From watching the game on Sky yesterday it looked to me like we are playing a very similar system to last season but with a very important difference: the midfield and forwards spent the whole game pressing Man U high up the pitch. Was great to see and won us plenty of possession in some dangerous areas. Hope we continue to see this, especially at the Amex.
Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊
[Albion] Pressing
- Thread starter seagully
- Start date
Green Cross Code Man
Wunt be druv
Yes, it was immediately apparent yesterday, one of the MOTD commentators picked up on it in the analysis as well. I like it!
RandyWanger
Je suis rôti de boeuf
Interesting stat from the game:
Manchester United made five successful tackles in the entire match with none of them arriving in the opening 45 minutes. Brighton's pressing of the ball saw them win 13 tackles during the match with eight of them in the Manchester United half.
Manchester United made five successful tackles in the entire match with none of them arriving in the opening 45 minutes. Brighton's pressing of the ball saw them win 13 tackles during the match with eight of them in the Manchester United half.
Indeed - most pleasingly we didn't sit back when we were ahead, but carried on pressing high up the pitch (even in the Championship we always tended to drop back after going ahead). The players were also hunting in groups. Great to watch.
LamieRobertson
Not awoke
Might be a tad harder to do against Liverpool
- Aug 8, 2005
- 27,246
It was the same performance as we put in against Arsenal I'd say. Similar level of incompetence in the back four as well.
Green Cross Code Man
Wunt be druv
Yep, I would play Mourinho's team any day. Klopp's Liverpool are scary.
This exactly. Two massive and positive differences in our game which, away from home particularly, could make a big difference.
Albumen
Don't wait for me!
Klopp's influence in the Premier is already showing. His level of pressing is crazy, and it looks like we're aiming for a similar level. If we can put away the chances when we successfully press we'll go a long way. Whether we quite have the athletes to do that all season is another matter but that's where the bigger squad comes in I guess. And probably another reason why Bruno may not be seen as much . . . *sniff*
Icy Gull
Back on the rollercoaster
- Jul 5, 2003
- 72,015
They passed/ran through us with ease last year, men vs boys on the day. Be interesting to see if CH adds some pace to the forward line by dropping Murray who is unlikely to get the service he thrives on. Closing down and fast counter attacking are our best hope of avoiding a drubbing imo. Early subs to help out knackered players chasing shadows, we will need to chase everything down for 95 plus mins imo.
Good stat.
I'd like to know how many of those 13 tackles were made by ANTHONY KNOCKAERT.
D
Deleted member 18477
Guest
No one in football likes being pressed... even City and Barca...
At times yesterday I thought Knockhaert was Salah and March was Mane....
Outstanding! Only the best teams can literally pass around that.
The difference between Knockhaert and March to Salah and Mane though is they do it every single game, oh and are LETHAL in front of the goal. If we play like that in 20 of our 38 games we will stay up with ease... the ability looks to be there it’s the consistency which is crucial over a whole season.
At times yesterday I thought Knockhaert was Salah and March was Mane....
Outstanding! Only the best teams can literally pass around that.
The difference between Knockhaert and March to Salah and Mane though is they do it every single game, oh and are LETHAL in front of the goal. If we play like that in 20 of our 38 games we will stay up with ease... the ability looks to be there it’s the consistency which is crucial over a whole season.
Lifelong Supporter
Well-known member
Yes or perhaps the alternative is to rotate say Knocky/Gross with the new guys who are perhaps more likely to give him some service. Knocky in particular so often seems a different player away from home.
Napier's Knee
New member
Bruno commented in this in an interview he gave about pre-season training - he said that they had been working on fitness levels to allow for better pressing. Knockaert is like a little terrier at it. I also liked the greater aggression of Stephens and Propper - Propper has become a master of the well-timed shoulder barge.
28 successful tackles in total according to whoscored.com
Propper - 7 (out of 9 attempted - outstanding)
Knocky, Stephens, Balogun - 4 (Balogun 4/4 success rate)
Montoya - 3
Gross, March - 2
Bong, Murray - 1
https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/211/Show/England-Brighton
sant andreu
Active member
- Dec 18, 2011
- 241
Seems to be the trend these days. I guess it's a bit of a case of if you can't beat them, join them. Great to see it working for us!
Huddersfield do it too, and have of course done it successfully against us in the past (February at theirs a couple of years ago?), but watching the motd2 analysis it didn't seem to work for them against City yesterday. But then it did for Liverpool against City last season...
Huddersfield do it too, and have of course done it successfully against us in the past (February at theirs a couple of years ago?), but watching the motd2 analysis it didn't seem to work for them against City yesterday. But then it did for Liverpool against City last season...
One of the keys to the success yesterday was the referee.
When we pressed and made challenges the ref didn't fall for the Man United players falling to their arse looking for cheap free kicks to get themselves further up the pitch to punt high balls into our box. You won't always get a referee who doesn't get conned in those situations.
Liverpool and Man City you can't press them. Their players are not as ''one dimensional'' as Man United are. Look what City did to Huddersfield when they pressed yesterday. Against City and Liverpool, you defend deep and hope to keep them out - Or even just keeping the score down is like gaining a point because others won't keep the score down against them.
When we pressed and made challenges the ref didn't fall for the Man United players falling to their arse looking for cheap free kicks to get themselves further up the pitch to punt high balls into our box. You won't always get a referee who doesn't get conned in those situations.
Liverpool and Man City you can't press them. Their players are not as ''one dimensional'' as Man United are. Look what City did to Huddersfield when they pressed yesterday. Against City and Liverpool, you defend deep and hope to keep them out - Or even just keeping the score down is like gaining a point because others won't keep the score down against them.
Is it PotG?
Thrifty non-licker
Indeed.
I do not feel that pressing Liverpool or City in a similar mode to yesterday would be a wise option.
I do not feel that pressing Liverpool or City in a similar mode to yesterday would be a wise option.
Withdean11
Well-known member
It seemed to me that the players were also stronger on the ball. In particular Gross. Looks like they have been doing some strength work in the gym.