This sort of highlights the problem to me - it's sort of like WW1 cavalry charging the enemy trenches and their machine-gun posts because we don't have another plan.
I wouldn't say that.
The game plan is to make the pitch small in the press. However this season the full back have been well back and we are not chasing on up front.
Theres always an out ball that's easy and allows the opposition full backs time to turn.
This is really the issue without the ball. Teams can get out if they have any ability (or want to) as we are more passive.
But that doesn't explain fully the on the ball issues. We are getting the ball deeper without a press but we are also being slow in approach and taking extra touches and passes to get the ball into position so we are almost exclusively playing against set defenses.
There are no strikers so we find trent wide with max one target in the box with salah on the touchline or firmino outside the box.
I agree on the plan b stuff. Everyone has a system but ours needs to get the basics right. We leave space behind as we need to relay on making the pitch small so we can go quick and keep the play broken. After that we do need the means to exploit more tactics the opponent employs.
For example if sides want to sit real deep it would be nice to have players who can get the ball on target when shooting or get a striker on who can play within the box (which origi ain't great at)
Or midfielder who can play a forward pass . I think the only slipped in ball I recall was shaqiri to jota. Good goal too.
Wijnaldum is a ball holder. He doesn't release the ball.
Henderson likes a cross deep but isnt a passer either.
Fabinho offers some shooting from deep and mixed it up.
Milner wants to be a winger
Keita wants to dribble.
I'm not sure what jones really wants to do. I think hes played within himself at times as he can offer more shooting at least
Shaqiri is not a midfielder, but has slipped the odd ball through.
Thiago wants to be deep, he can dribble, he can pass but he doesn't seem to want to do it in advanced positions
So my point is really how do you change a game doing the same things over and over?
when it's clearly not working, but I think we're unlikely to see a significant change in football philosophy, abandoning a tried and tested approach because it's hit a sticky patch. We do see an attempt at changes with the substitutions, but they're still within the same strategic formula, and I think that's true of all managers.
