The teething troubles with Man Utd's tactics under Olid — SkimNews
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- Eva Olid took over Manchester United Women with a possession-based reputation from Hearts, but United have averaged just 37% possession across three WSL matches: a 2-1 loss to London City Lionesses, a 5-0 loss to Chelsea, and a 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
- The tactical shift from Marc Skinner's flank-based triangles to Olid's central-overload approach has exposed goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, whose distribution under Chelsea's man-to-man press was a key vulnerability in the 5-0 defeat.
- Hinata Miyazawa and Julia Zigiotti-Olme have adapted best to the intricate new system, which Olid says requires players to be 'better technically and quicker cognitively' than Skinner's more fixed 3-2-2-3 demanded.
- Awujo was recalled for the Arsenal draw as a capable long-ball target, allowing striker Elisabeth Terland to stay higher rather than drop deep for aerial duels, while Tullis-Joyce began going long more often to bypass the press.
- United followed up with a 10-1 League Cup win at bottom-of-WSL-2 Sheffield United on Wednesday, with the third and fourth goals coming from an intense coordinated press — suggesting the tactical adjustments are starting to click.
- Chelsea's fourth goal in the 5-0 defeat illustrated the system's risk: United lost possession trying to play through the middle from deep and were punished in transition.
- Olid told Sky Sports 'the [attack] will come' but is prioritizing defensive structure first, with West Ham the next WSL opponent on Sunday.
Why it matters: Olid's tactical recalibration — shelving her Hearts-style possession ideal in favor of pragmatic defensive structure — will determine whether United Women convert a celebrated philosophy into WSL results. With one point from nine, Chelsea's fourth goal exposing the central-possession risk, and Sheffield United sitting bottom of WSL 2, the squad's adaptation speed is the decisive variable before Sunday's West Ham test.
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