[Albion] Jamie Carragher joins the Roberto De Zerbi Fan Club

[Bozza]

Oh.

 

[AmexRuislip]

Isn't he just scared of being left out of the pundit circle of trust

 

[Littlemo]

I don’t think RDZ has done anything bad enough to have Carragher rate him. Poor RDZ, he can come back from this insult though.

 

[Weststander]

Those interesting numbers, a clear sea change, back up something @Guinness Boy often said. The chances previously were half chances, not clear chances, giving an illusion of a team unlucky in most EPL games.

RDZ has turned us into a team with a great counter attack, more precise in its final third passing and with bodies in the box at key moments.

 

[Icy Gull]

And it all starts with fannying about at the back…he hasn’t worked that out yet has he?

 

[Deadly Danson]

Can everyone just shush! We need to be back under the radar.

 

[theboybilly]

And it all starts with fannying about at the back…he hasn’t worked that out yet has he?

I though that it had been established that it was 'arsing about' at the back

 

[AmexRuislip]

Can everyone just shush! We need to be back under the radar.

Yes totally agree, but in Carraghers case, one spit or two.

 

[Barham's tash]

Those interesting numbers, a clear sea change, back up something @Guinness Boy
RDZ has turned us into a team with a great counter attack, more precise in its final third passing and with bodies in the box at key moments.

This sentence is so true. The quality of the chances has improved I believe due to two reasons:

1. The players are being cuter with their deliveries. Often under GP it felt like they were trying too much in the sense of beat man and play the pass, often the correct one, but perhaps before the intended recipient had gone

And more tellingly

2. Instead of their only being one intended recipient as was the case under Potter this time there are multiple. Encouraged to flow forward en mass so seemingly each opportunity yields two or three options at a time with remaining personnel there for the second ball

 

[Mental Lental]

This sentence is so true. The quality of the chances has improved I believe due to two reasons:

1. The players are being cuter with their deliveries. Often under GP it felt like they were trying too much in the sense of beat man and play the pass, often the correct one, but perhaps before the intended recipient had gone

And more tellingly

2. Instead of their only being one intended recipient as was the case under Potter this time there are multiple. Encouraged to flow forward en mass so seemingly each opportunity yields two or three options at a time with remaining personnel there for the second ball

I agree with this. The way Mitoma came ghosting in at the back post v West Ham....He was the 3rd possible recipient to that ball. Under GP that would've skimmed agonisingly accross the 6 yard box in front of our striker and then everyone would be pissing and moaning on here about how Tony needs to get his cheque book out to get someone on the end of those balls.

 

[The Fits]

Highest possession. 2nd highest passes of sequence 10+. It's incredible really. Utterly incredible. That isn't even over just a few games. It's most of the season. Nuts.

 

[Baldseagull]

Dangerous comparisons to Potter, Swansman will be after him.

 

[Weststander]

…..

 

[Weststander]

This sentence is so true. The quality of the chances has improved I believe due to two reasons:

1. The players are being cuter with their deliveries. Often under GP it felt like they were trying too much in the sense of beat man and play the pass, often the correct one, but perhaps before the intended recipient had gone

And more tellingly

2. Instead of their only being one intended recipient as was the case under Potter this time there are multiple. Encouraged to flow forward en mass so seemingly each opportunity yields two or three options at a time with remaining personnel there for the second ball

The end of a fast paced attack against Chelsea for the third goal. Albion bodies around the box AND in superior positions, swamping their numbers. Hey presto, defensive panic and a goal.

Cuckoo marking 3 or 4 players .

 

[Easy 10]

This sentence is so true. The quality of the chances has improved I believe due to two reasons:

1. The players are being cuter with their deliveries. Often under GP it felt like they were trying too much in the sense of beat man and play the pass, often the correct one, but perhaps before the intended recipient had gone

And more tellingly

2. Instead of their only being one intended recipient as was the case under Potter this time there are multiple. Encouraged to flow forward en mass so seemingly each opportunity yields two or three options at a time with remaining personnel there for the second ball

Partly I agree with this. But the biggest single factor is, IMO, the SPEED of transition now.

Our one-touch play is just dazzling. We're very clever bringing it out from the back, but then when it reaches the central and final third, the way we bounce it off each other first time is absolutely outstanding. There is always someone with their back to goal in or around the box, ready to make a cushioned lay-off to someone running on to it. Its almost like clockwork. Its wall-ball.

A prime example was on Saturday for Mitoma's goal. Ferguson received a pass back to goal and played an exquisite one-touch flick to March. To Gross. To Mitoma. Bang. 3-0. This wasn't on the break, it wasn't intercepting a poor pass. It was pure, slick interplay, with SPEED. And of course the numbers we now commit forward.

Its these one-touch rapid transitions in the final third (following some piss-taking at the back) that is giving teams so much trouble. An absolute joy to watch. Potter built the foundation, but he NEVER got us playing quite like this. Solly in particular looks 5x the player he has been under anyone else.

 

[Easy 10]

Souness doesn't fancy him. Entertaining watching.

 

[Barham's tash]

The end of a fast paced attack against Chelsea for the third goal. Albion bodies around the box AND in superior positions, swamp their numbers. Hey presto, defensive panic and a goal.

View attachment 157965

Yeah but it’s Chelsea….

 

[BadFish]

Those interesting numbers, a clear sea change, back up something @Guinness Boy often said. The chances previously were half chances, not clear chances, giving an illusion of a team unlucky in most EPL games.

RDZ has turned us into a team with a great counter attack, more precise in its final third passing and with bodies in the box at key moments.

I agree, the chances created are better. those stats refeered to 'big chances' and I think this is where Potterball struggled a little (It is necessary to insert here that I fully understand how important Potter was for us and that he was steering us in the right direction).

I am starting to wonder if what is in place for De Zerbi may be enough to keep him here.

 

[Shooting Star]

Those interesting numbers, a clear sea change, back up something @Guinness Boy often said. The chances previously were half chances, not clear chances, giving an illusion of a team unlucky in most EPL games.

RDZ has turned us into a team with a great counter attack, more precise in its final third passing and with bodies in the box at key moments.

100% concur. GP largely created half chances where the defence had three men back in front of goal.

 

[Shooting Star]

This sentence is so true. The quality of the chances has improved I believe due to two reasons:

1. The players are being cuter with their deliveries. Often under GP it felt like they were trying too much in the sense of beat man and play the pass, often the correct one, but perhaps before the intended recipient had gone

And more tellingly

2. Instead of their only being one intended recipient as was the case under Potter this time there are multiple. Encouraged to flow forward en mass so seemingly each opportunity yields two or three options at a time with remaining personnel there for the second ball

I believe it's also down to beating the press, which takes out a number of the opposition players.