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[Albion] Low Block is our Achilles heel



Greenbag50

Well-known member
Jun 1, 2016
502
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.
 




AZ Gull

@SeagullsAcademy @seagullsacademy.bsky.social
Oct 14, 2003
13,092
Chandler, AZ
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.
Has this post been waiting to be approved by a moderator since 2019?
 




Bold Seagull

strong and stable with me, or...
Mar 18, 2010
30,458
Hove
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.
A low block is everyone’s Achilles regardless of how you play. It lacks ambition and attractiveness and relies mainly on mistakes, set pieces and the odd counter.

We haven’t been found out, it’s just surprising teams with bigger resources than us need to resort to it.
 


A1X

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Sep 1, 2017
20,537
Deepest, darkest Sussex
I noticed tonight we resorted to a lot of crosses, but we don’t have a target man

Ferguson could do that but obviously wasn’t available tonight (and can’t score in a brothel right now), none of our other forwards can really do this
 




Kalimantan Gull

Well-known member
Aug 13, 2003
13,437
Central Borneo / the Lizard
How to beat a low block..

1) be good at 'winning' penalties
2) be good at scoring direct free kicks from outside the box, or otherwise smacking them in from distance
3) be deadly on the counter
4) have players who can take on and dribble past defenders

Thats pretty much how the likes of City do it. we're getting better at parts of this.

Still, the best advice is 'don't pick a keeper who drops the ball at the oppositions feet in the first minute' :thumbsup:
 


Jeremiah

John 14 : 6
Mar 15, 2020
2,520
Hove
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.
Shoot ?
 








nwgull

Well-known member
Jul 25, 2003
14,533
Manchester
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.
Not concede a soft goal after 80 seconds would be a good start 👌
 


nwgull

Well-known member
Jul 25, 2003
14,533
Manchester
Don’t concede stupid goals early doors and invite the opposition to sit in a low block for the rest of the game to counter our threat.
Great minds. Much easier to play low block when the opposing keeper gives you something to defend within 2 mins.
 






The Grockle

Formally Croydon Seagull
Sep 26, 2008
5,760
Dorset
It just seems to be part of the RDZ rollercoaster to me.

We'll dominate games then lose after not being able to break down a team who adopt the low block, play a team off the park only to scrape a draw then just as everyone has declared RDZ Potter MK2 we'll absolutely destroy someone in a show of complete and utter dominance.

It's somewhat frustrating and leaves me thinking what could be as we're so bloody close to being a top, top team but then I remind myself we're being treated to some of the best football we've ever played, competing in and around the European places and two matches from a quarter final place in Europe.

As is often the case, I feel like we need to have some perspective when airing our frustrations after a disappointing result.
 


Am pretty sure Palace and Sheffield attempted deep defending. We’ll have a problem against any system without our best attackers
 




peterward

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Nov 11, 2009
12,273
I don’t know the stats but fannying about UP TOP doesn’t appear to be the answer as I can’t recall us unlocking a defence with this tactic

Having a crack at goal might work if we tried it.

Feels very potter.
Was at game and it was soooo frustrating. Always trying to be too clever and walk it in.
 


One Love

Well-known member
Aug 22, 2011
4,488
Brighton
The big problem is making an early mistake.

The opposition just knows they have to throw everyone behind the ball and we won't score.
 


WhingForPresident

.
NSC Patron
Feb 23, 2009
17,267
Marlborough
Fancied a quick game of FM24 to ease the pain of today's result and my next game was coincidentally against our next real life opponents.

Anyone who doubted the realism of FM, feast your eyes. This shit is even following me in the virtual world now.
Screenshot 2024-02-29 at 00.11.20.png
 






Zeberdi

“Vorsprung durch Technik”
NSC Patron
Oct 20, 2022
6,945
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.

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 🙄
 
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