just replaying the Watford game and the last few games in my head and trying to pick out some points. Rather than attack players lets look at the team unit.
weaknesses
Off the ball movement: was absolutely dire against Watford, especially in the first half when we were hoofing it long, there was no movement which meant players getting isolated with the ball and Watford breaking at pace with the ball, no point playing 2 big strikers to hold up the ball, if they're holding it up for no one. You have to keep on your toes, far far far too often, players end up flat footed and get beaten on the hop, both attacking and defending.
Defensive abilities : The biggest biggest problem with our defenders apart from maybe Dann is how positionally unaware they are, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AT SET PIECES/Crosses. They'll take up the right starting position but they won't transition with play, they been told where to stand and how to stand but they either don't know how to defend fluidly or they switch off and have mental lapses, This is why we get cut through so easily with single balls, our defenders are fine standing still but when they're actually asked to do something quickly they'll lose their man or lose the flight of the ball or show the attacker the wrong side or just be in completely the wrong position and drag the rest of the defenders across leaving gaps as they try to cover each other. This is why Pulis played with two holding players because the defence needed the protection from players who could read the game better.
Reading of The Game : Not everyone is bad at this, but enough are bad at it, that it kills our momentum when going forward. There one time against Watford where the right and obvious ball to play for Souare was a little dink out to Wilf to keep the pace and momentum flowing but he turned in on himself and played it cross field to Mutch, yes there was more space on that side, but the only real penetration was coming from Zaha at this point. Another time Zaha played a fantastic through ball passed two defenders and Souare just wasn't alive to it, perfectly weighted, in exactly the right lane.
Slow build up play: for a side that likes to play on the counter, we aren't very fast at build up play. this is the big reason why the crosses look worse than they are because there's usually 6 players back and one man to aim at in the mix. The biggest problem it seems is when we start playing the neat stuff in the middle and trying to break at pace, some of those who have been playing lately, namely Jedinak, just can't keep up with play and complete the passes or you've got midfielders like Mutch and McArthur and even Cabaye who are fantastic at passing sideways but no one apart from Punch can play those NFL style hollywood balls and he's been off form all season so atm the ball goes sideways for too long then into a crowded out Wilf for the same cross routine every time, there needs to be some variation. maybe cut inside and shoot once or twice, make the keeper think, at the moment, because of the slow build up and lack of movement and laborious repetition, defenders know exactly what they'll be facing and set accordingly. They don't even need to stop Wilf getting the cross in because they just crowd the forward out in the middle because of our poor off the ball movement.
These are the main aspects to what is costing us. it's like the championship season, give the ball to Wilf and hope he does something and all stand off and watch. The rest of the team should be learning from the better players, to play with your head up, have a look at what's around you, make yourself available for the ball, have an idea of what you're going to do with it before you get it, It's these simple in theory but very difficult in practice things that is the difference between us and the sides around us right now, keep moving even if it's just jogging on the spot or rocking on your toes, don't stop and start and stop and start because (im probably wrong) but that seems to me when you are more likely to get injuries? keep your movement fluid, and constant, don't overexert like Liverpool and hare around chasing after everything, but know where your sector of the pitch is and cover that sector, be organised and clear in what every player is expected to do, keep it simple, but mix it up, don't just try the same thing all the time, look for different angles, be aware of where your team mates are, help them out, back them up, make yourself an option, don't stop static because the ball is on the other side of the pitch, anticipate the flight, think of where to position yourself to be available if needed, follow in on loose balls, you don't need to be technically as good as other players if you can tactically out think them and you know how to use what you can do to make a yard for yourself, (this is how Kevin Phillips could play till he was 40, very sharp mentally, great football brain).
This will be the biggest way apart from confidence to improve the players we have. Get the basics right, retain the ball and create useful movement. Shoot as soon as you get a decent sight of goal and have someone following in on the rebounds, sometimes Wilf go outside and whip a ball across, sometimes cut inside and look for a shot, then maybe sometimes cut inside and put a low hard ball across the face and see what happens. Be cute, know when to play for fouls and how to go down so you win them. It's these basic premiership level mental things you need to do that we are particularly bad at right now, and there the behaviours you need to show to win points at this level. It's frustrating.
weaknesses
Off the ball movement: was absolutely dire against Watford, especially in the first half when we were hoofing it long, there was no movement which meant players getting isolated with the ball and Watford breaking at pace with the ball, no point playing 2 big strikers to hold up the ball, if they're holding it up for no one. You have to keep on your toes, far far far too often, players end up flat footed and get beaten on the hop, both attacking and defending.
Defensive abilities : The biggest biggest problem with our defenders apart from maybe Dann is how positionally unaware they are, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AT SET PIECES/Crosses. They'll take up the right starting position but they won't transition with play, they been told where to stand and how to stand but they either don't know how to defend fluidly or they switch off and have mental lapses, This is why we get cut through so easily with single balls, our defenders are fine standing still but when they're actually asked to do something quickly they'll lose their man or lose the flight of the ball or show the attacker the wrong side or just be in completely the wrong position and drag the rest of the defenders across leaving gaps as they try to cover each other. This is why Pulis played with two holding players because the defence needed the protection from players who could read the game better.
Reading of The Game : Not everyone is bad at this, but enough are bad at it, that it kills our momentum when going forward. There one time against Watford where the right and obvious ball to play for Souare was a little dink out to Wilf to keep the pace and momentum flowing but he turned in on himself and played it cross field to Mutch, yes there was more space on that side, but the only real penetration was coming from Zaha at this point. Another time Zaha played a fantastic through ball passed two defenders and Souare just wasn't alive to it, perfectly weighted, in exactly the right lane.
Slow build up play: for a side that likes to play on the counter, we aren't very fast at build up play. this is the big reason why the crosses look worse than they are because there's usually 6 players back and one man to aim at in the mix. The biggest problem it seems is when we start playing the neat stuff in the middle and trying to break at pace, some of those who have been playing lately, namely Jedinak, just can't keep up with play and complete the passes or you've got midfielders like Mutch and McArthur and even Cabaye who are fantastic at passing sideways but no one apart from Punch can play those NFL style hollywood balls and he's been off form all season so atm the ball goes sideways for too long then into a crowded out Wilf for the same cross routine every time, there needs to be some variation. maybe cut inside and shoot once or twice, make the keeper think, at the moment, because of the slow build up and lack of movement and laborious repetition, defenders know exactly what they'll be facing and set accordingly. They don't even need to stop Wilf getting the cross in because they just crowd the forward out in the middle because of our poor off the ball movement.
These are the main aspects to what is costing us. it's like the championship season, give the ball to Wilf and hope he does something and all stand off and watch. The rest of the team should be learning from the better players, to play with your head up, have a look at what's around you, make yourself available for the ball, have an idea of what you're going to do with it before you get it, It's these simple in theory but very difficult in practice things that is the difference between us and the sides around us right now, keep moving even if it's just jogging on the spot or rocking on your toes, don't stop and start and stop and start because (im probably wrong) but that seems to me when you are more likely to get injuries? keep your movement fluid, and constant, don't overexert like Liverpool and hare around chasing after everything, but know where your sector of the pitch is and cover that sector, be organised and clear in what every player is expected to do, keep it simple, but mix it up, don't just try the same thing all the time, look for different angles, be aware of where your team mates are, help them out, back them up, make yourself an option, don't stop static because the ball is on the other side of the pitch, anticipate the flight, think of where to position yourself to be available if needed, follow in on loose balls, you don't need to be technically as good as other players if you can tactically out think them and you know how to use what you can do to make a yard for yourself, (this is how Kevin Phillips could play till he was 40, very sharp mentally, great football brain).
This will be the biggest way apart from confidence to improve the players we have. Get the basics right, retain the ball and create useful movement. Shoot as soon as you get a decent sight of goal and have someone following in on the rebounds, sometimes Wilf go outside and whip a ball across, sometimes cut inside and look for a shot, then maybe sometimes cut inside and put a low hard ball across the face and see what happens. Be cute, know when to play for fouls and how to go down so you win them. It's these basic premiership level mental things you need to do that we are particularly bad at right now, and there the behaviours you need to show to win points at this level. It's frustrating.
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire