[Albion] Fannying about at the back

[Eric Youngs Contact Lens]

Things werent working in the first half not because Bournemouth had cracked the code of how to stop our game plan. It wasnt working simply because of our formation. We had 2 defensive mids sat not even 10 metres in front of a narrow back 4, and then a huuuuuuuuuuuuuge gap in midfield with Adingra, Evan, Welbz, and Facundo playing as a flat 4 much higher up the pitch. Dunk, Webster, Gilmour, and Dahoud were so tight together, with Veltman & Pervis tucked in alongside them that their passes gained little. Instead we were forced to hit long balls up to Evan or Welbz, but its a big ask for either of them to control that pass, turn, and find an outlet. Normally Pedro or Gross would be sat in that midfield hole to help build the attack, or Gilmour might be a little further up the field than he was. For whatever reason we chose to set up like this, it wasnt working. The fact Bournemouth weren't pressing Dunk or Webster wasnt some masterstroke of tactics that nullified us, as it would have been so easy to pass through if one of our attacking players had just come deeper, which they did in the second half. It was all just a bit odd in that first half.

But it was exactly what did vs. Newcastle and tried, less successfully, against Athens.

 

[brighton_tom]

But it was exactly what did vs. Newcastle and tried, less successfully, against Athens.

Against newcastle Gross would move further forward to link up with Pedro, who could move the ball on to Evan or out wide to Mitoma and March. More of a 4-2-3-1. Against Bournemouth in the first half it was much more a 4-2-4 with a big space between the 2 defensive mids and a flat attacking 4 waiting for the ball to be fired long to them. It just didnt work, and was easily tweaked with the second half subs. Fati was coming much deeper to collect the ball than either Evan or Welbz had been. Athens was just a mess, f*** knows what we were trying in that.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Against newcastle Gross would move further forward to link up with Pedro, who could move the ball on to Evan or out wide to Mitoma and March. More of a 4-2-3-1. Against Bournemouth in the first half it was much more a 4-2-4 with a big space between the 2 defensive mids and a flat attacking 4 waiting for the ball to be fired long to them. It just didnt work, and was easily tweaked with the second half subs. Fati was coming much deeper to collect the ball than either Evan or Welbz had been. Athens was just a mess, f*** knows what we were trying in that.

Also, Newcastle played Burn as a CB, and he wasn't / isn't mobile enough to keep up with Joao Pedro, so he had free space to collect the ball in, un-pressured. What Bournemouth did superbly was to always track the striker when he came deep.

 

[jackanada]

I didn't mind Barts slow walks forward with the ball. Next time he's in that situation I'd like him to just surge forward 20 yards. That would be flair.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I am very much #TeamFanny and support the style of play. To provide some 'data' over whether Bart had options for the 1st goal, this is the moment the Bournemouth player starts to sprint to close him down. I'll let you be the judge of whether he's got options.

View attachment 166948

Right back is free, as is left midfield, but he is sitting on his heels and isn't paying enough attention to notice.

 

[Bodian]

I'm obviously team fanny (oi! oi!), the issue yesterday wasn't that we fannied around. Its just that we weren't fannying around properly like we usually do.

You mean it was the wrong type of fanny?

 

[trueblue]

Things werent working in the first half not because Bournemouth had cracked the code of how to stop our game plan. It wasnt working simply because of our formation. We had 2 defensive mids sat not even 10 metres in front of a narrow back 4, and then a huuuuuuuuuuuuuge gap in midfield with Adingra, Evan, Welbz, and Facundo playing as a flat 4 much higher up the pitch. Dunk, Webster, Gilmour, and Dahoud were so tight together, with Veltman & Pervis tucked in alongside them that their passes gained little. Instead we were forced to hit long balls up to Evan or Welbz, but its a big ask for either of them to control that pass, turn, and find an outlet. Normally Pedro or Gross would be sat in that midfield hole to help build the attack, or Gilmour might be a little further up the field than he was. For whatever reason we chose to set up like this, it wasnt working. The fact Bournemouth weren't pressing Dunk or Webster wasnt some masterstroke of tactics that nullified us, as it would have been so easy to pass through if one of our attacking players had just come deeper, which they did in the second half. It was all just a bit odd in that first half.

Agreed. I wonder if Steele might have tried dropping one over the top for Adingra to run on to but it's all easy with hindsight. It was a flat performance in a flat atmosphere. RDZ sorted it out and we won. On to the next one.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Just watched the Sky 30 minutes highlights and they show a wider shot of the positioning.

Estupinan has some space as does Welbeck.

 

[Weststander]

Right back is free, as is left midfield, but he is sitting on his heels and isn't paying enough attention to notice.

At the game first half, there appeared to be tunnel vision in starting moves down our left. I could be wrong.

 

[Weststander]

Just watched the Sky 30 minutes highlights and they show a wider shot of the positioning.

Estupinan has some space as does Welbeck.

View attachment 166974

Where’s Veltman?

 

[Bodian]

Where’s Veltman?

I think that's his foot - bottom right-hand corner. On his way to the half-way line.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Alternatively he could have just lumped it forward in hope.

Whatever alternative couldn't have had a worse outcome.

 

[Oh_aye]

You mean it was the wrong type of fanny?

The fanny was too static.

 

[Pavilionaire]

If you play out from the back like we do you are going to give away the odd goal, it is inevitable.

Alisson of Liverpool is one of the finest keepers in the Prem but committed a number of such errors in his first few seasons for them.

 

[Guinness Boy]

You can add Dean Saunders to the list of people who don’t understand modern football. Imagine being owned by Jason Cundy.

 

[Icy Gull]

You can add Dean Saunders to the list of people who don’t understand modern football. Imagine being owned by Jason Cundy.

Dean Saunders calling people thick?

 

[Machiavelli]

I think that's his foot - bottom right-hand corner. On his way to the half-way line.

When our players did actually start moving on a few occasions Buonanotte ran in-field, and Veltman went up-field. I suspect that's what was happening in that shot (note that it looks as though Veltman is further advanced than Pervis).

 

[Berty23]

Good old Saunders. I love he wants to know how many goals are conceded from playing out. I don’t suppose our army of analysts have thought about looking at that.

We are third in the league. Top scorers. Have the shortest squad. But yeah launch it.

Meanwhile Enciso’s goal is up for world goal of the year and so many passes they sped up the video. It is against the best club side in the world.

 

[keaton]

Just watched the Sky 30 minutes highlights and they show a wider shot of the positioning.

Estupinan has some space as does Welbeck.

View attachment 166974

Both of those balls would have to be aerial really making them easier to intercept as a defender and harder for the team mate to do anything with

Wasn't there on Sunday but I did think our movement when we were trying to play out was poor on Thursday

 

[WATFORD zero]

Just watched the Sky 30 minutes highlights and they show a wider shot of the positioning.

Estupinan has some space as does Welbeck.

View attachment 166974

I think that the idea there would be to play short to Gilmour who then plays first time to Dunk, because if the player is closing from that side, logic says that is where we have space. But it's easy to say having looked at the picture for a couple of seconds. I think these are the 'drills' which are run every day of training, and to be fair to Verbruggen, he probably hasn't done this day in, day out for as long as Steele, hence the momentary hesitation.