Manchester United’s quest to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League has been marred by inconsistency, particularly in their attacking play. A lack of creativity from wide areas has often left their forwards isolated, hindering their ability to break down stubborn defenses. However, a recent match between West Ham United and Leicester City offers a blueprint for Manchester United to revitalize their wing play and unlock new avenues for goal-scoring opportunities. West Ham’s 2-0 victory over Leicester, highlighted by effective wing play and set-piece mastery, provides valuable insights for Manchester United to emulate.
West Ham’s Wing Play: A Masterclass in Utilizing Wide Areas
West Ham’s success against Leicester was built on their ability to effectively utilize the width of the pitch, with wingers Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus playing pivotal roles. Bowen and Kudus consistently stretched the Leicester defense, creating space for midfielders to operate and providing a constant threat in the final third.
- Direct Running and Dribbling: Bowen and Kudus excel at taking on defenders with pace and skill, disrupting defensive lines and creating opportunities for crosses or cutbacks.
- Intelligent Movement: The wingers make intelligent runs both with and without the ball, knowing when to stay wide to stretch the defense and when to cut inside to link up with midfielders and forwards.
- Quality Crosses: West Ham’s wingers deliver accurate and dangerous crosses into the box, targeting both the feet and heads of their teammates.
Learning Points for Manchester United: Enhancing Wing Play
Manchester United’s current wing play often lacks the dynamism and precision displayed by West Ham’s wingers. To improve their attacking output, Manchester United can focus on the following key areas:
- Developing Crossing Techniques: Manchester United’s wingers need to refine their crossing techniques, focusing on accuracy, timing, and variety. They should aim to deliver crosses that are difficult for defenders to intercept while providing their forwards with clear opportunities to score.
- Improving Combination Play: Wingers must work on their understanding and combination play with the forwards and midfielders. This involves quick passing, intelligent movement, and the ability to create overloads in wide areas.
- Increasing Attacking Intent: Manchester United’s wingers should be encouraged to take on defenders more frequently and drive towards the box. This increased attacking intent will force defenders to commit, creating space for teammates and increasing the likelihood of winning free kicks and corners.
Tactical Adjustments: Implementing a West Ham-Inspired Approach
To effectively implement a West Ham-inspired approach, Manchester United may need to make certain tactical adjustments.
- Formation: Manchester United could adopt a formation that emphasizes wing play, such as a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1. These formations provide wingers with the freedom to attack and create opportunities.
- Full-Back Support: The full-backs should be encouraged to provide overlapping runs and support the wingers in attack. This will create overloads in wide areas and provide additional crossing options.
- Midfield Creativity: The midfielders should be tasked with providing accurate passes to the wingers and making late runs into the box to support the attack.
Set-Piece Mastery: Maximizing Opportunities from Corners and Free Kicks
In addition to their effective wing play, West Ham’s victory over Leicester highlighted the importance of set-piece delivery. James Ward-Prowse’s pinpoint accuracy from corners and free kicks created several dangerous situations, ultimately leading to West Ham’s second goal.
- Ward-Prowse’s Delivery: Ward-Prowse’s ability to consistently deliver accurate and well-weighted set-pieces is a major asset for West Ham. His crosses often find their target, creating scoring opportunities from aerial challenges and flick-ons.
- Aerial Threat: West Ham possess several players who are strong in the air, allowing them to capitalize on Ward-Prowse’s excellent delivery. Tomas Soucek, in particular, is a constant threat from set-pieces, using his height and timing to win headers.
Learning Points for Manchester United: Improving Set-Piece Effectiveness
Manchester United can learn from West Ham’s set-piece prowess by focusing on the following key areas:
- Improving Delivery: Manchester United’s set-piece takers need to improve their accuracy and consistency. They should practice delivering different types of crosses, targeting specific areas in the box.
- Developing Aerial Threat: Manchester United should work on developing their players’ aerial ability, focusing on timing, positioning, and technique. They should also devise set-piece routines that maximize their aerial threat.
- Creating Variety: Manchester United should introduce variety into their set-piece routines to make it more difficult for opponents to defend. This could involve short corners, disguised runs, and the use of different players as targets.
Manchester United’s Set-Piece Takers: Options and Potential
Manchester United have several players who are capable of taking set-pieces, but their effectiveness has been inconsistent.
- Bruno Fernandes: Known for his creativity and passing range, Fernandes can deliver dangerous crosses from set-pieces. However, his accuracy can sometimes be erratic.
- Luke Shaw: A reliable crosser of the ball, Shaw can provide accurate deliveries from corners and free kicks. His consistency and defensive contribution make him a valuable asset.
- Christian Eriksen: Eriksen’s experience and technical ability make him a capable set-piece taker. His ability to curl the ball and pick out targets in the box could be an asset.
Players Like Maguire Can Capitalize on Set Pieces
Harry Maguire scored with a header following a corner from Bruno Fernandes in the 47th minute of a game against Ipswich. Maguire has also sent headers towards the goal in other games, and, with better execution, they could have been goals.
Maximizing Set-Piece Opportunities: Tactical Considerations
To maximize their effectiveness from set-pieces, Manchester United should consider the following tactical adjustments:
- Identifying Key Targets: Manchester United should identify their key aerial threats and design set-piece routines that target these players.
- Creating Space: Manchester United should use decoy runs and screens to create space for their key targets. This will make it more difficult for defenders to mark them effectively.
- Exploiting Weaknesses: Manchester United should analyze their opponents’ defensive weaknesses from set-pieces and exploit these weaknesses in their routines.
Conclusion: A Pathway to Attacking Improvement
By emulating West Ham’s success in utilizing wing play and mastering set-piece delivery, Manchester United can unlock new avenues for goal-scoring opportunities and improve their overall attacking output. Focusing on developing crossing techniques, improving combination play, increasing attacking intent, refining set-piece delivery, and developing aerial threat will be crucial for Manchester United to achieve their goals. With a renewed emphasis on wing play and set-piece mastery, Manchester United can transform their attack and become a more potent force in the Premier League.