Manchester United faced a familiar foe in a low-block against West Ham, but Michael Carrick is starting to develop a genius answer to it.
Nuno Espirito Santo provided the first “true” low-block test to Michael Carrick, after Man Utd enjoyed a man-advantage against Spurs, and Fulham played more freely than expected.
The 1-1 draw against West Ham, therefore, gave a sense of deja vu to many Man Utd fans who have been here before.
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West Ham United v Manchester United - Premier League
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However, if Carrick gets his way, then United’s problems against low-block will be a thing of the past soon.
Lisandro Martinez passing the ball out of defence
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Michael Carrick’s genius Lisandro Martinez plan
Before delving into details, it is worth noting that beating a low-block is simply one of the hardest things in football.
Not much credit is given to the side who are drilled in that shape. Instead, the blame always goes to the side not able to break it down.
Nuno Espirito Santo is also one of the best at drilling his team in that low-block, so the answer to it is often to just have better players who can create magic out of nowhere.
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What the manager can do is give those players a platform to showcase that magic, and Carrick is developing exactly that with Lisandro Martinez.
Knowing that a team in a low-block won’t press high, Carrick used Martinez as the extra man in the final third, be it through his passing or his ball-carrying.
The Argentine centre-back is probably one of the best in the world with his skills on the ball, and Carrick utilised him interestingly against West Ham.
As the Hammers closed the space between the lines, clogged the centre, and funneled United out wide, Carrick planned for Martinez to drive deep into West Ham’s half and create central overloads.
That presented a dilemma to West Ham. They couldn’t just let Martinez walk freely with the ball, as he can expertly pick out a pass, but they couldn’t leave their shape either, as it would open up space for an attacker.
United pinned West Ham back due to Martinez’s forays forward, and it almost worked. A few tweaks are needed, but it looks promising.
Carrick’s masterplan needs a few tweaks
The only problem with Carrick’s plan against West Ham, and it’s to be expected since it’s in the nascent stages, is that there was a lack of synergy.
Lisandro Martinez deserved more against West Ham
Is Lisandro Martinez quickly becoming Manchester United's most important player?
Lisandro Martinez graphic for Talking Points.
Credit: Getty Images.
Martinez often brought the ball forward with purpose, but his teammates were often a touch too late or too early to run the channels.
The passes over the top are best played into those channels, but United didn’t have a solid presence on the wing either, someone who can make those diagonal half-space runs.
United’s fluid front four operates in the same space, as Cunha, Mbeumo, Fernandes, and Amad are better closer to the goal centrally.
United needed someone like Patrick Dorgu to stay wide and stretch West Ham’s shape horizontally, so Martinez could make his vertical passes in the gaps.
Carrick saw against West Ham that Martinez’s skill on the ball can be a key asset to break the low-block. He just needs to coach the forwards to get on the same page, and demand runs into the half-space channels.
Once that happens, United will have the weapon to beat their biggest nemesis post-Sir Alex Ferguson.
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