Manchester United’s prevailing weakness under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been their ability to beat the teams below them in the table. The Red Devils have had no problem getting a result against the likes of Manchester City or Chelsea, both of whom they have done the double over, but against the sides in the bottom half of the table who sit deep, they have struggled. On just two occasions this season Solskjaer’s side have lost to teams in the top half of the table, Arsenal and Liverpool in January. However, the vast majority, six of their eight defeats, have come against relegation strugglers such as West Ham United, A.F.C Bournemouth and Watford, all of whom have kept clean sheets against the Red Devils.
Although with a subtle switch of formation to 5-2-1-2 and a reshuffle of personnel it appears that the Norwegian manager has put an end to those problems and finally found the right balance which can break down a low block and counter the possession hungry elite. In his last four Premier League matches, Solskjaer has used a back five with Luke Shaw as a left-sided centre back, and he is yet to taste defeat. That has included 2-0 wins over Manchester City and Chelsea, along with a 1-1 draw at an in-form Everton.
But the most impressive result was dispatching Watford 3-0 as that is precisely the sort of team Solskjaer has struggled against in the past. Shaw thrived in that clash with the Hornets, recording his highest match rating of the season, 7.91. The move inside has offered him, and David De Gea behind more protection from fellow centre back’s Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelöf. At the same time, it has also allowed Brandon Williams to make his breakthrough in a more advanced left-back role.
Shaw, valued at £19.8m (Transfermarkt), is not effective in attacking area’s having provided an average of 0.2 crosses per game this season, while he is yet to record an assist, as per WhoScored. However, the switch has got the most out of his defensive capabilities, as he notches 1.5 tackles per match, more than any other Manchester United player who has featured at centre back.
Solskjaer’s switch has not only made the Red Devils more compact but also given them a platform to beat opposition who sit back in a low block. Furthermore, Shaw appears to have finally found a system where he seems comfortable at Old Trafford. Only time will tell, but the Englishman could make the left centre back slot his own.
