rossdapep
Well-Known Member
- Aug 25, 2011
- 22,425
- 80,792
Made a video on Leeds and the weaknesses of Bielsa's system.
I'd hope that we can exploit them the way that West Ham did in this game.
I haven't actually watched Leeds since then to see if they fixed some of these holes in their game but I'll go through a few here.
LIMITED COVER FOR FULL BACKS
Both full backs have to bomb on, but unlike when Aurier or Reguilon get forward for us they are not covered by the CM on their side - only Phillips provides cover for them. On some occasions they only had the two CBs and Phillips back in defensive positions, Poch used to do this with Toby, Jan & Dier sitting whilst every other player threw themselves into the attack. For Leeds, Klich joins the front line rather than covering
If Son and Kane are sharp and Lamela can disrupt play we can exploit these spaces.
LACK OF HEIGHT AT SET-PIECES
Leeds use a mixed marking strategy by zonally marking the front post and using man marking in central areas. WH were smart and had every attacker by Soucek and Ogbonna (their biggest players) attack the front post to create a diversion. This allowed Soucek and Ogbonna, the big men, to isolate their markers and over power them in the centre.
We have been very poor from set pieces for some time now but we need to get Dier & Kane in these situations. Leeds don't have too many big physically imposing players and this can be a way to prey on their vulnerabilities.
BUILDING FROM THE BACK
As it's been noted, Leeds like to build from the back and look to get the ball out to the FBs early so that they can create diagonal play with the AMs. WH countered this by allowing the CBs to have the ball but put two players onto the FB or the player arriving in the half space, this meant that when they won the ball back they had a spare man to make a run whilst the other collected the ball.
We could copy this blueprint or we could do what United did and just press them higher to force them into mistakes. If we played like we did vs United and press high early we may catch them out and score early or we can sit back and play more like we did vs City but that would rely on us being sharper to them to the second balls in the danger areas.
PRESSING
It's well known that Leeds press relentlessly. They've won games well by this strategy but they've also been caught out by Wolves, Leicester, WH & Palace because they get caught out by committing too many players to an attack or press. Wolves basically said to them "We're gunna sit back and let you tire yourselves out first half and then we'll be fresher second half to take over the game" which they did. Leicester and Palace made more use of the quick counter and committed more men in transitions.
We can't build from the back because Leeds will press us and Dier/Sissoko are poor when pressed. However, Ndombele is a key player in a game like this as he can combat a press alone, we need to get him into some good positions to draw players out - if we can get him to excel I can see a copy of our game vs Southampton.
I'd hope that we can exploit them the way that West Ham did in this game.
I haven't actually watched Leeds since then to see if they fixed some of these holes in their game but I'll go through a few here.
LIMITED COVER FOR FULL BACKS
Both full backs have to bomb on, but unlike when Aurier or Reguilon get forward for us they are not covered by the CM on their side - only Phillips provides cover for them. On some occasions they only had the two CBs and Phillips back in defensive positions, Poch used to do this with Toby, Jan & Dier sitting whilst every other player threw themselves into the attack. For Leeds, Klich joins the front line rather than covering
If Son and Kane are sharp and Lamela can disrupt play we can exploit these spaces.
LACK OF HEIGHT AT SET-PIECES
Leeds use a mixed marking strategy by zonally marking the front post and using man marking in central areas. WH were smart and had every attacker by Soucek and Ogbonna (their biggest players) attack the front post to create a diversion. This allowed Soucek and Ogbonna, the big men, to isolate their markers and over power them in the centre.
We have been very poor from set pieces for some time now but we need to get Dier & Kane in these situations. Leeds don't have too many big physically imposing players and this can be a way to prey on their vulnerabilities.
BUILDING FROM THE BACK
As it's been noted, Leeds like to build from the back and look to get the ball out to the FBs early so that they can create diagonal play with the AMs. WH countered this by allowing the CBs to have the ball but put two players onto the FB or the player arriving in the half space, this meant that when they won the ball back they had a spare man to make a run whilst the other collected the ball.
We could copy this blueprint or we could do what United did and just press them higher to force them into mistakes. If we played like we did vs United and press high early we may catch them out and score early or we can sit back and play more like we did vs City but that would rely on us being sharper to them to the second balls in the danger areas.
PRESSING
It's well known that Leeds press relentlessly. They've won games well by this strategy but they've also been caught out by Wolves, Leicester, WH & Palace because they get caught out by committing too many players to an attack or press. Wolves basically said to them "We're gunna sit back and let you tire yourselves out first half and then we'll be fresher second half to take over the game" which they did. Leicester and Palace made more use of the quick counter and committed more men in transitions.
We can't build from the back because Leeds will press us and Dier/Sissoko are poor when pressed. However, Ndombele is a key player in a game like this as he can combat a press alone, we need to get him into some good positions to draw players out - if we can get him to excel I can see a copy of our game vs Southampton.
