[Albion] Now for the elephant in the room

[peterward]

Simple question. How do we get Potterball to work against teams that shut up shop? The last 3 wins have reinforced our main issue for me - Potterball is fantastic against teams that let us play or aren't fully at it. But Fulham, WBA, Sheff Utd, Burnley et al at home? Breaking through the lines and quick interplay doesn't work as well against 10/11 behind the ball. I guess this is the first time Potter has had this issue in his career - top quality defenders looking to spoil. Portsmouth in the LC showed how well the system works against a lesser defence who try the same thing. But our home record shows how we struggle when teams come to stop us.

So - what is the solution? I guess the xG stats suggest maybe it is just take our chances but it feels like it is more than that. Maybe a fit Wellbeck is the answer - if the opposition are sitting deep then crosses aren't currently our friend with midgets up front.

palace do it pretty effectively, similar to us last night, defend deep in numbers, break on counter quickly. The onus is not on you at home to attack bus parkers, its to work out how to beat them and sometimes that could be to give them a bit of intiative then hit them on the break..... our problem has been that we've been a bit to ponderous or slow of thought in final 1/3 or try to over complicate it.

 

[Arthur]

There are always 3 keepers in the travelling party for an away match, in case one gets ill / injured.

I guess what happened last night is that somebody else who should have been on the bench, felt unwell, or picked up a niggle, so they thought they might as well fill the available space with the extra keeper.

Well yes clearly but I would have expected that the club would also have outfield players in the travelling squad as backup. Obviously didn't last night.

 

[Bob!]

Interestingly, Maupay’s and Andone’s scoring stats (at least according to wiki) are almost identical;

Maupay 77 in 248
Andone 75 in 240

Can anyone compare their xG as well?