No what I mean is why does it take our players at least 30 minutes to realise their feet are on a football pitch in a competitive match? Why has this been going on for so long and with successive managers? And why do we have to handicap our chances by giving the first half hour to the opposition? Most of them need a cattle prod up their arses before they're allowed out of the changing room.
It's a decent question, which I have no answer for. In 5 of our 8 league games so far we've gone behind first, 4 of them inside the first 20 minutes.
We will often finish the game strongly, and I hear myself say "if only we'd played like that from the start"..... But if we do too well at the start (FA Cup final springs to mind) it simply gives the opposition more time to do something about it. Maybe it is a genuine tactic. Of course we are also good at finishing games poorly with nervousness and panic, almost inviting the opposition to score that inevitable last gasp winner or claim an unlikely draw when they should have been put to bed earlier. So not really sure if I have helped with your question or just rambled on a bit......
Clubs may start a game wanting to be solid and not take too many risks but no club tactically decides to start a game with less concentration, confidence etc. We look like we're half asleep at the start of games.
If we did start games at pace with tenacity that's when you're most likely to have success. As the opposition are still finding their feet. I like Klopps philosophy of 'heavy metal football' it's what I encourage my Under 8s to do - quick pace and pressure in the opponents half. It's worked a treat so far.
This was always a criticism of Brucey's time I had, he would tell them to stay tight for the first 20 minutes, which invited the opponents onto you. A similar thing is happening now.
