Barlaser & Fry - Beating the press

J

Juno10

Well-known member
In the first half yesterday we struggled massively to beat the press in an effective way. (Not for the first time)

When Fry & VDB had the ball they continued to go square to each other. I'm sure the idea is that, while this is going on, Barlaser (& O'Brien) create an angle to receive a ball on the half turn so we can play forward. However, we don't seem to have any planned movements or rotations that allow it to happen consistently. I watched Barlaser and Fry closely (VDB and O’Brien were probably similar) and the amount of times Barlaser was being 'blocked' from receiving the ball was huge. Credit to the opposition in part but we had no response other than Barlaser to drop deeper which meant we had one fewer midfielder to find.

Second half they dropped deeper and pressed less aggressively, so Barlaser got on the ball easier and Hackney created some nice angles for him.

I do think that our lack of pace upfront or wide (Lath, Jones etc) means that the opposition can play a high line & make the pitch very compact for us as they aren't worried about being turned. Unfortunately, it means we are constantly playing passes under pressure and turning over possession in dangerous areas.

Do better players create better passing lines?
Do better players execute the current plan better?
Do we need better coaching to do it effectively?
Will the addition of genuine pace in behind make a big difference?

The answer to all of the above is probably yes.

Lots to improve on for Mr Carrick
 
The front 4 were so stationary in their movement in the first 30 minutes especially. Literally stood in a square centrally. Absolutely no pass on so the ball ends up being recycled in dangerous areas.

Hackney moving deeper means he can take a man out with his runs but it’s only part of the equation.

I know last season has gone, but we had Akpom dropping deep, often bringing a man with him. Then he also had the quality to play 1-2s or to take the ball on the turn to be running at goal. Pair this with archer on the shoulder and we start to create gaps. The other two attackers just need to be aware and always moving around. We obviously don’t have this quality anymore but we seem to have zero ideas.
 
Juno10 said:
do think that our lack of pace upfront or wide (Lath, Jones etc) means that the opposition can play a high line & make the pitch very compact for us as they aren't worried about being turned. Unfortunately, it means we are constantly playing passes under pressure and turni
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This is why, for me, in the absence of Jones you play Dijksteel. He has pace and can cover Ayling when he goes wandering forward. Push Forss into the 9.
 
Juno10 said:
In the first half yesterday we struggled massively to beat the press in an effective way. (Not for the first time)

When Fry & VDB had the ball they continued to go square to each other. I'm sure the idea is that, while this is going on, Barlaser (& O'Brien) create an angle to receive a ball on the half turn so we can play forward. However, we don't seem to have any planned movements or rotations that allow it to happen consistently. I watched Barlaser and Fry closely (VDB and O’Brien were probably similar) and the amount of times Barlaser was being 'blocked' from receiving the ball was huge. Credit to the opposition in part but we had no response other than Barlaser to drop deeper which meant we had one fewer midfielder to find.

Second half they dropped deeper and pressed less aggressively, so Barlaser got on the ball easier and Hackney created some nice angles for him.

I do think that our lack of pace upfront or wide (Lath, Jones etc) means that the opposition can play a high line & make the pitch very compact for us as they aren't worried about being turned. Unfortunately, it means we are constantly playing passes under pressure and turning over possession in dangerous areas.

Do better players create better passing lines?
Do better players execute the current plan better?
Do we need better coaching to do it effectively?
Will the addition of genuine pace in behind make a big difference?

The answer to all of the above is probably yes.

Lots to improve on for Mr Carrick
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Agree with several comments in this thread. All 11 players do need to accept some responsibility for the first 30 minutes - and also the manager for playing Hackney and Azaz out of position
 
Raul101 said:
The front 4 were so stationary in their movement in the first 30 minutes especially. Literally stood in a square centrally. Absolutely no pass on so the ball ends up being recycled in dangerous areas.
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This. At one point in the first half we appeared to have invented the 'Ladder Formation'. We were playing 4222.
We seem obsessed with trying to force the ball through central areas and inevitably end up losing it. It's hard to escape the impression that this is actually our plan which is a real worry. It's got to the point that when ball is actually played out wide it draws ironic cheers.
When we do get the ball out to the full backs they get zero support in order to create any sort of overload. On the occasions Engel went forward Azaz disappeared even further infield giving him no help whatsoever.
You can't play with zero width
 
chickenrunner said:
This. At one point in the first half we appeared to have invented the 'Ladder Formation'. We were playing 4222.
We seem obsessed with trying to force the ball through central areas and inevitably end up losing it. It's hard to escape the impression that this is actually our plan which is a real worry. It's got to the point that when ball is actually played out wide it draws ironic cheers.
When we do get the ball out to the full backs they get zero support in order to create any sort of overload. On the occasions Engel went forward Azaz disappeared even further infield giving him no help whatsoever.
You can't play with zero width
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I have to admit to feeling a little sorry for Engel, as you rightly point out that when he did receive the ball, because he had no options it went straight back to Rav; who then became frustrated with his midfield. It looked like he let them know as well. It won’t be long before RvDB becomes Captain material, he’s the only one that currently displays any leadership skills, and for one so young it is encouraging to see.
 
lostinyorkshire said:
This is one of the reasons Hackney should be in his usual position he is excellent at creating angles, keeping possession and bursting those 10 yards which breaks the lines.

As been mentioned loads on here it is ridiculous we are playing him advanced where he is half the player
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Exactly. Hackney is brilliant at finding pockets of space and is good enough to take it on the turn and get us going forward. Barlaser plays the way he's facing virtually every time he receives it. This is why he is coming between the CBs. So he's facing forward and got more time. Otherwise he just continually passes backwards and sideways in the midfield. This is then giving us one less forward options out of the defence.

Barlaser needs to come out of the team. I'm not sure O'Brien is the answer as he was poor in that opening 30 mins as well. Maybe just have to stick with Howson for the remainder of the season and hope we find a diamond in the summer. The main worry is we may need 2 orif Hackney is away.
 
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lostinyorkshire said:
This is one of the reasons Hackney should be in his usual position he is excellent at creating angles, keeping possession and bursting those 10 yards which breaks the lines.

As been mentioned loads on here it is ridiculous we are playing him advanced where he is half the player
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Was just going to post the same thing. We are playing our best midfielder out of position to accommodate other, substantially inferior midfielders. It makes absolutely no sense.
 
chickenrunner said:
t one point in the first half we appeared to have invented the 'Ladder Formation'. We were playing 4222.
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Last season, at our best, I think we were playing 4-2-2-2
We had Archer and Forss as #9's
Akpom and McGree/Ramsey as #10's
Howson and Hackney at the base of midfield and the width provided by Giles, and occasionally Smith whose link up play with Forss and crossing was underrated.

That was a good way of putting all our best players in their best positions last season but not this season. This season we simply don't have a settled system. We have precisely one fit #9 and really only one fit #10 (not counting McGree) who is Azaz and is taking time to adjust.
 
Paddy McNair in the back three or four might help.
A senior pro with International experience!
On the bench?
Nah!
 
Diego said:
Never want to see Hackney as a 10 again.
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He was totally wasted there, wasn't he? It's not his natural position. Our Michael needs to learn a lot more about coaching - even if he is the best Manager we've had in years. No one is infallible.
 
r00fie1 said:
He was totally wasted there, wasn't he? It's not his natural position. Our Michael needs to learn a lot more about coaching - even if he is the best Manager we've had in years. No one is infallible.
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Yeah. Put him back in his natural position. And Barlaser back in his natural position. The stands.
 
need Dieng back and also Hackney/Howson in midfield
Howson is very good at picking the ball up and moving through the lines
 
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