What has happened to our pressing football from last season?

[Woodyy]

It's not like we are trying to implement it and are failing, it looks like a complete switch of tactics from last season?

I honestly can't see the reasoning, I know we ran out of steam a bit towards the end of last season but I'd rather that happen again than suffer this shit. I haven't enjoyed watching us play in months. I genuinely can't believe how bad we've looked against Monaco tonight, it's verging on embarrassing.

 

[idontgetit]

It's not like we are trying to implement it and are failing, it looks like a complete switch of tactics from last season?

I honestly can't see the reasoning, I know we ran out of steam a bit towards the end of last season but I'd rather that happen again than suffer this shit. I haven't enjoyed watching us play in months. I genuinely can't believe how bad we've looked against Monaco tonight, it's verging on embarrassing.

Beat me to starting this thread. Last year the whole team was firing forward on the ball and off the ball and because of that everyone knew exactly where they were meant to be. This year no one knows where the other players will be. It's a half arsed press but also explains why we're playing so many unforced shit passes

 

[NickHSpurs]

I said on here a couple of weeks ago we need to go back to last seasons system and last seasons team. People weren't sure at the time because Wanyama was in some sort of form but we HAVE to go back to basics.

 

[mpickard2087]

Apparently this is Poch's plan, don't worry...

 

[WiganSpur]

We're just standing off all of a sudden, and everyone knows we fall to pieces when we stop pressing. It's truly bizarre.

 

[Jody]

Lamela.

 

[ljinko888]

I actually would prefer the coaches to train these players to be more proficient and quick with the ball. It's embarrassing how easily outsmarted our players have been in this competition. We've gone too far over to the athleticism side of things and seriously are devoid of fluidity and exuberance.

 

[Air Jordan 3]

Needs to go back to last seasons formation ASAP.

Changed it on the back of a few games without Kane where we struggled to score. Kane is back now so now excuses.

Although not played badly himself I think Wanyama also upsetting the balance of the side.

 

[Shadydan]

We can't handle to games a week where we need to play at high intensity, that's the bottom line.

 

[Little-B]

Probably an unpopular opinion but i have always thought Lamela has been key to our pressing game.

 

[Darth Vega]

Probably an unpopular opinion but i have always thought Lamela has been key to our pressing game.

Agreed, but he's played the majority of our games this season and we've still looked really poor for the most part, the odd game/half of football aside.

I'm sure his return will help, but I think the problem is far greater.

 

[Lighty64]

I said on here a couple of weeks ago we need to go back to last seasons system and last seasons team. People weren't sure at the time because Wanyama was in some sort of form but we HAVE to go back to basics.

totally agree, but due to injuries and suspensions we haven't had that XI available this season. we have also had to play CL instead of EL, though EL will be our focus now unless we lose to CSKA, and if they play like they did v BL today we will finish bottom.

not sure whether the training is stopping the energy or because of last seasons burn out we are saving the high energy against the tougher teams for the 1st half of the season, but we will need to step up the pace v Chelsea or we will get destroyed.

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

Lamela is the press.

 

[idontgetit]

Lamela makes a big difference to it but he's not the whole thing. It's as if the back line is staying too deep

 

[Jody]

Lamela makes a big difference to it but he's not the whole thing. It's as if the back line is staying too deep

I think since Toby has been out, the full backs haven't pushed forward as much because we haven't had dier dropping in to make that 3 we saw so much last season. As a result the 3 behind the striker have the full width of the pitch to cover and can't get as tight as quick as they could otherwise . This and missing Lamela. And us just being a bit shit really.

 

[Syn_13]

Probably a culmination of a few things. Missing certain players, a change of players. Pressing is all well and good, but in possession we're horrendous. Sluggish with the ball and when we finally do release it the opposition has had time to close the gaps, so unless players move cleverly our passes are going straight to the opposition or getting intercepted.

 

[Shea]

I think it's a combination of injuries to key players this term and the overall failings of our recruitment in the last 2 years

We've had some great success wth the likes of tobi, dier and dele but we've also shipped a lot of money on players who've either not improved us, or not done so enough or worst case actually looked to have unbalanced us and ruined our spirit/team connection from last year

Son has shown what he's capable of but as of yet failed to produced consistently

Wanyama has been good but I'm not sure he was needed and I'm not sure we are better off with him in the middle than Dier last season (I think the balance is wrong now)

Janssen cost 18m when celtic bought Dembele fot half a million - looking like terrible business so far

KNKD hasn't produced as of yet - N'jie was a bust

Sissoko so far seems like a laughing stock of a signing, everton must be very relieved

Trippier and wimmer are ok squad fillers but nothing more

You can go back as far as the bale window and see that a lot of money has been invested very poorly and while we got lucky with a youngster or two and some signings have been good the amount of poor signings has been stark

Last year we had a decent blend to our starting line up and a formation and work ethic for our press - this season we seem disjointed and ineffective and I think a lot of it comes down to failing to bring in the right players to take a step forward this year and have enough quality depth to continue our play when injuries take their toll

 

[spurs-r-us]

The pressing isn't as clear as it was, but I think a lot of it has to do with the lack of impetus in the final third. Everyone who has been sampled in that front three outside of Son for a while and Alli have begun looking for a backwards pass. None of them trust Janssen, clearly, and they're now jeopardising Kane. I maintain that much of it has to do with Wanyama not being comfortable on the ball in the opposition half. Dier is far classier on the ball and gets up and down the pitch like a steam train. Need to get him back at DM ASAP, but I fear for Poch's impartiality in the matter. Wanyama was huge for him at Southampton and is clearly one of his favourites.

 

[Cravenspurs]

I think since Toby has been out, the full backs haven't pushed forward as much because we haven't had dier dropping in to make that 3 we saw so much last season. As a result the 3 behind the striker have the full width of the pitch to cover and can't get as tight as quick as they could otherwise . This and missing Lamela. And us just being a bit shit really.

This is essentially it right here. I will try to lay this out visually:

Last Year Going Forward

-------------- HL ----------
------TA ----ED ----- JV
----------- MD -----------
KW ---- CE --------- DR
------ EL -------- DA ------
--------- HK ---------

This Year Going Forward

---------------- HL ----------
---------- ED - JV ---------
KW ---------------------DR
-------- VW --- MD -------
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
-RW-------CE-------LW
------- WTF --------------

Striker Joke aside this year our shape has completely morphed when we start our attack. No longer is the midfield the launching point. Dembele is no longer the baller he once was partially due to Wanyama's presence and partially due to some odd desire to hold the ball like it is the last Twinkie and it is the apocalypse.

Last year the 3 CB's each had roles. Toby pinged diagonals typically to the left wing or to the middle of the pitch. Verts was more the ground passer and he picked many outlets via great distance passing on the floor. Dier dropped and was the link to Dembele, FB or Eriksen. He was pretty simple with his passing last year outside some beautiful pings here and there. But he did his job which was to get it to the people that made the next segment click. With all but essentially 3 or 4 players, our whole team was in their half and that is what made our press so effective. We were there and didn't let them get out. Build up play was still slow, but the midfield was open and that simple shift made a huge difference.

This year it is completely different in my book. There is no longer a 3CB formation when going forward unless we clearly are playing with 3 at the back from the jump. Wanyama and Dembele sit and suffocate our CBs and are naturally slow and risk averse with the ball. This is also affecting the way our FBs get into the game. Not only are they no longer getting support from a back 3 allowing them to trot forward that bit more but they also are not getting support from having a more open, fluid midfield where Dembele, Eriksen, Dele, and Co. used to team up to move the ball. So now the FBs are dropping deeper to get the ball. The CMs are not receiving the ball in as much space as they once had because the FBs are deeper and there is one extra body in the midfield because that 3rd CB is no longer. So we are crowded and that crowded, hectic football world is all taking place in our own half where one mistake can cost ya a pretty penny. We have been pressed this year and our compactness makes it that much easier. The worst part is that this cramped midfield and defense is making our attack look isolated as fuck. Sometimes you can't even see an attacker on the screen when the games on the TV.

Oh and no longer are we seeing those diagonal balls to the FBs up the pitch because they are the pnes getting the ball from the back and working a triangle up the pitch to get the ball to the attack. It's actually crazy to see how many times we resort to the triangle buildup on the sideline. It's like we use the baseline as a defense and to protect against counters. But then again we are very narrow. Head scratcher

Anyways I'm tired and babbling.

 

[idontgetit]

I think since Toby has been out, the full backs haven't pushed forward as much because we haven't had dier dropping in to make that 3 we saw so much last season. As a result the 3 behind the striker have the full width of the pitch to cover and can't get as tight as quick as they could otherwise . This and missing Lamela. And us just being a bit shit really.

Yep I think that sums it up tactically. Was happy to see Wanyama actually doing the Dier role fully last night but maybe with Winks, Son, Alli as the three in front it didn't balance out properly. Or maybe Dier and Wimmer weren't confident to push the back line far enough up to allow the fullbacks to press without being caught in no mans land.