Don’t expect a classic. Manchester United’s tediously low-tempo attack has conjured just three goals in their last six games, and this weekend they face a deep-lying Watford side that are both well organised defensively and struggling to score goals themselves - Quique Sanchez Flores' team have netted three times at Vicarage Road this season.
Stoke aside, Watford and Manchester United have produced the lowest scoring games in the Premier League (1.9 and 2.1 goals per match respectively), and there is little evidence to suggest this Saturday lunchtime encounter will buck the trend. If United are to break through the Watford brick wall, they need to analyse how Man City and Arsenal achieved success earlier in the season.
Watford held 33% possession at home to Arsenal and 40% away at Man City, reflecting their willingness to concede possession and play a very direct, long-ball system (77.1 per match, most in division) against the league’s dominant teams. However, they lost these games by an aggregate score of 5-0.
On both occasions Watford held out at 0-0 until after half-time, and United’s casual approach to attacking is likely to yield a similar result. However, what happened after half-time against Arsenal offers us the greatest indication of how this game could take shape. On the hour mark, Etienne Capoue – who has been in sensational form shielding the back four – abandoned his duties and burst into the box. As the game progressed at 0-0, Watford’s confidence grew and they emerged from their shell. Francis Coquelin tackled Capoue and Arsenal galloped into the space left by the former Spurs man. They scored moments later.
As the game opens up, Jesse Lingard – arguably United’s only in-form player in attack – may be afforded the sort of space he was given to score the opening goal against West Brom a fortnight ago. His battle with Capoue (likely to occupy a similar zone in centre-right of Watford’s midfield) could be the defining feature.
Watford vs Manchester United LIVE ANALYSIS with Stats Zone
STATS ZONE Free on iOS • Free on Android
