For analysts, the first 2-3 minutes of a game are gold dust. They act as a window into the last couple of days on the training ground.
Let’s look at the first 20 seconds of NUFC vs Man Utd.
Man Utd press high, man to man in midfield w/ their ball far winger inside (to press CB)
Let’s look at the first 20 seconds of NUFC vs Man Utd.
Man Utd press high, man to man in midfield w/ their ball far winger inside (to press CB)
Miley drags Mainoo away & Isak drops short. Newcastle Utd outnumber McTominay - 2v1 in midfield - & are out on the opposite side.
Shaw didn’t follow Isak into midfield (worried about Maguire as last man?). This happened throughout the match.
Isak received lots of balls to feet.
Shaw didn’t follow Isak into midfield (worried about Maguire as last man?). This happened throughout the match.
Isak received lots of balls to feet.
What’s intriguing about ETH is he must know that his FWDs (Rashford/Martial in particular) are poor pressers yet he uses the most risky approach.
Bruno often chases the ball so him & Martial switch in this eg.
You can see Rashford pressing Schär. He needs to rely on Martial..
Bruno often chases the ball so him & Martial switch in this eg.
You can see Rashford pressing Schär. He needs to rely on Martial..
Which is not the ideal position to be in…Martial is too slow to press, 1 simple bounce pass by Schär & Bruno Guimaraes & Livramento has acres of space to run into.
You see the trend. This happens 2/3 times, players get frustrated, press with less tempo then it all falls apart.
You see the trend. This happens 2/3 times, players get frustrated, press with less tempo then it all falls apart.
Check the clock, that’s twice within three minutes that Livramento has had the freedom of the left hand side.
Pundits often talk about desire/attitude/running because they really are key aspects to any football match.
Take this example. Man Utd’s shape is ok. It’s is obvious where the ball is going (back to Schär). Martial is too far away and jogs which then enables a pass into Isak.
Take this example. Man Utd’s shape is ok. It’s is obvious where the ball is going (back to Schär). Martial is too far away and jogs which then enables a pass into Isak.
Check the clock. Five minutes in and that is the third time already that Man Utd are stretched and facing dangerous attacks.
You cannot press with players like Martial in your team. The whole structure falls apart. How he has survived for so long says a lot about the standards..
You cannot press with players like Martial in your team. The whole structure falls apart. How he has survived for so long says a lot about the standards..
I can’t emphasise enough how much of a negative impact a player like Martial has on the rest of the team. Garnacho is probably thinking ‘why chase & press when he is walking around’. The knock on effect is time on the ball & Man Utd get dragged all over the place. Into Isak again
What I would say about pressing from wide (wingers onto CBs) rather than through the middle (AM/CM jumping to press) is that it takes a lot of practice and you need athletic/tactically intelligent Wingers & (especially) CMs.
Take this example…
Take this example…
Rashford has dropped to help his team but he is now too deep to help Martial in any way…the ball travels backwards and Martial is waving for him to join him (third pic). But he is never getting there from his starting position. Which means the press falls apart.
The decision then is whether to stay with your man (and understand what is behind you) or do nothing…Livramento is in acres again.
I think Rashford lacks defensive awareness & understanding. Combine that with a less than energetic press/recovery & it is a recipe for disaster.
I think Rashford lacks defensive awareness & understanding. Combine that with a less than energetic press/recovery & it is a recipe for disaster.
I’ve focused on Man Utd here but Newcastle Utd are the opposite. They will eventually upgrade on Joelinton & Almiron but players like them are worth their weight in gold (and it is why they are still in the team).
The minimum you can provide is maximum effort.
🫡💙
The minimum you can provide is maximum effort.
🫡💙
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