Player Watch: Davinson Sanchez

[Tucker]

Very solid performance again last night.

 

[Timberwolf]

When you look at some of the struggles our rivals are having at CB, I feel better and better about Sanchez.

Arsenal's CBs are mostly woeful, Chelsea's are very up and down and most of City's CBs have an error (or 5) in them.

Sanchez may not be Ledley King, but he's quick, fairly solid and I never get worried when I see his name on the teamsheet.

 

[spurs mental]

Hes been very good since coming in alongside Toby.

Still don't like him when hes on the ball but defensively solid.

 

[degoose]

i posted this in the match thread, I've definitely seen an improvement.

Does anyone else think Sanchez is looking far better and is also being more adventurous and accurate with his passing. Last night he was making quite a few forward passes but not 5 yard ones, Proper long on the floor passes. He is also not looking as panicky as he has done a lot in the past. Not sure if perhaps they have been working on those certain aspects in training or something has just clicked, he's never been a terrible defender but he has always been limited with his what he does with the ball.

I thought he was great in this game and since he came back in with toby next to him.

 

[Reado]

I think he's looked decent lately. I still think his passing needs to improve, but also don't think that it is helped as it is often Sissoko receiving it with his back to play on half way. Sanchez is playing lots of passes inside right, but I think they would be more effective with somebody receiving them on the half turn. Nothing against Sissoko as I do like him, but he tends to take his touch then turn if possible, if not play back to Sanchez or out to Aurier. He's young, he's pacy, and along side Toby I he's been good.

 

[Japhet]

i posted this in the match thread, I've definitely seen an improvement.

Does anyone else think Sanchez is looking far better and is also being more adventurous and accurate with his passing. Last night he was making quite a few forward passes but not 5 yard ones, Proper long on the floor passes. He is also not looking as panicky as he has done a lot in the past. Not sure if perhaps they have been working on those certain aspects in training or something has just clicked, he's never been a terrible defender but he has always been limited with his what he does with the ball.

I thought he was great in this game and since he came back in with toby next to him.

I think it's a direct result of having more midfield cover in front of him. Go back to a 4231 formation and I think our whole back line would look much worse again, but playing 433 or 442 like we did against Arsenal gives them a load more protection and a load more passing options when trying to pass forwards.

 

[Cochise]

My main concern with Sanchez is that he sometimes gets caught not tracking his man when they drop deep, he will allow them into the space between the lines. He also seems to be less physical than he can be, something which has changed recently.

 

[LeParisien]

My main concern with Sanchez is that he sometimes gets caught not tracking his man when they drop deep, he will allow them into the space between the lines. He also seems to be less physical than he can be, something which has changed recently.

A CB shouldn’t be tracking a forward between the lines. Aware of their movement sure. But not being pulled out of position by basic movements off the ball.

 

[DJS]

I think it's a direct result of having more midfield cover in front of him. Go back to a 4231 formation and I think our whole back line would look much worse again, but playing 433 or 442 like we did against Arsenal gives them a load more protection and a load more passing options when trying to pass forwards.

It’s weird though as 4-4-2 when being phased out was due to not having enough midfield control and 4-2-3-1 effectively allowed two midfielders to sit in front of the back four.

 

[Cochise]

A CB shouldn’t be tracking a forward between the lines. Aware of their movement sure. But not being pulled out of position by basic movements off the ball.

This is where I'll show I know less than you, but is there not a limit as to how far a centre back should track? I'm not advocating chasing to the halfway line, but if a striker drops between the defence and midfield, receives a ball on the turn and runs at the back four then that is still a risk that can be mitigated by a CB stepping out. If not then the attacker will eventually draw out a defender as someone will have to break ranks to step up to them.

 

[Japhet]

It’s weird though as 4-4-2 when being phased out was due to not having enough midfield control and 4-2-3-1 effectively allowed two midfielders to sit in front of the back four.

Mourinho used 442 v Arsenal to counteract their wide players, and very effectively. The trouble with 4231 from my perspective and with our current crop of players in mind, is that there are big gaps in front of our fullbacks which the central pairing struggle to cover. When Sissoko plays he spends huge amounts of time covering Aurier and leaves big gaps in the middle. Once the opposition are past our front 4 it's easy to get overloads in key areas. The other problem is lack of passing options for the back 4.

 

[LeParisien]

This is where I'll show I know less than you, but is there not a limit as to how far a centre back should track? I'm not advocating chasing to the halfway line, but if a striker drops between the defence and midfield, receives a ball on the turn and runs at the back four then that is still a risk that can be mitigated by a CB stepping out. If not then the attacker will eventually draw out a defender as someone will have to break ranks to step up to them.

In most cases you’d expect the midfield to be screening. If the centreback engages normally that would be because there is no other threat and one can press and the other can cover. You don’t want your central defenders to be caught 2 on 2. If the attacking team has got that situation in the heart of your defence then you have big problems.

All this depends on the situation. Where the ball is, where the goal is, what’s going on around. But the defenders key job is to defend the goal, not the attackers. So in most cases they will position themselves primarily on the relationship between the ball (the threat) and the goal.

 

[DJS]

Mourinho used 442 v Arsenal to counteract their wide players, and very effectively. The trouble with 4231 from my perspective and with our current crop of players in mind, is that there are big gaps in front of our fullbacks which the central pairing struggle to cover. When Sissoko plays he spends huge amounts of time covering Aurier and leaves big gaps in the middle. Once the opposition are past our front 4 it's easy to get overloads in key areas. The other problem is lack of passing options for the back 4.

I find it interesting and feel sometimes it’s more down to the players mood / Mentality how well a system works.

For example a lot of peeps on here rightly remember with fondness when we had Walker and Rose who were utterly fantastic at their jobs and allowed us to play 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-3 with perhaps not worrying about covering them.

But during the second period of that sexy season we finished 2nd and were mainly playing 3-4-3 Rose was injured so Davies was playing and Walker fell out of favour as wanted a move and was dropped for Trippker. So we weren’t playing with big bastard athletic full backs.

Maybe both systems just worked though as we had the midfield god known as the Moose keeping possession and Wanyama-prime alongside him meaning we just controlled everything.

Does make me think how much we’d benefit from a proper quality defensive midfielder out there as even when Dembele was in his peak for us he was still far far better when he had a proper specialist defensive midfielder alongside him, the first being Sandro (they were immense) then when he got back into team Dier, Wanyama and then Dier again back in days he was a good defensive midfielder.

 

[Japhet]

I find it interesting and feel sometimes it’s more down to the players mood / Mentality how well a system works.

For example a lot of peeps on here rightly remember with fondness when we had Walker and Rose who were utterly fantastic at their jobs and allowed us to play 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-3 with perhaps not worrying about covering them.

But during the second period of that sexy season we finished 2nd and were mainly playing 3-4-3 Rose was injured so Davies was playing and Walker fell out of favour as wanted a move and was dropped for Trippker. So we weren’t playing with big bastard athletic full backs.

Maybe both systems just worked though as we had the midfield god known as the Moose keeping possession and Wanyama-prime alongside him meaning we just controlled everything.

Does make me think how much we’d benefit from a proper quality defensive midfielder out there as even when Dembele was in his peak for us he was still far far better when he had a proper specialist defensive midfielder alongside him, the first being Sandro (they were immense) then when he got back into team Dier, Wanyama and then Dier again back in days he was a good defensive midfielder.

Very much so, but since Dembele, Wanyama and fit and healthy Dier, we haven't had a strong enough midfield anchor to play CM2 but Poch and Mourinho persisted with it and it didn't do us any good. Frustratingly, we had the players for a very good CM3 but it seemed imperative that a place was found for Dele no matter what the consequences.

 

[cirilus]

Just now before half time. Another example of why another CH is needed.

Easy giveaway and then bad cover on the shot.

Great guy, fast and hard working.

But not for starting 11.

 

[dagraham]

Just now before half time. Another example of why another CH is needed.

Easy giveaway and then bad cover on the shot.

Great guy, fast and hard working.

But not for starting 11.

Not watching the game, but I would say we have a set of decent CB’s, but no great one. Toby was, but I’m not sure he is anymore.

 

[GutBucket]

Tactical option against fast forwards like Aubameyang, Vardy, Werner. Can't play against stronger forwards and aerial threats.

 

[SpursTillIDie1882]

Just now before half time. Another example of why another CH is needed.

Easy giveaway and then bad cover on the shot.

Great guy, fast and hard working.

But not for starting 11.

Still way ahead of JM loverboy Dire, Sanchez was solid bar the goal, Dier got done like a kipper more than a few times, just the opponents were so poor they couldnt capitalise

 

[cirilus]

Still way ahead of JM loverboy Dire, Sanchez was solid bar the goal, Dier got done like a kipper more than a few times, just the opponents were so poor they couldnt capitalise

Agreed about Dier. But Sanchez requires midfield to play deeper, and is a sort of liability, because of some lapses of concentration.

Can't compare, either would play better with a comanding CH, but none is really a starting eleven player.

 

[bbunc]

I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to checking if Inter might have interest in a swap for Skirinar. Both players could maybe stand change of scenery.