I think our defenders are clearly told to be aggressive up the pitch and to snuff out attacks before they get going. When it works, it's great, but both our (main) CBs are very guilty of what you describe there. They need to pick their moments a little bit better. Or just....be a bit better. If I was an opposition manager, I'd definitely have a ploy to draw a kamikaze CB run up into the middle of the field before releasing someone into the huge, gaping hole that the CB has left.
Despite being pleased with the game I’m not seeing much improvement in our weak areas. Lots of hard work and bluster but barely a big chance in front of goal. Having JWP drag us back into the game is a crutch that is massively overused this season. I'm seeing a huge over reliance on patterns of play. I coach myself and read a fair bit around coaching and these automatisms that Ralph has talked about are pretty divisive. You drill players with movements and passing patterns until it becomes automatic. The problem is that you can in theory then become predictable and robotic and you are discouraging players from thinking creatively. Whats the number one thing we aren't doing under Ralph? Being creative. The football is exciting and quick and brave but these automatisms are from the handbook, everyone has them and we look robotic when we follow the same patterns of play over and over. Our best players this season are the KWPs, Broja's, Livramento. The players that have some creative license and freedom to play. They open the game up. Time to get creative in the coaching department and change the patterns or find a way to release a midfielder or two creatively.
Evidently Ralph disagrees with me - 'you can see things getting more and more automatic and this can be an advantage'. I just don't see it.
Agree with that. You can’t become automated in all areas, ie the players need to use discretion on when to press and when not to. Always thought our lack of creativity was a personnel issue. We need a Tadic or a Mane.
Tino to have a scan on his knee today. It's obviously ligament damage - just a case of which ligament and whether surgery is required. Unfortunately I'm expecting the answers to those questions to be "ACL" and "yes".
Automatisms are merely the foundations of a good performance, good decision making and execution build on that and individual moments of skill win games that would otherwise be lost or drawn We have been making individual mistakes that lead to pressure that adversely affects decision making and execution which in turn lead to us forgetting the automatisms Arguably we only stop the individual mistakes or stop them having such an impact by improving the squad
Coming up shortly, I was waiting for the Officials to be posted but I can add them later. Thread up now, I just noticed I spelt Patrick Vieira incorrectly but can't edit it.
How about a tadic AND a mane. Imagine a side that had those two in it! Some good looking Italian dude up front. Maybe French swagger in midfield. What a dream
