- Aug 21, 2011
- 14,538
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So yesterday I thought we actually played reasonably well and the pattern was more like some of our early season games. We had an excellent first 25-30mins of the game and then the opposition came back into it. That's attributed to West Ham getting a lucky goal but I think the goal (which sure did have an affect) really hides the point that teams do adjust to our style of play.
There's something about the style that can cause problems for teams set-up in the wrong way, or who aren't used to having fullbacks popping up as 10's in the midfield. Some teams are not bothered by it, take the recent Fulham game for an example. Others really struggle and never get a hang of it e.g the recent Villa game. The majority though are like West Ham, we get 30 minute periods in the game where it clicks for us before the opposition adapts. Sure other factors come into it like goals or fitness, but this factor of 'adaption' seems very obvious.
Initially we were playing through their midfield with ease, Bentacur and Maddison playing on the turn. Wingers getting early ball, Udogie and Porro popping up here and there. But 30 mins into the game it became a slugfest in the middle. I doubt that's related to a managerial tactical change, just West Ham midfielders and defenders slowly realising where are players are and where they aren't.
So to go up another gear, I think it requires up being able to change up the style of play slightly. Can we start hitting the wingers with earlier ball when the midfield jams up? Switch the wingers, have Son drop deep and Maddison move around more. I have no idea what but being able to rotate to a second variety of Ange's style of football would be really handy.
There's something about the style that can cause problems for teams set-up in the wrong way, or who aren't used to having fullbacks popping up as 10's in the midfield. Some teams are not bothered by it, take the recent Fulham game for an example. Others really struggle and never get a hang of it e.g the recent Villa game. The majority though are like West Ham, we get 30 minute periods in the game where it clicks for us before the opposition adapts. Sure other factors come into it like goals or fitness, but this factor of 'adaption' seems very obvious.
Initially we were playing through their midfield with ease, Bentacur and Maddison playing on the turn. Wingers getting early ball, Udogie and Porro popping up here and there. But 30 mins into the game it became a slugfest in the middle. I doubt that's related to a managerial tactical change, just West Ham midfielders and defenders slowly realising where are players are and where they aren't.
So to go up another gear, I think it requires up being able to change up the style of play slightly. Can we start hitting the wingers with earlier ball when the midfield jams up? Switch the wingers, have Son drop deep and Maddison move around more. I have no idea what but being able to rotate to a second variety of Ange's style of football would be really handy.