Moyes' tactical inability cost United three points again

Too, Too, Too Predictable

Fulham came with a relegation battle to win and Rene Meulensteen returned with a point to prove. Moyes’ United have been too predictable and become easy to defend – scoring an average 1.63 goals only in 24 league matches compared to the 2.26 goals last season. While injuries have often been an excuse for the Scot, his tactics have hardly changed regardless of the 11 players on the pitch.

Starting with a defensive 4-5-1, Fulham sat back and was ready to absorb pressure from the hosts. Rafael and Evra were allowed lots of room to overlap and the flanks contributed an amazing total of 46 crosses in the first half alone. However United only had 4 attempts on target as Fulham transformed into a 6-3-1-0 with United pushed forward. With the back four crowding constantly inside the box and the wide players slotting in as secondary full backs, there just wasn’t enough quality to beat the quantity; especially when United grew impatient after trailing behind midway through the first half through a sweet Sidwell volley.

When Adnan Januzaj came in for Fletcher at the hour mark, moving Mata behind the strikers, United had already put in 54 ‘wasted crosses’, said commentator Gary Neville. Valencia and Chicharito soon too came on for Young and Rafael, Moyes just wanted more crosses. At the end, United put out 81 crosses. The two goals did start off from a cross but it was hardly related; rather more to Fulham’s exhaustion and a fortunate deflection.

To sum up the ‘tactical changes’ by Moyes: old wine in new bottles; and credit to Fulham for devising and carrying out a game plan which at least let them leave Manchester with a much-needed point.

What’s Moyes’ Plan for Mata?

The Spaniard’s signature sent a message that United could still attract big names and his exclusion would’ve contradicted the statement. However, starting on the right as an inside winger, Mata had little influence on the game. His exquisite ball-control and delicious long balls were applauded by the Old Trafford crowd but it’s still far from enough to affect the scoreline; or resurrect United’s season if he continues to stay so distantly involved.

3 assists to his name, but still not at his best in red

The ability of the former Chelsea player is undoubted, but by moving him onto the right flank is no different than putting Shinji Kagawa – who used to flourish behind the striker at Dortmund – on the left. If Mata was as hard-working defensively as Kagawa, he might have stayed in Mourinho’s plans but if Moyes continues to put him in such a position, the playmaker’s low work rate would soon backfire and cost United more points.

Here comes the question, nevertheless. David Moyes have been sticking with the 4-4-2 for most of his matches; mainly for two reasons: 1) He has two star strikers which he has no authority to bench either; especially with Rooney so crucial to an extent that benching or playing him out of position would make disclosing to the England man the club’s transfer plans as leverage to renew his contract complete nonsense; and 2) he simply has not enough good central midfielders for 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formations.

Hence if Moyes decides to keep his 4-4-2 unchanged, he will keep on using up one substitution every game to introduce a winger into the game in order to switch Mata behind the strikers and sacrificing a central midfield in return which would be disastrous against bigger teams (think about Yaya Toure/Fernandinho vs Carrick/Mata). That’s not any tactical masterstrokes, is it? Juan Mata could only be the player Old Trafford want him to be if he’s played as a proper number 10, and if rumors of Cavani and Diego Costa are true, buena suerte Juan.