THREAD
There seems to be some frustration/results-based analysis over our game vs NEW, resulting in many of our good opportunities being ignored because “we only had two shots on target”, etc. We actually did very well but just struggled at the last hurdle.
Analysis:
There seems to be some frustration/results-based analysis over our game vs NEW, resulting in many of our good opportunities being ignored because “we only had two shots on target”, etc. We actually did very well but just struggled at the last hurdle.
Analysis:
A reminder:
Goal
— obvious
Chance
— a shot
Opportunity
— a situation wherein a shot could take place depending on the final 2-3 actions
Opening
— where space to penetrate behind the opposition defence opens up
Goal
— obvious
Chance
— a shot
Opportunity
— a situation wherein a shot could take place depending on the final 2-3 actions
Opening
— where space to penetrate behind the opposition defence opens up
We created a lot high quality of opportunities vs NEW but either due to bad decisions, execution or excellent defending, we failed to convert them into chances.
Here’s a breakdown.
Here’s a breakdown.
1)
We have an excellent opportunity early. Sancho drives in and looks for Ronaldo, perhaps Bruno was the better option (maybe Ronaldo turns and takes it anyway). However, it requires a opposite leaning stretched leg to cut out. Fred then should pass to Shaw but he shoots.
We have an excellent opportunity early. Sancho drives in and looks for Ronaldo, perhaps Bruno was the better option (maybe Ronaldo turns and takes it anyway). However, it requires a opposite leaning stretched leg to cut out. Fred then should pass to Shaw but he shoots.
2)
Sancho draws a double team and plays it to Fred. Fred should absolutely pass to Bruno but instead he takes it back into traffic, loses possession and Dalot’s called for a foul. Here, once again, we did well but the final piece (Fred to Bruno) was missing.
Sancho draws a double team and plays it to Fred. Fred should absolutely pass to Bruno but instead he takes it back into traffic, loses possession and Dalot’s called for a foul. Here, once again, we did well but the final piece (Fred to Bruno) was missing.
3)
Here, Martínez wins the ball high during our press and Fred finds Sancho. He drives and passes to Ronaldo but he overhits the pass. It was a nice overlap and could’ve become a dangerous cutback situation but, once again, the final piece was missing.
Here, Martínez wins the ball high during our press and Fred finds Sancho. He drives and passes to Ronaldo but he overhits the pass. It was a nice overlap and could’ve become a dangerous cutback situation but, once again, the final piece was missing.
4)
Bruno does well to win the ball back and Fred plays it to Ronaldo. Sancho makes an excellent run but Ronaldo doesn’t find him. This would’ve become a great chance but it remained as just an opportunity.
Bruno does well to win the ball back and Fred plays it to Ronaldo. Sancho makes an excellent run but Ronaldo doesn’t find him. This would’ve become a great chance but it remained as just an opportunity.
5)
Bruno drives forward and should pass to Fred but he tries to find Ronaldo which is a difficult pass. It’s cut out and Sancho eventually shoots contested.
Opportunities weren’t being converted to chances and when they were, they weren’t good chances.
Bruno drives forward and should pass to Fred but he tries to find Ronaldo which is a difficult pass. It’s cut out and Sancho eventually shoots contested.
Opportunities weren’t being converted to chances and when they were, they weren’t good chances.
6)
Casemiro releases Fred and instead of being an option higher up with Fred having ample space to drive, Ronaldo comes short meaning there’s now no runner. Then, there’s a series of inefficient plays despite a numerical advantage that results in Antony shooting from distance.
Casemiro releases Fred and instead of being an option higher up with Fred having ample space to drive, Ronaldo comes short meaning there’s now no runner. Then, there’s a series of inefficient plays despite a numerical advantage that results in Antony shooting from distance.
7)
Ronaldo is offside here but the sequence is nice and just required better timing. The ball is played over the top and it requires Pope to come out and save. Again, not a chance per se as it’s offside but the sequence was good. Clear penetration but bad execution.
Ronaldo is offside here but the sequence is nice and just required better timing. The ball is played over the top and it requires Pope to come out and save. Again, not a chance per se as it’s offside but the sequence was good. Clear penetration but bad execution.
8)
Fernandes releases Sancho down the left and he finds Antony in a good position. He shoots from a tight angle and the save could’ve gone anywhere. The opportunity was good and the chance was decent.
Fernandes releases Sancho down the left and he finds Antony in a good position. He shoots from a tight angle and the save could’ve gone anywhere. The opportunity was good and the chance was decent.
9)
Sancho comes short and Varane fires it into him a little too aggressively. Sancho tries to flick it around the corner to Bruno who would’ve been in as Sancho dragged the defender with him but Sancho missed the ball. Again, just a step or two away.
Sancho comes short and Varane fires it into him a little too aggressively. Sancho tries to flick it around the corner to Bruno who would’ve been in as Sancho dragged the defender with him but Sancho missed the ball. Again, just a step or two away.
10)
Shaw finds Fred in a good area but tough situation with the ball dropping from above. We have both Ronaldo and Bruno in the middle with just one defender but Fred misses the ball. If he gets this across, we have a really good chance. As such, just an opportunity.
Shaw finds Fred in a good area but tough situation with the ball dropping from above. We have both Ronaldo and Bruno in the middle with just one defender but Fred misses the ball. If he gets this across, we have a really good chance. As such, just an opportunity.
11)
Bruno wins the ball and we transition down the right. Antony has two opportunities to play Bruno in who would’ve been in a good situation to cross. Casemiro was likewise arriving in the box and is a box threat. Instead, Antony looked to cross for Ronaldo early.
Bruno wins the ball and we transition down the right. Antony has two opportunities to play Bruno in who would’ve been in a good situation to cross. Casemiro was likewise arriving in the box and is a box threat. Instead, Antony looked to cross for Ronaldo early.
12)
Varane plays a lofted pass to Antony who does excellently to turn his man and drive down the wing. Here, he should pass to Bruno who would’ve had more options but he attempts a really difficult cross to Ronaldo whilst almost falling. Decisions.
Varane plays a lofted pass to Antony who does excellently to turn his man and drive down the wing. Here, he should pass to Bruno who would’ve had more options but he attempts a really difficult cross to Ronaldo whilst almost falling. Decisions.
13)
DDG finds Shaw, beating their press and it eventually gets to Fred. He has Sancho as a runner ahead. It’s not the easiest pass but the top players (e.g. Eriksen) make it even if it’s over the top. Fred projects his pass and it’s intercepted. Opportunity not converted.
DDG finds Shaw, beating their press and it eventually gets to Fred. He has Sancho as a runner ahead. It’s not the easiest pass but the top players (e.g. Eriksen) make it even if it’s over the top. Fred projects his pass and it’s intercepted. Opportunity not converted.
14)
Antony makes a great run and Fred should play him in but he doesn’t have a good weak foot nor is he technically good enough to play this on his left. This would’ve been a huge chance. Instead, he plays Antony out wide who ends up attempting another difficult pass to CR.
Antony makes a great run and Fred should play him in but he doesn’t have a good weak foot nor is he technically good enough to play this on his left. This would’ve been a huge chance. Instead, he plays Antony out wide who ends up attempting another difficult pass to CR.
15)
Casemiro plays an excellent first-time pass to Fernandes who should absolutely play Sancho in but it’s as if he doesn’t process that at all—this would’ve been another massive chance—and instead looks for Ronaldo who is then fouled when shooting.
Casemiro plays an excellent first-time pass to Fernandes who should absolutely play Sancho in but it’s as if he doesn’t process that at all—this would’ve been another massive chance—and instead looks for Ronaldo who is then fouled when shooting.
16)
Bruno plays Shaw in who just has to find Sancho and it’s another massive chance but his cross is intercepted. This isn’t so much bad execution as it is good defending but it’s still another example of just being one final piece away from something big.
Bruno plays Shaw in who just has to find Sancho and it’s another massive chance but his cross is intercepted. This isn’t so much bad execution as it is good defending but it’s still another example of just being one final piece away from something big.
17)
Sancho drives into the box and is quite clearly fouled but it isn’t given. It’s a poor decision from the referee and it should’ve been a penalty.
Sancho drives into the box and is quite clearly fouled but it isn’t given. It’s a poor decision from the referee and it should’ve been a penalty.
18)
Antony is in once more and it takes a last ditch tackle to stop his cross which would’ve created an excellent chance for us. This, again, is more so good defending but another example, as before, of just being one piece away. Opportunities not being converted.
Antony is in once more and it takes a last ditch tackle to stop his cross which would’ve created an excellent chance for us. This, again, is more so good defending but another example, as before, of just being one piece away. Opportunities not being converted.
19)
Rashford is played through and creates a big chance for Fred who misses. Perhaps Rashford was offside but I think he still reaches the ball before Pope had he been a fraction behind his starting point.
One more example of execution at the final few hurdles.
Rashford is played through and creates a big chance for Fred who misses. Perhaps Rashford was offside but I think he still reaches the ball before Pope had he been a fraction behind his starting point.
One more example of execution at the final few hurdles.
20)
Casemiro plays a fantastic cross into Rashford who, despite his height, has never been good aerially. He heads wide and it’s a massive chance.
Casemiro plays a fantastic cross into Rashford who, despite his height, has never been good aerially. He heads wide and it’s a massive chance.
Summary:
This thread isn’t to say we deserved to win however we created so many opportunities and were just let down by individual decisions and execution. In addition, we had a couple of penalty calls with one (Sancho) being quite clearly not given.
This thread isn’t to say we deserved to win however we created so many opportunities and were just let down by individual decisions and execution. In addition, we had a couple of penalty calls with one (Sancho) being quite clearly not given.
Peace. 🌹
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