[Albion] Plan B (Counter Attack)

[sussex_guy2k2]

Genuinely, I haven’t seen your post and wasn’t commenting about your opinion.

I’m talking about a 6 year obsession on nsc of to beat the low block … we need more width and put in the mixer. Totally disagree. Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Saliba, Gabriel and the Brentford team love that. They’re coached day in day out to destroy teams trying that ancient routine. We haven’t the strikers.

You don’t need big strikers to use width effectively. This isn’t the 1970s.

You’re trying to create space. You do that laterally or vertically. When a team is sitting deep, you can’t create space vertically as, like Everton yesterday, they’re not intending to move from the 18 yard box, so there is no vertical space. So you create space by using width. You’re trying to disorientate them. You’re trying to drag them out of position.

You’re never going to do any of these things by staying narrow as we did yesterday.

But, and again I want to emphasise this as it’s tactical 1o1, you don’t need to lump balls high into the box just because you’ve created width.

 

[Weststander]

You don’t need big strikers to use width effectively. This isn’t the 1970s.

You’re trying to create space. You do that laterally or vertically. When a team is sitting deep, you can’t create space vertically as, like Everton yesterday, they’re not intending to move from the 18 yard box, so there is no vertical space. So you create space by using width. You’re trying to disorientate them. You’re trying to drag them out of position.

You’re never going to do any of these things by staying narrow as we did yesterday.

But, and again I want to emphasise this as it’s tactical 1o1, you don’t need to lump balls high into the box just because you’ve created width.

But Tarkowski and Branthwaite stay glued in position. Supported by an army of everyone, to mop up 100% of danger in the box. Drilled into them, no matter what issues arise out wide. Essentially ten players + Pickford are working it.

The first key to beating these teams is never, ever go a goal behind. It’s game over.

Then in the rare opportunities, instinctive first time passing. So often this season you’ll see Welbeck, Pedro or Rutter make a great run. But Baleba or Gruda or MO’R make a 5 yard pass to their CM team mate. Seconds later the low block is fully in position.

 

[Ratso2005]

error my bad

 

[Ratso2005]

But according to this table, we have had 325 shots - and the average distance of those shots is 17.5m - third highest in the PL.

Premier League Shooting Stats | FBref.com

Check out Shooting Stats for the 2024-2025 Premier League season.

fbref.com

View attachment 195734

Stop contradicting vibe-based opinions with verifiable facts!

 

[GT49er]

You don’t need big strikers to use width effectively. This isn’t the 1970s.

You’re trying to create space. You do that laterally or vertically. When a team is sitting deep, you can’t create space vertically as, like Everton yesterday, they’re not intending to move from the 18 yard box, so there is no vertical space. So you create space by using width. You’re trying to disorientate them. You’re trying to drag them out of position.

You’re never going to do any of these things by staying narrow as we did yesterday.

But, and again I want to emphasise this as it’s tactical 1o1, you don’t need to lump balls high into the box just because you’ve created width.

Absolutely not, not when you can stop and pass it back to your midfield, who will either work it out to the opposite wing, or in a series of inspiring passes work the ball back to Verbruggen to roll it out to Dunk and start it all again. All without losing possession (unless someone slips or has a brain fart or isn't concentrating and they nip in and score)!

 

[Super Sub]

Since the Forest debacle it has been evident that we have relinquished our possession % to become more compact and hard to break down.
This isn’t to say that I think we park the bus for one moment.
Instead we now appear to be happier as a counter attacking side almost. I for 1 am enjoying this style of play and take my hat off to FH who seems to have learnt a few hard lessons.

 

[BevBHA]

Since the Forest debacle it has been evident that we have relinquished our possession % to become more compact and hard to break down.
This isn’t to say that I think we park the bus for one moment.
Instead we now appear to be happier as a counter attacking side almost. I for 1 am enjoying this style of play and take my hat off to FH who seems to have learnt a few hard lessons.

It certainly suits our players a lot better imo. We have speed and power in abundance going forward

 

[Cordwainer]

It certainly suits our players a lot better imo. We have speed and power in abundance going forward

Yep that was really evident tonight..I think this slightly different way of playing is much more effective currently and much more enjoyable to watch! Certainly the transitions and attacks are a lot more rapid. Like the occasional route 1 as well with some of the attackers either getting straight through or landing on second balls. I think FH is learning to adapt tactically pretty well at the moment..perhaps the result of one man midfield gate really did focus his mind!