Bus-Conductor
SC Supporter
- Oct 19, 2004
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Big thanks to @nicdic
This article was posted in the Schneiderlin thread by @nicdic:
Like last season with Jack Cork, you seem to have been handed instructions to play a few steps ahead of Victor Wanyama in midfield
It all started with Pochettino’s arrival. Before that I was used more as the anchor man just in front of the defence. When he came, he spoke to me straight ahead « I saw a couple of videos from you and I think you’ve the techical and physical abilities to do more attacking ». Then he asked me to play a step ahead, to get into space and burst forward. I’m expected to do the constant link between defence and attack whilst maintaining the same intensity in terms of pressing. Even if I can’t do that all 90 mn (laughs)
Your pairing with Victor Wanyama is improving but it will still require a bit of time before you’ll get to the same marks than when you played with Cork…
Absolutely. We know each other for years (with Cork) so we had a perfect understanding of one another on the pitch. Last season we knew exactly how the other did play. With Wanyama I had to start over. We’re not there yet, that’s for sure. He struggled a bit to cope with the way he’s pressed. He wasn’t used to that in his former league and it was a tad difficult for him athletically. But you’re right, it’s way better now. It can only improve because as we see at training he’s a very good player, technically in instance. It’s more about physicality and positioning but that will come.
You spoke about pressing earlier, do Pochettino asks to isolate the player in possession or does he prefer playing 1v1 all across the field, kind of « matching » a lot of Championship use to do?
First of all, we have to close the central zones. He keeps saying it’s the heart of play and there’s always more options from the central zones: switches of play etc… He emphasises on blocking passing lanes. Anyway when I do press, I try to leave the worst passing option possible to the opponent. Pochettino asks us not to give the opponent the choice. But it requires a massive amount of work from a collective point of view. It’s not surprising after six or seven months working on it that we’re now able to harass and fully inbalance some of the teams we face. We couldn’t do that from the start as it’s a massive work put in at training.
He wants us to recover the ball as high as possible, so for that it’s usually up to a forward to trigger the pressing ; so then we’ve to follow. Personnally, I sometimes have to leave my zone to help on one side if a winger who was out of position because he was in a forward zone and couldn’t fall back in time. I’m the closest to the ball to intervene so then even if I’m tired, I’m kicking my ass. So then, the winger has to fill my zone and then we switch positions. This is the basic philosophy.
We have precise drills and patterns depending of the situation. On goalkicks, if they attack from the right side etc. Pochettino is all about detail, really. I recall that he showed us from the start that a meter or half a meter could block two passing lanes in midfield. We just had to move a step ahead or orientating our body a given way to face the opponent in order to put him into trouble
So then Lambert runs a bit more than before…
Even him runs more, says it all (laughs). It’s not his thing but he’s adapting to what the coach’s demands. It’s often him or Osvaldo who triggers the first wave of pressure. If one of the two starts, it triggers the whole process. Pressing is first and foremost a collective thing. If I’m coming out, the winger will react that way, so will my team mate in midfield and so on.
How is all that implemented on daily basis at training?
You’re ought to know we play a 11v11 game every wednesday. It’s often against the reserves, or the academy ; youths basically but intensity is maximal. The staff implements several patterns of play depending of the situations. And as we changed the system – because Pochettino likes to play with a 10 and a lone striker – because Osvaldo and Lambert are both out and out forwards, it requires adaptation
We work on patterns to get the ball out from the back on goalkicks: the last two games, both CM had to get to both angles of the penalty box while the two CB had to spread to both sides of the box. Full backs have to get close to the byline and the midway line. The purpose is to get the ball out from the back on ground and not hoofing the ball on Lambert. If the pass toward Wanyama isn’t possible, we have the two center backs. If opponents close us down, so then both full backs are unmarked in a free zone. The aim is to find them as soon as possible in order to write off the most opposing players as we can.
If ever we don’t have a short option, that means that the opponent has closed us down as a team ans so then we’ve to play long on Lambert because it will be 1v1 in the air. But we often change that pattern because opponents adapts after a couple of games.
While attacking, there’s also the will to pass the ball on the floor and stretch opposing defences. Hence how crucial is your role as you’re a specialist to switch the play?
We must know how to oxygenate play, dictating the rhythm, surprise the opponent. Pochettino asks me to switch the play often because he likes that. He wants us to devellop a genuine playing identity. Even falling back as a team is necessary, he gives us license to attack. He wants his full backs to get into attacking positions, put under presure opponent’s wingers. We always have to scan around. If you’re head first in Premier League…
That playing intelligence, is it the recipe of your success against the best teams?
I do think so, indeed. But it’s because we’re more at ease with all the teams trying to get the ball out from the back, such as Chelsea, Manchester City or Swansea. We often speak about Arsenal or Swansea for ball retention, but Swansea really is the best there is in England. They’re really impressing. From now on, Bony gives them the running into depth which stretches the lines. Not a surprise if their manager is Laudrup with his experience as a player, his experience in Spain
Back to us, with all that work implemented by Pochettino, we’re now able to suffocate those teams. We saw that at Liverpool. Last season, we had a lot of struggles with teams playing route one football such as West Ham. Even this season, we haven’t played so well even if Jääskeläinen saves them.
Southampton is currently 4th on the table. The ambitions got to another level. Proof is that a lot of teams now play very defensive against you, as if they were afraid of you?
Indeed, we often play very organised teams. It’s a good indication
I bet that you’ll end the season in the top 6, was I right to do so?
(laughs) I’m being very honest. If we end up 10th, it will be a failure for me. I’m playing to win, not to stay in mid-table even if that’s decent, in some way. I think we’ve enough quality on and off the pitch to do something good. But there’s a crucial point to take into consideration: our propensity to handle pressure/expectations.
Imagine that we’re in the top 5 in December or January, it won’t be the same situation as now. Expectations will be much more important, focus [from the opinion] as well. It’s different from (he pauses)... It’s not the same to be an outsider than being a genuine contender. We don’t have that experience ans I don’t know how we will react. Will we panic ? Will we be up to that ? Players such as Lambert or Lovren have a lot of experience. Even guys such as Lallana or I have play hundreds of games. But not to end up in the first places on the table
Are you satisfied with your season so far?
Right from the start – no. Against WBA it was OK but I wasn’t very good against West Ham even if I come this close to score. I had a tad more difficult period. As I’m a perfectionnist, I’m not satisfied with being « decent ». I know I wasn’t that bad but it wasn’t good either. I’m satisfied since the Liverpool game. I just played three good games against Palace and Swansea
You were in the storm after your tackle on Mohamed Diamé. You get to the ball first but what you put into that challenge was impressing.
Back then I was wondering why there was hurling. I knew I got the ball so I didn’t understood. I still apologized straight away. I’m not the kind of guy to injure another player. What was funny though was that we met referees in order to speak about supposed behaviours, rules and tackles. It was the WH game’s referee. Watching the video he said « it’s supposed to be yellow on that one but you got the ball first ». Problem was more the impact in the tackle, I didn’t realize that on the pitch.
From a distance, one wouldn’t think you’re that powerful even if you don’t have Rickie Lambert’s frame either
But I don’t wan’t Lambert’s frame, I wouldn’t move if so. You don’t even know how massive he is. I gained strength because we’ve a very good individual program. I had to be more powerful without loosing on mobility/dynamism. By the way, I’d like to say that Southampton’s medical staff is amazing. I haven’t had a muscular injury for two and a half years and it’s nothing to do with luck. I have a good lifestyle but we do a lot of prevention. In instance we work a lot on glueteal muscles before every training session.
We’ll end up speaking about France, have you received a call-up yet?
No, I haven’t even received a pre-call up for an extended squad, even with all the absentees in midfield. Then I said to myself « Morgan, if you receive something, it’ll mean you’re on the good path ». I though I would be pre-called up though but I’m not alone. That’s what I say to english journos. You’re ought to know that I’m being asked the question everytime « how in the world aren’t you called up for France ? « . I answer them that there’s plenty of good French players. I stopped worrying about that. He [Deschamps] makes his choices and I’m going to work like a dog to deserve a future call-up.
You are under double sessions regime during the international break whereas you could rest a lot more with the blue jersey right now
(laughs) But the staff isn’t joking, even if we’re 8 or 9 at training, we’ve a rough time. By the way we’re joking and saying that we may go to Luxemburg to play for them, that would avoid us all those training sessions (laughs). I’m kidding, of course
In France, a lot of english football fans speak about you on twitter. There’s even a hashtag #Schneiderlin2014. Were you aware of it?
(laughs) You’re kidding, right ? I’m delighted but I didn’t knew. They must keep on, I want to go to Brazil(laugh). More seriously, how to get into France squad seems quite simple to me. Contribute to lead Southampton to the first places on the table, play for an important club [in regards of it's position on the table]. So then there’ll be more attention, more focus on ourselves, and thus, on me as well. So it’s up to us to do the job. And when I see that MU is next, I’m eager to it !
It's a fascinating read, especially for me. Many of you will be familiar with my constant rantings about the lack of proper pressing of the ball, going back all the way to my first posts on here during the Jol era. It drives me fucking nuts when players, no matter how good - unless they are truly exceptional - amble half arsed around the fucking pitch when they don't have the ball. It's about attitude, but more importantly it's about a coach instilling that attitude. Good, coherent, cohesive pressing is something nearly all good coaches have in common. Some do it high, some do it deeper, some vary it, with varying intensity but they all teach their players the importance of doing it and doing it properly.
"We have precise drills and patterns depending of the situation. On goalkicks, if they attack from the right side etc. Pochettino is all about detail, really. I recall that he showed us from the start that a meter or half a meter could block two passing lanes in midfield. We just had to move a step ahead or orientating our body a given way to face the opponent in order to put him into trouble"
Music eh ???
RE: Scheiderlin
My first reaction was to think how much more I would like us to sign Schneiderlin, a player with the intelligence to learn and articulate what he learnt from Pochettino in a short space of time, a player able to improve himself and be improved by good teaching of a good coach.
But then I thought, surely we have a player here already who has all the bare attributes that Schneiderlin started with. He's come through our youth system, playing a high intensity, press, pass and move game. He has good dynamism, sees more ball than most when he plays, moves it quickly and simply usually but can pick the odd incisive pass. He has tenacity and a desire to win. The only weakness in his game is what he does off the ball, and this is where Pochettino improved Schneiderlin immediately.
Surely in Bentaleb we have our Schneiderlin already, except in Bentaleb's case he has already done well at EPL level, has already played at a WC.
Why should we spend 20m on a player we surely already have ?
This article was posted in the Schneiderlin thread by @nicdic:
Like last season with Jack Cork, you seem to have been handed instructions to play a few steps ahead of Victor Wanyama in midfield
It all started with Pochettino’s arrival. Before that I was used more as the anchor man just in front of the defence. When he came, he spoke to me straight ahead « I saw a couple of videos from you and I think you’ve the techical and physical abilities to do more attacking ». Then he asked me to play a step ahead, to get into space and burst forward. I’m expected to do the constant link between defence and attack whilst maintaining the same intensity in terms of pressing. Even if I can’t do that all 90 mn (laughs)
Your pairing with Victor Wanyama is improving but it will still require a bit of time before you’ll get to the same marks than when you played with Cork…
Absolutely. We know each other for years (with Cork) so we had a perfect understanding of one another on the pitch. Last season we knew exactly how the other did play. With Wanyama I had to start over. We’re not there yet, that’s for sure. He struggled a bit to cope with the way he’s pressed. He wasn’t used to that in his former league and it was a tad difficult for him athletically. But you’re right, it’s way better now. It can only improve because as we see at training he’s a very good player, technically in instance. It’s more about physicality and positioning but that will come.
You spoke about pressing earlier, do Pochettino asks to isolate the player in possession or does he prefer playing 1v1 all across the field, kind of « matching » a lot of Championship use to do?
First of all, we have to close the central zones. He keeps saying it’s the heart of play and there’s always more options from the central zones: switches of play etc… He emphasises on blocking passing lanes. Anyway when I do press, I try to leave the worst passing option possible to the opponent. Pochettino asks us not to give the opponent the choice. But it requires a massive amount of work from a collective point of view. It’s not surprising after six or seven months working on it that we’re now able to harass and fully inbalance some of the teams we face. We couldn’t do that from the start as it’s a massive work put in at training.
He wants us to recover the ball as high as possible, so for that it’s usually up to a forward to trigger the pressing ; so then we’ve to follow. Personnally, I sometimes have to leave my zone to help on one side if a winger who was out of position because he was in a forward zone and couldn’t fall back in time. I’m the closest to the ball to intervene so then even if I’m tired, I’m kicking my ass. So then, the winger has to fill my zone and then we switch positions. This is the basic philosophy.
We have precise drills and patterns depending of the situation. On goalkicks, if they attack from the right side etc. Pochettino is all about detail, really. I recall that he showed us from the start that a meter or half a meter could block two passing lanes in midfield. We just had to move a step ahead or orientating our body a given way to face the opponent in order to put him into trouble
So then Lambert runs a bit more than before…
Even him runs more, says it all (laughs). It’s not his thing but he’s adapting to what the coach’s demands. It’s often him or Osvaldo who triggers the first wave of pressure. If one of the two starts, it triggers the whole process. Pressing is first and foremost a collective thing. If I’m coming out, the winger will react that way, so will my team mate in midfield and so on.
How is all that implemented on daily basis at training?
You’re ought to know we play a 11v11 game every wednesday. It’s often against the reserves, or the academy ; youths basically but intensity is maximal. The staff implements several patterns of play depending of the situations. And as we changed the system – because Pochettino likes to play with a 10 and a lone striker – because Osvaldo and Lambert are both out and out forwards, it requires adaptation
We work on patterns to get the ball out from the back on goalkicks: the last two games, both CM had to get to both angles of the penalty box while the two CB had to spread to both sides of the box. Full backs have to get close to the byline and the midway line. The purpose is to get the ball out from the back on ground and not hoofing the ball on Lambert. If the pass toward Wanyama isn’t possible, we have the two center backs. If opponents close us down, so then both full backs are unmarked in a free zone. The aim is to find them as soon as possible in order to write off the most opposing players as we can.
If ever we don’t have a short option, that means that the opponent has closed us down as a team ans so then we’ve to play long on Lambert because it will be 1v1 in the air. But we often change that pattern because opponents adapts after a couple of games.
While attacking, there’s also the will to pass the ball on the floor and stretch opposing defences. Hence how crucial is your role as you’re a specialist to switch the play?
We must know how to oxygenate play, dictating the rhythm, surprise the opponent. Pochettino asks me to switch the play often because he likes that. He wants us to devellop a genuine playing identity. Even falling back as a team is necessary, he gives us license to attack. He wants his full backs to get into attacking positions, put under presure opponent’s wingers. We always have to scan around. If you’re head first in Premier League…
That playing intelligence, is it the recipe of your success against the best teams?
I do think so, indeed. But it’s because we’re more at ease with all the teams trying to get the ball out from the back, such as Chelsea, Manchester City or Swansea. We often speak about Arsenal or Swansea for ball retention, but Swansea really is the best there is in England. They’re really impressing. From now on, Bony gives them the running into depth which stretches the lines. Not a surprise if their manager is Laudrup with his experience as a player, his experience in Spain
Back to us, with all that work implemented by Pochettino, we’re now able to suffocate those teams. We saw that at Liverpool. Last season, we had a lot of struggles with teams playing route one football such as West Ham. Even this season, we haven’t played so well even if Jääskeläinen saves them.
Southampton is currently 4th on the table. The ambitions got to another level. Proof is that a lot of teams now play very defensive against you, as if they were afraid of you?
Indeed, we often play very organised teams. It’s a good indication
I bet that you’ll end the season in the top 6, was I right to do so?
(laughs) I’m being very honest. If we end up 10th, it will be a failure for me. I’m playing to win, not to stay in mid-table even if that’s decent, in some way. I think we’ve enough quality on and off the pitch to do something good. But there’s a crucial point to take into consideration: our propensity to handle pressure/expectations.
Imagine that we’re in the top 5 in December or January, it won’t be the same situation as now. Expectations will be much more important, focus [from the opinion] as well. It’s different from (he pauses)... It’s not the same to be an outsider than being a genuine contender. We don’t have that experience ans I don’t know how we will react. Will we panic ? Will we be up to that ? Players such as Lambert or Lovren have a lot of experience. Even guys such as Lallana or I have play hundreds of games. But not to end up in the first places on the table
Are you satisfied with your season so far?
Right from the start – no. Against WBA it was OK but I wasn’t very good against West Ham even if I come this close to score. I had a tad more difficult period. As I’m a perfectionnist, I’m not satisfied with being « decent ». I know I wasn’t that bad but it wasn’t good either. I’m satisfied since the Liverpool game. I just played three good games against Palace and Swansea
You were in the storm after your tackle on Mohamed Diamé. You get to the ball first but what you put into that challenge was impressing.
Back then I was wondering why there was hurling. I knew I got the ball so I didn’t understood. I still apologized straight away. I’m not the kind of guy to injure another player. What was funny though was that we met referees in order to speak about supposed behaviours, rules and tackles. It was the WH game’s referee. Watching the video he said « it’s supposed to be yellow on that one but you got the ball first ». Problem was more the impact in the tackle, I didn’t realize that on the pitch.
From a distance, one wouldn’t think you’re that powerful even if you don’t have Rickie Lambert’s frame either
But I don’t wan’t Lambert’s frame, I wouldn’t move if so. You don’t even know how massive he is. I gained strength because we’ve a very good individual program. I had to be more powerful without loosing on mobility/dynamism. By the way, I’d like to say that Southampton’s medical staff is amazing. I haven’t had a muscular injury for two and a half years and it’s nothing to do with luck. I have a good lifestyle but we do a lot of prevention. In instance we work a lot on glueteal muscles before every training session.
We’ll end up speaking about France, have you received a call-up yet?
No, I haven’t even received a pre-call up for an extended squad, even with all the absentees in midfield. Then I said to myself « Morgan, if you receive something, it’ll mean you’re on the good path ». I though I would be pre-called up though but I’m not alone. That’s what I say to english journos. You’re ought to know that I’m being asked the question everytime « how in the world aren’t you called up for France ? « . I answer them that there’s plenty of good French players. I stopped worrying about that. He [Deschamps] makes his choices and I’m going to work like a dog to deserve a future call-up.
You are under double sessions regime during the international break whereas you could rest a lot more with the blue jersey right now
(laughs) But the staff isn’t joking, even if we’re 8 or 9 at training, we’ve a rough time. By the way we’re joking and saying that we may go to Luxemburg to play for them, that would avoid us all those training sessions (laughs). I’m kidding, of course
In France, a lot of english football fans speak about you on twitter. There’s even a hashtag #Schneiderlin2014. Were you aware of it?
(laughs) You’re kidding, right ? I’m delighted but I didn’t knew. They must keep on, I want to go to Brazil(laugh). More seriously, how to get into France squad seems quite simple to me. Contribute to lead Southampton to the first places on the table, play for an important club [in regards of it's position on the table]. So then there’ll be more attention, more focus on ourselves, and thus, on me as well. So it’s up to us to do the job. And when I see that MU is next, I’m eager to it !
It's a fascinating read, especially for me. Many of you will be familiar with my constant rantings about the lack of proper pressing of the ball, going back all the way to my first posts on here during the Jol era. It drives me fucking nuts when players, no matter how good - unless they are truly exceptional - amble half arsed around the fucking pitch when they don't have the ball. It's about attitude, but more importantly it's about a coach instilling that attitude. Good, coherent, cohesive pressing is something nearly all good coaches have in common. Some do it high, some do it deeper, some vary it, with varying intensity but they all teach their players the importance of doing it and doing it properly.
"We have precise drills and patterns depending of the situation. On goalkicks, if they attack from the right side etc. Pochettino is all about detail, really. I recall that he showed us from the start that a meter or half a meter could block two passing lanes in midfield. We just had to move a step ahead or orientating our body a given way to face the opponent in order to put him into trouble"
Music eh ???
RE: Scheiderlin
My first reaction was to think how much more I would like us to sign Schneiderlin, a player with the intelligence to learn and articulate what he learnt from Pochettino in a short space of time, a player able to improve himself and be improved by good teaching of a good coach.
But then I thought, surely we have a player here already who has all the bare attributes that Schneiderlin started with. He's come through our youth system, playing a high intensity, press, pass and move game. He has good dynamism, sees more ball than most when he plays, moves it quickly and simply usually but can pick the odd incisive pass. He has tenacity and a desire to win. The only weakness in his game is what he does off the ball, and this is where Pochettino improved Schneiderlin immediately.
Surely in Bentaleb we have our Schneiderlin already, except in Bentaleb's case he has already done well at EPL level, has already played at a WC.
Why should we spend 20m on a player we surely already have ?
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