Tactics Board: Moyes’ first tactical conundrum

David Moyes takes on Chelsea and Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford.

There has been plenty of talk about the difficulty of United’s opening fixtures, and one view would certainly conclude that facing Mourinho’s Chelsea later in the schedule would have been more beneficial – but perhaps Chelsea’s early visit gives David Moyes a chance to show the rest of the league what he and the team are all about. Whilst it is true that United are currently lacking in the midfield department (and the transfer dallying has left a lot to be desired thus far), it can’t have been easy for the squad to stomach the ‘third favourites’ tag, particularly after such a comfortable ride last term.

Tactically then, the crucial question for Moyes is basically whether to stick with the tried and tested 4-1-4-1 that served United so well at Swansea, or whether he will seek to combat Chelsea’s fluid front four with somewhat of a 4-3-3 system; something Moyes experimented with in pre-season on occasion. Chelsea are likely to go with the same side as the one that started versus Hull on the opening weekend, which means De Bruyne will team up with Oscar and Hazard just ahead of Ramires and Lampard, and just behind Torres, who is likely to return in place of Ba. And given how early in the season this game has materialized, matching Chelsea up in the middle is probably at the forefront of Moyes’ mind.

Moyes may well go with the same team that started versus Swansea.

To counter Chelsea’s attacking 4-2-3-1 (a system sure to be enhanced by the Portuguese manager), Moyes may have to start one of Giggs, Anderson or Jones in the centre with Carrick and Cleverley. Jones started this fixture last season, and if he does get the nod on Monday evening, Valencia may be asked to slot in at right back, with Smalling not quite match ready. On the face of it, this move could be seen as a negative one, especially given the Ecuadorian’s return to form, and the trouble he caused Cole last season at the Bridge – but perhaps this is a tactic that could actually prove quite useful, with Mourinho likely to ask Cole and Hazard to link as much as possible in the final third. Valencia then could use his pace to time his counter attacks in the space vacated down Chelsea’s left side, providing that much needed width in a 4-3-3. One particular pleasing aspect so far under Moyes has been the attacking threat of the fullbacks, but particular Evra. Time and again the Frenchman has sought to hit the by-line and centre the ball, more often than not to van Persie who times his runs to perfection.

What isn’t in doubt is that United will have to crowd the zone just in front of the back four, so we can expect a bank of five in defensive transitions, with Welbeck dropping in on Lampard (the Englishman very keen on the diagonal into the attacking fullback in the games thus far) and Ramires. De Bruyne’s movement will also be key for the away side, preferring to pick up the ball in slightly deeper positions than Mata, and running at defenders (rather than moving horizontally across the line), drawing them into the challenge. Jones, Carrick and Cleverley will have to work as a triumvirate in this zone, working closely with the fullbacks.
United’s threat on the counter with Welbeck and van Persie in particular will give them a chance of winning the game (particularly too in targeting the lackadaisical Cahill), and the midfield three will try to release either one into feet as quickly as possible. Rooney will certainly feature, but whether he is psychologically ready to start this game is another question (Moyes should choose between Giggs and Kagawa). Of course, the psychological ‘warfare’ aspect of the game itself will actually go equally as far to determining the outcome as the team selections – Mourinho is a master at ensuring his troops are battle-hardened. This contest then, is also Moyes’ first opportunity to showcase his man-management skills, and how far he is able to influence the collective nerve of his players will go along way to deciding the result

VIEW FROM THE ENEMY: Norwich fan on United youth and avoiding relegation

Scott: How did you rate 2012-2013 for your club?
Nathan: 2012/13 was a season of consolidation. The only objective was to stay in the league. We didn’t spend much money due to a prior agreement with our bankers so had to rely on mostly what we had already. Although it was a little tight towards the end of the season we actually ended up in eleventh place – one better than 2011/12.
Scott: Who was your best player?
Nathan: Sebastien Bassong won the player of the season award and rightly so. He has brought a calmness to our defence as well as some pace and reads the game very well, he’s also a goal threat in the opposition’s area.
Scott: Which player are you expecting most important in 2013-2014?
Nathan: Scoring goals was a problem last term and with cult hero Grant Holt now gone, the responsibility will lay on the shoulders of one of several new forwards. Ricky Van Wolfswinkel comes with a good reputation as a goal scorer so he promises much.
Scott: If you could take one United player, who would it be?
Nathan: That’s easy, Robin Van Persie. What team wouldn’t want him in their squad?
Scott: Are you pleased Fergie’s retired?
Nathan: I wouldn’t say I’m pleased that Fergie has retired but it will make things at the top more interesting. The fact that Man City and Chelsea both have new managers as well should make it lively and question marks will be over David Moyes if he doesn’t make a good start in the league.
Scott: Where do you think your club will finish this season?
Nathan: This transfer window has seen the recruitment of some very exciting players – it’s been the best ever window for Canaries fans. We’ve spent money and got players that I’m hopeful will take us to the “next level”. I would hope will can finish inside the top ten and have agood cup run like Swansea did last season. A lot of mid table teams have spent heavily which will make it very tough for the newly promoted sides so I don’t see us involved in a relegation battle.
Scott: Where do you think United will finish?
Nathan: United will finish in the top three. Much will depend on whether or not you can get any marquee signings, Fabregas or Bale in and if Rooney leaves. Man City have quietly strengthened very astutely and with Chelsea having Mourinho back they can’t be discounted.
Scott: What do you think of former United youth product David Fox?
Nathan: David Fox is an excellent midfield quarter back with a great eye for a pass. He was instrumental in our promotion to the Premier League and in our first season there. Last season though he hardly got a look in due to the system that Chris Hughton played. He went for strength in midfield which isn’t really Foxy’s game and with the signing of Leroy Fer, I think his future at City doesn’t look bright. He’ll always be remembered for his pin point pass to allow Simeon Jackson to score against Portsmouth – the goal that saw us promoted to the PL.
Scott: Most newly promoted clubs in the PL struggle. What has been behind Norwich’s success?
Nathan: The secret to our success in the first couple of seasons back in the PL is a bit of a cliche but it was team spirit and effort. The majority of players, especially in the first season had no PL experience and they played above their perceived ability levels. Grant Holt summed this up when the ex-tyre fitter from Carlisle, who has scored in all four divisions, scored 15 PL goals in that first season. It seems that if you can survive a season in the PL, popular wisdom suggests that you might well survive a few more. With the signings made in this window I feel we can now establish ourselves as a PL side.

Manchester United are ready to enter race for Gareth Bale

Manchester United may offer competition to Real Madrid in the pursuit of Ga
reth Bale this week, with Tottenham Hotspur seemingly more receptive to the English champions, having become deeply frustrated by negotiations with the Spanish side.

United have not made a firm offer for Bale and, as the transfer window enters its last three weeks, they will be acutely aware of any attempt to use them as a way of flushing out a serious bid from the Bernabeu, at a time when Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is beginning to doubt whether the Spaniards actually possess the funds.
But United's failure to land a big-money signing this summer may persuade them to make a huge investment, to deliver the boost which is badly needed at the start of the David Moyes era, as well as goals and momentum. The failure to secure a marquee name has only amplified the noise created by Wayne Rooney and his desire to leave.
The odds are stacked against such a deal coming to fruition. The impediments to United securing Bale include Spurs' valuation which is believed to be around £110m, though the appeal of Javier Hernandez to the north London club could conceivably help in that department. It is also unclear whether United would be able to agree personal terms with Bale. They have been reluctant throughout about the prospect of being strung along by Levy, a frustrating sparring partner in the acquisition of Michael Carrick in 2006 and Dimitar Berbatov two years later. But that sentiment may have changed now that the summer has brought no new big name.
Moyes insisted Rooney is staying at Old Trafford, and his determination to hold on to the unhappy England striker was easy to understand after watching Manchester United labour to a 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic, of the Championship, in the Community Shield. United dominated possession but the provenance of Robin van Persie's goals – an unmarked long-range header and a deflected shot – underlined their lack of creativity. Rooney, of course, was absent with a shoulder injury.
That injury, said Moyes, was genuine, but would not prevent him returning to Wembley to play for England against Scotland on Wednesday, albeit not for the whole game. The Scot said: "Wayne wasn't fit [today], he's a bit short. You don't think I'm going to send England a fit player! It is a big game for Scotland too."
That moment of jocularity was the exception in a spiky exchange with the media regarding Rooney. Asked if he was fed up of talking about the 27-year-old, Moyes said: "I'm enjoying talking about it because so many of you have got it wrong. I didn't fall out with Wayne, he trained with the reserves at his own request. He couldn't have contact because of his shoulder injury so he played as a floating player [a player who plays for the team in possession] with no contact. Anyone who wrote anything else is misleading their readers."
Moyes, who said he had spoken at length with Roy Hodgson about Rooney's condition, added: "I want him to join up [with England]. It would be great for Manchester United, hopefully he can get some playing time. He is not fit and you will probably see that in the game. He will probably play a chunk, but he has not had enough football – just 45 minutes against Real Betis in a friendly. The club's policy is he will not be sold. That has not changed."
With United expected to make a joint £35m bid to Everton for Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini this week, Moyes said: "We're moving forward [to making signings]. Every day you get closer – and so does the [transfer] deadline – but if we have to I am happy to go with what we have. We have a lot of good, young English players."

List of Manchester United's 2013/2014

Manchester United FC or commonly abbreviated as MU is one of the top football clubs in the Premier League, based in Old Traford, Manchester. Football club has become one of the giants highly regarded and well-loved by many football lovers all over the world and also in Indonesia.Manchester United's RosterSince handled by Sir Alex Ferguson from 1986, Manchester United have managed to emerge as one of the dominant clubs in the UK domestic championship. Proved since the passing of the era of the Premiership in 1992, Manchester United so far has won twelve titles.
Success of Manchester United became one of the most respected soccer clubs in the world has an impact on the club's own prestige in the eyes of the football lovers around the world. Almost every thing related to the presence of Manchester United is always a subject of conversation in society, ranging from coaching, players, and also a variety of match that is always making headlines around the sports media world.
On this occasion, Karo Cyber ​​blog will publish one of the most interesting information about the existence of the club Manchester United, the Manchester United player list, especially in the 2013-2014 season under David Moyes as the new coach replacing Sir Alex Ferguson. Who are the list of players Manchester United in the 2013-2014 season? You can completely see the list below:

Goalkeeper

    David de Gea
    Anders Lindegaard
    Ben Amos
    Sam Johnstone
Back

    Rafael
    Patrice Evra
    Phil Jones
    Rio Ferdinand
    Jonny Evans
    Chris Smalling
    Nemanja Vidic
    Fabio Da Silva
    Alexander Buttner
    Scott Wootton
    Marnick Vermijl
    Michael Keane
Midfielder

    Antonio Valencia
    Anderson
    Ryan Giggs
    Michael Carrick
    Nani
    Ashley Young
    Tom Cleverley
    Darren Fletcher
    Nick Powell
    Shinji Kagawa
    Larnell Cole
    Adnan Januzaj
    Davide Petrucci
    Ryan Tunnicliffe
Striker

    Wayne Rooney
    Chicharito
    Wilfried Zaha
    Danny Welbeck
    Robin van Persie
    Angelo Henríquez
    Federico Macheda
    Bebe
    William Keane
    Jesse Lingard
Given the transfer has not been closed on the 2013-2014 season so far, it is likely that there will be changes to the Manchester United player roster that already published above. The changes will be pursued through lamaan is always updated.

Spanish giants tell Moyes: Fabregas and Ronaldo are not for sale

 

United boss is told to forget hopes of landing Barca or Real stars

David Moyes has been warned that any moves for Cesc Fabregas or Cristiano Ronaldo are doomed to failure.

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The United manager has spent the summer trying to land a marquee signing ahead of his first season in charge at Old Trafford.
But his two top targets are moving ever further out of reach with Barcelona and Real Madrid insisting they will not sell.
Barca have remained resolute in their determination to keep hold of Fabregas, with their coach Gerardo Martino reiterating that stance yesterday.
“He still is our player and will be with us this season,” he said while on the club’s pre-season tour in Thailand.
Ronaldo was always going to prove much more of a stretch to bring back to England. And despite a summer of speculation surrounding the Portuguese superstar, Real coach Carlo Ancelotti insists he will sign a deal to keep him at the Bernabeu for the rest of his career.
“The player wants to renew his contract and the club want him to renew it too, so I don’t think it’s going to be a problem,” he said. “I think Cristiano and the club are relaxed about the issue.
“I don’t know when it will happen, but I am certain that Cristiano is going to renew his contract with Madrid.”
Moyes is now having to face up to the increasing likelihood that he will have to look at alternative options, with Marouane Fellaini a player who has been under consideration since he took up his new job on July 1.
On Tuesday night Moyes assured supporters that he would add to his squad before the close of the transfer window on September 2.
But he has so far endured a summer of frustration, seeing bids of £25m and £30m rejected for Fabregas, while a £12m move for Everton’s Leighton Baines was also rebuffed.
His interest in Thiago Alcantara came to nothing when the Spanish starlet opted for a move to Bayern Munich instead of Old Trafford.
Moyes has not yet given up on his pursuit of Fabregas but he is increasingly coming to accept that it may take an official transfer request from the midfielder in order to see the move go through.
His on-going frustrations over the Fabregas deal have seen him turn his thoughts to Fellaini – but Everton manager Roberto Martinez yesterday insisted he is still to receive an offer for the Belgian – or an improved bid for Baines.
“There are no bids,” he said. “When you read that someone is interested in someone, it doesn’t mean there is a bid on the table.
“Marouane has been working really hard. Leighton Baines has been working really hard for the team and that’s all that matters.
“I’ve said from day one as a manager you only concentrate on working hard.
“I don’t mind having my players grabbing headlines. That’s a good story because it means they’ve been doing well and performing well.
“I’m only concentrating on having as strong a squad as possible for the start of the season. That’s all my concern is.”
That is Moyes’ main focus too – but he is finding it increasingly difficult to make the additions he believes he needs to give him the best chance of retaining the Premier League and challenging in the Champions League.

Transfer news: Cesc Fabregas puts an end to Manchester United interest by admitting he wants to stay at Barcelona

Cesc Fabregas has shown no desire to move to Manchester United after he insisted he is “very happy” at his dream club Barcelona.

United saw two bids rejected for the former Arsenal captain, and reports of a third and final bid prompted Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino to insist they would not sell the midfielder for any price.
Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta declared earlier this week that the Premier League champions had accepted defeat in their pursuit of the 26-year-old, and Fabregas spoke earlier today to dismiss any speculation that he wanted to leave the Nou Camp.
"Triumphing in Barcelona is what I have been hoping for all my life, it's been my dream since I was a child,” admitted Fabregas.
"I am very happy at Barcelona and I haven't spoken to any other club in the last two years."
Fabregas, who joined the La Liga champions after a drawn out transfer saga in 2011, also defended his decision to not make a statement on his future in the midst of speculation about United's interest.
"I've been relaxed about it the whole time, I didn't have to clarify anything because the only thing I was thinking about was staying at Barca," he said.
"As I haven't deceived anyone or hidden anything, I told the club's press department that I would speak when it was my turn to speak to the press."
He went a step further to rubbish claims that he had spoken of his desire to return to the Premier League, where he spent eight seasons under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger before leaving for the Catalan club.
"Stories have been invented," he said. "I don't know why speculation grew even after Tito (Vilanova, former Barca coach), Zubizarreta, Tata (Gerardo Martino, new Barca coach) and (Barca vice-president Josep) Bartomeu all said they wanted me to stay.
"I was never given any sign from the club to make me think they didn't want me, I have always felt wanted here. I spoke to Bartomeu, the president (Sandro Rosell) in person and Tata also told me he wanted me to stay and there's been no problem."
He also dismissed any reports that suggested he had asked for a new contract in the wake of United’s interest, admitting that he has a fight on the hands to become a mainstay in the Barcelona midfield.
"What I have to do is do everything better because I'm at the biggest and most demanding club in the world," he said.
United confirmed that they understood Fabregas' comments, when a spokesman said: "We appreciate Cesc is a contracted player at Barcelona and completely respect everything Cesc has said today."

Match Report: Manchester United 2-0 Wigan Athletic

A Robin van Persie brace was enough for Manchester United to win the FA Community Shield at Wembley.
One goal from each half from the Dutchman. The first came after just six minutes when Patrice Evra’s cross from the left found Van Persie whose header from, almost, the edge of the box found the bottom corner of the goal.
The second came via a deflection after a nice move involving Evra, Cleverley and Welbeck, when Van Persie turned onto his left foot, inside the area, which was diverted away from Wigan goalkeeper Carson by defender Perch. United’s No. 20 has now scored six goals in his last seven games against the Latics.
The eyes of the world were like hawks as David Moyes managed his first competitive game as United manager just as Hawkeye also made its début in English football. However, it was Moyes’ first trophy that will be remembered here rather than any use of the new goal line technology. The pre-season has been a mix of mixed results and constant Rooney questions but the new main man in the dugout will be glad to have got off to a trophy winning start.
The match on a whole was more the gentle stroll of a friendly rather than the competitive spirit of cup matches but United were very comfortable from start to finish. Apart from a few free-kicks to defend, the United defence were hardly challenged with De Gea not having to make a save, although the same could be said of his opposite number as chances were very scarce.
Carrick orchestrated much of the play in the centre of the three man midfield. While much of the talk in the press has been the lack of transfer activity by Moyes, the January signing Zaha was very lively throughout, during his time on the pitch. There was even time for the youngster Adnan Januzaj, who has impressed for much of the pre-season matches, to have a run out.
It’s a winning start for Moyes and a trophy to take home and a decent, if uninspiring, run out before the beginning of the defence of the Premier League at Swansea next Saturday.
Manchester United team: De Gea, Rafael (Smalling 16′), Evra, Jones, Vidic, Giggs (Anderson 67′), Carrick, Cleverley, Welbeck (Kagawa 83′), Van Persie (Januzaj 84′), Zaha (Valencia 61′).
Unused Substitutes: Lindegaard, Evans.
Man of the Match: Michael Carrick.