[Albion] Low Block is our Achilles heel

[Bold Seagull]

Number 3 - we were so good at this earlier in the season. Last couple of games - we have looked ponderous in our build up, and when there have been willing runners, we haven't often put the ball through to them. Dunk tried a couple last night, but poorly.

Very difficult to break against teams like Everton, Wolves, West Ham who are drilled not to leave any spaces for a break. These sides out of possession quickly get back and narrow and mop up any longer ball attempts.

On Saturday, first half we had quite a bit of success firing longer balls to Adringa who was excellent, but even those rapid turnarounds, Everton quickly smothered the space as they left so few people ahead of the ball.

 

[banjo]

City must get this every game too, but they’ve got a beast up front to help them out.

 

[Mr Smggles]

If this is news to you then I suggest you pay more attention to our games

 

[nwgull]

I was watching Citeh’s first goal against Luton tonight - de Bruyne in a wide position gets up very high behind the defenders after a beautiful cut in from Nunez, before putting in the assist and catching Haaland who’s made a breakthrough run into the 6 yard box - I realise Luton weren’t defending low but isn’t this one of the ways to deal with a low, central block such as Wolves - no point our inverted wingers cutting inside only to run into a bunch of defenders in the 18 yard area - staying wide and getting behind the lines before putting in the cross surely is more effective ?



Wolves barely came out of their own half for the last 30 minutes bar a few counter attacks but on the few times they do counter from the block, when we win back possession high in our own half then we need to be much much quicker on the transition and not give them time to get back into shape - we were too slow.

Oh - yes - and, at the risk of stating the bloody obvious - score first or at least don’t concede first

Intersting anaylsis, but I can't help feeling that breaking down defences of any sort is always going to be a bit easier when you've got one of the best midfielders in the world feeding the best striker in the world.

 

[Simster]

DeZerbi ball reminds me of Baz ball in cricket. It's great seeing invention and conventional thinking challenged, but sometimes you have to hold your hand up and admit it doesn't always work.

Everton at home last season, Luton a month ago and now Wolves have scored early and then reverted to good organisation and attempting to pick us off. West Ham were similar.

I'm not saying I want De Zerbi ball to be abandoned any more than Baz ball, but it ought to be adapted. In this case, perhaps we shouldn't be setting our stall out to stroke the ball around at the back until we're a bit more settled into the game. Equally, mix up the intricacy on the edge of the box. We did a lot more of this last season when we had Mac Allister (and actually Solly March) offering threats from outside the box without trying to walk the ball in. Last night Wolves simply got superbly well organised and flooded their own box when we came forward. They were worth their win IMO, and we need to try and find an answer to this.

 

[The Mole]

Enciso is a key player as he can shoot from distance and go past players drawing in fouls. He made a big difference when he came on

 

[dwayne]

Enciso is a key player as he can shoot from distance and go past players drawing in fouls. He made a big difference when he came on

Has to start vs roma

 

[Badger Boy]

Missing our better attacking players and relying on Peupion who isn't even football league standard playing as right wing back was always going to be a recipe for failure.

Pre-game, the team line up was a concern because we had the handicap of an incompetent goalkeeper who can play a pass, 3 CBs which rarely works for us at all, Peupion at RWB who was out of position and out of his depth, Estupinan at LWB which doesn't suit him and then Adingra, Facu and Fati as a front three meant we weren't going to have a good shape.

And then Steele drops a clanger and the game felt gone after 2 mins.

Despite all of that, when we made the subs (not BBB) it gave us a chance of getting back in the game!

 

[Simster]

Enciso is a key player as he can shoot from distance and go past players drawing in fouls. He made a big difference when he came on

He really is, for the reasons we both highlight. He just gets better and better, and he'll be our next mega money sale after Mitoma (maybe in 2 seasons from now).

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

We have a serious problem when teams play a low block against us.
It is obviously the successful way to play against us.
How do we get over it? Play quicker? Plan b? More direct? Sit deep and let other teams have the ball and we play on the counter?
Whatever solution, it is a pattern and we have been found out.

Get into em
f*** em up
Shoooooooot

Three pronged improvement