afrodoc2:


There are levels to possession game and Xavi is at the peak. I am not surprised about this scanning stat cos I have mentioned it before.

When you watch him you see his head always moving in different directions every few seconds. The maestro was always taking snap shots of everybody’s position on the pitch so that whenever he was pressed he had passing options.

He is the only person I know that was averaging over 90 passes per game AND over 90 % pass accuracy for entire seasons.

Xavi scans a lot, he was at the heart of Barca's possession. Amaka, Fred and ghostimonay should watch him and learn from him.

Panther7:
Fair point, I don't appreciate physical midfielders, I prefer technical and intelligent ones e.g KDB.
United don't have these types of midfielders that's why we struggle at times.
Xavi will be a great coach, his understanding of the game is magnificent, I learnt a lot from his coach's voice interview. How he broke down the possession concept is interesting. That's what we except from Amaka but baba go dey talk about DNA and passion.

The culture is different in England. Passionate players are preferred to technical players. Xavi spoke about this in 2011 when he said Scholes was the greatest midfielder he had seen play in 20 years.

Meanwhile, in England Scholes didn’t get the love players like Gerrard or Gareth Barry had. English fans want to see enthusiasm, chasing the ball like a headless chicken. If Xavi was English, he would never have made it out of any academy. Scouts would have considered him too weak to be a midfielder.

Xavi was a possession god and when you peep some of his stats, it’s like we didn’t appreciate him enough and we gave too much credits to Messi/Ronaldo. Xavi should have won about 6 ballon d’Ors based on his talent alone.


How is this possible? 100% accuracy

Illimitable:


United were 6th when Mourinho was sacked and he was about to embark on the easiest run of fixtures.

Ole the messiah was brought in, players had something to prove so they won mostly all the games in that run of easy fixtures. Shortly after, they started losing in almost every game.

In short, Ole inherited United in 6th position and took them to a lofty height in the same 6th position. He crashed out of CL knock out stage(Mourinho qualified us from the group before the sack) and Ole also lost scandalously to Lampard’s Chelsea in the FA cup run.

If Mourinho deserved the sack, Ole should have been sacked immediately after the completion of 18/19 season. He didn’t improve on Jose’s worst season at United.

You made good points. But in my sincere accessement, we played the best football under Ole since Ferguson. I am not for or against anyone, but Moyes, LVG, Mourinho played very uninteresting football. The closest we got to what we used yo have came under Ole.

Moyes (the one I tagged PE teacher at the time) brought this zone thing that disintegrated our players. He marked zones for each player and wanted each one to man his zone and be runners. The fluidity and compact play ended. The players were getting old, so they could not cope.

LvG played the most boring football in history of club. Emphasis on completing passes rather than hurting the opponents. Every mistake in the PHILOSOPHY was noted in a diary during matches. So United had zillion of back passes, slow play and safe football. But he did play some scintillating football against the big teams with his 4-1-4-1 formation where Fellaini took long balls from defence and DDG on his chest, and Mata worked with Herrera on the right side. Fellaini was with Young on the right, and sometimes Di Maria in the mix. Rooney at the top. When it appeared sometimes that LVG has got a working formula, he soon tweak the formation and players position and we got hit. We conceded lots of late goals to lose to small teams.

Mourinho's case was that even when lined up against Kano Pillars, he would park the bus from first minute until we concede, then the players begin yo venture beyond the half line. If he went ahead, he brings in Fellaini in the 80th mimute as a 5th defender to secure the one goal lead. He was able to win Europa because he still had some old and experienced players. Bar his days at Porto, Moutinho flops with young players. He needs very experienced players to help with the discipline and tenacity to combat pressure when parking the bus to see out a slim win. He had Valencia, Young, Herrera, Smalling, Fellaini, Rooney who provided that for him.

Under Ole, we were less careful about being hurt and for once trying to be the predator. Lots of adventure play and coming from behind to win. If Ole has got what is required to play this way this season, is another question. But at this time last season, we were 13 points from 8 matches. We were also struggling.

Illimitable:


The culture is different in England. Passionate players are preferred to technical players. Xavi spoke about this in 2011 when he said Scholes was the greatest midfielder he had seen play in 20 years.

Meanwhile, in England Scholes didn’t get the love players like Gerrard or Gareth Barry had. English fans want to see enthusiasm, chasing the ball like a headless chicken. If Xavi was English, he would never have made it out of any academy. Scouts would have considered him too weak to be a midfielder.

Xavi was a possession god and when you peep some of his stats, it’s like we didn’t appreciate him enough and we gave too much credits to Messi/Ronaldo. Xavi should have won about 6 ballon d’Ors based on his talent alone.


How is this possible? 100% accuracy

More like Mourinho would have killed Xavi career if he was his coach.

Panther7:
Xavi scans a lot, he was at the heart of Barca's possession. Amaka, Fred and ghostimonay should watch him and learn from him.

Too late for that. That kind of style can only be taught at academy level. Then you improve on it as a pro as you become more experienced.

elampiro:


You made good points. But in my sincere accessement, we played the best football under Ole since Ferguson. I am not for or against anyone, but Moyes, LVG, Mourinho played very uninteresting football. The closest we got to what we used yo have came under Ole.

Moyes (the one I tagged PE teacher at the time) brought this zone thing that disintegrated our players. He marked zones for each player and wanted each one to man his zone and be runners. The fluidity and compact play ended. The players were getting old, so they could not cope.

LvG played the most boring football in history of club. Emphasis on completing passes rather than hurting the opponents. Every mistake in the PHILOSOPHY was noted in a diary during matches. So United had zillion of back passes, slow play and safe football. But he did play some scintillating football against the big teams with his 4-1-4-1 formation where Fellaini took long balls from defence and DDG on his chest, and Mata worked with Herrera on the right side. Fellaini was with Young on the right, and sometimes Di Maria in the mix. Rooney at the top. When it appeared sometimes that LVG has got a working formula, he soon tweak the formation and players position and we got hit. We conceded lots of late goals to lose to small teams.

Mourinho's case was that even when lined up against Kano Pillars, he would park the bus from first minute until we concede, then the players begin yo venture beyond the half line. If he went ahead, he brings in Fellaini in the 80th mimute as a 5th defender to secure the one goal lead. He was able to win Europa because he still had some old and experienced players. Bar his days at Porto, Moutinho flops with young players. He needs very experienced players to help with the discipline and tenacity to combat pressure when parking the bus to see out a slim win. He had Valencia, Young, Herrera, Smalling, Fellaini, Rooney who provided that for him.

Under Ole, we were less careful about being hurt and for once trying to be the predator. Lots of adventure play and coming from behind to win. If Ole has got what is required to play this way this season, is another question. But at this time last season, we were 13 points from 8 matches. We were also struggling.

This is why we don’t win. A manager has to adapt to the strength of his team. Mourinho had Valencia/Young(33 year old ex-wingers) as full backs and Jones/Smalling center pairing.

What kind of football would a sensible manager play with that low level of talent? Play like predators and lose in every game?

When Mourinho had the crème de la crème players in Madrid, did he park the bus? Did Mourinho’s Madrid not outscore Pep’s Barca consecutively in La Liga when they were both there?

Forget that one, what about his first Chelsea team in 2004/5, they notched 95 points. They were the most feared team in the history of the PL. They tore Wenger’s invincibles apart, beat SAF home and away, won 29 league games that year.

Illimitable:
My God, Xavi is the god of midfielders.

Of all players some research groups have filmed in the past 20+ years, Xavi Hernández is the one with the highest average scanning frequency in a full game (measured last 10 seconds before receiving the ball):

For those who don’t know, a scan was operationally defined as a player’s active head movement where the face (and hence, the eyes) is temporarily directed away from the ball, with the assumed intention of gathering information about teammates and/or opponents, to prepare for subsequently engaging with the ball.

Xavi’s head is always moving to check his environment before receiving the ball. No wonder United players were chasing shadows in 2009 CL final. We couldn’t get close to him. Fergie said it’s like he had eyes behind his head. If you think you have closed Xavi down, he just turns to the other direction he had scanned before receiving the ball and eludes his marker.

McFred in a million years can’t attain this level of awareness.

Where is the £80m Manchester United midfielder on the list?

Panther7:
Fair point, I don't appreciate physical midfielders, I prefer technical and intelligent ones e.g KDB.
United don't have these types of midfielders that's why we struggle at times.
Xavi will be a great coach, his understanding of the game is magnificent, I learnt a lot from his coach's voice interview. How he broke down the possession concept is interesting. That's what we except from Amaka but baba go dey talk about DNA and passion.

KDB is not physical? Really?

afrodoc2:


Too late for that. That kind of style can only be taught at academy level. Then you improve on it as a pro as you become more experienced.

Wow! What are those things Mcfred can work on and improve on with their current age.

elampiro:


More like Mourinho would have killed Xavi career if he was his coach.

So who took Modric(similar height to Xavi) to Real Madrid? Was it Moyes or Pep?

elampiro:


KDB is not physical? Really?

When you mention KDB what's the first thing that comes to your mind? When you mention Mcfred what comes to your mind first?

elampiro:


Where is the £80m Manchester United midfielder on the list?

.

They didn’t scan everyone, it was just a selected group.

elampiro:


Where is the £80m Manchester United midfielder on the list?

Illimitable:


The culture is different in England. Passionate players are preferred to technical players. Xavi spoke about this in 2011 when he said Scholes was the greatest midfielder he had seen play in 20 years.

Meanwhile, in England Scholes didn’t get the love players like Gerrard or Gareth Barry had. English fans want to see enthusiasm, chasing the ball like a headless chicken. If Xavi was English, he would never have made it out of any academy. Scouts would have considered him too weak to be a midfielder.

Xavi was a possession god and when you peep some of his stats, it’s like we didn’t appreciate him enough and we gave too much credits to Messi/Ronaldo. Xavi should have won about 6 ballon d’Ors based on his talent alone.


How is this possible? 100% accuracy

Rodri has similar stats too, I think 176 passes in a single match.

Panther7:
Wow! What are those things Mcfred can work on and improve on with their current age.

The fact una dey mention "McFred" dey vex me

Panther7:
Rodri has similar stats too, I think 176 passes in a single match.

176 passes with 100% accuracy?

Do you know what it means to make 96 passes and not lose one of them against PSG in a KO game?

That’s sheer ingenuity.

Panther7:
Wow! What are those things Mcfred can work on and improve on with their current age.

I don’t know. Fred is 29 next March and so not exactly a spring chicken. McTominay also turns 25 soon so not exactly a youngster.

Probably positioning, passing, decision making.

elrony:


The fact una dey mention "McFred" dey vex me

We have to emphasize on "Mcfred" bro, the myth on this thread is we can't win without them and they give the team balance.

Panther7:
Wow! What are those things Mcfred can work on and improve on with their current age.

It’s too late for McFred. They have already developed their own habits and that isn’t going to ever change. You think this type of skill at a very young age when kids are taught to look both sides before crossing the road.

Get rid of McFred altogether and sign a player like Essien(Bissouma, Ndidi, etc). United also need to replace their full backs. At this level, Shaw and AWB do not pose enough threats on the flanks.

Panther7:
We have to emphasize on "Mcfred" bro, the myth on this thread is we can't win without them and they give the team balance.

McFred is the best combo we have to avoid defeats. It’s factually true but it’s not enough to win you a trophy or title.

There would be more draws than wins but we don’t lose many games with those two in the midfield. They are tireless workers.

Illimitable:


So who took Modric(similar height to Xavi) to Real Madrid? Was it Moyes or Pep?

He was no longer in his formation years.

Panther7:
When you mention KDB what's the first thing that comes to your mind? When you mention Mcfred what comes to your mind first?

The first time I saw KDB play, he was a flying winger. Lots of speed, strength and maneuver.

Illimitable:
.

They didn’t scan everyone, it was just a selected group.

Pogba did not qualify because the 10 secs before he gets a pass he thinks only of his number 9 or a leg over

elampiro:


He was no longer in his formation years.

How does that matter?

Your point was Mourinho doesn’t like midget players but he was the one that bought Modric from Spurs.

Deco was another midget that prospered under Mourinho, same as Lassana Diara.

Mourinho is about work ethic and leaving blood on the pitch. If you can give him that, you would be loved by him. This is why he didn’t like Luke Shaw(the lazy slob).

elampiro:


Pogba did not qualify because the 10 secs before he gets a pass he thinks only of his number 9 or a leg over

Yet, he won the World Cup?

TrebleChamp:
This guy hatred for Bruno no be here, you made plenty sense except the bolded...

Nawa o, someone cannot make comments about Bruno on this thread without getting lashed. The assessment was right, and I also talked about other players.

Panther7:
We have to emphasize on "Mcfred" bro, the myth on this thread is we can't win without them and they give the team balance.

But you have been playing without them. The team is in disarray.

Illimitable:


How does that matter?

Your point was Mourinho doesn’t like midget players but he was the one that bought Modric from Spurs.

Deco was another midget that prospered under Mourinho, same as Lassana Diara.

Mourinho is about work ethic and leaving blood on the pitch. If you can give him that, you would be loved by him. This is why he didn’t like Luke Shaw(the lazy slob).

I said Mourinho does not do well with young players, bar his days at Porto

If we are talking of a playmaker who connects the whole team together with string of passes, then we cannot be blaming Fred and McTominay when we know they don't play that way. A team can have its playmaker from the CAM where Bruno plays. This is what Silva did for Man City. Also was Zidane. Modric did for Spurs. A team acan have a plamaker from the DM, like Pirlo. A team can have two playmakers.

Right now, the closest we have is Bruno, but he is not exactly that kind of player who connects the whole team together with short passes. He is techical and tricky in his own way but not a hub for the the whole team. But Pogba is ghe biggest culprit here. Paul Scholes once described him as a midfielder who goes to the field to do what any kind of midfield player does ordinarily.

elampiro:


I said Mourinho does not do well with young players, bar his days at Porto

Rubbish assertion when the evidence showed he backed Petr Cech over the fans’ favorite Cudicini in 2004.

Fergie learnt from the experience which prompted him to choose David De Gea over the more experienced GKs to replace Van Der Sar.

I am not convinced you follow football.

Illimitable:


Rubbish assertion when the evidence showed he backed Petr Cech over the fans’ favorite Cudicini in 2004.

Fergie learnt from the experience which prompted him to choose David De Gea over the more experienced GKs to replace Van Der Sar.

I am not convinced you follow football.

1/1000

Panther7:
Xavi scans a lot, he was at the heart of Barca's possession. Amaka, Fred and ghostimonay should watch him and learn from him.

Ghostominay...Una sabi give people name for here...Na so I shout Ghostominay on Saturday come dey laugh alone...

Eph12, you won't come and defend McTom?