I didn’t understand what Virg was trying to do there…usually he shepherds attackers into our defensive pressure. He didn’t do that. Maybe he’s missing Konate challenging directly and him mopping up?
Yeah you would think losing on the edge of the box twice, shouldn’t lead to goals as there should be some defensive structure or intelligence to stop an attack.
If we sort this issue then it will be a major step, again that isn’t just the shape but the mentality of the individual players being aware of the danger and their tactical responsibility, looking at you Dom.
Which is part of a successful press as on many occassions they went long, under pressure and with no direction.
I think it was a promising first game given the circumstances.
Defensively, the team seamed out of sync with each other and that should be expected. This was especially apparent for the 2nd goal where everyone backed off.
- Jacquet in a new team and system. He would have naturally been unfamiliar with his teammates.
- More responsibility should have been on one of the midfielders to make a challenge or at least interfere enough to slow down the play.
I would say it is too early to say that Wirtz and Isak won’t work in the current setup. Seriously, both haven’t played with a settled team yet. When the team is settled, that will be the time to evaluate them. But not a good showing nonetheless.
And then well… I was very happy at the impact of Munoz and Koumas. I think it is something we missed last year. Some directness and desire. If we have more players like that and can sustain that over 90 minutes, we will do well. If not, we will struggle.
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Yet he fucks up on the edge of the box and they score 2 goals from breaks that deep.
Sorry, I am more concerned with the shape of the team or the individual players behind him closing off the space or stopping their man turning so they don’t have 30 yards of space to run with the ball in to.
Also, how many more times did we lose the ball on the edge of the box, heaps, and no goal was scored, yes he had 2 brainfarts, but losing a ball on the edge of the box shouldn’t lead to a goal against us.
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At Bournemouth last season, when one full back went forward the other would tuck in to offer some protection not seen that happen for us, so far.
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My one issue with Rio and something he needs to improve on is his movement or lack of.
He seems to be always in a stationery position wanting the ball to feet, you very rarely, can’t recollect any examples, of him looking to make a run in behind onto a pass inside the fullback and becomes easier to defend against.
He said his idol is Neymar, who was similar in style wanting the ball to his feet so he can dribble and look flashy. If I was Iraola, I would ask him to watch tapes of Mo and his movement and then develop a new idol,
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Their best other chance was from Wissa and was saved by Ali, was it offside as it never showed a replay, it did look off to me?
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Good assessment here showing the positives as well as the negatives.
I do like this guys breakdowns, even though he is a Man U supporter!
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I thought about that, too, and I didn’t see much of that either. It’s doubly worse when neither fullback is really contributing to the attack - you don’t even get the benefit of their positioning.
We had this problem repeatedly last year where our disjointed press would get cut open with one, simple, line breaking pass. I do believe that they will get better with time and experience. I also think it’ll look more devastating with Barcola/Minteh/Mbaye really taxing defenses.
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Right corner 30 yards away dont come fit a carpet for me he is 2 yards out side box less than 6 yards to the man.
Dom holds the man up
Wirtz comes in perfect opportunity to win the ball here
And again
Question, do you understand how photos work?
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Didn’t know it was a thing Bournemouth did, but that would make a lot of sense, if it’s something we see Liverpool develop as well.
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It was mostly the RB that tucked as they attacked down the left through Truffert, who I rate very highly more intelligent version of Kerkez especially going forward and on the ball.
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Indeed, I like him as well. Great deal for Bournemouth, taking the money from us and replacing with Truffert.
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Someone please take a yellow card! Stop that man!
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There was a nice piece on the Athletic earlier in the summer laying out the different shapes his team adopted in different phases of play. I cannot find it now because the Athletic, like most search, appears to be utterly broken, but it really drives home the idea that formation is an outdated concept. But at least one of the shapes it documented was alternating fullback going forward. But to drive home the point another was both FBs pinching in to fill in for a Matip like wandering CB - two different ways of achieving the same thing.
I think the take home for me is that most pressing schemes are very adaptive because the opposition players you need to close down arent always where you expect them to be. If as a team you’re going to commit to it then you go where you need to to make it work, even it means a FB on side being 20 yards further forward than a CM and all sorts of other “what position is he playing?” sort of fuckery. What this article laid out is how receptive to the situation he needs his players to be with the ball as well because it isnt always the same player having to pitch in, or pull wide, or go high, or stay back, but that everyone is responsible for recognizing the dynamic and responding. Just like we failed to do on their first goal
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Great post especially regarding being adaptive in pressing phases.
Last season, our suppose press was beaten by various tactical tweaks by the opposition, attacker dropping deep opposite FB pushing high and inside and even with the CB justcstepping through the press with the ball.
I do feel we will improve over time with the coaching but we will be reliant on players reading the game situation and at the moment that isn’t there.
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I was laughing at Kopstar lambasting Virg, but on both goals he was far too deep as the analysis from Carra on Monday night showed.
I know he is old but he is still fast enough and strong enough in 1 v 1’s to not be so deep.
I hope Iraola has the cahunas to tell Virg that his positioning is hurting the team.
Also, he is the senior CB he needs to command situations and communicate better.
BTW neither goal is just down to him but each error exasperates the next
At that age its less likely his absolute pace he is worried about, but his ability to do the 4th or 5th sprint. Either way, those were sequences where it looks like he protected himself. For all the focus elsewhere, this season has the potential to end up like Terry under AVB
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