[Albion] Hürzeler’s (Brighton) Tactics

Nobby Cybergoat said:

Just on this pace thing. Be aware of the headline top speed figures. A player like Van der Ven has an extraordinary top speed for a central defender, but it may well take him a while to get there. if Mitoma was facing up against him over a 3 yard sprint from a standing start like he does against a full back, I’d fancy Kaoru every time.

Not reaching any mind bending conclusions about the game here, just that that a players top speed doesn’t give you an idea of how quick someone turns and doesn’t give you an idea of how someone accelerates. It only tells you what they can get to over longer distances

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jcdenton08 said:

Very surprised not to see Moder there actually, extraordinarily quick

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jcdenton08 said:

A very good point. And body weight has to be considered as per the post after yours. If a player is on the back foot there’s another whole shift of weight and motion before they can accelerate. Body position is crucial to acceleration - this is the purpose of many training exercises

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Flounce said:

Won’t be surprised to see him in the team on Sunday

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Nobby Cybergoat said:

It is and I wonder if we could be defending more side on, if we're going to be on the half way line. Out of all the ways we're being caught out, the strikers bent run from deep seems to be the most lethal. Just seeing this happen should be a indication that we need to drop, not try to play them offside.

Also, amid all this talk about pace, I feel it's wise not to ignore Bob Paisleys comment about the first two yards being in the head. I think we can make this defending strategy work, I don't buy into the whaling harpoon thing after just one defeat all season, it will just take more practice which means, likely more defeats. It will also take remarkable communication and leadership on the pitch which can only come from Lewis. Making this plan work for his manager represents the biggest challenge of his career in my opinion

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Nobby Cybergoat said:

Hello Garry Nelson’s Left foot. You were questioning whether we have a strategy on the JPVH thread. I think we do and I and thought I’d say it how I see it here

I think the home league matches so far give a really good indication of what we’re trying to do. Against Man Utd, Forest and Ipswich, the idea is to win possession high up the pitch. That way we can score goals while their defence isn’t set. We might have a lot of possession, but this isn’t the aim. Once in possession , we’re much less looking to horseshoe around their box. We’re looking to play riskier passes and deliver much earlier and accept the risk of losing possession and being hit on the break.

To achieve this aim of winning the ball high up, Fab wants us to be compact. He says this a lot. What he means by this, I think, is that there are no big spaces between our outfield players. All 10 are expected to pressure the opponents and ensure there is no spare man for an easy outball. The downside to this compactness, is that if one player loses a man or is dribbled around or (if we’re in possession) misplaces a pass, there is masses of space in behind us which pacey forwards have been able to exploit.

There are clear upsides and downsides to this plan. I understand why you could make a case why it’s a bad plan. There are legitimate questions about whether we have the personnel to carry this out. But there is a plan and in my view, it’s clear for all to see.

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Garry Nelson's Left Foot said:

Would these tactics explain the collapse of anything approaching shape in games? It feels like in every game there are sizeable periods where the game descends into what I keep describing as chaos. Shape disappears and players just run end to end through great swathes of open pitch.

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Hiheidi said:

Saw this today - Van De Ven the fastest player in the PL apparently. Minteh is our fastest.

View attachment 189703

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Nobby Cybergoat said:

You're right about the apparent chaos. The Wolves game in the Carabao cup, at times resembled a 5 year olds game, the way spaces opened up and players were out of position.

To me, the answer to your question, is that this is an inevitable consequence of an ideologically driven doctrine of pressing. If your players are tasked with never leaving a spare man, if your defenders are asked to aggressively win the ball, inevitably it means getting sucked out of position.

JPVH's role in the Forest counter attack goal was a good example. He's miles out of position, highly likely because he's been asked to attack the ball if he thinks he can win it. It's a huge change from the relatively rigid defensive structures employed by our last 3 managers. It will take some getting used to.

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Garry Nelson's Left Foot said:

Sounds a bit Bielsa-y. If you're right then there is method in the apparent madness and it is something that can be improved upon over time.

Lets see how it plays out over the season. Whether we crack it...or it cracks us!

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Nobby Cybergoat said:

Jakub is the fringest of all our senior fringe players. Nothing against the player, but i'd be amazed if he played

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Nobby Cybergoat said:

Hello Garry Nelson’s Left foot. You were questioning whether we have a strategy on the JPVH thread. I think we do and I and thought I’d say it how I see it here

I think the home league matches so far give a really good indication of what we’re trying to do. Against Man Utd, Forest and Ipswich, the idea is to win possession high up the pitch. That way we can score goals while their defence isn’t set. We might have a lot of possession, but this isn’t the aim. Once in possession , we’re much less looking to horseshoe around their box. We’re looking to play riskier passes and deliver much earlier and accept the risk of losing possession and being hit on the break.

To achieve this aim of winning the ball high up, Fab wants us to be compact. He says this a lot. What he means by this, I think, is that there are no big spaces between our outfield players. All 10 are expected to pressure the opponents and ensure there is no spare man for an easy outball. The downside to this compactness, is that if one player loses a man or is dribbled around or (if we’re in possession) misplaces a pass, there is masses of space in behind us which pacey forwards have been able to exploit.

There are clear upsides and downsides to this plan. I understand why you could make a case why it’s a bad plan. There are legitimate questions about whether we have the personnel to carry this out. But there is a plan and in my view, it’s clear for all to see.

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Garry Nelson's Left Foot said:

Sounds a bit Bielsa-y. If you're right then there is method in the apparent madness and it is something that can be improved upon over time.

Lets see how it plays out over the season. Whether we crack it...or it cracks us!

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Uh_huh_him said:

I recall Dunk referring to the first couple of months under RDZ were baffling, but it gradually became clear.

Possibly a similar issue with Huerzeler.

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Nobby Cybergoat said:

You're right about the apparent chaos. The Wolves game in the Carabao cup, at times resembled a 5 year olds game, the way spaces opened up and players were out of position.

To me, the answer to your question, is that this is an inevitable consequence of an ideologically driven doctrine of pressing. If your players are tasked with never leaving a spare man, if your defenders are asked to aggressively win the ball, inevitably it means getting sucked out of position.

JPVH's role in the Forest counter attack goal was a good example. He's miles out of position, highly likely because he's been asked to attack the ball if he thinks he can win it. It's a huge change from the relatively rigid defensive structures employed by our last 3 managers. It will take some getting used to.

Click to expand...