Against Everton, Lonnick lined up the worst starting line-up in a while.
With no fulcrum in front and poor athleticism, Nemanja Matic started as one of the two backs, while Tres replaced Luke Shaw, who had just undergone surgery. When asked by reporters why Matic was sent, Lonnick said:
"I had to choose between Nemanja Matic and Pogba and as a six-seater I decided to choose Nemanja Matic. He's one of the players with the best ball possession, so I chose him. ”
From this answer, it can be seen that even if Pogba starts, he will only play at the back. This means that Pogba's tactical attempts to make a frontcourt pivot, starting against Watford, have come to an end.
There is no ball-holding point in the front that can directly put pressure on the defender line, and The prospects of Manchester United in this game are not difficult to predict.
However, in some details, Lonnick made some other attempts.
For example, when Cristiano Ronaldo retreats, pulls the edge and leaves the penalty area, Marcus Rashford will enter the middle to maintain United's presence in front of Everton's center-back.
Just like this attack in the 12th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo came to the ribs to help Bruno get the cross space, and Rashford's header was saved by Pickford:
And after this attack, the substitution of Rashford and C Ronaldo is clearer:
In the opening stages, United still played some attacks.
In the opening 8th minute, United fired a threatening long-range shot from a second attack from a set-piece:
In the on-the-spot attack and counter-attack after the steal, United also output some pressure:
However, with the passage of time, Everton can actually feel that the players in the Manchester United frontcourt are not small, but in fact, they do not pose too much threat to the defense.
So as Everton added some pressing and confrontation when there was no ball, the danger of United came with it.
In the 27th minute, Everton stole Nemanja Matic in the middle of the line, directly hit the weak side of Manchester United with a lateral shift, and the whole team urgently returned to defend but lost the defensive level, so the penalty area gave the opponent the opportunity to shoot from a distance:
After conceding the ball, United began to press forward, but fred, who could run the most, left the field injured, and Pogba and Nemanja Matic formed a double back, so they risked Everton's counterattack and set-pieces:
The only attacks United can play is crosses:
Coming back in the second half, the situation still did not improve.
The chance to start the game still comes from the long pass:
Everton, on the other hand, countered with an on-the-spot attack after the push:
After wrapping Everton in the front pressure, driven by C Ronaldo and Bruno, the two backs went into the box:
If this state of affairs continues, United are destined to give Everton a chance to strike back.
Fortunately, this style of play did not happen again. In contrast, it looks a little safer to cross, although there are almost no chances to score:
In the 69th minute, Everton snatched up their last threatening attack up front:
Then it completely entered a state of blockage.
At the end of the game, United's attack was still struggling to find in the cross:
In the end, the goal was unskilled, 0-1 defeat to Everton, who desperately needed three points to compete ashore.
In fact, after the opening, the situation of the game is not difficult to predict, although Marcus Rashford did not hold the wing in this game, but even if he appeared in the middle of the front when C Ronaldo withdrew the pull, the situation of no fulcrum in the front court will not actually be improved.
Even if two people appear in the middle of the road at the same time, the probability of coordination mistakes is higher than the success of cooperation:
Judging by the start of this game, Lonnick should have come up with the idea of abandoning Pogba as a fulcrum.
Since the end of February against Watford, Pogba has played five games as a frontcourt fulcrum, with a record of 1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses. This may be a reason to abandon it, but it should be noted that playing Watford is Manchester United's best game of the season; playing Manchester City and Leicester City, Manchester United can't come up front with a real striker, Pogba is surrounded by Bruno, Sancho and Erlanga; playing Atletico, Pogba did not even last 10 minutes.
The only win, 3-2 win over Tottenham and playing Watford, Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo appeared in front of the field at the same time.
If Pogba is reconfirmed as a back,000, not only will United have no miracles this season, but nightmares like today's will continue.