How Man Utd’s ‘plug-hole unblocker’ drained Ipswich

Manchester United thrashed Ipswich Town 5-2 at Old Trafford on Sunday to bounce back from that opening day defeat at Hull City. This is Tactics Exposed, and as always, we are going to unveil three tactical gems in this video that were key principles in the Red Devils' win. Dino, great to have you back. We've got the new screen. Excellent start to the season from a home game point of view for United.

key principles in the Red Devils win. Dino, great to have you back. We've got the new screen. Excellent start to the season from a home game point of view for United.

Yeah, they were back at home, and it was more like back to the Man United that Michael Carrick had last season. A couple of reasons why. There were a few bits that weren't quite so good, but we know we like to be positive on Tactics Exposed. But the main thing for me, the change from the Hull game where they lost to the game here where they won, is M&M. And it was Martinez and Mainoo and how those two completely transformed the way that United set up.

exposed, but the main thing for me, the change from the Hull game where they lost to the game here where they won, is M&M. And it was Martinez and Mainoo and how those two completely transformed the way that United set up.

Also, Dino, let's have point number one. Let's get straight into it. Mainoo, United can't play without you. I don't mind singing pop songs. I'm not singing fan songs from other teams.

Yeah, so let's get that out there. They're singing this in the Stretford End and it's "Baby, love really hurts without you", but it's "Mainoo, United can't play without you". And in this he did prove that. As I said, Martinez and

Yeah, so let's get that out there. They're singing this in the Stretford End, and it's "Baby, love really hurts without you," but it's "Mainoo, United can't play without you." And in this, he did prove that. As I said, Martinez and Mainoo were the axis here, and it was about how the passing and the progressive passing especially was the difference between those two things, okay? I'm going to show you this straight away because this is a United setup in a 3-2-5, right? And that's a little bit more different to the way they were against Hull last week where the fullbacks were both flying on. They were leaving themselves boxed in in the middle of the field, and they couldn't get out from that position there. This was much more like Luke Shaw playing as part of the back three up there on the left-hand side, and that meant that you've got Kobbie Mainoo and Tielemans in the middle, and that gives you five players going forward. We'll come back to the wingers and Dalot shortly, but the main thing being is what you don't want is Kobbie Mainoo dropping into a space that you don't want him to be in.

little bit more different to the way they were against Hull last week where the fullbacks were both flying on. They were leaving themselves boxed in in the middle of the field and they couldn't get out from that position there. This

He doesn't need to be there. You don't want him going in there. You can trust Martinez to be on the ball in there and Kobbie Mainoo to stay in that central position, which means Ipswich can't press, they can't go in there because they know Martinez is good enough on the ball that he can just give it to Mainoo in that space. So, first of all, that was the principal difference. And as I say, Martinez and Mainoo being those two important things. And the

to the wingers and Dalot shortly, but the main thing being is what you don't want is Kobbie Mainoo dropping into a space that you don't want him to be in.

So, he's basically, you know, just resisting the temptation to go deep and pick up the ball. As Bruno Fernandes, who you know, man of the season as he was, he gets criticized quite a lot, doesn't he, from United fans for almost trying to do too much and going back really deep to pick the ball up and trying to do something with it. Mainoo resisting the temptation to do that.

they know Martinez is good enough on the ball that he can just give it to Mainoo in that space. So, first of all, that was the principal difference. And as I say, Martinez and Mainoo being those two important things. And the

Absolutely. And it has a knock-on effect because then if you've got, you trust your... This is why managers want ball-playing center halves and ball-playing goalkeepers as well. It's because the last thing they want is their midfielders and I was very critical of Mainoo about this last year. Of all the great things he did, he's doing too much of his work in his own half and on whatever. If we show like United average positions map here,

trying to do too much and going back really deep to pick the ball up and trying to do something with it. Mainoo resisting the temptation to do that.

then you can see that Mainoo is in a proper central midfield position. You can also see that Luke Shaw is deeper and Diogo Dalot is higher. And that's that 3-2-5 shape that we talk about. And so, Mainoo not dropping into the back line and leaving the responsibility to play those passes to Shaw and Martinez, who are good enough on the ball, means he gets up higher. And this is a really good example here. We know that Bruno Fernandes we'll come on to him shortly.

critical of Mainoo about this last year. Of all the great things he did, he's doing too much of his work in his own in his own half and on whatever. If we show like United average positions map here,

We'll wheel into wide positions to receive the ball. And if Kobbie Mainoo's deep, he can't get into a central position to fill that hole.

line and leaving the responsibility to play those passes to Shaw and Martinez, who are good enough on the ball, means he gets up higher. And this is a really good example here. We know that Bruno Fernandes we'll come on to him shortly.

It's like he sees the hole there, straight into that space to go and plug that gap and go straight into the hole that he needs to move into. If he's back here in the position where Luke Shaw is,

It's like he sees the hole there, straight into that space to go and plug that gap and go straight into the hole that he needs to move into. If he's back here in the position where Luke Shaw is,

he can't, he can't get there. And then he can't progress United up the field. So, it wasn't... Look, he was fantastic on the ball. We know he was. We know he always is. We know that he's going to keep the ball well. We know he's going to pass the ball well. But what Carrick has done here and what United have identified is we need him to be 10 or 15 yards higher up the field in that position, and that

ball well. We know he's going to pass the ball well. But what Carrick has done here and what United have identified is we need him to be 10 or 15 yards higher up the field in that position and that

makes all the difference to United. And we know when he's in tight positions, he can get out of them as well.

Sorry to interrupt. Don't forget we've launched a brand new dedicated Tactics Exposed YouTube channel which you should be subscribed to. All the content that you already know and love, Tactics Exposed and Team Talk, plus exclusive bonus content from Dino. Anyway, back to

Sorry to interrupt. Don't forget we've launched a brand new dedicated Tactics Exposed YouTube channel which you should be subscribed to. All the content that you already know and love, Tactics Exposed and Team Talk, plus exclusive bonus content from Dino. Anyway, back to

He doesn't want to go out there because he's like, "I'm I'm not getting dragged all the way by Bruno." And he's got somebody a midfielder to jump to Bruno, which is great. But then Mainoo sees the opportunity to go and plug that gap. And

him. The other thing that you can see here is the Ipswich center-back is actually pointing. He knows where the problem is.

more damage. And that's what he's got to do more often. Take more responsibility. It's It's riskier having the ball in these areas here than it is just sitting in front of your back three and passing the ball sideways and then you have 98%

He doesn't want to go out there because he's like, "I'm not getting dragged all the way by Bruno." And he's got somebody, a midfielder, to jump to Bruno, which is great. But then Mainoo sees the opportunity to go and plug that gap. And

Well, that's what it is. I mean, we'll move on to to the next clip shortly, but it's it's that, isn't it? I know defenders in the Premier League these days have so much more of the ball than they ever have before, which obviously

And that's what he did all afternoon. He actually had less touches than Martinez, Tielemans, and Maguire. So which you wouldn't expect, but he had more of those touches and a more advanced position in the field so he could do

Yeah, and I feel a little bit sorry for Andre Santos and Tielemans from their first week criticism they got at Hull because they didn't have But they didn't have Lisandro Martinez giving them the ball in those areas. Whereas Kobbie

more damage. And that's what he's got to do more often. Take more responsibility. It's riskier having the ball in these areas here than it is just sitting in front of your back three and passing the ball sideways and then you have 98%

goal, which is the third goal. And then again, you've got Kobbie Mainoo going into an area like that to go and receive the ball again, plugging that hole in the gap. So, he's going to be the one that gets you out of that position. Note

pass completion, but all of them are sideways. He didn't do that in this game. He was excellent in a higher area of the field.

Look, we just had a shot there. Great work from our graphics guy. He's got [laughter] My latest job.

Well, that's what it is. I mean, we'll move on to the next clip shortly, but it's that, isn't it? I know defenders in the Premier League these days have so much more of the ball than they ever have before, which obviously

obviously, what Ipswich have got to do is close him down in that area. And then they get all get attracted to the ball.

to the chagrin of most football fans, but it's taking those risks, isn't it? And doing more with the ball in more important positions on the field, which is important at particularly a club like United.

that you wouldn't want to play in there against him now. And that says as much about his defensive work and his physicality. We know the ball-playing ability. We know the one-twos and the little bounces. But now he's willing to

Yeah, and I feel a little bit sorry for Andre Santos and Tielemans from their first week criticism they got at Hull because they didn't have... But they didn't have Lisandro Martinez giving them the ball in those areas. Whereas Kobbie

here, you've got Rashford one side and Dalot the other, who are holding that width and opening it up. We'll come back onto that in a minute. And that means then Kobbie Mainoo can run straight down the middle onto

Mainoo comes back in here and changed United, but also Martinez gives Kobbie the ability to go and play in these areas. And it's not just in those areas. This one's really, really, really great. This is the build-up to the Cunha

obviously leads to the penalty incident. I said Cunha goal, sorry. The penalty incident that that Bruno Fernandes scores where Cunha wins the penalty all comes from Kobbie Mainoo's bravery in tight spaces.

goal, which is the third goal. And then again, you've got Kobbie Mainoo going into an area like that to go and receive the ball again, plugging that hole in the gap. So, he's going to be the one that gets you out of that position. Note

I'm not going to bore all the audience with how much hugging of the touchline I did in the charity 11-a-side game I played on Sunday morning.

Luke Shaw in the back three as well. And then over here on this side, you're going to see Marcus Rashford, who is holding the width.

I think it was more of this. This is me. I'm just maintaining the width, lads.

Look, we just had a shot there. Great work from our graphics guy. He's got [laughter] my latest job.

showed with the first graphic there, but he's also, like you do, I suppose, when you take a plug out of a bath, where all the water's sort of attracted towards it. He does exactly the same thing with players, but crucially, what you

Yeah, Marcus Rashford over on that side. And you can see there that the whole line is spread out. And Kobbie Mainoo is thinking, "Right, I'll get the ball in here." And he's actually, what he's done is he's created his own space. And then

Sounds mad saying that about a Real Madrid legend. Yeah, I think that's fair, though.

obviously, what Ipswich have got to do is close him down in that area. And then they get all, get attracted to the ball.

the season now, Dino, that Mainoo's going to be a key part, more so than Tielemans or something.

And then we see the other brilliant side to Kobbie Mainoo in this instance. He's becoming a bit of a, a bit more of a monster physically as well. I mean, Harry Maguire said after the game, he said that, you know,

doesn't seem like he does, then then Tielemans could play there. Tielemans can be a replacement for either of the two. And look, at this stage, I think Santos is the is the squad member of that midfield four. And look, we'll talk

that you wouldn't want to play in there against him now. And that says as much about

[laughter] Just about old enough for that. So, what what what's the link there, then? Bruno Fernandes knockout specialist?

Yeah, absolutely. But also, United have got to thank Bruno again. I mean, goals are goals from that point of view. What I want to take into account here is why Carrick got them into that tactical position and what they've clearly been

working on very hard, okay? And it was shown you know I love an early grab. 59 seconds on the clock here. First of all, just before I I go on this clip, note that United in a back three again with

Luke Shaw staying, okay? Um but, it's Harry Maguire on the ball. Harry Maguire has carried the ball again, like we talked about with Martinez, has taken the responsibility. And he wants to play the ball into that space there that

they've created, United. And then those players are coming in to come and receive the ball. And this is like a seesaw trick here. Obviously, we talked about Kobbie Mainoo coming into that space. But, that's Tielemans and Bruno coming into that space. And Dalot's

there as well. So, Maguire's being brave on the ball and United right from the start are showing that intent. And Maguire's going to play that pass into that space for Bruno to come and receive the ball. And soon as Bruno comes to

receive the ball, that's the trigger for that seesaw move, for those guys to go running on be on beyond. And that's when Mbeumo makes his running behind. And in other clips, then Dalot will go up the right-hand side there. Rashford will go

up the left-hand side. So, immediately Bruno is becoming that center of attention of this switch move between those two.

So, Dino, just to clarify, what what I'm hearing here on the seesaw trick is effectively, whether it's in midfield with Mainoo or in the attacking line with Rashford or Mbeumo or whoever might be on the pitch at one

time, the seesaw move is effectively Bruno Fernandes coming this way down the pitch, and then someone else reacting to that and therefore making a run off of him to sort of exploit the space that he's left behind?

Exactly that. And if you you go in one way with one player and one way with the other, imagine that as a defender, if you're in that position and you're marking Bruno Fernandes, and he and he goes towards the ball, and as you go

think, "Well, he's my man, I'm going to go go there. As he goes towards the ball, you see out of the corner of your eye Brian and Benrahma or Marcus Rashford go that way, you're all going to be in that position there where

you're a little bit stuck. And you've got a couple of other examples of that, I think.

Yeah, and you can see that quite clearly there with that defender who is who is is just in that area there, and he's stuck because Bruno Fernandes has come to feet, and Brian and Benrahma has has gone has gone past him. So, it's it's

very, very difficult to defend against, and it's an understanding that you're getting your main man in Bruno to almost call the shots in that area. And they're looking at Bruno to go into those positions there. And if I just roll this

on just a little bit further, you can see that United, what they're actually doing here is quite a big area. You know, we talk coaches talk a lot about making the pitch small and compact, you know, when you haven't got the ball. And

what's happened here to Ipswich is that they've it's an an enormous area to play in.

We've got Rashford out of shot. You've got your back three there, but it's a really big area for them to cover if the ball gets bounced out, like we saw with the Mainoo goal. And the the point I

want to make here from United point of view is if they do give the ball away, you are in a little bit of trouble because there's a lot of area to cover.

And that's where Balewa comes into the team probably next. Big areas to cover, he'll thrive in that sort of environment. And also, if he's then freeing up Bruno and Kobbie Mainoo to do even more, then you're going to see even

more of this where the wingers Bruno's going to be able to drop in on the counter attack, and the wingers There we go, we're highlighting Bruno there. He's got the ball, and immediately you've got a winger on his

bike in Brian and Benrahma. Trust what Bruno's going to do, and the ball will go over the top, knowing full well you've got midfield cover behind, and you've got guys with legs to get there.

So, let's show Bruno's heat map here, okay? Cuz what we were critical of him under I'm not even going to mention his name, that old manager of Man United that we did 30 shows on. Um that he in

those games was coming in and doing work in areas that you didn't want him to be.

I still don't understand why you can't say Ruben Amorim. [laughter] Cuz they hammer me in the comments, don't they? If I'm talking about Ruben Amorim again. Oh, I've said He must not be named. The Lord Voldemort has Exactly, yeah. But I but in those games

he was coming into that position to receive the ball where he's not affecting the game high enough up the pitch. And this is the knock-on effect.

This is the domino effect from that Martinez and Mainoo thing in point one. Whereas you've got Martinez on the ball that you trust, Mainoo can move into an area that you want him to be in.

Fernandes can go and do the damage in the areas you want him to do. And that heat map shows that he's not really bothering himself with that central midfield block area. He's going round the outsides of it to go and receive the

ball in these type of areas, which is really, really key. And this this is, you know, this shows it absolutely bang on again. So, the ball breaks here and United won a lot of 50-50s and got their toes to the ball a lot. And this is

Dalot winning the ball in that right wing-back position over there. And then from that moment the trigger comes. We know we're going to get the ball.

Casemiro and Bruno are going to drop into an area to come and get the ball one way. And that means Amrabat and Rashford, who's just out of shot again, are going to make the run the other way.

And then when you've got that trust, all of a sudden, you've got Kobbie Mainoo, Tielemans, and Bruno who can receive the ball in those areas and you trust them that you can play the ball and go.

Nice one, Dino. An exciting prospect for United fans to watch Balewa come into that system as well. I think that midfield in particular. Let's go to point number three. Mark Set Go. Marcus Rashford has had tongues a wagging about

will he or will he not stay at Manchester United for the rest of the season. It appears like he will. And another excellent tactical performance and an unselfish one against Ipswich.

Yeah, definitely. And you would wanted us to be talking about goals and him being man of the match for scoring the goals. But actually, what he's done here and we should give him credit for is doing that unselfish job. And Michael

Carrick has asked him to do a specific thing here. and it's about the width of the pitch, okay? So, again, what I've got here is is Lisandro Martínez highlighted in that area, and you can see straight away, you can see that

United have progressed the game up because they're trusting the center-back on the ball there. We've got Mainoo in the midfielders further on. But, most importantly, what we've got is Marcus Rashford over on that left-hand side, and that means he's stretched the pitch

right out, okay? It's gone right Look at how big that width of that pitch is there, all the way across to Bryan and Mbeumo on that side. And even there, Mbeumo's running in on that side, and he got Dalot coming up the outside as well.

And that means that when you Lisandro Martínez, actually, in this position, plays the ball in the gap to Luke Shaw in there. And but that's because that pass is only available because Marcus Rashford is holding the width on that

side. And United did that all afternoon, and Rashford played that role. A few fans I've seen complaining that he didn't get into the box enough, and he wasn't making those penetrative runs enough. But, this was about unleashing United's sprinters. And there's an

amazing stat here where Bryan Mbeumo made 27 sprints in the game, and that's just incredible. And what Rashford is in a lot of these is the decoy run.

Yeah. So, in that We saw it on the Cunha goal, right? We saw that that Rashford was way out on the left. And in this position here, so this again is Kobbie Mainoo receiving the ball in a central area in

here, and that then means that you'd expect Rashford to be sort of in a position over on this left-hand side, but he's out of shot because what he's doing is creating all that space for other runners to run into.

And you know what I love about things like that, Dino? He He's doing two things, isn't he? I know people think I'm a bit weird for for liking when wingers basically just stand on the touchlines and don't do a lot. But, he's

doing two things. He's decluttering the central part of the pitch. So, remember like how Man City used to do famously with De Bruyne or David Silva, Bernardo Silva, that technical intricate work on the edge of the box. I think with the

the wide players really wide, you create more space in the middle. You're decluttering it of players and general mess to allow for more of that, but also you're creating running channels as well for players from deep, right?

Yeah, absolutely right. And you know, in this instance here, you've got a space like that in that area there where there's no Man United player in there.

No Man United player in there at all. And you'd think, "Well, where is he?" But look at Luke Shaw in that position as well. What Luke Shaw's doing there is he's got his arm out there and he's basically telling Rashford to hold his

width. If the ball comes to Luke Shaw there, he's going to give the ball wide to Rashford immediately and he's going to be 1v1 against his fullback and he's creating that space for then Bruno, Cunha, whoever it is, Amrabat to run

into those spaces. And look, they want to be a bit more balanced, I would suggest Man United, where there's less pressure on Bruno Amrabat to make 27 sprints a game cuz that will tell when you get to the point of Champions League

football, can he do that twice a week? And maybe it's that Amrabat being the left side of the midfield two means the balance will be a bit more on the left-hand side. But it's a really good sign that there's an understanding there

amongst them. And look, we talked about the problems with Luke Shaw's physicality and you know, the sort of engine of him at left back. He's not as young as he used to be. He's not that physical flying left back.

But if he's going to play in that left center back position and that means you can leave Rashford wide, Mikel Arteta spoke this week about it's not just about where you pass the ball and where you keep the ball in this modern game

anymore. It's how you get your 1v1 players 1v1. That's one Dinho, excellent stuff as usual. Man United fans will be delighted to see us doing a United game on Tactics Explained and they'll be delighted their team had won a game against a newly

promoted team. Thank you very much for watching this episode of Tactics exposed. Do not forget we have launched a brand new tactics exposed YouTube channel which you should be subscribed to. Subscribers are doing this already, so make sure you join the gang for

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