Why Ralf Rangnick Needs to Use the 4-4-2 Diamond at Man Utd
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- čas přidán 12. 01. 2022
- Welcome back! Manchester United’s best performance under Ralf Rangnick came in his opening game as manager but since then, we have seen shades of Solskjaer’s United so today I’m going to take a look at what’s going wrong on the field and how switching systems to the 4-4-2 Diamond could raise the performance levels at Old Trafford.
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Defensively, United have looked to counter press but players seem to be caught between Rangnick’s tactics and Solskjaer’s, with players not in effective pressing positions but not in a solid defensive block either. This was best summed up in the 1-0 FA Cup win over Aston Villa.
In this game United defended in a 4-4-2 two things were apparent: First United defended very wide. And second, when United did look to press high, the opposite side wingers were too far from their markers to actually engage which constantly allowed Villa to play around the press. Switching to a diamond would naturally make United's defensive shape more narrow as it basically becomes a narrow 4-3-3. The narrow 4-3-3 also offers a major counter attacking threat with two strikers already in the channels where they can stretch teams, but also a number 10 that can be used to link the transition. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool basically defend in the same 4-4-2 diamond or narrow 4-3-3 so we know it can be highly effective in the Premier League when it’s properly deployed.
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But United don’t just need help defensively. They’ve been quite poor offensively and have pretty much played all season with a flat attacking 4, which leaves no players in between the opposition’s lines and makes consistent ball progression very difficult. Switching to a diamond could help with this. This shape naturally makes use of the half spaces with the strikers and outside midfielders often operating in these zones with the number 10 and number 6 as pivot points. This structured system will help the players to take up good attacking positions and create diagonal passing lanes to help ball progression. The diamond will also naturally overload teams in central areas and the close proximity of the midfielders will also make progression easier as the passes will be short and simple as opposed to difficult, killer balls like we’d see when playing with a flat attacking line. From a personnel point of view, we could also see Bruno Fernandes in the midfield 3 with Donny van de Beek at number 10. In Rangnick’s diamond at Leipzig, the number 10 was more of a link man whilst the attacking threat came from the outside midfielders.
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Reverting to a 4-4-2 diamond would be going back to basics for United and that’s exactly what the players need. They’re learning a completely different style of football so a slow uptake should be expected but if they stick to Ralf Rangnick’s plan, they’ll be in a much better position come the end of the season.
But anyway guys what do you think? Should Manchester United switch to a diamond? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
#ManchesterUnited #PremierLeague
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United used to play 4-4-2 diamond under Carrick, and they played very well. I'm convinced he'll switch the formation against Villa next Saturday (or Sunday, in Malaysia)
I like what you said about the diamond almost forcing the players to stop reverting to the old system. I think we are being let down in our press though mostly by Rashford and Shaw. Neither is pressing aggressively enough and that will undermine any system
Shaw has become so one dimensional, headlining at the Euros has made him now chronically out of position
Shaw has been fine. Even if he is not he has the capability to get back to his form.
Everytime Shaw plays, you can see the quality shoot up in attack. He's been out of form now but he won intercepted so many second balls in games where we press. We definitely need him going forward.
@@bala007rapidfire he needs to be more compact with the rest of the team when we press.
You've mentioned VDB for months but he still never gets games. Dont think that will change
He's not the manager
I have been thinking about this ever since we switched to a diamond in the second half against villa in the cup.
We should play a 41212 or 4321 this way we can use all of our inform players and use the new tactics efficiently just hope ragnick is given the freedom to do this again villa in the pl
There has to be a way to get Ronaldo, Sancho, Bruno and Greenwood into the team. They’re our best forward players. Unless Bruno can learn the Jorginho role (then place Sancho at 10), I’d prefer to return to a 4231/433
4 4 2 diamond wit ronaldo cavani ST bruno no.10 sancho and van de beek as CM matic as CDM or hapofully zakaria shaw and dalot as wing backs and varane and baily/lindelof as CB obtains MAXIMUM potential from our squad with greenwood subbing for cavani in later half i am obsesed with this formation
@@reubenlaji5172 Sancho cannot play CM. However, if bruno can play as an 8, Sancho could be the 10
@@joedawson8521 yeah.. or replace sancho and pogba
@@joedawson8521 yeah.. or replace sancho and pogba
This is the problem we have thinking everyone has to play we once had talents like tevez on the bench
I totally dig you... I've tried that in FM and worked wonders, the MUFC squad has the depth to do it.
The only problem is, IRL, MUFC does not have a real "anchor-man", a real defensive midfielder.
McTommy is not the answer to that position. MUFC needed to go shopping for two players to that position.
This is similar to what José Mourinho did with his FC Porto 2004. IMO, the best tactical system when perfectly executed and with the perfect players.
Also, my go-to tactic in FM for any team.
Same here in FM, but I bought Ruben Neves from Wolves and the system is awesome 😎👍
Top analysis as per 👌
Cheers James!
I think had Pogba been fit when Rangnick first came in i could of seen the diamond becoming our go to.
Love these type of content Dave!
Why isn't this guy part of the United backroom staff yet?
Genuine question. Dave has incredible tactical knowledge and could be a great addition to the setup.
Because there’s a lot more to it than tactical knowledge
@@amalsultan386 that's why it's a team effort though no? I'm sure his two cents would be appreciated.
@Amal Sultan I have friend in coaching field for amateur 11v11, it's actually lot harder than everyone think because even the best player in your team are also human too
They can't possibly reach 100% of tactical setup BUT they can close that fail with creativity play to be unpredictable on the pitch but creativity play can also backfire if you can't control it which are coaching staff job
Also it's so hard to find creative and consistent good performing player which is what united need right now need to have
Player like casimero or de brune is worthless in term of consistency and creativity midfield play, while ronaldo have both creativity and consistency too but his age are the problem for why he's not be placed in midfield
Yes i know ronaldo is more goalscoring or blah blah, that was lie even at 36yo his passing and crossing ability are so good but no one in this team can read his amazing pass or cross except cavani and cavani is also have injury problem because age
But changing ronaldo position from Forward to Mid is just dumb act because his finishing and ball off movement are so damn good for scoring
INSHORT manutd not balanced, they need creative and consistent midfield and less ego for scoring
@@spy_balloon I like your train of thought and I agree with it. I guess there's just a lot wrong at United that one man can't fix.
You seem so naive
Fantastic Breakdown 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
it relies heavily on the fullbacks creatively though, and if dalot is injured at rb, united are basically fucked there lol
Loved the stat and explanation
Good stuff. Thanks
@statmandave I commented on your video about discussing formations when Bruno came in and thought the diamond was needed. you even replied asking how we would set up. back then I wanted to be able to play pogba and bruno together and use the front of the 3 in the diamond interchangeably. Today it still works to help control midfield and help in transition play
Watched this video and my favourate part is when he said the players are lazy
Good Work Dave♥️
Most top 6 teams are playing a 433,with no real recognized sticker, so that you can press harder get turn overs, hopefully united adopt this method, I can see it as I don't know which striker to buy on fantasy
I like your video Dave, I commented before on the match with Wolves on Stephen H.Son video. I said we should use 4-3-3 to stretch Wolves but we did not do this. 4-triple2 is just way too narrow sometimes. 4-3-3 is more flexible in terms of switching attacking and defending but still pressing. It's L.pool's formation and all. You can send this to Ralf maybe we can get some change here!
I think we should play in a simple 4-3-3 , like Liverpool and man City ,,
Keep the things plain and simple , and progress through wingplay ,, as we have more good wingers in the team than forwards ,,
Also Bruno can sit in midfield and look to give his through balls and bang ..
Rangnick can get the best out of the team in that way
Ur videos r amazing....
I really enjoy watching ur videos....
But, can u make a about the xavi's barcelona.....
Barcelona fans will really appreciate it..
4-3-3 is the best formation and with Bruno and VDB we get excellent long range passing and movement of players breaking oppositions defensive lines… the only missing link is a solid DM which neither Fred or McSauce are and it’s difficult to understand why United is unwilling to go for Zakaria now when he will be out of contract soon
Zakaria is more of a box2box player as far as i know
@@akin6754 yes, but he has played as a defensive midfielder whose good at aerial duels and dribbling and passing and in the meantime a better alternative to Matic giving more license to attack
The way to get the best out of the United squad is 4-3-3. With Bruno/Pogba playing the KDB role. Sancho, Greenwood, Rashford as inverted wingers. United just need to model after City/Liverpool style of play.
We need a solid DM for this formation
Donny isn't a 10, his best position is at 8. Always see you and a few others saying that he's a 10. His shielding, tackling and vision is good while his ball progression is excellent, meaning he can carry the ball during a transition. He is not a Forsberg or Fernandes-esque player with brilliant vision, creative passes and so on.
Man United should go ahead with either 4-4-2 Diamond or 4-4-2 Diamond Wide. I would suggest 4-4-2 Diamond Wide as it will help Rashford, Sancho, Bruno Fernandes, Ronaldo, and Cavani to provide necessary pressing as well as more attacking strength. With a new defensive minded CDM and a commanding, strong and pacy CB; we would do wonders with the formation.
I agree. esp if we don't have enough fit CBs for a back 3. Rangnick already admitted after the Villa game that more CMs might be the key. pity we don't have enough of them and enough of top quality.
I've always been a fan of the 442 diamond and ever since I realized that United didn't have enough quality natural wingers, I've wanted us to try it out. Leipzig 5 nil was perfect and it was in a 442 diamond. best part is, Donny, Matic, Mason, Martial, Rashford, Bruno, Fred and McTominay all looked comfortable in it and most of them shined, some even from the bench.
4-3-2-1 in this order from first to last choice... This will transform us from an average team in one training session 💪🏿. The tweaking should start with the high IQ players, some midfielders and wingers (Bruno, Pogba, Van De Beek, Lingard, Sancho, Hannibal, Elanga, Greenwood). The rest can relapse to Ole's tactics until they are at par with the rest.
Shaw/Telles - LB
Maguire/Jones - LCB
Varane/Bailly - RCB
Bissaka/Dalot - RB
Matic/Fred - CDM
Bruno/Pogba - LCM
Van De Beek/McTominay - RCM
Elanga/Greenwood/Rashford- LAM/LW
Sancho/Lingard/Hannibal - RAM/RW
Ronaldo/Cavani - Striker
A video of this applied to FM22 would be amazing!!
Agree to Diamond, if we lack form in wingers, and control in midfield, obviously Diamond is shouting out to be utilised! Acquiring a cdm would be great till the end of the season
having Greenwood a bit closer to goal than far wide will get him shooting earlier and catching teams off guard. He takes too long to shoot now he’s further away from goal, so he gets easily shut down. And he hardly crosses from the wide areas, so by the time he dribbles inward, defenders can gather shape and cut off passing options.
statman timo werner 👍
A better tactic for sure. But i think what the manager constantly talking about is the balance, lack of balance in the squad makes it more diffficult to tinker and make good use of the tactics. I think this wintertransfer is a great chance to provide the balance he talks about
....
De Gea
Varane McTomminay
AWB Shaw
Van De Beek
Fernandes Pogba
Greenwood Rashford
CR7
I believe this is the best possible way to fit all our best players into the team.
McT is a bit of a gamble as CB but I believe he can be a perfect one at that position. He's fast, smart and can read the game well. He already played a few times under Mourinho and also plays for Scotland as a CB (quite often). Besides he's better than many of our CBs. Also he'll be able to play the game from the back (long balls especially). He needs to be more muscular but he can do it.
Telles over Shaw (only for going forward reason). I believe he's slightly better at it.
Van de Beek can be very good as a 6 (into a 3 CMs and with a solid defense.)
However he can alternate with Matic or Fred.
Fernandes & Pogba would be at their best (even though not so well at defending). But best defense is attack.
Greenwood, Rashford & CR7 I believe are the best at the forward line.
I think we should keep trying the 4-2-2-2. If it's something that works with ragnick and he's here for a while why not fully emerse ourselves into it and stick with it instead of like Dave said habitually reverting to 4-2-3-1
your jersey is fire Dave
Which team wear this shirt plz ?!
@@ahmedabdelmonsef6697 looks like fernabache from the badge
Whatever the formation, morale and winning mentality is the most important
Problem is even if we change formation the problem still remains this. The players don't want to listen to the manager, I mean if they don't want to turn up to 5oclock training that says alot and players are at each others throats.
Toni kroos would be a suggestion along with tonali and pogba midfield
How do you make the dots moving?
Would like to see Sancho/Greenwood and Ronaldo/Cavani on the upfront. Bruno as false 9 / Goalscoring Attacking Midfielder
VDB, Fred and McTominay support those 3 from behind
BOTH BRUNO FERNANDES AND CRISTIANO RONALDO HAVE ALCHEMIST PLAYING
I think we should definitely play a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 diamond formation frl
The two issues I see with this are Bruno is not defensively disciplined enough to be one of the wide midfielders and trys too many risky passes to be a link man at 10. The other and most glaring issue is we do not have a solid number 6.
Yeah but we don't have a pivot in the line up. Also I think pressure is being bad not bc the system but bc the mentality of the players: Greenwood, Rashford and Sancho just doesn't want to. I also see that front 4 which destroys the game creativity, but also I see Bruno as soon as having the ball, making long passes all the time. He's just not linking anything even in Ole's system. The midfield DO need reinforcements to keep a high preassure. I just don't see that happening constantly this season.
Why can’t you just become a manager yourself, you would a pure tactican , you know all the roles and you would know how to tweak any team to make the better. You could be a big Sam but a more attacking mined , plz consider becoming a manager I think you would suit it . Keep up the good work 💪🏾
I hope ralf watches this!💯
4-3-3 is the formation we need but don't have a dm to play it
do a video of liverpools lack of tactics situation rn
Implying Ole's defended wide and had a solid defensive system? How many goals did we concede at the far post because Shaw or AWB get dragged so far infield they are past the penalty spot? What a joke
Need a dm .for this .if this formation to work mctominay a Fi put in alot if work .I love this method double diamond .good no great plan .start of the game in the same formation but they will switch to a 4-4-2diamond when attacking an defending .kool
The problem is not the formation it's the players
Yes they should
This system only works when you have a good CDM to control the midfield. Matic can do it but he's have now gotten old.
What app do you use to do these videos
After Effects
@@StatmanDave thanks is it free?
And he ended up using 4-3-3 against villa PL just as we thought!
Diamond
De Gea
Varane Jones
AWB Shaw
McT
Fernandes Pogba
CR7
Rashford Sancho
CR7 a firminho type player but he can score more goals because he knows how to be at the right place at the right time.
Defense (the strongest) and being cautious not going forward too often.
De Gea
Varane Maguire
Dallot Telles
MCT
Pogba DVDB
Fernandes
Rashford CR7
Also possible 🙂
But..
De Gea
Varane Jones
AWB Shaw
MCT Fernandes
Sancho Pogba Rashford
CR7
Is also a good team (Fernandes) has to learn to defend more but he's intelligent so he can learn it. And he's got a stronger (not going forward) defense to cover.
Which soccer jersey is that you wearing?
I thought a diamond formation is only used in a 3 man mid 442 focuses on wing play
Bruno gives up possession too easily quite often. It will be way to risky to play him as a 6. Our DMS are not world class to cover Bruno’s mistake that close to our goal post.
Yeah I would play Bruno as the 10 and Donny as the number 8/RCM.
I don’t know what we need, I do know we need change though.
I would also like to se a 4-1-2-3 with a solid cdm and the likes of Bruno/VDB/Pogba/McFred in the mor box to box players and still having wide threat from the likes of Sancho/Greenwood etc.
Can statman Dave please just join the coaching setup.
Why statman Dave needs to be Manchester United manager.
Nope. i disagree with u about defending wide doesnt allow team pressing effectively. Defending wide is the least thing that we should worry.
Pressing is habit. Pressing is about playing with the brain and the muscle. About knowing where he need to be, what he need to do, when he should do it and of course after knowing all that, he need to be able to do it. The players need to do all that before they think, bcause if they think first before doing it, there will be time lost, there will be a gap. in simpler words, it will look like the team is "LAGGING"
That was SAF’s tactic
How do you always make it seem so easy but United consitatanly make it seem like rocket science😭
Someone bring this video to ralf rangnick please 🙏
Not being funny but I think I'll continue to listen to Rangnick
All well saying to switch to a diamond but who is the base of the diamond. Something we are lacking and everyone knows it. Everyone has done videos on who to sign as a midfielder to fit a single pivot...that's what we need first
Whether it's a Diamond or 4-2-2-2 the players need to work hard to adjust to how to Coach (Ragnick) wants to play
The problem is not the formation it's the players
Against Aston villa in FA Cup Rangnick chosen 4-4-2 diamond with indroducing van de beek...
Might as well get Dave in as manager at this point
I genuinely believe in terms of on the field problems for us at the moment, we are a proper CDM away from getting it very right. If we get a CDM and put him in behind Fred and Mctominay, those two can play 10 yards further up, where there box to box style can be more effective. Ultimately we stop conceding the midfield battle because those two aren't having to drop deep in that god awful pivot and it should connect the front players to the midfield more effectively and accommodate for our senior players also
Fred can't pass progressively.. In the 33rd pocentile which is pathetic. Being further forward would only highlight his insecurities
@@johnturner380 well he plays that role very well for Brazil, where he doesn't have to worry about his defensive duties quite as much. His passing may be that bad because of how much work he is having to do/situations or areas of the pitch he is passing from. If Fred cannot play that role further up then VDB could excel in that role behind the no.10 of fernandes but with McT and a proper CDM to cover
Are you sure? Sabitzer has excellent workrate like Gallagher, Bruno maybe not the best kind of fit for that
Where would Sancho play in this system?
442 diamond can work. But play Greenwood n Ronaldo as front 2. Bench Rashford.
What do you thing about zakaria
There are better options
Statman dave>ragnick
👍🏾
433 with a false 9 is the way they should go...2 strikers is a waste and has been proven to not work well in the current Premier league
Two strikers without service is pointless
I can't see this happening, even if it would work, because our midfielders aren't great, and the diamond would cut out a lot if our attackers. 😕
Neither Fred nor McTominay have done well when played at 6, as both are better as box-to-box. Matic can only play once a week, Pogba is injured, and Rangnick doesn't seem to trust VDB, just like Ole. So I'm not sure who would be playing regularly as the 6, or play there well at least. 😕
With a 10 and two attackers, Bruno is the likely 10, so in the two other places you have to choose between Ronaldo, Cavani, Greenwood, Rashford, and Sancho.
That's A LOT of "star" players to choose between two places. 😕
If Bruno played as one of the 8s then that could help a bit with selection, but he's our best 10 so that could be a mistake.
Essentially I think the diamond could work, but it would present a LOT of selection problems for Rangnick, and if reports are correct that players are unhappy, I doubt those selection problems would improve things. 😬
If we can recruit to fix our midfield three I can see us switching between this and a standard 4-3-3 as and when the game requires it.
Against lower table opposition we can drop Bruno into the midfield 3 alongside McTominay/Fred and a CDM. From there we're free to decide what front 3 we want dependent on the matchup/fitness, whether it's with two wider players in Rashford and Sancho or a front two probably with Sancho playing as the 10 behind them.
In tougher matches we're more likely to go with the diamond with Bruno in the 10 and two of McTominay, Fred, Donny, a CM we buy in (eg. Zakaria, Kessie) + the CDM in behind.
@@RedMenace394 signings would definitely fix the midfield problem, so maybe that's how it will be resolved.
You'd still end up benching a lot of attackers though with the diamond, so you might still get some of them becoming unhappy.
If we can get Zakaria now and Kamara or Tchouaméni in the summer, and grab someone like Nkunku for the 10 spot If Bruno slots in at a no 8 we will have a pretty crazy team. Otherwise the whole purpose of the diamond is to progressive pass and counter, It shouldnt take anything out of our attack even without the others in the lineup. Cavani and Ronaldo with the service they could get should be able to convert something
They should just give you the job at this point
I don’t see how playing 2 upfront can work with this midfield.
diamonds only work on fifa. i hope this helps
Its a easy solution 4-2-3-1 play van de beek in the pivot with mctominay as that's our problem area not able to bypass midfield press of opponents and play bissaka a bit deeper or chuck him for Dalot and shaw should be allowed to be a traditional overlapping full back as he can provide crosses into the box and in attacking transitions when opponents sits deep mctominay should be doing what he is now getting to edge of the box or making late runs in behind the opponent defense and for fuck sake never play Maguire I prefer united buy a fast left sided CB as varane plays very well as an RCB and can find rashford in behind using his longe range passing just like lindelof does when he plays varane doesn't look comfortable as a LCB and Sancho need to be given freedom to create from right while Ronaldo and rashford occupies the CBs making the runs and Bruno and rashford can combine well. I'm also don't like ragnick's gen gen press as that take a couple of years to perfect klopp took that long so for now united should use pressing traps and triggers only press when opposition make certain move. Its not difficult but ragnick is being more like solskjaer not taking the risk of trying something and players need a kick up the backside and drop them if they don't play well and play youth elanga, shoretire who have shown more desire to play well than the senior team
manchester needs a new creative DMF in January
Attacking 4-3-3
Doesn't fix the fact we need a proper 6 for this team
But I agree to everything in the video
This is the formation I use in FIFA. It's actually really good. You naturally get the width from the wingbacks and the midfields become stable. Also, because you have three attackers being very narrow it is easy to create lots of shooting chances.
Manchester United need to sing Dm this January transfer. Cause of Atletico Madrid
How about a 3-4-3?
Varane Maguire Lendelof
Telles Pogba Zakaria sancho
Rashford Bruno Ronaldo
Bruno as a deep lying forward (ss)
Where does Sancho fit in a diamond? It would be typical of the club to chase the best young wide player in Europe then switch to a formation with no wide players as soon as we get him.
Or play 3511
To many players for start and to put all them in one team no way so we need a team and b team 433/442 and switch to other formation when we need to just get the team playing everyday rather than 2/3 day aweek they need to get to know about that utd way or sell off the player and rebuild
I don’t think it matters what formation we go with. Our club is a mid table joke. Not one good player.
Playing Ronaldo and cavani a top coach won't do that Rashford Greenwood sancho up front bring on cavani for the last 20 minutes if needed and have Elanga on the bench as for midfield theres no combination that will function with the players available probably Jones and Varane in the centre of defence with 2 of the under 21s Tellas and Dalot as back s its fucking terrible whats available considering the money thats been spent 😳
We don't have the right players sadly.
Ye need ronaldo lw rashford or cavani up front sancho rw
Yeah need a whole new midfield only one id keep is matic and let him play the odd game shaw and wanbisaka wing backs de gea in goals varane cb and please sign sule and chiallini