[Albion] Fabian Hürzeler - A fab thread on our manager and his tactics

[singing4seagulls]

Looking for a sensible balanced discussion on our manager and his tactics.

Ie. This reply - https://nortr3nixy.nimpr.uk/thre...-manager-and-his-tactics.412380/post-11508743
We had 0% long balls from the keeper in September 23. It feels like most go long now. Good? Bad? Ugly?

Let's keep it civil and interesting

UTA

 

[Han Solo]

Wonder why no one thought of this earlier

 

[Comrade Sam]

He's fantastic. But occasionally he isn't.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Good luck with that. Bye bye thread

 

[Weststander]

https://nortr3nixy.nimpr.uk/threads/hurzelers-tactics.408376/

 

[singing4seagulls]

A starting point, compared to De Zerbi we've radically changed how we play out from the back.

In September 2023 we played 0% of our balls long. ZERO

It feels like most balls are played long now. It's a big shift for me as a fan, having seen it gradually move more and more De Zerbi's way over the years.

I can't say I'm fully convinced. Especially when we're ahead - it feels like we risk (and often do) gift away possession.

Don't mind it when we're not ahead, as in theory it's 50/50 ball half way up the pitch.

Interested in others feelings or observations?

 

[pasty]

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned anywhere, but apparently he is the youngest manager in the Premier League

 

[jcdenton08]

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned anywhere, but apparently he is the youngest manager in the Premier League

That can’t be right?

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

He's won a few tactical battles and lost a few tactical battles.

Personally I think he is sometimes guilty of trying to be a bit clever. Mitoma playing infield for the first part of the game yesterday. The whole lack of midfield against Forest. We've got a good enough squad that he should probably leave the fancy stuff, for now.

But he's showing evidence he can learn. The high risk passes from Verbruggen to a crowded midfield seem to have been abandoned rather than encouraged, in favour us going long sometimes. We're now much less predictable and we're shipping fewer goals. I wonder if the new fella in the management group has played a part there.

I've not been hugely impressed with his "in game management". The subs seem a bit pre planned and usually a little later than they maybe should be. If a player is struggling, he can let that drift a little too much. This is something which I think will come with time. Did you know he's only 32?

Overall, he's had a very good first season in the PL. There is no suggestion the players aren't behind him, he interviews well (but not excitingly) and he seems to have a sound enough tactical grasp. My season rating so far ......

Hurzeler - 7

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

That can’t be right?

I’ve heard a rumour that some of the squad are older than him too. That will never work.

 

[Balders]

You are asking the Church of NSC to pass comment and analyze his tactics

 

[singing4seagulls]

Also, some thoughts from yesterday:

• Thought that he got sub timings right. On a typical game these were late, but he planned for the extra time. We had more energy than them at the end (poor Pedro excluded ).
• A few people commented beforehand about our subs bench being stronger than theirs and they were right. The subs made it. This is the sort of depth we need to deal with injuries and any thoughts of Europe.
• Really liked seeing Fab get a whiteboard out and coach the team on 10v10 gameplan
• Feels like he's getting a much clearer view (and presumably has trained the team) on positions and where people play best. Jack moved around a lot, but some other versitlie players. People moving around a lot in game.
• Was surprised Weifer didn't come into midfield at the end, but was very smart change in formation by Fab to go for the winner vs waiting on pens. Thought that was a very good sign we've got us a tactically astute and flexible manager - something we've all been wanting

 

[singing4seagulls]

He's won a few tactical battles and lost a few tactical battles.

Personally I think he is sometimes guilty of trying to be a bit clever. Mitoma playing infield for the first part of the game yesterday. The whole lack of midfield against Forest. We've got a good enough squad that he should probably leave the fancy stuff, for now.

But he's showing evidence he can learn. The high risk passes from Verbruggen to a crowded midfield seem to have been abandoned rather than encouraged, in favour us going long sometimes. We're now much less predictable and we're shipping fewer goals. I wonder if the new fella in the management group has played a part there.

I've not been hugely impressed with his "in game management". The subs seem a bit pre planned and usually a little later than they maybe should be. If a player is struggling, he can let that drift a little too much. This is something which I think will come with time. Did you know he's only 32?

Overall, he's had a very good first season in the PL. There is no suggestion the players aren't behind him, he interviews well (but not excitingly) and he seems to have a sound enough tactical grasp. My season rating so far ......

Hurzeler - 7

Love this. Actually interesting discussion and thoughts

Only thing I'd disagree with is lack of midfield for forest. Everyone forgets but we had no fit midfielders - his hands were pretty tied so had to try something different. Nobody has explained what we should have played instead. Also when he tried to change it in the 2nd half to put more in midfield they scored more goals.

But agree with you otherwise

 

[Change at Barnham]

My expert analysis:

Sińce Daniel Niedzkowski has turned up we seem to have improved defensively.
Sometimes when in doubt players now have permission to hoof it clear from dangerous areas.
We now have a bigger squad and if a player doesn't run his bollocks off he loses his starting place in the team.

It seems to be working.

 

[elwheelio]

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned anywhere, but apparently he is the youngest manager in the Premier League

That's news to me.

 

[ConfusedGloryHunter]

That's news to me.

Fake news though. He is 32. The record is 31.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

That can’t be right?

It isn't . He's 32 years old.

The record is 31.

 

[ConfusedGloryHunter]

It isn't . He's 32 years old.

The record is 31.

I win

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

I think his tactics change for each game. I think we can create enough chances without over emphasis on playing out from the back.

A bit of the issue with what DZ was trying to do was that it was predictable as we had a style which he would not move from. Teams could therefore prepare. This guy is different, things get changed around and we are becoming more solid. We certainly played the offside well at Newcastle.

 

[jcdenton08]

I’m all for a good tactical discussion, and he does constantly tweak, which has an effect of course.

What’s struck me in this winning run is the steel we’re showing. So much of the game is won in mentality. When you’ve got a division full of two sets of elevens of similar ability, games are usually won or lost based on moments in time. Welbeck’s finish, Bart’s excellent dealing of crosses.

I think it’s the mentality on the pitch which has impressed me most in recent games, the workrate and attitude has been first class