Rooney and Kagawa – A Solution To United’s Creativity Problem? Following the two dismal, insipid defeats to Liverpool and Man City, it became apparent that, apart from a frustratingly passive approach to reclaiming possession, a lack of creativity was evident in United’s performances. The passing was stale and predictable, the movement too pedestrian, the formation far too rigid. It is, perhaps, not as significant problem as is being portrayed – 86 goals last season hardly supports the idea United cannot create chances – but this season, in the big games at least, United’s goal-threat has been minimal. The obvious positive has been Rooney; despite the incessant speculation surrounding him all summer, his attitude has been excellent on the field and his performances indicate a real return to form. Equally notable, though, has been the minimal use of Kagawa. With a lack of inventiveness currently in evidence, it seems baffling that Kagawa has barely made it onto the pitch this season. Last year, it has to be said that Kagawa failed to shine as it was hoped he might have. Arriving with an excellent reputation and on the back of some early encouraging performances, most of us could not wait to see him settle into a United shirt. But it didn’t quite happen, and he failed to set the Premiership alight as he had done so successfully in the Bundesliga for the previous two seasons. That his impact was intermittently impressive rather than comprehensive can be largely attributed to the fact it was his first season in a new country, in addition to a few niggling injuries. Moreover, it was also influenced by his ever-changing deployment on the pitch. He was not alone in coveting a central role and consequently was never allowed to enjoy a settled period behind the striker. Instead, he was employed in a variety of positions. It occurred frequently enough to prompt Jurgen Klopp to say the following: “Shinji Kagawa is one of the best players in the world and he now plays 20 minutes at Manchester United – on the left wing. My heart breaks. Really, I have tears in my eyes. Central midfield is Shinji’s best role. He’s an offensive midfielder with one of the best noses for goal I ever saw.” Aside from the fact Jurgen Klopp is clearly an emotional and slightly odd chap, his statement made his beliefs about Kagawa abundantly clear. Definitive they are too: as his manager for the two years when Kagawa was named Bundesliga player of the year, he’s unquestionably in a better position than most to judge the Japanese forward’s best position. Klopp leaves little doubt he must be played ‘in the hole’. It is an opinion many share, including the player himself. It’s where he feels he can have the greatest influence on a match; deftly prompting, probing, and creating. And although he operated in his favoured #10 role on several occasions, he was more frequently dispatched to the left-hand side of midfield to accommodate others up front, notably Rooney. Even so, there was enough fleeting glimpses of his creative brilliance to ensure expectations remain high for Kagawa. He is a different type of player to the rest of the team, shorn of power and pace, but bursting with inventiveness, clever movement, and deft passing. The problem he faces now is similar to last season: Wayne Rooney. With Moyes seemingly keen on cementing the RVP-Rooney axis at the top of his formation, at best it leaves Kagawa floundering out wide. Despite this clearly being detrimental to Kagawa’s hopes of achieving top form, it is also the best current option for the team. Rooney’s in form, and looking fitter and leaner than he has for some time, encapsulated by excellent performances against Bayer Leverkeusen and Man City. Consequently, United’s chances of success seem best served by combining their two most potent attacking forces together up front. With Welbeck and Hernandez requiring opportunities at the sharp end too, Kagawa is likely to be utilised almost exclusively on the left. And while this is a scenario that may leave Jurgen Klopp furiously blinking back the tears, I’m convinced it can still be a workable and profitable solution for United. I’m loathe to mention Man City at this point, but it is worthwhile. Though he was missing on Sunday, David Silva provides an excellent (light) blue-print for how Rooney and Kagawa can work. When he features, he is nominally played on the wide-left of City’s midfield but in reality his role is far less restrictive than that. Starting from the left, he is allowed to roam across the pitch, affecting the game in central areas, supporting the strikers, and finding pockets of space in between the opposition’s defensive set-up. His slightly disappointing form of last year masks how effective this can be. Two years ago he was outstanding, and probably City’s most creative player, yet there were no cries of him being ‘wasted’ on the left. It has to be acknowledged Kagawa and Silva are different types of players, but the way they look to play the game is very similar; relying on craft and guile rather than more fundamental assets like pace or strength, and certainly unlikely to hug the left touchline. Silva’s success in the role is possible because he has Toure (and previously Barry too) playing alongside him, ably providing defensive cover when Silva moves infield. It’s another reason why Fellaini is so important this season. He completely failed to provide the steel United need in midfield on Sunday, but it was his first start in the league and he surely will improve. For Belgium, he demonstrates a defensive discipline and awareness that often escapes Cleverley and Anderson, meaning as Kagawa drifts, Fellaini, along with Carrick, can plug the holes in his absence. Phil Jones did a similar job away at Tottenham last year, allowing Welbeck (who was on the left in that game) the licence to roam from his flank. Though Kagawa works hard off the ball, and will strive to get back into position if we lose possession, naturally, at times Evra will be exposed (although that is hardly a new situation considering how some of our wingers fail to track back). It will also mean that occasionally United become lop-sided, or congested in the middle. For a team so comfortable with playing an established 4-4-2, it’s a change of mindset that we need to get used to. There may be negatives, but the positives are far greater, particularly a move away from the stale, rigid lines that United played in against City. In the final home game of last season against Swansea, the focus was understandably on matters off the field, being Sir Alex’s final home game at Old Trafford, but the game itself was also notable. Not for the score, or even the performance (though Ferdinand’s late lash into the net was a great moment), but in the role of Kagawa. Rooney was absent for the match, but Kagawa was still on the left of a standard midfield four. As the match wore on though, it became clear Kagawa had been given greater licence to roam than in his previous impressions of a left-winger. Instead, he was everywhere, dropping deep, pushing forward, often through central areas and paved the way for how this can work in the future. If United can incorporate Kagawa in this way, and allow him to move and impact on the game in key areas of the field, allied to the twin threat of Rooney and Van Persie, then it really will cement United as a potent and exciting attacking force. It could also make these early cries of a lack of creativity appear absurd. There are worrying signs Moyes does not have the same faith in Kagawa as many of us do and it remains to be seen if he will eventually incorporate him into the first eleven. If he does, it also has to be hoped that he frees him from the touchline and allows him to affect the game in more crucial areas, providing United with an unpredictability and inventiveness that they currently lack. MAMU#B07
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 02:53:04 +0000
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