[Albion] Playing the ball out from the back

[BensGrandad]

I generally like to watch it, sometimes with my heart in my mouth, but then I am equally at home when Dunk pings a pass from the left back position to Montoya or whoever out wide right near the opposition box. What I don't like it aimless punts from our box into the opponent's box or to their keeper knowing full well it will come straight back. If we are winning by 1 goal and in the last minute hit the ball down to a corner flag but please not back to their keeper or if you must, put it over the bar for at least a goal kick not for him to have in his hands.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Love it. Love it because we're really very good at it, because Potter is very good at coaching it. Nearly all teams try it, but not many look as comfortable as we do

 

[Arkwright]

Getting use to it and can totally understand the reasoning behind it, draw in two, three, four players and in one pass they are taken out, how often is that telling pass a simple but positive five to ten yard pass.
Yes it's high risk and at times we will cock up but the positivity of our play is becoming joy to watch.

 

[supaseagull]

I looked at this a few years ago when I was coaching and the risk of losing the ball at the back when playing short is no different to losing it when hitting the ball longer and statistically the odds on conceding are the same even though by going longer the defending team have more players in shape.


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[wellquickwoody]

This is now life

- deal with it
- Accept it.
- Move on.

Fans being 'uncomfortable' counts for diddily squat.

Ask Mr Hughton about that?

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

When it works it's beautiful, when it doesn't (Sheff U) it's agonising.

Recently, I feel Duffy is more comfortable with it than Webster, who was bought as the ball-playing centre back (and Duffy supposedly the uncultured industrial centre back). Confidence I guess.

It's definitively risky as when it goes wrong there's high chance of a goal. However, it's certainly more entertaining and as I go to the football to be entertained more than I do for win at all costs it's a thumbs up from me.

I'm still getting used to it though.

edit - of course there is a loud mouthed contigent of the crowd that moan and groan about it (mostly the older fans?) - I hope Potter and the players can ignore them

Interesting. What struck me most about Duffys performance against Bournemouth was how uncomfortable he looked with the ball. He would play his passes under little pressure straight to Propper or Montoya when they had someone close to them, who then had no choice to play it back to Duffy, who would then go back to Ryan when he was closed down. It all worked out, but the way we play it, and why Webster is good, is that the passes from the defender are delayed, even under pressure, and made to an outlet who is in space so they can turn or pass it on to someone further forward.

 

[Bozza]

Not that I see pre-match warm-ups very often, but a staple of this always seemed to be a version of "piggy in the middle" where one player tries to intercept the ball being knocked about by the players forming a ring outside them.

Assuming they still do that, I can now see that it serves a purpose. Short, sharp passes that are terrifyingly close to the "piggy" and inches away from being intercepted.

 

[Gazwag]

I keep thinking that....but considering how many times he's done so now I'm struggling to think of when he's messed it up. His ball control; is exceptional for a keeper - some of the passes back to him now are really getting belted at him but he's totally confident on either foot.

Everyone needs to get used to it because we're not going to stop it now (benefits/chances created far outweigh the risks).......won't stop the hordes of 'kick it long' wailers in the WSL from moaning though

I can remember maybe a couple of times when the attacker has connected and the ball went out for a throw or goal kick and one game, Wolves maybe, when he came awfully close to running into his own goal, but I agree the way we are playing has more benefits than not, more so away from home as well

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

Interesting. What struck me most about Duffys performance against Bournemouth was how uncomfortable he looked with the ball. He would play his passes under little pressure straight to Propper or Montoya when they had someone close to them, who then had no choice to play it back to Duffy, who would then go back to Ryan when he was closed down. It all worked out, but the way we play it, and why Webster is good, is that the passes from the defender are delayed, even under pressure, and made to an outlet who is in space so they can turn or pass it on to someone further forward.

There’s a few reasons Webster has generally stayed in the team. 1) what you’ve stated above. 2) he’s much better on the turn than Duffy and 3) he’s quicker allowing us to play a higher line.

Thing is, most of our fans are accustomed to us defending on the 6 yard line all match where you need a big strong burly lad who heads a ball well.

What we don’t need right now is a big strong burly lad who can head a ball. We need a footballer (although ideally one who can use his head too).

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

Not that I see pre-match warm-ups very often, but a staple of this always seemed to be a version of "piggy in the middle" where one player tries to intercept the ball being knocked about by the players forming a ring outside them.

Assuming they still do that, I can now see that it serves a purpose. Short, sharp passes that are terrifyingly close to the "piggy" and inches away from being intercepted.

They’re called Rondos. They’re a staple of most coaching courses nowadays.

 

[Bozza]

They’re called Rondos. They’re a staple of most coaching courses nowadays.

I prefer "piggy in the middle", if that's OK?

 

[MattBackHome]

They’re called Rondos. They’re a staple of most coaching courses nowadays.

Xavi's recollection of what life was like at La Masia: "Rondo, Rondo, Rondo..."

 

[Icy Gull]

They’re called Rondos. They’re a staple of most coaching courses nowadays.

In the same way as refuse collector sounds much more impressive than dustman, so Rondos sounds much more professional than telling grown men to go and play some piggy in the middle, but it's actually the same thing

 

[blue-shifted]

I quite often think about, if I was the opposition manager, knowing how Brighton play, how would I go about nullifying the possession based, play it out from the back style. There are 3 options the way I see it

1) Sit deep, get your shape and refuse to go chasing the ball (Newcastle did this to us)

You’re less likely to be hit on the counter, but you’ll also have very little possession and you give up the chance to force a mistake

2) Press with the strikers and most of the midfield but leave your defence fairly deep (the Bournemouth and Palace approach)

Might force a mistake in the passing and you’re still protected from the ball in behind to Maupay, but your ceding tonnes of space In the midfield for Mooy and Propper to exploit

3) Press with the whole team and have the defence high up the pitch. (like Leicester and Wolves did)

Gives you the chance to strangle our passing game but leaves you vulnerable to a quick ball into space.

If I was an opposing manager, I’d reason that the biggest threat we carry is achieved through midfield domination. I’d go option 3, press aggressively with a high line and accept the risk of conceding on the counter

 

[ForestRowSeagull]

Cant have your cake and eat it in this situation. Its necessary to draw their front players out to create the space in behind for players like Mooy, Trossard and Gross to be in to do their work. If you lump it long those spaces in between the lines arent there.

 

[herecomesaregular]

I quite often think about, if I was the opposition manager, knowing how Brighton play, how would I go about nullifying the possession based, play it out from the back style. There are 3 options the way I see it

1) Sit deep, get your shape and refuse to go chasing the ball (Newcastle did this to us)

You’re less likely to be hit on the counter, but you’ll also have very little possession and you give up the chance to force a mistake

2) Press with the strikers and most of the midfield but leave your defence fairly deep (the Bournemouth and Palace approach)

Might force a mistake in the passing and you’re still protected from the ball in behind to Maupay, but your ceding tonnes of space In the midfield for Mooy and Propper to exploit

3) Press with the whole team and have the defence high up the pitch. (like Leicester and Wolves did)

Gives you the chance to strangle our passing game but leaves you vulnerable to a quick ball into space.

If I was an opposing manager, I’d reason that the biggest threat we carry is achieved through midfield domination. I’d go option 3, press aggressively with a high line and accept the risk of conceding on the counter

Only Sheff U outplayed us, not sure which approach they took!

 

[Icy Gull]

Only Sheff U outplayed us, not sure which approach they took!

Closed us down all over the pitch for 90 mins and bullied us into shit passing. Wimbledon of the 21st century.

 

[beorhthelm]

my concerns are you need very good footballers, which arent necessarily brilliant defenders, to achieve this style. also passing the keeper when right infront of his goal is asking for an accidental goal. and knowing when to recognise no pass is on and getting the ball up pitch. thats were our players probably will get caught out.

 

[narly101]

As long as we continue to play Bissouma in place of Stephens, we'll be fine.

 

[Sorrel]

I thought the point was to draw the opposition out of position, then move fast past them. While it is a tactic that people can see, most players can't help being drawn into it.