AVB's high line / The Offside Trap

[SpurSince57]

Before the season began all the Private Frasers on here were going, 'We're doomed, I tell you, doomed! Doomed!' at the thought of AVB's high line. We were also told that Dawson would not be able to cope with these tactics. After a few teething problems, we're ticking along very nicely, ta muchly, and no side has conceded fewer shots on goal than we have. We've addressed one of the deficiencies of Harry's reign, the yawning gulf that could open up between midfield and defence, and our new compact shape has paid dividends in attack as well as defence.

 

[idontgetit]

Definitely. And also it is impossible to play high and press all the time because 1) it knackers you out and 2) you have to press only at opportune times when the whole team can press and really worry the opposition player (rather than just one of your strikers pressing and running around like a headless chicken while his team mates arent in a position to press similarly). So yer, lots of times the team has to drop off and i agree i think we do this well now AS A TEAM (like you say).

Can you answer me one question though. I agree that when we drop off we still do so with the intent to quickly break on the counter, but given that our counter attacking football is so strong, do you think that AVB is ever tempted to set up from the start to play on the counter - ie. drop deeper on purpose and not play high pressing football in order to draw the other team out so that we can punish them on the counter with our quicker players? I understand that during a high pressing system there are times when you have to drop deep and from there counter attacks can be made, but if that counter attack is such a powerful weapon, is it ever a temptation simply to look to use it from the start of the game as your primary approach?

Haha you'll have to ask him. I'd be tempted to do it against Liverpool for the first 15 mins. They'll come out all guns blazing and Parker and Dembele will struggle for a while so it will suit to be a bit more compact until they knacker themselves out and a few counter attacks have scared their defence deep. The big trouble with setting out to play on the counter is that it could give the side a negative mindset, the defence might feel they should stay deep when really they need to be moving up with the forwards. The forwards break, the defence stays and you end up strung out. Against Arsenal we played on the counter but it seemed like the team naturally made the decision, which is fantastic. We actually went out to press them hard and high and the first 10 mins were frantic end to end stuff. It was clear they were a bit better than us in the middle of the park and would win that kind of battle so we dropped off a little. The team's got a good sense of the pace of game. Same against pool would be lovely.

 

[cjsimba]

Haha you'll have to ask him. I'd be tempted to do it against Liverpool for the first 15 mins. They'll come out all guns blazing and Parker and Dembele will struggle for a while so it will suit to be a bit more compact until they knacker themselves out and a few counter attacks have scared their defence deep. The big trouble with setting out to play on the counter is that it could give the side a negative mindset, the defence might feel they should stay deep when really they need to be moving up with the forwards. The forwards break, the defence stays and you end up strung out. Against Arsenal we played on the counter but it seemed like the team naturally made the decision, which is fantastic. We actually went out to press them hard and high and the first 10 mins were frantic end to end stuff. It was clear they were a bit better than us in the middle of the park and would win that kind of battle so we dropped off a little. The team's got a good sense of the pace of game. Same against pool would be lovely.

Cheers mate for the replies. So basically it all comes down to small periods/transitions in each game where as a team, depending on what the opposition are doing/how well our system is working etc. we have to decide how we are going to play in the next small period. I think one of the reasons why we are doing well this season is that no matter how differently we choose to play during a game (high pressing, or dropping deep and counter-attacking etc.) we seem to be effective at doing both. Plus, like you said, the players themselves seem to be reacting well as to how they should be playing during a game, and are reacting as a unit which is key.

 

[idontgetit]

Cheers mate for the replies. So basically it all comes down to small periods/transitions in each game where as a team, depending on what the opposition are doing/how well our system is working etc. we have to decide how we are going to play in the next small period. I think one of the reasons why we are doing well this season is that no matter how differently we choose to play during a game (high pressing, or dropping deep and counter-attacking etc.) we seem to be effective at doing both. Plus, like you said, the players themselves seem to be reacting well as to how they should be playing during a game, and are reacting as a unit which is key.

Yeah exactly. I guess they just needed the time to get used to the system. Mentality really is a big part of it as well though. It's why United are champions, it's almost single handedly why they are champions. That belief that they are the better side, that belief that not only they can win but they will win. It allows them to play above their level or beat sides playing better football. End of last year and at the start of this year that big club mentality was painfully missing for us. It's the mentality to drive forward for another goal after taking a lead, rather than sitting back. To mercilessly put away small clubs rather than playing at their level. To scrape your way through and win despite playing badly. To win tight games in the final minute. To be a threat even when you're pinned in your own half. To tap the ball around in the oppos half whilst holding on to a one goal lead in the dying minutes of the game instead of having every man parking the bus and your fans in sheer panic. It's big club mentality and we're are starting to get it filtering in to our game. The players believe in the system, they've had the time to get used to it. Because they've all got that same mentality and drive they can play as a unit.

You can see how important the mentality is by looking at what happens in the odd short period when we've gone back to the un-confident small club approach. The odd times this season we've scored a goal and not been sure whether to go for another or defend the lead. Our passing becomes aimless, lacks intent. The other team starts to get on top. Our forwards feel the need to drive us forward but get isolated due to the midfield and fullbacks dropping deeper. It all goes to shit and we don't start playing as a unit again until the oppo score and the side is united by the need to go forward and score again.

And yeah we've taken apart teams in big games before and looked good but that was with more of an under-dog mentality. It's not the same and is only useful in certain scenarios. This is the first time we've looked like having that champions mentality and I fucking love it.