[Albion] Potter’s Greatest Flaw

[Reddleman]

We absolutely dominated the first half yesterday, it was total control. We then took the lead so all was going to plan and was different to last season where we ether couldn’t score at all or fell behind.

We had chances that we should have taken and I don’t blame Potter for that. Lallana and Cucurella both should have scored.

They scored a good goal, excellent cross, good header down and tidy finish. Before that they hadn’t laid a glove on us. When they scored you could see the players were shell shocked and just couldn’t get going again.

Other than West Brom last season I can’t think of another game against a bottom three side we took the lead and let them back in, yesterday was just one of those days.

 

[Skaville]

With respect, you've just constructed an aftertiming bit of narrative there, based on the Norwich and Newcastle results. What about the Burnley, Watford and Brentford results? Seems to me that's five potential pratfalls in eleven games that we've avoided to a greater or lesser extent. Wouldn't have happened last season. Or the one before that etc

Totally valid point

 

[Seaview Seagull]

Why would any negativity seem bizarre?

We've spent 2 full seasons + a further 11 games watching exactly the same pitfalls.
Irrespective of the money spent, players used, praise heaped, comparisons made, Potterball has systematically failed to score the goals that beat defensive teams.

The negativity is no more bizarre than the circular nature of this issue.

Ok perhaps bizzare is the wrong word. As has been said if we had the funds to buy a Salah we could beat the block. We don't so it might always be a bit of a struggle. There's a limit to what you can achieve with our players for now. Actually if we continue playing our way and get points from attacking sides and draw with others that will do for now. It will be a great season if we finish mid table.

 

[BBassic]

The team (manager and players) sometimes get it right. Sometimes get it wrong.

The frustrating thing for me personally is two fold:

1) I hate Newcastle. Hate them.
2) We consistently under-perform against teams who start the game in the relegation spot.

But it's football, innit.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Dunk and Duffy were the main two slowing it all down. 10 passes to each other across the area and then a slow stroll forward.

And equally closest to equalising shot, but that doesn’t seem to get mentioned.

We don’t have any Physical presence in our forward line and are forced to play through the two blocks. It’s not that we don’t have the skill to do this we are simply too slow and a lack of movement doesn’t make us effective here.

Back to target men I thought Origi still looked sharp yesterday and maybe we are more desirable now

 

[Barnet Seagull]

I wanted to build on my original comments in this thread as contrary to most, I thought against Newcastle, Potter got his setup tactically spot on.

He was expecting Newcastle to come and defend and as we have seen, his teams have struggled against teams who defend in numbers. The use of Trossard as a forward, allows more of the intricate, quick, incisive play that is needed to score against packed defences. We saw first half on numerous occasions the fear that defenders had of him, and ultimately Trossards trickery led to us leading against a team who defended deep - something we've struggled with before.

The real trouble was when Newcastle shifted gears and got into us a bit. They adjusted their approach second half, pushing higher up, engaging higher up and basically pressed and attacked us.
After 45 minutes of relative comfort, we were coasting and had settled into a slow, meandering pattern of play. The players didn't react positively to the change and we lost all sense of urgency. We never really recovered.
I don't see any significant tactical issues that Newcastle presented us, with their minimal number of shots on goal, what I do see was players lacking intensity in their play and urgency in ball movement.

In my mind, Potter has found a way against packed defences - the use of the tricker, March & Tross up top shows this. He still needs to find a way to inject urgency and aggression when required.

 

[macbeth]

as much as potter does shoulder some of the blame for that, at the end of the day those tactics created more than enough opportunities to win the game. what's concerning is that maupay and trossard aside, absolutely none of our players can hit a cow's arse with a banjo.

yes, a lot of the build up was slow, ponderous and painful, but if lallana or cucurella score either of those chances which they should both hit the target with, nobody is thinking about that.

obviously against teams that park the bus, less chances will be generated by balls in behind, which suit trossard and maupay, and more chances tend to be created via pullbacks, and are from generally further out. whilst of course these chances will be more difficult to score, if our midfield had an ounce of shooting ability you would see a fair few more goals in these kind of games than we do currently, and therefore probably more points

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

In my mind, Potter has found a way against packed defences - the use of the tricker, March & Tross up top shows this. He still needs to find a way to inject urgency and aggression when required.

Not quite the same - but under Poyet in similar circumstances he would put on LuaLua and getting the ball to him would move us further up the pitch. LuaLua could take the ball and run at and beyond a defence.

If the opposition are coming out of their defensive shell - that should suit us. But as you say - we don't seem able to rapidly adjust the mindset.

 

[um bongo molongo]

I feel our lack of pace gets exposed in these games. Lamptey caused them problems, but we have no one else with the pace to scare defenders

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Obviously GP a very good manager

But have to agree that given his reputation is around tactical flexibility he doesn't seem to be able or willing to alter the basic slowly slowly game plan when we need a goal. I'm not talking about going route one. Just about getting it forward quicker when we need a goal. I get the risk is that we lose it and get exposed to the counter and that's why he wants us to be deliberate in possession, but we draw too many. We need to risk more defeats for more victories

 

[zefarelly]

Obviously GP a very good manager

But have to agree that given his reputation is around tactical flexibility he doesn't seem to be able or willing to alter the basic slowly slowly game plan when we need a goal. I'm not talking about going route one. Just about getting it forward quicker when we need a goal. I get the risk is that we lose it and get exposed to the counter and that's why he wants us to be deliberate in possession, but we draw too many. We need to risk more defeats for more victories

Agreed

a win and a defeat is more point than 2 draws.

we really do need to start shooting practice as well. It's embarrassing

 

[boik]

Obviously GP a very good manager

But have to agree that given his reputation is around tactical flexibility he doesn't seem to be able or willing to alter the basic slowly slowly game plan when we need a goal. I'm not talking about going route one. Just about getting it forward quicker when we need a goal. I get the risk is that we lose it and get exposed to the counter and that's why he wants us to be deliberate in possession, but we draw too many. We need to risk more defeats for more victories

That's not true tho is it? In the last couple of matches there have been great chances created by Sanchez quick long pass out to the wing. I think Lallana against Toon, and Lallana against Pool both came this way. We don't dio it all the time, but we certainly don't always faff around the back if there's a chance for a quick move forward. Sometimes we are just trying to draw the opposition out.

 

[Stat Brother]

I feel our lack of pace gets exposed in these games. Lamptey caused them problems, but we have no one else with the pace to scare defenders

Lamptey had Ritchie pooping himself for all of the first half.
Lamptey's constant movement and Alan St Maximum's reluctance to move had Ritchie dancing around all over the place.

Tariq was constantly looking for the pass around Ritchie but it just never came.

I should imagine im not the only one really excited about Flair Hair and The Lamp finally being together.
Maybe I was expecting too much, but hopefully, very soon, we'll start getting more out of them.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Weird narrative here. Newcastle sat first half. This is what we struggled against maybe 12-18 months ago. We battered them and led 1-0.

When they pressed us, which is what the top teams do, we struggled.

Yesterday wasnt a tactical issue, it was a performance issue.

In my view the difference was that Burn was missing.

When teams press us high and continually, like they did 2nd half, our usual policy is to try and pass through it, and if it gets tricky, use Dan Burn out wide as an out ball. He will win 95% of the headers up against their full back, and we are away.

His absence created 2 problems:

1. We don't have this plan B(urn) that will work against teams that drop back, like Newcastle did 1st half. Every time we attempted it, it was either Lamptey or Cucurella we aimed for, and neither appear great in the air.
2. 2nd half when they pressed us hard, we didn't have that outball, and in both halves Sanchez made risky passes to try and progress, which increased the tension, as we looked shakey.

I believe that is why GPot brought on Webster, to allow a little more height out wide.

And to the overall thread, there seem to be some people who are very keen to jump on any sign of weakness from our manager, which feels a little misplzced given how we're progressing.

 

[big nuts]

In my view the difference was that Burn was missing.

When teams press us high and continually, like they did 2nd half, our usual policy is to try and pass through it, and if it gets tricky, use Dan Burn out wide as an out ball. He will win 95% of the headers up against their full back, and we are away.

His absence created 2 problems:

1. We don't have this plan B(urn) that will work against teams that drop back, like Newcastle did 1st half. Every time we attempted it, it was either Lamptey or Cucurella we aimed for, and neither appear great in the air.
2. 2nd half when they pressed us hard, we didn't have that outball, and in both halves Sanchez made risky passes to try and progress, which increased the tension, as we looked shakey.

I believe that is why GPot brought on Webster, to allow a little more height out wide.

And to the overall thread, there seem to be some people who are very keen to jump on any sign of weakness from our manager, which feels a little misplzced given how we're progressing.

Agreed. Plus Newcastle wouldn’t have won the first header from the cross, which led to the goal.

Burn is a very useful player to have in the squad. Will be good to have him back available.

 

[Barnet Seagull]

In my view the difference was that Burn was missing.

When teams press us high and continually, like they did 2nd half, our usual policy is to try and pass through it, and if it gets tricky, use Dan Burn out wide as an out ball. He will win 95% of the headers up against their full back, and we are away.

His absence created 2 problems:

1. We don't have this plan B(urn) that will work against teams that drop back, like Newcastle did 1st half. Every time we attempted it, it was either Lamptey or Cucurella we aimed for, and neither appear great in the air.
2. 2nd half when they pressed us hard, we didn't have that outball, and in both halves Sanchez made risky passes to try and progress, which increased the tension, as we looked shakey.

I believe that is why GPot brought on Webster, to allow a little more height out wide.

And to the overall thread, there seem to be some people who are very keen to jump on any sign of weakness from our manager, which feels a little misplzced given how we're progressing.

I think the second half observation about BDB is valid as he is useful to develop the ball quickly, playing past the press, but I dont see much value of BDB against a deep defence as he doesnt have the final 3rd quality, flair or inventiveness.

On the Webster substitution, I think it was as simple as resting Tariq and giving Webster minutes.

 

[Bodian]

Every time we attempted it, it was either Lamptey or Cucurella we aimed for, and neither appear great in the air.

Take your point, but I've been impressed with the amount Lamptey does win in the air, considering he's tiny.

 

[Justice]

I don't know if its a flaw but surely a strange decision to leave your leading goalscorer on the bench against the bottom club at home who are winless. Even stranger when you consider Maupay has a great scoring record against them.

Sometimes Potter tries to be too clever IMO

We also need someone who can actually head the ball upfront - the 3 efforts from Trossard , March and Cucurella were powder puff at best.

Oh and stop passing along the backline - Gus bored us to death with it but at least he did it on the edge of our penalty box we now seem to want to do it in our own 6 yard box.

I’m not sure why he preferred March over Moder. Cucurella has been linking up really well with Moder who also adds some height, March seemed to be more of a hindrance than a help and constantly made the wrong decisions.

 

[macbeth]

Hence the sentence "Obviously, the record against bottom teams involves Grahams tactics and choices". Nothing is solely down to the players, they are just the most important component.

Brighton got a bottom five squad when it comes to attacking players making it difficult to beat teams that focus primarly on defending.

wouldn't disagree with that. but then I'd want to ask, obviously whilst acknowledging that nobody is perfect, what would you, Swansman, say is Graham Potter's biggest managerial flaw?

 

[dazzer6666]

its why Potter probably wont make it to a higher level. might do better with better players, the approach is limiting though.

Disagree - he is studious and intelligent enough to work it out. When he does, we’ll lose him to a ‘big club’.