The defensive highline.

[stormfly]

Looks like AVB has decided on the high line now. What do you guys think of it? Lloris needs to be our keeper if we stick with this surely? It is giving me a few heart in mouth moments when people keep looking like they are through one on one. Also, I don't know if I can trust the linesmen to constantly call offside if it's close sometimes. Thoughts?

 

[steventhfc]

It looked good in parts, obviously it'll be better with Kaboul and Ekotto in it as you need solidity on the wings and in the middle with pace to make it effective but I've got faith in it. Didn't work at Chelsea because their back four is slow as cobblers.

 

[steve]

It needs the rest of the team to put pressure on the oppo right the way up the pitch to work. Problem is when you have lazy wankers like Defoe, Lennon, Bale, Huddlestone etc it doesn't work. Adebayor tonight strolled around and didn't press. Either AVB isn't telling them (which I don't believe) or they're just doing what they want despite instruction.

 

[Damian99]

Looks like AVB has decided on the high line now. What do you guys think of it? Lloris needs to be our keeper if we stick with this surely? It is giving me a few heart in mouth moments when people keep looking like they are through one on one. Also, I don't know if I can trust the linesmen to constantly call offside if it's close sometimes. Thoughts?

Fucking suicidal if you don't adopt the pressing game along with it, which we most certainly have not, as yet.

To be honest a few years ago i would have liked it more than i do the thought of it now, simply due to the changes on the offside law now as it stands, that could cause that tactic no end of problems.

 

[werty]

I think it's working better than I thought it would in pre-season, though I'm not a fan of it personally. It works for teams that get pressure on the ball and who usually dominated possession. We're doing neither so far this season, meaining it's not as effective as it should be.

 

[Nocando]

it does make me even more nervous though. interesting to see it develop.

 

[ItsBoris]

I'm a pretty staunch defender of AVB but tbh I thought it played into Lazio's hands tonight. It gave them space that we didn't have.

 

[YiddoBirdy]

I don't mind using a high line to pressurise the opposition however, when it is used as a offside trap it doesn't work as it is just too risky to let the attacker run behind the defence and not follow him. When the attacker does beat the offside trap he is to far ahead for the defenders to catch him and it turns into a one on one situation and Lloris will need to come and rescue us. This has happened too many times this season and needs to be sorted.

 

[Damian99]

I don't mind using a high line to pressurise the opposition however, when it is used as a offside trap it doesn't work as it is just too risky to let the attacker run behind the defence and not follow him. When the attacker does beat the offside trap he is to far ahead for the defenders to catch him and it turns into a one on one situation and Lloris will need to come and rescue us. This has happened too many times this season and needs to be sorted.

Also this second phase of play crap could cause it problems aswell imo.

 

[bigpalacios]

Too open.

 

[tony0379]

High block

 

[The Apprentice]

Play the high line with Friedel and we'll get spanked.

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

I like it in principle - it squeezes play and helps us play the game in the opponent's half.

Walker worries me a bit though - he doesn't have the discipline/awareness of the other defenders.

As others have said - Lloris and pressing throughout the side are the keys to its success.

 

[shelfboy68]

I like it in principle - it squeezes play and helps us play the game in the opponent's half.

Walker worries me a bit though - he doesn't have the discipline/awareness of the other defenders.

As others have said - Lloris and pressing throughout the side are the keys to its success.

Problem is that we don't press we started doing it in pre season and against Newcastle and haven't seen it since.

Surely avb needs to address this issue rather quickly in order to keep some of the pressure of the defence as at the moment we look very very vulnerable.

 

[RichieS]

I'm a pretty staunch defender of AVB but tbh I thought it played into Lazio's hands tonight. It gave them space that we didn't have.

The whole point of it is to deny the opposition space to play in but as others have said it requires every member of the team to press hard. As has been mentioned, there is no way AVB has set the team up with a high line without training the entire team to press so I can only assume that the players can't be bothered.

 

[Spurger King]

I get the feeling Lloris will end up getting sent off a few times.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

We don't have the workrate as a team overall to play the high line. Apart from Sandro our pressing and closing down is abysmal. Bale, Defoe, Ade, Dempsey, Sig have shown me nothing in terms of closing down. I honestly think AVB would change more than half of our starting 11 given the opportunity.

 

[jurgen]

I like it in principle - it squeezes play and helps us play the game in the opponent's half.

Walker worries me a bit though - he doesn't have the discipline/awareness of the other defenders.

As others have said - Lloris and pressing throughout the side are the keys to its success.

Agreed, surely game intelligence is as important as speed for playing the high line, and I like Walker, but his defensive brain has not been the best of late and if one man repeatedly ballses the trap up, you're not in for a good time even if we do have some speedy defenders..

 

[ethanedwards]

I get the feeling Lloris will end up getting sent off a few times.

Good post.

 

[stormfly]

Does playing a high line really help Bale and Lennon though? Bale does his best work when he's running from deep and going past players. Lennon is also better with a bit of space in front of him. They will now receive the ball further up the pitch in more dangerous areas but I don't think it is their game.