Premier League Week #1-Chalkboards

Using the Guardian's Chalkboards we look for interesting statistics from the weekend's games and put them here for you guys.
Found an interesting Chalkboard?Just comment below,we will make sure it is added here!

Tom Cleverley has a great future

Looking at the above chalkboard,the first thing on notices that Cleverley has been all over the place.He is mobile,composed and doesnt give up possession easily.Just 6 of his passes over 90 minutes failed to reach the target.One stat which is not shown above is interceptions and tackles,and Cleverley showed us yesterday that he was quite good in the defensive department too.

Charlie Adam should show more responsibilty

 All the "hollywood" balls which Adam tried out failed to reach their target.Agreed that he was one of the players who impressed and also has an assist to his name,Adam should realise that he doesn't have a free role at Liverpool and he may be better off with shorter passes rather than the long ball as he is surrounded by players of higher quality

David De Gea's Distribution

 

This was pointed out by a certain Caramero25 over on the Guardian website that many commentators said that De Gea's distribution was excellent.But it looks like that the Spaniard has to work on that aspect too.Compare it with the present third-choice Spain goalkeeper it looks real bad.

Note-The Upper Chalkboard is De Gea's distribution although it says it is Reina's.

Young needs to improve his crossing

 

Although Young fitted in brilliantly in United,especially his understanding with Rooney augurs well for England too,none of his crosses managed to find a player in red.He may be better off in taking a shot or cutting back inside and passing

West Brom Vs Manchester United-Tactical Analysis

Manchester United were the only member of the established big four to win on the opening weekend of the Premier League. Similarly to the Sunderland v Liverpool game, the surprises weren’t that one team played 4-4-2 and the other 4-2-3-1, but which team played which formation. Hodgeson played mainly 4-4-2 whilst in charge of Liverpool last year, and varied between that and 4-2-3-1 with West Brom. But the trend for last year in the Premier League was for bigger teams to play the 4-2-3-1, emulating successful European sides, and for mid-table and lower teams to stick it out with the tried and tested 4-4-2; but here was Sir Alex sending out two banks of four and two forwards. League debuts were handed to ‘keeper De Gea and Ashley Young, who played left wing.

Also making its first appearance was Wayne Rooney’s new head of hair. He looked younger and played like the Rooney scored the opener and made a good nuisance of himself all day, dropping back just the five or ten yards to find space, get the ball, and turn to face goal. Ashley Young and Nani patrolled the flanks – playing as typical “chalk on the boots” wingers, Young almost capped his debut with a goal, but the dubious goals committee decided that two deflections on the way meant it was an own goal. Hel inked up with Rooney and Fabio particularly well, though he won’t be pleased that not one of the ten crosses he whipped into the box found its target – although it’s positive that he’s getting into the positions to get those balls in. Smalling found himself played at right-back again, and got forward well too. Injuries to choice centre backs Vidic and Ferdinand will provide an early test for United’s squad depth

Ashley Young-A Chalkboard Analysis

Ashley Young's transfer to Manchester United is not the big name marquee signing which many United fans were expecting.But the Ex-Villa hit man may prove to be a masterstroke by Sir Alex Ferguson,especially at set-pieces were United have struggled after Cristiano Ronaldo has left,Young may prove vital.But Young isn't a player who is going to walk straight into the United team,he has to fight for his place.

So where does Ashley Young really play? Left winger,right winger,behind the striker or as a striker?
Zonal Marking had an interesting take on players like Young and he called them Central Wingers.In this article we look at the various positions he has played for Villa over the years using Guardian Chalkboards and where could he possibly fit in for Manchester United.



2008-09 Season
Ashley Young  in 08-09 season was primarily used as a left-winger,who could if he wants,cut inside but generally didn't tend do that.

As the above Chalkboard shows,sometimes he tended to switch wings but very rarely did so.Also he did his defensive duties quite well,tracking back when required.

His crossing was still not perfect,and running to the touchline and pulling in crosses was certainly not his forte.

2009-10 season

James Milner's versatility meant that they could switch wings more often,an this clearly shows in the above chalkboard as his passes from the left hand side are just a little more from the right.

But still his crossing wasn't upto the mark as this game against Chelsea showed.Note that he is not a Valencia-type of a player,getting to the touchline and pulling back crosses,all of his crosses from the far end failed to reach its target.And he was given more license which meant his tracking back wasn't that much as of the earlier season.

2010-11


Gerard Houlier was the one who really gave Young the license to roam,and in many games this season he played just off the striker.

As you can see here,Young was given a central role and he even dropped deep at times especially against Spurs.One important point is that his passing accuracy has improved of course this maybe due to the fact that he plays more shorter passes when in center than from wide areas.

Also one more important point is that he liked to drift right rather than left,the side which we would normally expect him to move to.As Young has grown older his defensive work has come down(SAF may not like this),although this maybe due to the fact that his role in the team has changed considerably.

These Chalkboards show that Young can play in a variety of positions,but the problem lies in the fact that in every one of these positions United have got real quality.Surely Young is not at Old Trafford just to provide backup.Maybe a 4-3-3 with Young,Nani and Rooney would look good,as all the three players can switch positions much like in the days of Ronaldo-Rooney-Tevez but this would mean Hernandez would be left out and Nani-Young aren't certainly Ronaldo-Tevez.But the old man at Old Trafford certainly knows what he is doing and during the season we will clearly understand why Young was bought.