Malard and Miyazawa's midweek magic prompts debate over United's best XI

What have we learned from watching Marc Skinner tinker with his lineup this week?

Melvine Malard [right] celebrates scoring the opening goal against Liverpool in the League Cup | Credit: Manchester United women

On Wednesday night, Manchester United ran away 2-0 winners in the League Cup over Liverpool. Melvine Malard opened the scoring for the Red Devils in the first half before Rachel Williams put the tie to bed after the hour mark having been neatly teed up by an industrious Hinata Miyazawa.

United boss Marc Skinner made eight changes to his starting XI from this past weekend’s WSL fixture against Everton. Only goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce and centre-backs Maya Le Tissier and Millie Turner remained.

These changes meant we saw the first adaptation to United’s new system this season. The high press was predominantly the same, setting up in 4-2-4 shape, with Miyazawa joining Celin Bizet, Williams, and Malard pressing from the front when United didn’t have possession. 

With the ball, the team looked more balanced when Malard and Bizet held their width, and Miyazawa and Awujo pushed on to support inside.

As shown in this image (below), the midfield was pushed higher up when United attacked. Awujo offered additional support on the right side of the central channel, with Miyazawa advanced on the inside left. 

Mighty Miyazawa

Last season Miyazawa was mainly used in the central positions, usually as the ‘number 8’, in front of Katie Zelem and behind Ella Toone.

In the game vs Liverpool, we saw one of her best performances in a Manchester United shirt in a position that best utilised her strengths, and allowed teammates to exploit their talents too.

With Miyazawa in that half-space number 10 role, just off to the left, Malard could attack the space out wide and dribble into the box (as shown below). Malard’s pace and intelligence helped link the forwards and the rest of the team.

Even without the ball Miyazawa excelled. She was highly effective at winning turnovers in the press - which is how United got their second goal of the night.

Toone’s role 

Wednesday night’s performance showed the difference in having players more naturally suited to exploit space in the wide areas.

Marc Skinner has previously spoken about Toone and Clinton playing as two narrow 10s when on the pitch together, with the width provided by the left full-back. In the first two WSL games, that responsibility from full-back has fallen on Leah Galton.

In the game against Everton, we saw less of this due to a lack of possession compared to the opening match with West Ham. Galton was constrained to be more of a sitting left-back rather than being able to get forward on the overlap.

However, when we saw the team break forward, Toone would naturally drift inside leaving a big space on the left. The setup relies on Galton getting forward when the team is attacking in transition.

This only works if it’s a quick counterattack, as the opposing team is unable to get set in their full defensive shape. The flaw comes when Galton is isolated on the left side due to the majority of the players being central or on the right.

Against Everton, when Toone was in that left attacking position, there wasn’t the same supporting interplay as we saw with Miyazawa and Malard midweek. Toone was relying on Galton to overlap from a full-back position when she cut inside. In this instance, she is 20-30 yards farther back than a traditional winger would be.

Big Decisions

The big question on United fans’ minds is: Can Toone and Clinton play together in this structure?

Toone has started the season not appearing fully comfortable playing in a wider position compared to when she is playing through the middle. In the long term, Skinner has a big decision to make over this spot. There’s an argument that Miyazawa or Malard may be better suited to starting in that wide-left position.

Does this mean Toone is taken out of the starting XI altogether? Potentially.

However, I think there is a vision to have Toone and Clinton together in the midfield. Where both are playing in the number 10 positions but slightly wider, so they can occupy the spaces in the channels between the full-back and centre-back on each side. This would allow a more natural wide player to keep the width when the team is attacking. Toone could then operate where she prefers, which is more central.