WhiteStripe
Get out of my club you cretin!
- Aug 23, 2006
- 14,213
- 4,989
We clearly have a hugely talented set of players, and many would argue that our squad is as good as any in the league. Why then have we failed to push on again this year and challenge for the title? It’s not like United are out of reach, I mean replace the points thrown away vs Wolves, West Brom, Chelsea and Sunderland with wins and thats another 8 points there and then convert some of the chances we created against the likes of West Ham and Man City, and we really are sitting pretty in a comfortable 2nd place.
Instead we are languishing in 5th, clinging on to a fine thread of hope that West Ham will somehow find it in themselves to win away at City (something that hasn’t happened since 2003) and we will put our demons behind us to clinch a first victory at Stamford Bridge for since Gareth Bale dribbling onto his mothers shoulder, not down the wing. So what has gone wrong this year? Why have we been unable to push on and build on our first ever top 4 finish in the English Premier League?
I would hazard a guess you are there shouting at the screen “It’s obvious, we haven’t scored enough!”, or the more observant amongst you would utter “we haven’t converted enough of the chances we have created”. You may even be saying “Injuries have plagued us” or “fixture congestion has tired us out”. All very good points, and all very valid ones, however I believe that there is something more fundamental at the heart of our failings.
We have not kept a disciplined formation all season.
“Hold on” I hear you bellow, “we’ve pretty much played 4-4-1-1 all year haven’t we?” Well yes, in part we have, but it’s the defined roles of players playing in the formation and the tactics employed which we have failed to keep consistent. Far too often our issue has been our inability to keep the pressure off our back four, or more often than not our back 2. With attacking players in the team such as Van Der Vaart, Modric, Bale, Lennon, Defoe, Kranjcar (at times) we have not ensured, consistently enough, that we balance out that flair. In short, we have failed to lay the defensive foundations properly before building the attack.
There are a number of simple basic principles we too often forget when trying to play with the attacking flair we try to;
If we want to dominate games we need to remember these two key principles, because no matter what other problems we have, if we cannot win the midfield battles in our matches, then we cannot compete at the level we want to. If we want to get the results we think we should be getting, regardless of who plays up front or at the back, we need to drill the following into our players of the training pitch.
Regardless of who you have in your team, from the top to the bottom of the EPL, without laying the foundation stones to success, you will not succeed. Not every player can pass the ball 60 yards onto a 10p piece or waltz past an opposing defender as if they were not there, but every single player can work hard to keep their discipline in a game.
This season, it’s not just the chances we have failed to finish, or the injuries that we have picked up that have cost us, it is the lack of discipline when laying the foundation stones for success, something we must address to succeed.
Instead we are languishing in 5th, clinging on to a fine thread of hope that West Ham will somehow find it in themselves to win away at City (something that hasn’t happened since 2003) and we will put our demons behind us to clinch a first victory at Stamford Bridge for since Gareth Bale dribbling onto his mothers shoulder, not down the wing. So what has gone wrong this year? Why have we been unable to push on and build on our first ever top 4 finish in the English Premier League?
I would hazard a guess you are there shouting at the screen “It’s obvious, we haven’t scored enough!”, or the more observant amongst you would utter “we haven’t converted enough of the chances we have created”. You may even be saying “Injuries have plagued us” or “fixture congestion has tired us out”. All very good points, and all very valid ones, however I believe that there is something more fundamental at the heart of our failings.
We have not kept a disciplined formation all season.
“Hold on” I hear you bellow, “we’ve pretty much played 4-4-1-1 all year haven’t we?” Well yes, in part we have, but it’s the defined roles of players playing in the formation and the tactics employed which we have failed to keep consistent. Far too often our issue has been our inability to keep the pressure off our back four, or more often than not our back 2. With attacking players in the team such as Van Der Vaart, Modric, Bale, Lennon, Defoe, Kranjcar (at times) we have not ensured, consistently enough, that we balance out that flair. In short, we have failed to lay the defensive foundations properly before building the attack.
There are a number of simple basic principles we too often forget when trying to play with the attacking flair we try to;
Protect the back four with discipline. When the flair players commit themselves, there should always be a player holding his position in the middle of the park, sweeping up the midfield. It’s what Palacios was brought in for, and it’s what Sandro has started to show. The discipline of this role needs to be coached into the player. This discipline should ALWAYS come first.
Defending doesn’t start in our own penalty area. Far too often we are happy to let the CB’s do the defending, when in reality, when playing football, one of the first things we are told is that “attack is the first line of defence”. The more pressure we are putting on the opposition, the less pressure they are putting on us. Redknapp was quoted, after playing Barcelona in the Wembley Cup as saying that the evident difference between Barca and most teams is the workrate all over the park. The closing down and putting pressure on the man in possession all over the pitch is key in the way they play.
Defending doesn’t start in our own penalty area. Far too often we are happy to let the CB’s do the defending, when in reality, when playing football, one of the first things we are told is that “attack is the first line of defence”. The more pressure we are putting on the opposition, the less pressure they are putting on us. Redknapp was quoted, after playing Barcelona in the Wembley Cup as saying that the evident difference between Barca and most teams is the workrate all over the park. The closing down and putting pressure on the man in possession all over the pitch is key in the way they play.
If we want to dominate games we need to remember these two key principles, because no matter what other problems we have, if we cannot win the midfield battles in our matches, then we cannot compete at the level we want to. If we want to get the results we think we should be getting, regardless of who plays up front or at the back, we need to drill the following into our players of the training pitch.
High and Early pressure
Our attacking players need to keep pressure on the opposition, closing down the space and making it difficult for sustained possession on the ball. This will help us to see more of the ball, and prevent the opposition building moves from the back.
Discipline in the Middle
We must always play with a Centre midfielder who is disciplined enough to sweep up the midfield. Nullifying the threat of a breakaway and allowing our centre backs cover. We cannot afford to sacrifice this role as without it, we will be cut open like a knife through butter.
Constant Movement
Not only when in possession, but when defending, movement is essential. Whether it be out midfield always giving the man in possession an option for a pass, or our players tracking runs of the opposition and closing down the space when defending, movement is key. One thing I will say about Ramos, is it was evident when he arrived that a large part of his game revolved around core fitness and pressing the opposition. It was him that started getting Lennon to track back, and we need these ethics instilled in our players once more. Too much this year we have been caught out by giving the ball away cheaply with no easy ball available, and being caught napping when not tracking opponents movement.
Our attacking players need to keep pressure on the opposition, closing down the space and making it difficult for sustained possession on the ball. This will help us to see more of the ball, and prevent the opposition building moves from the back.
Discipline in the Middle
We must always play with a Centre midfielder who is disciplined enough to sweep up the midfield. Nullifying the threat of a breakaway and allowing our centre backs cover. We cannot afford to sacrifice this role as without it, we will be cut open like a knife through butter.
Constant Movement
Not only when in possession, but when defending, movement is essential. Whether it be out midfield always giving the man in possession an option for a pass, or our players tracking runs of the opposition and closing down the space when defending, movement is key. One thing I will say about Ramos, is it was evident when he arrived that a large part of his game revolved around core fitness and pressing the opposition. It was him that started getting Lennon to track back, and we need these ethics instilled in our players once more. Too much this year we have been caught out by giving the ball away cheaply with no easy ball available, and being caught napping when not tracking opponents movement.
Regardless of who you have in your team, from the top to the bottom of the EPL, without laying the foundation stones to success, you will not succeed. Not every player can pass the ball 60 yards onto a 10p piece or waltz past an opposing defender as if they were not there, but every single player can work hard to keep their discipline in a game.
This season, it’s not just the chances we have failed to finish, or the injuries that we have picked up that have cost us, it is the lack of discipline when laying the foundation stones for success, something we must address to succeed.
