I have no idea what this even means. It's clear that Jose had told the fullbacks not to get forward - what are they supposed to do to put in "full effort"? Run around in little circles in our half?
The same applies to virtually every position on the pitch. It was not an accident that our running stats were the lowest in the league - it was a direct result of Jose wanting everyone behind the ball most the time. How should Pogba have worked harder when he had nobody making runs in front of him? The goals he scored today, how could he have even made those runs without players out wide (which you rarely saw under Jose's rule) and without taking the risk of leaving his position in midfield? Nobody can put in "full effort" if they are given instructions not to move.
Players can't work harder if they are told not to make runs or go forward. Jose never wanted them to risk leaving space behind them, so how the heck were they supposed to run at all?
However, if you like to watch football without understanding it...that is your right.
I think humility is not only an attractive quality in a commentary; it is a wise one. Here we are, on the crest of a wave. Four goal United are back. OGS, a bona fide MUFC legend is at the helm. But at the end of SAF tenure problems abounded.
Biggest among these was how to complete with possession based tiki tali styles - Barca, etc.
We have now had LVG and JM in the hot seat. And while we might have been bored, while this style might have seemed stagnant and unexciting, and while lots of problems surfaced.... still.
Possession play has been embedded. Some good players have been signed. If JM had his way we would have strengthened at the back. Michael Carrick has learnt from Jose. It will have been like going to university for him.
These things are never simple, never a simple black/white binary puzzle. I too was bored by negative play; but - a a supporter- I supported JM to the end.
There is a genuine relief at the change and the style of it; fair play to OGS, I Liked him as a player, good luck to him as a manager.
But let’s be cool here. It’s a long hard road. And as JM did with LVG (Mr Van Gaal), we may yet give thanks to some of the others who contributed to this set of players, this squad, this coaching resource. The key is not to waste it. We are a long way past the SAF era. So are our competitors.
Let’s hope this turns out to be brilliant and lucky timing. I hope so, with all my heart. But let’s not be too sure of ourselves, just yet. Understanding is a weighty word to be throwing around at this stage in the game.
