A different kind of football starts when, the ub recruits different types of footballer.Not sure. Making the pass through the lines requires the receiver to be in sufficient space to receive it and do something with it. That in turn requires other players to play their part in movement, creating space etc. It's not just a pass but part of a pattern of play.
Thus the 'chart' is also comparing the style of one manager in his second season with the style of a new manager early in his first season. Two different styles. We know that Ange, not unlike Ossie Ardiles, developed attacking patterns at the expense of defence, set pieces, etc. That's how we ended up 17th in the league last season while scoring the 7th highest number of goals.
Frank is doing something quite different in a development plan he has made quite explicit. Deal with defence first, plus other 'easy' gains, set pieces, long throws, etc. He's also encouraging selective pressing, flank play and crosses, though these involves combination play, which takes time to develop – we can see this, though far from perfect (yet), is already in process.
Whether he's discouraging playing through the middle is an interesting question. I suspect he's developing the patterns in this regard, but this kind of play is at an early stage and will take the most time.
I saw somewhere that Frank is comparable to Poch at this stage in his first season. Arguably Poch inherited a stronger squad, but I recall he didn't get going properly until maybe two-thirds of the way through the season. I suspect Frank will be the same.
That's when we'll see a different kind of football and different kinds of 'chart'.
Can't see that happening in January so, will have to suffer this until next season.
