- Aug 4, 2005
- 4,193
- 20,217
One of the reasons our players are so tired isn't just our injuries (look at how many games Wolves have played with a similar squad size if not smaller). It's because of our style of play.
We surrender possession and chase the ball across our own half for large periods, shuffling constantly from side to side. Constantly defending requires a high amount of focus, this is incredibly tiring when you are doing it for large periods.
Then when we do eventually win it, we are so deep that we have to run 40/50/60/70 yards upfield to try and put together any meaningful attack. Every single time. This drains our stamina massively and it's one of the reasons we are seeing even worse decision making than usual in the final third.
It's a constant drain on our players, they are constantly either in full focus trying to defend deep or flying up-field like lunatics to try and counter-attack over massive distances. Simply not sustainable and bear in mind we were doing this even when we had Kane and Son.
The best counter-attacking teams, teams like Pool and Leicester for example are both excellent, they both mix up their counter-attacks with periods of possession play, in which they control the match, keep the ball, slow/speed up the tempo, make the opposition chase the ball around the pitch to tire them out. They make the opposition do the work for large periods, which leaves them tired and exposed for more focused and timed counter-attacks.
They also often win the ball back mid block and spring from a slightly higher position, with less ground to cover.
We surrender possession and chase the ball across our own half for large periods, shuffling constantly from side to side. Constantly defending requires a high amount of focus, this is incredibly tiring when you are doing it for large periods.
Then when we do eventually win it, we are so deep that we have to run 40/50/60/70 yards upfield to try and put together any meaningful attack. Every single time. This drains our stamina massively and it's one of the reasons we are seeing even worse decision making than usual in the final third.
It's a constant drain on our players, they are constantly either in full focus trying to defend deep or flying up-field like lunatics to try and counter-attack over massive distances. Simply not sustainable and bear in mind we were doing this even when we had Kane and Son.
The best counter-attacking teams, teams like Pool and Leicester for example are both excellent, they both mix up their counter-attacks with periods of possession play, in which they control the match, keep the ball, slow/speed up the tempo, make the opposition chase the ball around the pitch to tire them out. They make the opposition do the work for large periods, which leaves them tired and exposed for more focused and timed counter-attacks.
They also often win the ball back mid block and spring from a slightly higher position, with less ground to cover.