Ball-hog Ander Herrera has found space for himself in Manchester United’s midfield

Every team wants their best players to see plenty of the ball. However, too much of a good thing can turn even the best of intentions bad.

While the importance of Michael Carrick to Manchester United and their recent improvements in performances has been noted, Ander Herrera is another player whose presence is proving to be essential in giving Jose Mourinho’s team balance and Paul Pogba a stage on which to shine.

Ander Herrera is more involved in Manchester United’s general play than ever before.

On his return to Old Trafford in the summer, the Frenchman initially looked restricted by his status as the club’s main focal point in midfield rather than elevated by all the attention. It wasn’t stage fright that was holding him back, although the price on his head may have played a part.

After moving from Juventus in a deal that broke all records to confirm Pogba as the most expensive footballer of all-time, there was a sense that the midfielder simply had to be at the heart of everything his new team tried to do, as if to justify his value, monetary or otherwise.
Goals and assists – the most basic, reductive currency by which big names prove their worth on the pitch – are always harder to come by for a player in his position. In order to live up to the expectations set against him, it seemed that the 23-year-old was intent on taking too much on, and that too much was being placed upon him.

He played as if he had to be central to every single move, the source of every attack and the protagonist of United’s every highlight. His billing, to some extent, demanded it. At Juventus he’d always shared the spotlight, and to some extent he seemed suffocated as United sent almost all of their possession his way.

Paul Pogba’s record for chances created this season now compares favourably to his past years at Juventus, but that wasn’t always the case despite his increase in passes.

The outcome was congestion rather than creativity, with players such as Claudio Marchisio, Arturo Vidal or Andrea Pirlo to keep the ball warm for him while he darted off to make things happen. Instead of “hold my beer, I’ve got this”, he had to run an obstacle course while holding a tray of drinks, and spillages were common.

Jose Mourinho initially sought to pair the Frenchman up with Marouane Fellaini in a two-man midfield so as to unleash him from deep. The Belgian was to be both a protector and provider – of the ball, at least.

In theory, while Pogba roamed free from deep, driving the team up the field with his dribbling runs from one box to the other, demanding the pass to dictate play, his more aggressive and awkward partner was to ruffle feathers and chase down opponents to deprive them of the ball, preventing them from playing through the middle. In practice, it was only partly successful.

Marouane Fellaini was top of the table for passes attempted and completed after United’s first five games of the season.

Fellaini looked rejuvenated in his new role. The added responsibility of keeping the ball seemed to bring out his best side for a time. United won their first three league games of the season, and even after their fifth the Belgian still topped the charts for passes attempted and completed.

His completion rate of 90% was held up as an example of his new-found finesse under Mourinho, yet instead of helping to shoulder the burden for Pogba and allow him the freedom to dominate games, the Belgian’s quantity and accuracy belied the quality of his passing.

Knocking a player for sending the ball sideways and backwards may have become a common ploy for dismissing the virtues of keeping it simple from deep. In Fellaini’s case however the criticism was correct. Pogba still had it all to do when it came to actually making something out of his team’s possession.

United were created 10.8 chances-per-game with the Fellaini and Pogba partnership. They’ve created 13.1 with Herrera and Pogba in midfield together.

If anything, the Belgian’s conservative nature with the ball at his feet only increased the Frenchman’s workload. He was a dead-weight against opponents United were meant to be dominating, forcing Pogba deeper and deeper away from areas where he could actually hurt the other side and play on the front-foot.

By contrast, Herrera has so far shown himself to be capable of providing the 23-year-old everything he needs to flourish, while also contributing to creating chances himself. He can make a pass, keep the ball, put in tackles, cut out danger before it becomes a genuine threat and allow the France international to play the way he wants.

Herrera, Fellaini and Pogba compared this season for passes and tackles.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s belated integration into Mourinho’s first-team plans may have helped take the pressure off Pogba to be United’s match-winner for every occasion – granting him the opportunity to take on his role with more clarity, sharpening up his all-round game by removing the clutter from his duties – but it’s the Spaniard who’s given him the platform to step forward from deep to be the midfield front-man at last.

It’s not just a solution that’s suited the Frenchman. Following on from his own arrival under Louis van Gaal in 2014, the ex-Athletic Club and Real Zaragoza playmaker found it hard to find a regular place in his manager’s starting XI.

Herrera is top for defensive actions-per-90 minutes for United this season in the Premier League.

Despite being the dynamic link-man in the thick of the 4-3-3 shape his manger eventually shifted to as United enjoyed their best run of form under the Dutchman, beating Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester City in convincing fashion between March and April 2015, he was dropped again the following season.

Early on, he wasn’t inventive (or expensive) enough to be preferred to Angel Di Maria as his side’s chief creator, was too foul-prone and rash to play the holding role and seemed best suited to that position between the lines in a three-man midfield, that the former Bayern Munich manager seemed intent on dismantling in his second season.

Herrera was the top performer for Louis van Gaal during his team’s best run in 2015 according to Squawka Performance Score.

He wanted positional discipline, not a player who wanted to break through the lines at will. For the majority of his first six months at the club, Van Gaal benched Herrera for being too eager to close players down and break formation, to take a risk on attacking the ball and push forward in possession rather than holding his position and sticking to the shape.

It’s these qualities that have since piqued Mourinho’s interest in using the Spaniard as a midfielder capable of winning a scrap as well as creating chances.

Herrera is top of the pile for passes attempted or completed-per-90 minutes for United in the Premier League this season.

No United player has made more tackles this season. He’s made more tackles-per-90 minutes than any other midfielder in the squad since his arrival two-and-a-half years ago, and now stands top of the pile for passes attempted and completed for the club since the summer.

When Herrera plays alongside Pogba, even without the cover of Carrick, the Frenchman looks liberated by the Spaniard’s defensive work and his more positive range of passing. He’s not only succeeded in playing United’s new arrival into better positions from which to control games, but also, finally, carved a niche for himself in the starting XI. A full-strength United side can longer be imagined without him.

Playing deeper, Herrera is creating more chances, passing over greater ranges, winning more headers and making more interceptions.

There’s still work to be done, of course. Although he’s improved in his ability to sit back and hold his ground as well as hustle opponents in one-on-one confrontations, more wisdom, restraint and composure is required from the player charged with screening the back four and lying in wait as the master of the holding role.

That could still come with time. Given his slight frame, his true size is often overlooked. Standing at six-foot, he’s lean but not weak and could be better equipped for the task at hand than first impressions may suggest.

For now, the 27-year-old is making a difference as a problem solver slightly further forward, in a similar role to the one he played during Van Gaal’s mini-peak at the end of spring in 2015.

Herrera is also currently making 1.71 fouls-per-90 minutes to just 0.25 for Carrick – he still has some way to go before he can step into his place.

Herrera was once touted as one of many potential heirs to the throne of Paul Scholes. Yet as he drops further back into midfield to take on the role of being Mourinho’s first-choice No.6, he’s becoming more than just an enabler of Pogba’s genius.

At a time when fans are becoming increasingly anxious over what may come to pass in a future without Carrick, the Spaniard’s final fate could lie in transforming himself into a viable, if not identical, replacement to the 35-year-old in the long-run.


http://www.squawka.com/news/ball-hog-ander-herrera-has-found-space-for-himself-in-manchester-uniteds-midfield/869590

joeace2020:


Van Gaals team was so poor. Some days back i bought pes2017 let me use it to while away time on my pc using my team and my brother it was hopeless, i was 19th on the table after 10 games. I was suffering with injuries badly as the season wore on so i said let me try and bring in fresh faces. Who are available? Varela, Borthwick Jackson, tuazebe, wilson, fosu mensah, januzaj, mcnair, love, joe riley, pereirra, lingard. even them rojo, darmian, schneiderlin, depay could not save me as their player ratings where already low to begin with. Na there i begin curse Van Gaal. The man settle down yeye man u. Now if i pick up fifa and play with the current united, i am on ghost mode.

mourinho's team is currently topping EPl with 10 points, LVG won Fa cup that had eluded united for over a decade. Liverpool will let us know how beast mode mourinho's team is in. The guys have tried but Mourinho deserves no credit after using so much money.

RooRuudRonSaha:
mourinho's team is currently topping EPl with 10 points, LVG won Fa cup that had eluded united for over a decade. Liverpool will let us know how beast mode mourinho's team is in. The guys have tried but Mourinho deserves no credit after using so much money.

Van gaal deserves no credit for the fa cup win after spending so much money, what a stupid thing to say

RooRuudRonSaha:
mourinho's team is currently topping EPl with 10 points, LVG won Fa cup that had eluded united for over a decade. Liverpool will let us know how beast mode mourinho's team is in. The guys have tried but Mourinho deserves no credit after using so much money.

Uhn... My Professor... Nyangbayi... I salute you sir. Being a while oh

dopeJemi:


Van gaal deserves no credit for the fa cup win after spending so much money, what a stupid thing to say

mourinho is doing so well and mocking others, that is gross stupidity, still battling to survive in 6th spot. Is mourinho going the mediocre way, 6th after half a season, beating lame teams and getting carried away.

mourinho's fan boys will not let us hear word, we are used to chameleons on this thread.

adebayo201:


Uhn... My Professor... Nyangbayi... I salute you sir. Being a while oh

yes the mofos employed by seun banned dem papa jare.

RooRuudRonSaha:
mourinho is doing so well and mocking others, that is gross stupidity, still battling to survive in 6th spot. Is mourinho going the mediocre way, 6th after half a season, beating lame teams and getting carried away.

How many lame teams did van gaal and moyes beat? When you are done with that, explain this too
Win percentages for Man United managers:
1. Mourinho 63.3%
2. Ferguson 59.7%
3. Moyes 52.9%
4. Van Gaal 52.4%
5. Matt Busby 50.5%

The return of the lunàtic.

RooRuudRonSaha:
mourinho's team is currently topping EPl with 10 points, LVG won Fa cup that had eluded united for over a decade. Liverpool will let us know how beast mode mourinho's team is in. The guys have tried but Mourinho deserves no credit after using so much money.

you are just a Mourinho hater... nothing else

man united vs wigan @old trafford fa cup round 5

dopeJemi:


How many lame teams did van gaal and moyes beat? When you are done with that, explain this too
Win percentages for Man United managers:
1. Mourinho 63.3%
2. Ferguson 59.7%
3. Moyes 52.9%
4. Van Gaal 52.4%
5. Matt Busby 50.5%

lvg beat lpool like 3/4 times, lost to chelsea just once not 0 4 like mou, didnt lose to city at OT, mou lost to city at OT, crushed everton 3 o at Goodison, mourinho drew everton, beat arsenal with kids 3 2 mou drew arsenal with 89 milla on the pitch, so mourinho hasnt done any better. Can u tell us how many matches he played for him to be compared with those with large sample space.

joeace2020:


you are just a Mourinho hater... nothing else

i am a core united and will never like mourinho. we used to call him maureen.

if i win 3 of 4 then that is 75 percent, if i win 71 of 100 that is 71 percent, are they using the same sample space.

WHen was the last time a player who played in EPL from Jan to December made FIFpro?

Maybe they will now tell us awads dont matter

RooRuudRonSaha:
lvg beat lpool like 3/4 times, lost to chelsea just once not 0 4 like mou, didnt lose to city at OT, mou lost to city at OT, crushed everton 3 o at Goodison, mourinho drew everton, beat arsenal with kids 3 2 mou drew arsenal with 89 milla on the pitch, so mourinho hasnt done any better. Can u tell us how many matches he played for him to be compared with those with large sample space.

How many lame teams did van gaal and moyes beat?

Did we have 8 consecutive wins under van gaal and moyes?

RooRuudRonSaha:
lvg beat lpool like 3/4 times, lost to chelsea just once not 0 4 like mou, didnt lose to city at OT, mou lost to city at OT, crushed everton 3 o at Goodison, mourinho drew everton, beat arsenal with kids 3 2 mou drew arsenal with 89 milla on the pitch, so mourinho hasnt done any better. Can u tell us how many matches he played for him to be compared with those with large sample space.

You also forgot to mention that LVG lost 3 - 0 to Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton respectively. Out of the four times he played Swansea City in the EPL, he was able to win only once. Swansea, Westbrom, Norwich and Southampton that are not top teams nor title contenders all took their turns by beating us at Old Trafford. We lost a match we were leading by two goals to Leicester by 5 - 3.

I don't even want to go to the shame Moyes put this club through.

tess1:


You also forgot to mention that LVG lost 3 - 0 to Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton respectively. Out of the four times he played Swansea City in the EPL, he was able to win only once. Swansea, Westbrom, Norwich and Southampton that are not top teams nor title contenders all took their turns by beating us at Old Trafford. We lost a match we were leading by two goals to Leicester by 5 - 3.

I don't even want to go to the shame Moyes put this club through.

infact eh, whn i remember those tyms, i feel lyk cryin and weepin at d same time

tess1:


You also forgot to mention that LVG lost 3 - 0 to Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton respectively. Out of the four times he played Swansea City in the EPL, he was able to win only once. Swansea, Westbrom, Norwich and Southampton that are not top teams nor title contenders all took their turns by beating us at Old Trafford. We lost a match we were leading by two goals to Leicester by 5 - 3.

I don't even want to go to the shame Moyes put this club through.

You get time to dey answer that guy. I just think it is pride that won't let somebody agree that he may have been wrong all along.

Just hope Mourinho finishes this season very strong. And I mean very very strong.

At the end of the season we shall decide who we will mock cause we know what will happen if Mourinho fails this season.

RooRuudRonSaha:
mourinho's team is currently topping EPl with 10 points, LVG won Fa cup that had eluded united for over a decade. Liverpool will let us know how beast mode mourinho's team is in. The guys have tried but Mourinho deserves no credit after using so much money.

When manU wasnt winning games it was due to MOU. But, now that manU have started winning it is not due to MOU..

The kind of bu11shit u spew this days tho.....

dopeJemi:


How many lame teams did van gaal and moyes beat?

Did we have 8 consecutive wins under van gaal and moyes?

and what position is man u now, is it something to be proud of since you have your "world best coach", how many times were lvg and moyes fined by fa when they were here. compare spendings under the three coaches.i didt even mention losing to feyenoord,watford, drawing mighty burnley,stoke etc.crushing a great boro lol

diggz:



When manU wasnt winning games it was due to MOU. But, now that manU have started winning it is not due to MOU..

The kind of bu11shit u spew this days tho.....

where did i say mourinho is the reason why they were not winning matches, the opata you post these days, na god fit helep una.

codedguy1:



You get time to dey answer that guy. I just think it is pride that won't let somebody agree that he may have been wrong all along.

Just hope Mourinho finishes this season very strong. And I mean very very strong.

At the end of the season we shall decide who we will mock cause we know what will happen if Mourinho fails this season.

hush who send you market, u dey hope on top say u got a dabber, serious teams dont hope, they win. madrid,bayern, juve no hope, they win.zidane is making mourinho look like a toddler.

the only way i can be mocked s if your lord wins the EPL or make top 2. Top 4 to me is a downgrade for Man u, teams like everton delight in making top 4. Real arsenal fans even curse wenger on top say he dey make top 4.

tess1:


You also forgot to mention that LVG lost 3 - 0 to Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton respectively. Out of the four times he played Swansea City in the EPL, he was able to win only once. Swansea, Westbrom, Norwich and Southampton that are not top teams nor title contenders all took their turns by beating us at Old Trafford. We lost a match we were leading by two goals to Leicester by 5 - 3.

I don't even want to go to the shame Moyes put this club through.

As much as it hurts me to remember, Abeg what of Mk Dons?
Biggest disgrace ever.

RooRuudRonSaha:
where did i say mourinho is the reason why they were not winning matches, the opata you post these days, na god fit helep una.

Even you can't bring urself to believe the amount of bu11shit you spat in few lines.

Kindly tell us what you meant by not giving mou credit because he spent too much money?

OR

Are you claiming mous name wouldn't be mentioned if he fails to do well after spending that much?



Bros even your logic eludes you. The only way you are getting a free pass is, if you admit your brain is paining you

diggz:


Even you can't bring urself to believe the amount of bu11shit you spat in few lines.

Kindly tell us what you meant by not giving mou credit because he spent too much money?

OR

Are you claiming mous name wouldn't be mentioned if he fails to do well after spending that much?



Bros even your logic eludes you. The only way you are getting a free pass is, if you admit your brain is paining you

You have time for all this.
Not to shade you bro but I think you should have just let the dude be. He falls into the category of "many are mad but few are roaming" and as such is unlikely to appreciate your logic mini class.

tess1:


You also forgot to mention that LVG lost 3 - 0 to Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton respectively. Out of the four times he played Swansea City in the EPL, he was able to win only once. Swansea, Westbrom, Norwich and Southampton that are not top teams nor title contenders all took their turns by beating us at Old Trafford. We lost a match we were leading by two goals to Leicester by 5 - 3.

I don't even want to go to the shame Moyes put this club through.

When simple perspective eludes some nincompoop they tend to say the most outlandish things. Despite my personal misgivings about Jose I cannot deny that the side looks and feels and promises to be better.
Leave that old wartbag to keep fooling himself and ranting like a kegite.
When van Gaal spent nearly £250 million buying chaff like schneiderlin memphis and mental midgets like di maria and could only get us one consolatory FA cup, this madman under Ojota bridge is still screaming murder over a manager who has got the side attacking better and scoring more than Moyes and van Gaal ever managed.

diggz:


Even you can't bring urself to believe the amount of bu11shit you spat in few lines.

Kindly tell us what you meant by not giving mou credit because he spent too much money?

OR

Are you claiming mous name wouldn't be mentioned if he fails to do well after spending that much?



Bros even your logic eludes you. The only way you are getting a free pass is, if you admit your brain is paining you

you post like a fool most times, your logic is flawed, how is someone stuck on 6th spot now better than the past managers united have had. seems you take methanol before posting or you dont read before mentioning me.