While our supposed lack of a striker has been the widely quoted scapegoat for our shortcomings this year, I feel this distracts from some of the tactical issues that have restricted goal scoring opportunites for our current strikers - who are not as bad as most would have you believe. For results-wise a clear and painfully obvious dichotomy has developed throughout the season: we have struggled when dominating the ball with 60/70% possession against so called lesser teams, but excel when we need to dominate space, conceding ball possession if required. While the pros and cons of different approaches to football can be debated endlessly, there is no doubt that Jose is an all-time genius/master of the defensive/reactive style of football. With this in mind any attempt to dilute the philosophy should be avoided as we will end up jack of all but master of none, and there have been signs this season he has been trying to incorporate the kind of tippy tappy crap against the Palaces and West Broms of the world, that won our North London neighbours jack 5h1t over the last 8/9 years. When playing against lesser teams we need to be a bit braver, more direct, and more intuitive in the final third - take more risk rather than aimlessly pass the ball across the opposing defensive wall which achieves nothing but increase the possession stats and long range shots. One of the most frustrating things about the way these matches tend to pan out for us currently, is seeing Wllian bring everything to a complete standstill when he tries to think too much about the next pass - ffs just attack the defender! Or when we pass the ball in tidy little triangles between Brana, Willian and Oscar down the right (for example) to end up creating zero openings, just a rotation of players around the triangle - what's the point? As the adage goes its not having the ball that counts, but what you do with it, and for that I will be hoping we can forego that tippy tappy nonsense for some more direct and fast-paced football against the lesser teams. We have better players generally (on paper at least), so if each player can go into these games with the simple intention of just beating his opposite number, we should see the 5-10 point improvement in league form that should secure next season's title.
Interesting observation Beluga, though not sure I agree with you. I think the tippy tap you describe is more due to a lack of a creative midfielder who can pass through a defence to better strikers. Willian and Ramires are very poor passers of the ball full stop, that is for players at their level. Willian might improve, Rambo seems unable to. They both have other great qualities, but against tight defending they are not the answer, at least not trying to pass their way through. It's the midfield that for me is screaming out for attention, and has been for 3 years. Sure we will sort it end of season, and also get strikers to compliment the new style. I think our attack will lift 100% next season.
Agree http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/chelsea-transfers-artuto-vidal-juventus-3463728 Arturo is maybe not the regista we would love. But another quality Matic type
If Vidal and Matic are covering our back four, there is less need for the attacking midfield to act as blockers
Meant to say EC, Matic is the perfect foil to a creative mid and has been a colossal buy for us. Thought Mikel was interesting yesterday as well, he was always looking to go and pass forward and looked twice the player for it.
I also thought Schurrle and Salah did really well carrying the ball down the wings when we needed them too.
I think Jose will relax a lot more once he's got his final jigsaw pieces in place - it's still a work in progress but our lame displays against bottom feeders has become a cause for concern; hopefully the acquisition of a goalscorer and a playmaker will put that problem to bed.
