Unpicking The Lock: How To Conquer Teams That Sit Deep at Home?

[danielneeds]

This has been a never ending problem for us. So thought I'd start a little brainstorming session - maybe we can send the results to Poch? (Lol)

Seems to me the main problem is when a team sits deep against us - we're not as able to win the ball high up the pitch and score with quick transitions, which works so well for us away from home. Only one defeat in the league away is testament to this.

When we're asked to break down a team, often the build up is more methodical, and we let them get back into their shape. All of our attacking midfielders play in the area of the pitch that is usually stacked with bodies, and threading the killer ball through is eye of the needle stuff.

The space available is usually wide - and our fullbacks often end up with the ball, and it's fair to say the delivery from both the 1st choice players, Rose and Walker, is nowhere near good enough. Either the delivery is wayward, or we don't have enough bodies in the box.

The three options I can see to improve our output are -

- Get the ball forward quicker, look to bypass the midfield on occasion and use the likes of Kane, Son, Njie and maybe other signings to run the channels and get us up pitch quicker.

- Either improve the delivery from the current fullbacks through coaching or find players who can provide better service.

- Bring in a player to play behind Kane who is happy in narrow areas of the pitch, but also has the pace and dribbling ability of a Hazard, Mahrez or Coutinho to take his marker wide and get behind the defence.

So there you go, some thoughts of mine, but are there other ways of cracking this particular Pulis-shaped nut?

 

[Gb160]

We're gonna need a bigger pitch.

 

[rocklink]

We need bigger pitch... White hart lane is not suitable to play modern day possessional football

 

[danielneeds]

We need bigger pitch... White hart lane is not suitable to play modern day possessional football

A bigger pitch would help, but really the New WHL pitch will only be a few feet wider and longer. We're not talking giant new wide open spaces.

 

[Monkey boy]

do what I do when I get home pissed and cant get my key in the door, cause a scene in the street until one of the neighbours either calls the police or takes pity on me and does it for me.

 

[thinktank]

Need to be able to play short, accurate, vertical+reverse balls from around the area.

Scum have been doing it for years and have great combination play around the box (city are decent as well) - 1-2s and - what I like to call - 1-2-3s (pass, sprint off, the ball is passed on by two players and you get it back in an advanced, threatening position, often untracked and in space).

FBs have to also be able to get in behind and turn the defense and get them disorganised (again, city are good at this). A big problem for us. Rose is constantly, steadily improving in this respect; Walker hasn't got a clue (I'm sure he used to battle more 1v1s in the past?).

So, quick combinations around the box (with smart running off the ball); flank penetration - get in behind - and turn the defense and fluster them and get them pulled around; short, precise 10/15 yard balls either side of the area (mostly threaded between the FB and CB) that unlock the box.

Think I've mentioned that lot before.

 

[Jamturk]

Andy Carroll

 

[jezz]

Pass the fcuking ball when a player is in a better position, it ain't that hard.

 

[bat-chain]

The trick is to hold on to the lead that we have so they have to come out and then get 2, 3 and 4 goals.

We are getting in great positions a goal or two goals up but not protecting them. All that said...

I love Hugo but I think yesterday the team was OK, his mistakes meant Southampton didn't have to do much to win the game.

Indeed with two crappy shots on target they didn't win the game it was given to them.

 

[Mr-T]

I think too much is made of the size of our pitch. It's 50cm narrower each side and 2.5m shorter each end.

To help combat the bus-parkers I would suggest more pinpoint diagonals from Toby to bypass the congested midfield, and more of the CBs carrying the ball out with Dier being alert in case they lose possession.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

I admire the way Poch wants us to play, keeping possession and width from the full backs etc. But our style of play at home makes it quite difficult for us to score goals from open play. When we pull it off we're capable of scoring some very nice team goals. But it's not easy to keep scoring those kinds of goals and it has cost us.

As good as Alli, Eriksen and Lamela have been, I think maybe one of them may need to be sacrificed for a genuine wide player with pace who is comfortable going past players.

It's all well and good having width from full backs but not many full backs are great at getting to the byline and putting in a decent cross or driving into the box and getting a shot off.

Away our tactics work great, no complaints at all. Our home form has cost us the league.

 

[nicdic]

I think too much is made of the size of our pitch. It's 50cm narrower each side and 2.5m shorter each end.

To help combat the bus-parkers I would suggest more pinpoint diagonals from Toby to bypass the congested midfield, and more of the CBs carrying the ball out with Dier being alert in case they lose possession.

If I'm not mistaken, we currently have one of the smallest if not the smallest pitch in the entire league. And whilst, yes it's only half a metre narrower and 2.5m shorter on each side, that adds up to 440m2 less space on the pitch than Wembley, The Emirates, The Etihad, etc. It's most definitely not nothing.

 

[Spurger King]

Just punt the ball over the midfield and take performance enhancing drugs. Worked for Leicester.

 

[yankspurs]

Quicker 1 touch pass play, staying alert off the ball, making a run into the box immediately after a pass to get through balls, utilizing the wide areas to set up a cross, and more playing being aware as to Toby's long balls over the top into the box besides just Alli.

Also, I think it would help if there was some movement in the final 3rd when we have possession. All too often, you see players just standing there. If we had players making runs rom the edge of the box, it would stretch the defense.

Edit: Some finishing training wouldnt go amiss either. We arent clinical whatsoever. We need to work on converting our chances and half chances when we get them.

 

[Spursidol]

http://www.soccerstats.com/homeaway.asp?league=England

This season our home form (10wins, 6 draws, 3 losses) puts us 5th in PL table, whilst our away form (9 wins, 7 draws, 2 losses puts us 2nd).

The home form of Leicester, ManCity, ManU and Arsenal have all been better than ours, although interestingly we are within 2 points of all but Leicester who have gained 6 more points than us at home this season.

So yes, if we can figure it out, so much the better, but is it that much worse than other teams ?

 

[glacierSpurs]

train better and more accurate crossings into the box, then be poachers and pick up the scrapes.. when no chances of shooting, play the balls out wide and repeat the drills again.. then try a through ball from the centre after the 3rd attempt before repeating the whole set of processes again..

 

[buttons]

If I'm not mistaken, we currently have one of the smallest if not the smallest pitch in the entire league. And whilst, yes it's only half a metre narrower and 2.5m shorter on each side, that adds up to 440m2 less space on the pitch than Wembley, The Emirates, The Etihad, etc. It's most definitely not nothing.

I always thought the pitch size argument was a bit null and void but if your calculations are correct, and I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, that's a pretty big chunk of space - just over the size of your average Tesco Express to give you some context!

 

[kmk]

If I'm not mistaken, we currently have one of the smallest if not the smallest pitch in the entire league. And whilst, yes it's only half a metre narrower and 2.5m shorter on each side, that adds up to 440m2 less space on the pitch than Wembley, The Emirates, The Etihad, etc. It's most definitely not nothing.

This analysis from Pat Nevin highlights your point http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22646131

 

[StockSpur]

Kane could have passed 10 times this season and thats 10 extra goals plus some wins..

 

[UpTownSpur]

Pass the fcuking ball when a player is in a better position, it ain't that hard.

Rather than posting in multiple threads on the same topic, why not create a single thread entitled: "Let's start a hate campaign against Harry Kane for not passing enough to my favourite player Erik Lamela so that he'd have more than a paltry 4 goals."?