Another Game observed, now at UAE Division 1 (2nd tier in UAE) and another showcase of the Football in the Country.

Before delving into the match, some aspects outside the Game influence the on-field action and I must reference them here.

The Organization at the League is (always) very good, and this team in particular – United FC – has the ability to put together a good number of people in the stands.

Maybe due to their privileged location (Sports City, Dubai) or their activeness on Social Media channels, the truth is that the stands were full of enthusiasm and support!

Talking about the action on the field, there were 2 different strategies playing, in a relatively similar position on the table and number of points at the start of the Game, with United FC leading by only 4 points.

This was the first time I saw the visitants, Masfout Club.

The team seemed to approach this Game in a kind of survival way, with an attempt to be very compact on the Defensive Strategy and to try to explore some chances with counter-attacks.

They were able to present 2 different systems, in a GK+5+4+1 when defending, in a medium-low block, although the wingers tried, at times, to press the defenders slightly higher on the field and, when attacking, trying to mobilize the team into a GK+3+4+3.

However, once United FC was able to solve these situations (when they pressed higher) and to keep playing out from the back, eventually, they decided to be together and try to close as many passing options as possible, with the defensive and midfielder’s lines close to each other.

The striker, working as a trigger for the pressure to start, lost his rhythm with the Game passing by, and so did the team.

Additionally, the team was in possession of the ball for very limited number of times and minutes, which didn’t allow to see their attacking performance with the full backs supporting the attack.

Although they kept the result close and tried a few times to reach the goal, they didn’t created any clear chance to score.

There were a couple of players, Diop (92) and Badjie (11), capable of, at times, show some qualities and present their skills when they had the ball. 

However, in general, the team wasn’t ready to increase some levels of intensity to their Game, either technically, in their decision-making processes, or physically.

Regarding the home team, United FC, this wasn’t the first time I saw them.

I’ve seen them quite some times already, both first and second team at Division 3, so I think is fair to say that I know the team reasonable well by now.

The teams presents a typical GK+4+1+4+1 both on defending and attacking, although at times, mainly during the 1st half, Quincy Promes (10) went up to pressure the 3 centre backs along with Torres (32), creating a GK+4+4+2 formation that was logistically correct in order to be close to even numbers against the opposition’s back 3 from Masfout Club. 

However, this resulted, at times, in a very hard task for, mainly, Adrien (23) but also for Manea (6) to get the 2nd ball once Masfout decided for a longer pass.

There were, in my perspective, 3 main reasons for this lack of capacity to win the 2nd ball:
. The first, Masfout prepared this moment, getting the 2 holding midfielders ready to approach the 2nd ball, along with the wingers (now playing closer to the central corridor, leaving the sides for the full backs), creating a numerical superiority of 4 to 2;

. Secondly, Adrien playing as a defensive pivot in the midfield (in a inverted triangle) gives the team, on one hand, the possibility to explore his superior quality with the ball, in short and long passing, ability to discover and connect the Game as almost no other player at the team can do, but, on the other hand, defensively, if not supported correctly, left alone in the middle to defend. And, perhaps, Manea is less used to play in a double-pivot or was being led to other positions and couldn’t, consequently, provide the support needed;

. Thirdly, even when everything mentioned before is happening, the team may still have a chance to get the 2nd ball (either forward or backwards) if the sectors are close to each other, which wasn’t the case during the 1st half.

The defensive line wasn’t stable in their positioning, pressing pace or coverage. 

Their movements weren’t perfectly synchronized, creating a significant gap between the defensive line and the midfielders, as well as between themselves.

Some details that a stronger opponent will surely try to get advantage upon.

Naturally, their physical capabilities, specially from the 2 Centre-Backs, allowed them to correct and solve the great majority of the situations but, again, when facing a stronger team, these details may be crucial.

Offensively, the team has players that can easily create danger to any team in the League.

Adrien Silva is the team captain, very experienced player (just to clarify and remember, he was present on the starting XI at the grand Final when Portugal won the Euro 2016 against France), has a passing control and quality that makes a difference in the teams’ pace and rhythm. 

He controls the rhythm of the team on build-up stage, from 1st to 2nd stage of attack, allowing forward players to get the ball in conditions to proceed with the attack.

Then, both wingers are fast and technically skilled, but Samuel Pedro on the left side has a greater influence, also supported in greater manner from the left-back, in comparison with the dynamics created on the right side.

Along with the great support and connection of Quincy Promes, they both ended up having majority of the offensive Game of the team towards the left side, creating a lot of combinations, 1v1 situations, etc.

At the top, although this match wasn’t the easiest one for him, is Luis Torres, the top-scorer of the team before this match (now Promes and Torres are both with 7 goals in the League).

He was in the middle of a fight against 3 defenders and was hard for him, regardless his continued efforts and quality in connecting the Game with his back to the goal always present.

Therefore, any of these players, has the capacity to create danger and was no surprise to see the goal coming from a good initiative of the LCB driving the ball in absence of pressure from Masfout Club players, and Promes taking advantage of the work Torres did on holding the CB’s, to create that decisive space for him to get the ball, turn and score a great goal from outside the box!

Good game, with both teams needing improvements to face their Season objectives, and a great atmosphere!

Do you think United FC has what it takes to reach Pro League this Season?
What time is ready to reach this level?

Let’s see the coming weeks.

More to come soon!