Hope you are right
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Match AZ v Spurs 6 March 17:45
- Thread starter The Fighting Cock
- Start date
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There’s nothing to see here, just a coordinated team effort to pressure their backline. Except I’ve “singled out” Johnson, the reason of which will be obvious soon.
This is another one of my pet peeves when it comes to our pressing. Why do our players, in solitary efforts I might add, run at full speed to opponents in situations where they have nearly zero chance of forcing an error? This is not a singular incident caused by an irresponsible player by the way. I did a mini breakdown of Ipswich’s counter inside the first minute against us here, which also started with Son initiating a similar action by himself. As can be expected, a simple pass around Johnson is about to take him out of the play. Unnecessary for sure, but no big deal.
What is going on here? Tel tries to rotate to the right make up for Johnson’s “error”. But is that our rightback Spence bombing forward to press their leftback in their own third? What’s this urgency about? More importantly, is there anybody covering for him at the back?
The answer turns out to be a no. Their CB, having already spotted the opening up front, decides to go long. Since he’s the right centreback, poor Gray ends up having to cover both Spence’s and his own areas of responsibility at the same time. He ends up in a 2v1.
Parrott gets hold of the ball and starts the break.
Their winger isolates Gray in a 1v1 before delivering a cutback which will be intercepted by Danso for a corner. Spence is obviously nowhere to be found, as he was doing what I assume he is instructed to do in situations like this. We almost conceded after the said corner in a goalmouth scramble by the way, but it’s not relevant here. I had already taken a mental note of this sequence as it was happening, without knowing what it was going to lead to.
It takes this little for other teams to get to the byline for a cutback, which is one of the most dangerous and efficient attacking actions in football. Meanwhile we take pains on the other end to create similar advantageous situations for ourselves, despite having superior players compared to most of the teams we play. Something doesn't add up.
We concede chances like this all the time, which tells me the coaches aren’t even doing the level of analysis that you’ve posted there or else they would stop the players making that mistake. I bet behind the scenes it is an absolute joke and amateur in the extreme.
Thanks for taking time to post that btw.
I would sell in the summer, don't rate Udogie at all.
Id be surprised if anyone can even remember his last really good game.
Kudos to you. I would have gone if I could have got a ticket, but there are some advantages on not having enough loyalty points, it seems.
I'd give this a hundred 'agrees' if I could.
Taken from Vic's Instagram account.
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These are brilliant insights. Thanks.
There’s nothing to see here, just a coordinated team effort to pressure their backline. Except I’ve “singled out” Johnson, the reason of which will be obvious soon.
This is another one of my pet peeves when it comes to our pressing. Why do our players, in solitary efforts I might add, run at full speed to opponents in situations where they have nearly zero chance of forcing an error? This is not a singular incident caused by an irresponsible player by the way. I did a mini breakdown of Ipswich’s counter inside the first minute against us here, which also started with Son initiating a similar action by himself. As can be expected, a simple pass around Johnson is about to take him out of the play. Unnecessary for sure, but no big deal.
What is going on here? Tel tries to rotate to the right make up for Johnson’s “error”. But is that our rightback Spence bombing forward to press their leftback in their own third? What’s this urgency about? More importantly, is there anybody covering for him at the back?
The answer turns out to be a no. Their CB, having already spotted the opening up front, decides to go long. Since he’s the right centreback, poor Gray ends up having to cover both Spence’s and his own areas of responsibility at the same time. He ends up in a 2v1.
Parrott gets hold of the ball and starts the break.
Their winger isolates Gray in a 1v1 before delivering a cutback which will be intercepted by Danso for a corner. Spence is obviously nowhere to be found, as he was doing what I assume he is instructed to do in situations like this. We almost conceded after the said corner in a goalmouth scramble by the way, but it’s not relevant here. I had already taken a mental note of this sequence as it was happening, without knowing what it was going to lead to.
It takes this little for other teams to get to the byline for a cutback, which is one of the most dangerous and efficient attacking actions in football. Meanwhile we take pains on the other end to create similar advantageous situations for ourselves, despite having superior players compared to most of the teams we play. Something doesn't add up.
No disrespect but imagine an opponent management team with all the fancy technology analysing this shit.
No wonder we get pumped so much.
The fact that they are doing the analysis and absolutely see anything an amateur sees and more but it still happens… that’s even worse at this point.
It means the players aren’t capable of or don’t want to make the adjustments to stop it happening
I can't remember a full showing since he returned from surgery. Am I forgetting one, or has it really been that long?
I try to stay positive even in adversity but…One shot on target in the 88th minute.
It’s who we are mate.
It’s who we are mate.
I wouldn't be surprised if the new manager for next season is already lined up. He is going to want player changes and individually Spurs have players that would bring in a lot of funds who dont fit what the next blokes wants. A real leader is but one piece of the puzzle.
Ange had crazy low percentage tactics that should have been redesigned 12 months ago. That is 100% true. However a lot of player mentality has been very ordinary at best. I think a few blokes need a real hard look at where they really want to be.
I didn't mind the 9 man thing that so many hated. It was a statement that we always go out throwing punches so imagine us on a good day. It's an Aussie sports ethos. Like it or not the game was gone and a more enduring statement was being made.
Sadly the team never backed up and it has been all down hill ever since. Some blokes respond to tests and some dont. It's a mentality thing. Ange had the job to find the ones that can stand up and chop the ones that cant.
He failed at that job. The AZ game was the culmination of that failure.
Ange had crazy low percentage tactics that should have been redesigned 12 months ago. That is 100% true. However a lot of player mentality has been very ordinary at best. I think a few blokes need a real hard look at where they really want to be.
I didn't mind the 9 man thing that so many hated. It was a statement that we always go out throwing punches so imagine us on a good day. It's an Aussie sports ethos. Like it or not the game was gone and a more enduring statement was being made.
Sadly the team never backed up and it has been all down hill ever since. Some blokes respond to tests and some dont. It's a mentality thing. Ange had the job to find the ones that can stand up and chop the ones that cant.
He failed at that job. The AZ game was the culmination of that failure.
Ange can be frosty all he wants and fuck care about our stats and records, but prior to AZ, the last away European knockout game we won was stretching back some time. And there after the game he could tell us we did not have the right mindset approaching it. If he didn't bother, why would the lads do? I just think he's just an embarrassment living in his own cocoon of ideals.
Ange doesn't work because the risk/reward equation makes absolutely no sense.
It takes risks where it doesn't need to, and it looks for rewards that are low probability. This strategy is only successful against equal or better opposition.
The reason it sometimes works against better opposition is that the risk/reward equation is changed. People will note his only success has really come playing against teams playing man on man. And that really is down to the skill of the players more than strategy.
The doesn't work in any league. Why did it have success? Luck. What people miss looking at his previous jobs is the amount of chances his opponents had. They mostly fluffed their lines.
As the level of league rises so does player skill level. A certain error in Scotland say is only probably punished by one maybe two opposition players. In PL by at least six in the lower teams going all the way to the whole opposition team in the top sides. Making the strategy suicide week in week out.
Not all his strategy is worthless. There are some interesting sides to it at the appropriate times. If he knew how to mix things up he would be a lot more successful. Sticking ridgedly to something not working is littered is the land littered with those that nobody remembers.
Ange had a once in a lifetime chance between seasons, a chance given on a platter.
He needed to hire someone that was rightly known and respected to challenge and help his ideas. Also helping modify, improve and put in process. Someone with real top league and European experience.
Who knows how he thinks. It really doesn't matter now. An opportunity lost in my opinion. The problems were there for all to see at last seasons conclusion. He choose to double down and ride the luck train some more. He finally through snake eyes but it was one lucky streak until that.
It takes risks where it doesn't need to, and it looks for rewards that are low probability. This strategy is only successful against equal or better opposition.
The reason it sometimes works against better opposition is that the risk/reward equation is changed. People will note his only success has really come playing against teams playing man on man. And that really is down to the skill of the players more than strategy.
The doesn't work in any league. Why did it have success? Luck. What people miss looking at his previous jobs is the amount of chances his opponents had. They mostly fluffed their lines.
As the level of league rises so does player skill level. A certain error in Scotland say is only probably punished by one maybe two opposition players. In PL by at least six in the lower teams going all the way to the whole opposition team in the top sides. Making the strategy suicide week in week out.
Not all his strategy is worthless. There are some interesting sides to it at the appropriate times. If he knew how to mix things up he would be a lot more successful. Sticking ridgedly to something not working is littered is the land littered with those that nobody remembers.
Ange had a once in a lifetime chance between seasons, a chance given on a platter.
He needed to hire someone that was rightly known and respected to challenge and help his ideas. Also helping modify, improve and put in process. Someone with real top league and European experience.
Who knows how he thinks. It really doesn't matter now. An opportunity lost in my opinion. The problems were there for all to see at last seasons conclusion. He choose to double down and ride the luck train some more. He finally through snake eyes but it was one lucky streak until that.
One thing that matters at the top level in anything in life are percentages. One percent for is a win, one against a loss. It's a very fine line at the top.
Ange willingly gives away percentages and edges all over the place. Set pieces, game management, killing a game already won or drawn when it's an acceptable result.
Eventually all these percentages add to be an advantage or a big disadvantage. That's why the AZ fiasco is so shocking to me. It really is that bad.
Ange willingly gives away percentages and edges all over the place. Set pieces, game management, killing a game already won or drawn when it's an acceptable result.
Eventually all these percentages add to be an advantage or a big disadvantage. That's why the AZ fiasco is so shocking to me. It really is that bad.
Yeah that was kind of my point to. The analysts will be providing this to the manager and coaches as it’s their job to produce clips of chances we’ve given up.
So what’s going on? Are they just ignoring it or do they think they are preparing the team to stop such scenarios or are they and the players are ignoring it?
I suspect it’s being ignored and they hope that it will be picked up by the ethos of the whole team. If we go back and look at what Dier said about no tactical work being done on the training ground and instead the work is based on principles then it must be that. Plus I can’t believe coaches like wells and Mason (who are now experienced coaches under different top managers despite what the twitter morons say about them) wouldn’t see that and know it’s a problem.
One thing that is constantly overlooked on here is the age of our players. And in Grays position especially the lack of experience in that position.
I’m constantly amazed by people thinking Tel should be putting up Salah type numbers. Fucking mentalists.
Gray,Bergvall, Tel were essentially in positions that form the spine of the team Thursday night.
And then throw in the mix we don’t drill into them shape, positioning out of possession etc etc.
I’m not saying they could not all become great professionals. But right now they are raw.
They are just being found out each week by better drilled teams.
Add to that our senior players are not exactly what you would call fighters. We are desperate for some steel in our team. It’s just not there right now.
Yeah I’ve been saying your last paragraph for 18 months. The situation was compounded by getting rid of the old leadership group. Sure they’d not won anything but they’d had enough good days. Losing Lloris, Dier and (to a lesser extent) hojbjerg on top of Kane and not buying in experienced leaders was mad. Or at least younger players with that mentality.
We look pretty broken. If Angeball is high intensity front foot attacking football then it has been a while since we even tried to do that.