werty
Well-Known Member
- Aug 8, 2005
- 25,101
- 26,360
Definitely a performance of two halves. First half not so good, second half magnificent.
We started with a 3412/5212. It's a formation I dislike as I've mentioned time and time again. We weren't too bad defensively with it. Like the home semi against Chelsea, I think a formation I don't like was helped out by them not having a proper striker. Most of the time they had some controlled possession they didn't really do anything. Most of their chances came from individual mistakes or counters from poor attacking play, which I'll touch on in a minute. I liked the fact that our wingbacks were pressing their full-backs in the first half, despite what Ferdinand was saying (he was contradicting himself a lot in his "analysis" and it was complete shit.). It can be a risky tactic and it didn't always worked perfectly, but I'd prefer that to the 4312 where to just let them have the ball.
Going forward was the major problem. We had no movement. Everyone was narrow and looking for the ball to feet. It was like we weren't allowed anyone other than Aurier and Vertonghen outside the width of the six yard box. No one was running the channels. Our best passer of the ball was in the position where he couldn't find space and Sissoko didn't know where to go when we had the ball. Winks was being easily picked up. Everything was through the eye of the needle and it was easy for them to stop it and then immediately counter.
Second half we corrected everything wrong with the first half. Eriksen dropped deeper into a 352. This freed him up more and allowed him to play facing forward, and it also gave Sissoko a clear and defined role on the right of a three, something he's good at. Eriksen could also run into the space behind the strikers instead of standing there and being picked up. I think it helped a bit with our pressing too. Son was now running the channels and behind their full-backs. The space was there most of the first half and it was criminal we weren't doing it, and it's something we've been slow to do for a while, but we were doing it time and again in the second particularly down their left with Son and Sissoko. This also meant that when we did lose it, it was usually well into their final third and the counter wasn't on. One of the best halves of we've played
Lloris 7 - Made a couple of poor passing decisions, but a crucial save just before half time.
Vertonghen 10 - I mean, just amazing. Club legend.
Alderweireld 7 - Tricky first half. Good second.
Sanchez 7 - Ditto
Foyth 7 - Tritto? Recovered well from his early mistake.
Aurier 5 - As with Eriksen at the weekend, one swing of the leg shouldn't mask an otherwise poor performance. Was bad defensively in the first half it didn't lead to chances so people won't remember them. Either very slow or lazy.
Sissoko 7 - Bad first half, great second. Feel like I'm repeating myself, but his change in performance was the most drastic.
Winks 7 - It's an easy game for him when teams aren't pressing. Struggled for a bit of space in the first because of the shape and was a bit rushed, but better in the second.
Eriksen 7 - Probably the second biggest difference in performance from half to half. Was great in the second. Shame he can't seem to kick the ball cleanly with his left leg anymore.
Son 8 - Played too central in the first half. Different beast in the second. Great link up play with Sissoko in the second.
Lucas 5 - Was unlucky with a couple of attempts. Worked harder than he's given credit for. Just isn't doing enough with and without the ball. There's no reason why he isn't making the same kind of runs Son is.
We started with a 3412/5212. It's a formation I dislike as I've mentioned time and time again. We weren't too bad defensively with it. Like the home semi against Chelsea, I think a formation I don't like was helped out by them not having a proper striker. Most of the time they had some controlled possession they didn't really do anything. Most of their chances came from individual mistakes or counters from poor attacking play, which I'll touch on in a minute. I liked the fact that our wingbacks were pressing their full-backs in the first half, despite what Ferdinand was saying (he was contradicting himself a lot in his "analysis" and it was complete shit.). It can be a risky tactic and it didn't always worked perfectly, but I'd prefer that to the 4312 where to just let them have the ball.
Going forward was the major problem. We had no movement. Everyone was narrow and looking for the ball to feet. It was like we weren't allowed anyone other than Aurier and Vertonghen outside the width of the six yard box. No one was running the channels. Our best passer of the ball was in the position where he couldn't find space and Sissoko didn't know where to go when we had the ball. Winks was being easily picked up. Everything was through the eye of the needle and it was easy for them to stop it and then immediately counter.
Second half we corrected everything wrong with the first half. Eriksen dropped deeper into a 352. This freed him up more and allowed him to play facing forward, and it also gave Sissoko a clear and defined role on the right of a three, something he's good at. Eriksen could also run into the space behind the strikers instead of standing there and being picked up. I think it helped a bit with our pressing too. Son was now running the channels and behind their full-backs. The space was there most of the first half and it was criminal we weren't doing it, and it's something we've been slow to do for a while, but we were doing it time and again in the second particularly down their left with Son and Sissoko. This also meant that when we did lose it, it was usually well into their final third and the counter wasn't on. One of the best halves of we've played
Lloris 7 - Made a couple of poor passing decisions, but a crucial save just before half time.
Vertonghen 10 - I mean, just amazing. Club legend.
Alderweireld 7 - Tricky first half. Good second.
Sanchez 7 - Ditto
Foyth 7 - Tritto? Recovered well from his early mistake.
Aurier 5 - As with Eriksen at the weekend, one swing of the leg shouldn't mask an otherwise poor performance. Was bad defensively in the first half it didn't lead to chances so people won't remember them. Either very slow or lazy.
Sissoko 7 - Bad first half, great second. Feel like I'm repeating myself, but his change in performance was the most drastic.
Winks 7 - It's an easy game for him when teams aren't pressing. Struggled for a bit of space in the first because of the shape and was a bit rushed, but better in the second.
Eriksen 7 - Probably the second biggest difference in performance from half to half. Was great in the second. Shame he can't seem to kick the ball cleanly with his left leg anymore.
Son 8 - Played too central in the first half. Different beast in the second. Great link up play with Sissoko in the second.
Lucas 5 - Was unlucky with a couple of attempts. Worked harder than he's given credit for. Just isn't doing enough with and without the ball. There's no reason why he isn't making the same kind of runs Son is.
