Man Utd find Fred & Gomes could revamp their midfield after Astana win
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Man Utd's 1-0 win against FC Astana in their Europa League group stage match showed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has options.
In fact, quite what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side would have achieved in this game - even against Kazakh minnows in Astana - without Fred and Angel Gomes, you shudder to think.
The Pep Guardiola revolution across the city at the Etihad has dictated that modern football teams need (at least) two playmakers: one at the base of midfield and one at its apex.
While Paul Pogba is not a natural in either position, Solskjaer tried out two players against Astana who are specialists in their roles. The Norwegian was seeking ways to enhance the most ailing part of United's side and he might have found the answers, despite the modest win.
Gomes is United's most natural No.10 and he showed it with some mesmerising touches from the off, to light up an otherwise rather drab Thursday night Europa League tie. In fact, the very inclusion of Gomes, Mason Greenwood and Tahith Chong in Solskjaer's team seemed to give supporters a lift. Their names, along with Fred's, were the most heartily cheered by the Old Trafford crowd when the announcer read out the teams before kick off.
But back to the future and what Gomes and Fred could offer a United side whose midfield has been decimated by key departures in recent months. Marouane Fellaini was often a specialist for United on Thursday nights like this, but has gone. Ander Herrera was a man for all occasions, but he's gone too.
Both those absences have increased the weight of responsibility on the shoulders of Pobga and Scott McTominay. The latter, in particular, is being asked to do too much.
And so, after this 1-0 victory over Astana, it's obvious Solskjaer must call upon Fred and Gomes more regularly.
Bar an early rattle of the woodwork, Fred had little sight of goal, though after an excellent impact off the bench against Leicester, he did his reputation no harm with a neat and tidy performance in the middle.
Gomes' impact was often restricted by how deep Astana sat, limiting the space that he could flit into. Still, he encouraged passes into his feet, still he tried to twirl out of trouble and into those unoccupied pockets. There was an outrageous turn and pass early in the second half that should have resulted in a goal, but nobody could connect with Marcos Rojo's cross from the left.
Juan Mata is 31 and has never been the quickest, though to suggest Gomes is the automatic heir to a player of Mata's repute is probably premature. Likewise Fred has some distance to travel before he can be compared to Paul Scholes, or even Michael Carrick in that deeper role.
But there are signs that both are ready to step into more prominent roles in Solskjaer's squad. Fred must now surely be ahead of Nemanja Matic, even though Solskjaer admitted last month the Brazilian was at the bottom of the midfield food chain.
"He's improving," Solskjaer said of Fred after the game. "He's getting better and better, fitter and fitter and it's great to see he's confident enough on the ball.
"And he's a tenacious little midfielder, he's good on and off the ball. And he'll come good for us."
As it turned out, United were reliant on a moment of Greenwood magic to secure the points.
But Fred and Gomes both proved against Astana that they merit more regular inclusion, not just as options when the squad is rotated. The cupboard is bare for Solskjaer in midfield, but these two offer hope.
Man Utd's 1-0 win against FC Astana in their Europa League group stage match showed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has options.
In fact, quite what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side would have achieved in this game - even against Kazakh minnows in Astana - without Fred and Angel Gomes, you shudder to think.
The Pep Guardiola revolution across the city at the Etihad has dictated that modern football teams need (at least) two playmakers: one at the base of midfield and one at its apex.
While Paul Pogba is not a natural in either position, Solskjaer tried out two players against Astana who are specialists in their roles. The Norwegian was seeking ways to enhance the most ailing part of United's side and he might have found the answers, despite the modest win.
Gomes is United's most natural No.10 and he showed it with some mesmerising touches from the off, to light up an otherwise rather drab Thursday night Europa League tie. In fact, the very inclusion of Gomes, Mason Greenwood and Tahith Chong in Solskjaer's team seemed to give supporters a lift. Their names, along with Fred's, were the most heartily cheered by the Old Trafford crowd when the announcer read out the teams before kick off.
But back to the future and what Gomes and Fred could offer a United side whose midfield has been decimated by key departures in recent months. Marouane Fellaini was often a specialist for United on Thursday nights like this, but has gone. Ander Herrera was a man for all occasions, but he's gone too.
Both those absences have increased the weight of responsibility on the shoulders of Pobga and Scott McTominay. The latter, in particular, is being asked to do too much.
And so, after this 1-0 victory over Astana, it's obvious Solskjaer must call upon Fred and Gomes more regularly.
Bar an early rattle of the woodwork, Fred had little sight of goal, though after an excellent impact off the bench against Leicester, he did his reputation no harm with a neat and tidy performance in the middle.
Gomes' impact was often restricted by how deep Astana sat, limiting the space that he could flit into. Still, he encouraged passes into his feet, still he tried to twirl out of trouble and into those unoccupied pockets. There was an outrageous turn and pass early in the second half that should have resulted in a goal, but nobody could connect with Marcos Rojo's cross from the left.
Juan Mata is 31 and has never been the quickest, though to suggest Gomes is the automatic heir to a player of Mata's repute is probably premature. Likewise Fred has some distance to travel before he can be compared to Paul Scholes, or even Michael Carrick in that deeper role.
But there are signs that both are ready to step into more prominent roles in Solskjaer's squad. Fred must now surely be ahead of Nemanja Matic, even though Solskjaer admitted last month the Brazilian was at the bottom of the midfield food chain.
"He's improving," Solskjaer said of Fred after the game. "He's getting better and better, fitter and fitter and it's great to see he's confident enough on the ball.
"And he's a tenacious little midfielder, he's good on and off the ball. And he'll come good for us."
As it turned out, United were reliant on a moment of Greenwood magic to secure the points.
But Fred and Gomes both proved against Astana that they merit more regular inclusion, not just as options when the squad is rotated. The cupboard is bare for Solskjaer in midfield, but these two offer hope.
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