'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgf/2gAIAQEAAAAAkR3/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAECEAAAAF//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/9oACAEDEAAAAH//xAAfEAACAgEFAQEAAAAAAAAAAAACAwEEEgAFERMhQVL/2gAIAQEAAT8AsWNsqX7lVWxJFDFArpG2zEmAJT2SU8lHpjOMfnVu1Si07p2lS1ZzgE2DLGOfI5+6/8QAFREBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEH/2gAIAQIBAT8Aj//EABURAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABB/9oACAEDAQE/AK//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
David Moyes’ return to Goodison Park was ill-fated, as his Manchester United side were outclassed and beaten in every department during their 2-0 loss to Everton. Furthermore, reports today indicate that the ex-Everton boss could be on the verge of being sacked by Man United.
Moyes would have been hugely disappointed with the manner in which United conceded, but he may have to look at his tactics which were crucial in Manchester United dropping points.
Below are three things the Scotsman got wrong during the clash against the Toffees:
1. Lacking Width
Moyes of all people would have known exactly how Everton play and while Roberto Martinez has taken over and taken the Toffees to another level, Moyes should have had a rough idea of how the Merseyside outfit would approach the game. United lacked width and despite Moyes deploying Kagawa and Nani out wide, both players preferred to cut in and dictate from the middle. This left the Red Devils playing narrowly, which meant Buttner and Smalling had to maraud forward to attempt breaking through a stubborn defence.
By doing that it meant that if United lost the ball in the final third, with both their full-backs forward, the likes of Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines were able to break into the space. Coleman’s Heat Map shows the Irishman spending the majority of the time in United’s half, despite the Red Devils bossing possession. Too often United’s tendency to come inwards and play compact, would leave their defence extremely vulnerable, an asset Everton loathed.
Seamus Coleman’s action heat map speaks a thousand words itself
2. No runners in behind Everton’s defence
Upfront, Wayne Rooney has adapted hugely to the role of a creative attacking midfielder, a man who aims to feed off someone in-front of him.
He led the line for United on Sunday and it worked a treat for Everton. Excessive sideward passes meant the movement was all too predictable. The front-four constantly interchanged between each other, but it was all too compact and never did any player decide to penetrate the defence and run in behind. Rarely did a pass split the Toffees’ defence and the majority of it was all in the areas that couldn’t hurt Everton. Remarkably only one pass was completed to a United man in the penalty area in the first 25-minutes.
Manchester United’s passes against Everton
Rooney looked to dictate play from just outside the box, playing to his strengths, which was proven by his Action Areas. He spent 35.29% of the time just outside the opposition box, pleading for a burst from deep from a fellow team-mate.
Wayne Rooney action areas suggest how he tried become the main play-maker for the Red Devils
His creative team-mates behind him failed to assist him and their constant drifting inside meant that United often had four or five players in the same vicinity, leaving Everton’s back-four with a perfect view of everything ahead of them.
Moyes’ should have considered starting Javier Hernandez from the off, a striker who loves to get in behind and use his pace. The Red Devils’ action areas speaks volumes, with just 3.42% of their play inside Everton’s box. Javier Hernandez eventually came on and when he did, United were able to create a meaningful chance with Rooney running in behind and being denied by Tim Howard.
3. Playing Nani Instead of Valencia
The Portuguese international has had a tough time with injuries, but Moyes should have looked elsewhere for this game. The winger had a rough time and in a game where full-backs are the story of the day almost every week, Baines had a field day. Nani had a pass accuracy of 78% and only found one United man with his four attempted crosses. The tricky winger attempted three take-ons, but failed with all of them. His tendency to come inside was detrimental. He spent 30.36% of the time crowding out the middle of the park and that allowed Leighton Baines to gallop forward when Everton broke.
Nani attempted three take-ons, but failed with all of them in the game.
Antonio Valencia is a shrewd, strong and tactical player, and he knows how to defend. He was introduced by Moyes, but it was too little too late. The ex-Wigan man’s tracking-back is second to none and he thrives on taking a full-back down the outside, a trait United could have really done with on Sunday.
