Shortcomings with zonal marking

[vegassd]

In the end, I think we were undone by some pretty eccentric team selections. OK, King, Woodgate and Dawson were unavailable (and Rocha appears to have been consigned to the Outer Darkness), but why Tainio at LB? Or as a full-back of any kind? Why not continue with Chimbonda there and play the Hudd or Zoko alongside Kaboul, with Tainio or O'Hara at CM?

Totally agree. I'm not the biggest Tainio fan but accept that he can muscle the CM position when we need some grit there. But recently he has looked shaky at LB/RB.

I'm surprised that O'Hara isn't getting more time at LB, especially if we are playing Chimbonda at CB. Steed seems fairly ineffective on the right, so maybe even play Hutton/Chimbonda at RM when Lennon isn't playing.

Tbh, I expect some further dodgy results in the league this season. We will achieve nothing more than pride in the league this season, which will come by beating Chelsea and Liverpool. So we may as well focus on the Uefa cup and rest our best players for the PSV away game.

 

[BoringOldFan]

Only problem staying on the post is that he plays everybody on side I guess.

I reckon the big problem with the zonal system is when you starting changing the personnel on the pitch and you get people defending a zone they are not used to. Plus the potential height mismatches when Tainio and O'Hara are defending crucial positions.

You cannot be offside from a corner. I almost forgot that when I saw the first goal on TV, as McFadden is clearly on the post, with only Tainio on the other post. Robinson is in the middle of the six-yard area - for all the good it did him.

So had it been a free kick, McFadden would have been offside as he came from an offside position to cross the ball to Forsell.

 

[nicdic]

I think he means after the cross, if tainio stays there he's playing everyone onside, but if he steps out, the header on to McFadden could result in an offside decision.

 

[lennon321g]

I agree with that, lennon. It's just that in the aftermath of the Villa game we went several matches without conceding from set pieces, and now we've let in two or three. So maybe a tweak on what we have, rather than another wholesale change, is required?

it started when robbo returned......probably just a coincidence.

 

[DC_Boy]

good spot BOF - our zonals did get undone by that clever Brum tactic - summat to work on

I also want to see Cerny back in goal for PSV - but in JR I trust

 

[yanno]

In the end, I think we were undone by some pretty eccentric team selections. OK, King, Woodgate and Dawson were unavailable (and Rocha appears to have been consigned to the Outer Darkness), but why Tainio at LB? Or as a full-back of any kind? Why not continue with Chimbonda there and play the Hudd or Zoko alongside Kaboul, with Tainio or O'Hara at CM?

Indeed. After looking at the teamsheet, I thought 'praise the lord - at last Tainio is going to play in CM rather than FB'. So, I was pretty horrified when Teemu trotted out into the LB position. I have to say I think everyone - including Don Juande Ramos - had lost the plot on Saturday. A very bad day at the office.

On the zonal marking issue, quite rightly raised by BOF, I think other coaches are clearly setting up to exploit our zones. That's fine. Over the next few weeks, I'm sure Ramos will react and end up outfoxing them in the chessgame of zonal marking and more.

Fundamentally, like most of the posters here, I think the switch to zonal marking has definitely improved our defence at set pieces. It needs tweaking, not abandoning.

 

[SpurSince57]

Do you think Cerny would have got anywhere near Forsell's shot, let alone tipped it over the bar? Or Zokora's effort? Sorry, DC, Cerny's safer on crosses (although he's had his fumbles, flaps and juggling acts too), but that's it. And in 50 years I don't recall seeing a top-flight keeper with a weaker kick.

 

[tRiKS]

the old sling it to the back post against Zonal teams on set peices is the classic zonal counter. We do it against Zonal teams with Clowndonba on the back post. If a team is doing that against you, you have to gamble... or be cautious. Gamble, by taking a player from the "second ball" zone and place him zonally behind far post OR Cautious, by taking a player from out side the area ready to break and put him behind back post.

I would favour compressing the second ball zone and moving a player beyond the far post, leaving a full complimnet of players fro the qucik break.

In any zonal system, provided the defenders are attacking the ball and are good defenders, the accruacy of the delivery has to be amazing, even the far post ball has to be very good and the header back has also then got to be very good.

Zonal works. Tottenham Hotspur defenders on occasion don't work.

 

[spursgirl21]

Indeed. After looking at the teamsheet, I thought 'praise the lord - at last Tainio is going to play in CM rather than FB'. So, I was pretty horrified when Teemu trotted out into the LB position. I have to say I think everyone - including Don Juande Ramos - had lost the plot on Saturday. A very bad day at the office.quote]


I thought the same when the teamsheet was given out. My first thoughts that were Teemu was going to be in the DM role that he does so well and then on the radio they said he went to LB since when could TT play sodding left back?? he struggles enough with RB!, now rightly or wrongly I love Tainio and when given the chance to play in his DM position he is at his best, he's calm , reads the game well and doesn't make and rash tackles or choices (i/e DZ) but he should not be playing as a LB it's not fair on him or the team.

 

[DC_Boy]

fair comment 57 re Cerny - but I'm sorry it's just the way I feel - as I say whoever JR picks is good enough for me - but I just don't trust robbo and trust Cerny more - I may be completely wrong on this - though I do accept that keep changing keepers isn't good either - but of course I wouldn't have dropped Cerny in the first place - but as I say what do I know - in JR I trust