- Jul 28, 2004
- 27,719
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Hard to fully judge an incident that late on when we were cheating and hit on the counter, but it doesn’t look good on either full back, particularly as they are players who’s game is about energy and aggression.
One thing I will say is that, when playing with a back four, if both full backs are bombing up at the same time when a central midfielder should really be dropping back and making a three with the centre backs, whether by splitting them or moving to the nearest flank. If that happens, then we’ve got the extra man retreating in the middle to make sure we’re not outnumbered and the guy on the flank can stop the attack more easily, whether legally or with a tactical foul (used to be so good at this). Dier the midfielder actually did this very well in those first free Pochettino years. Even when chasing the game, being left with 2 at the back is a collective failing, not just the fullbacks who, while it looks very bad to just be ambling back, probably were too far away to make a difference anyway.
One thing I will say is that, when playing with a back four, if both full backs are bombing up at the same time when a central midfielder should really be dropping back and making a three with the centre backs, whether by splitting them or moving to the nearest flank. If that happens, then we’ve got the extra man retreating in the middle to make sure we’re not outnumbered and the guy on the flank can stop the attack more easily, whether legally or with a tactical foul (used to be so good at this). Dier the midfielder actually did this very well in those first free Pochettino years. Even when chasing the game, being left with 2 at the back is a collective failing, not just the fullbacks who, while it looks very bad to just be ambling back, probably were too far away to make a difference anyway.