and the space between Rooney (or whoever played centrally) and Valencia that the focus was on the left hand side. As the lights were out United looked like a 1-2-7 as they gathered near the touchline, it was felt that this left United too exposed at the back!
Second Half
United had exposed Hangeland’s lack of pace and he was replaced at half time for Hughes. We also saw Rodellega playing higher and switching his attention from Ferdinand to Evans’, and he sat on his shoulder as he looked for the ball over the top. Initially, United’s one touch football had improved this half and Rafael played his part in this by working better with Valencia, or rather improving the contribution of Valencia! However, the United midfield needed enhancing and a player who would both, prevent Ruiz dictating any Fulham play but also someone who would set United out from a higher starting position. Any good play United were having had come from deep and relied on slick passing and opportunities being taken which hadn’t happened up to the 65th minute. That change wasn’t Anderson as we’d expected but Hernandez who came on for Valencia. Fulham responded and brought on new signing Emanuelson for Karagounis; an interesting choice by Jol, who is nothing if not pro active. Perhaps he thought his introduction would instil some quality passing as it had been patchy for the Cottagers thus far; worst culprit, Ruiz. United were now wider than previous as the new 4-4-2 formation saw Rooney moved to the left, Nani right and Hernandez partnering van Persie. The United substitute asked Nani to stem the continuing threat of Riise (defensive duties not being his b point) and Rooney to offer a greater threat to Reither but when defending, watch the zone of the pitch that Dejagah had occupied (sometimes he did this, sometimes he didn’t, leaving Carrick exposed). Sir Alex then made another change as Giggs came on for Cleverley who had little impact this half and Carrick went to the right and Giggs the left of the midfield two. This added a degree of composure as Giggs spread the ball wide quicker, often and accurately. BOOM! United were looking out of ideas and the tension was growing which wasn’t helped when the confusing Ruiz nearly scored from a h4. Yet this changed the game as following that attempt Evans played a long ball deep from United’s left hand corner in to the Fulham half and as it appeared to reach Hernandez he let it by and at the same time blocked Senderos’ attempt to head it. Why was Senderos so far away from his position? The gap this left for Rooney to run in to was big and it gave him time to finish with clinical accuracy, something the game lacked. 
Fulham then brought on Petric for Dejagah (similar in playing style) and Fulham went 3-4-3. To address this Sir Alex brought Nani off for Welbeck. The Portuguese’s diminishing returns were noticeable this half. Fulham were having some joy with the change and they had a chance cleared off the line by van Persie, in fairness his greatest contribution of the game. Their late attacking flurry highlighted how well Ferdinand and Evans defended, particularly in the second half. 
Conclusion
This was a ground out result as the game appeared to be heading for a draw, which belied the number of chances in the game (8 on target each). Fulham defended better than the cup game and in conjunction with the midfield held a higher line denying United the space they enjoyed last time.
United were creative in front of the D and we saw interesting exchanges of play between the triumvirate of van Persie, Rooney and Nani; the latter tucked in well causing a degree of confusion between the positions of the Fulham defence. 10 points clear, as Sir Alex said, «It’s a good position [being 10 points clear], we’re pleased.» So are we!PS: Dette ble egentlig levert før Citys kamp mot Liverpool søndag, men etter det ble luka selvsagt kuttet til 9 poeng.
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