Hector Bellerin’s fiasco of a throw-in was a salutary reminder to all concerned as to how greatly things have changed between these two sides. Once it was Serge Aurier providing the unwelcome match day laughs with his own brand of shenanigans. Those days look to have thankfully gone.
Fundamentals first and Serge’s passing accuracy was comparatively immense, with just 5 misplaced passes in his 96-minutes.
Nobody made more interceptions (12) or recoveries (13) than Serge. There is a new found intelligence and intensity in the boy’s concentration levels under José.
Aurier played as right back against Arsenal, opposed to right-wing-back, and this has been the case for most of his Premier League games this season. Against Chelsea Serge pushed up a little, but against Manchester City, the Ivorian barely left his own half.
Here’s another example of cool defending, a headed clearance, straight to Sissoko who is on hand to get the ball away to safety.
More, please.
United point especially rings true now Pogba’s agent has said he is leaving in the next window – considering it came across as a me or him situation at United and Woodward backed the 89m asset
Stevie B is getting games because he can run faster than Bale…
True, playing more defensively doesn’t expose Aurier as much, we set up deeper so wide players don’t find the space in behind to exploit any weaknesses in his game. Better fullbacks can cope with being more exposed in a more attacking system…
Thing is, Poch was an international quality defender when he was a player and the idea that we were poor defensively under him just isn’t true, apart from at he end when the whole thing went stale (no signings for a year etc). One season we had the second best defensive record in the league under Poch.
People are just trotting out these cliches about attractive football being ‘flakey’ and defensive football being the only rational way to play if you want to win stuff. It just isn’t true, nor is it backed up with a shred of evidence.
Being defensively good and not conceding sloppy goals is obviously part of any successful campaign. Having 25% possession in games has nothing to do with it. It’s the way Jose sets up, that’s all…
Power serge. My guy. I knew he just needed proper defensive coaching which he has now. I need man like him in my squad
Will it work all season is the key question.
Very true, I think 2 players for every position has made a big difference, it’s a pity Levy didn’t offer Poch that luxury. Having said that would we be top of the table now under our previous coach? Somehow I doubt it, Mou seems to have found a tactic that is causing the opposition big problems. The big question for me is will it work against the lesser teams…
He’s never had competition for his place apart from the first season when he has to compete with an out of form Trippier. This is as much about a balanced squad with competition for places.
That’s the reason Stevie B is getting the nod over Bale I think, his relationship with Serge.
Mou is an amazing coach of players, what he has done with the likes of Serge, Mousa, Eric and the amazing front pair is little short of miraculous. Okay Son and Kane have always been special but they’re such more rounded players under the new gaffer. I think the manager has well and truly got his mojo back and Utd must feel like he was the one that got away.
Serge certainly epitomises that transformation the most, as many here were calling for him to be sold not that long ago.
He has improved in attitude too, and the system has undoubtedly helped his defensive game and Jose does similar with Reguilon , and it’s working. It frustrated the hell out of me how Poch made his FB’s look fools by having to cover two attacking players, and never sorted the problem, the B Munich game at home was a prime example.
Jose has set the team up better to cope with team mates flaws which has really helped Oreo…as one of the pundits discussed yesterday, Toby & Dier are much better suited when you have two midfielders sitting deep…(but hopefully not too deep)…
He started our second goal beautifully by winning the ball in his own penalty area and setting off our counter.. That defensive glancing header towards the end was also brilliant as he was the wrong side of his man… Remember when Serge arrived he was nearly killing people, a red card waiting to happen every game… He’s simply learnt to stand his man up, and not dive in to his tackles.
Couldn’t agree more H. Serge Aurier has been truly immense recently, a totally different player from a year ago. He is now playing with discipline and restraint in key defensive situations. He no longer looks like a walking penalty waiting to happen, or the gaffe prone mishap that had your heart in your mouth every time he was faced one on one by an opposing forward.
There is no doubt this is the impact of good coaching, but also the willingness of the player himself to take the necessary steps to learn and improve. I always felt Aurier was a warrior, the heart of a lion, unfortunately with the brain of a scarecrow, but he has now become the kind of intelligent c*nt the manager preaches about! Huge assist for the second goal yesterday also.
Agreed! Huge positive change – now looks strong, smart and disciplined with sustained concentration and restraint/timing. But the almost fanatical support he’s been getting from Bergwijn as a sort of Forward-Right Right Back and Sissoko’s new-found steely intelligence also help a lot.
JM said that it’s 50% training/coaching but also 50% attitude. The latter with a good dose of the former are both FAR better now.