Observations from Preseason

[Big_Nige]

21 minutes ago, Ross 'LCFC' Turner said:

We're pressing very high up the pitch and our full backs are playing very high / bombing forwards so we really need Ndidi back to the Ndidi of old where he sits in and shuffles across the line to help cover the full backs and not go chasing, trying to get involved in the game. 

 

I'm happy were seemingly trying to get back on the front foot and be aggressive however I can see us getting caught out on the break a lot next season. 

I like the fact our fullbacks are getting involved higher up the pitch again. Because of the injuries last season we barely saw an over/under lapping fullback.
 

This is such a weapon to have and it’s such an important area when trying to stretch teams who camp on the edge of the box. The type of low block we’ve struggled against year in year our. 
 

I can’t see us being so cavalier that both go at the same time, meaning we’ll have a back 3 plus Wilf screening. I think it’s important for him to play his natural game, he’s such a good reader of danger and really has no need to get involved it trying to dictate the play. Youri and KDH or whoever plays in front on him should be doing that

 

Im really interested to see how much pressing and tempo we bring into the Brentford game. It’s been noticeable how notoriously slow we have started games since Covid. Even when we’ve played well we’ve not flew out the traps, we’ve generally played ourself into the game. I want to see us really go for it from the off, become difficult to play against. Excluding Man City and Liverpool we shouldn’t tailor our game to anyone 

[Flannel_Fox]

1 hour ago, foxinsocks said:

Who is rw in the dev squad?  Cant we get them in rather than gamble a contract on someone poor?

I'd be happy with Wright being part of the squad and getting pitch time. We need a RW in though who's going to mostly match Barnes output on the left in terms of goals & assists 

[Genesis1]

17 minutes ago, Flannel_Fox said:

I'd be happy with Wright being part of the squad and getting pitch time. We need a RW in though who's going to mostly match Barnes output on the left in terms of goals & assists 

Could we not play Praet on the right? I feel like he'd be a better option that when we've had Perez, Albrighton, Lookman and Maddison there. Plus it would give him the game time he wants and I think he makes our starting 11 much stronger.

[LFox99]

22 minutes ago, Genesis1 said:

Could we not play Praet on the right? I feel like he'd be a better option that when we've had Perez, Albrighton, Lookman and Maddison there. Plus it would give him the game time he wants and I think he makes our starting 11 much stronger.

Praet's a worse option as RW than Madders

[foxinsocks]

1 hour ago, Flannel_Fox said:

I'd be happy with Wright being part of the squad and getting pitch time. We need a RW in though who's going to mostly match Barnes output on the left in terms of goals & assists 

Start ....sooner the better

[ian__marshall]

Think we look a lot fitter than we did at the same stage last season. I can see us coming out of the blocks quickly whereas it was clear as day we were under prepared last season. 

 

I've been really impressed with the performance of all 3 striker's so far, but Daka for me looks like he could well be our main man this season. Vards looks in good shape and dare I say it seems to be a yard quicker than last season. Kel is... well..Kel. Can be awful for 90 mins but often finds that one moment of magic that no other player can produce to win you a game. An on form Kel for me is one of the best finishers in the PL. 

 

I was quite worried about next season before we kicked a ball in pre season but the fitness and performances across the board have given me optimism for what should be an exciting season ahead. 

[Aleksz]

An observation of my own from watching that first half of the Preston game again is that when we play with the four at the back our full backs are actually sitting a lot narrower in possession. Something used a lot by the big clubs - Cancelo/Walker at City for example.

 

Obviously with the XI at Derby, playing 3 at the back, the full backs has a lot more license to get forward hence Thomas and Castagne playing so high.

 

But note Ricardo’s position in these screenshots at Preston. This one in the lead up to Barnes’ goal.

 

 

He sits a lot narrower in Possesion instead of looking to overlap Albrighton and this allows Maddison and KDH to play a lot higher - presumably in an attempt to get them both putting up more numbers this season and get amongst the goals.

 

 

Also has its defensive benefits - having Ricardo sat narrower like that will hopefully prevent getting countered when committing those guys forward. Almost Kante-esque.

 

Something Rodgers has looked at clearly - we often struggled with our build up play last year.

[SafewayFox]

1 hour ago, LFox99 said:

Praet's a worse option as RW than Madders

How’s that then mate?

 

If Timmy is at RB and Youri stays, that right hand side = triangle passes 🔥

 

Memory recalls that exact partnership ripped a new one against Man City.

[Guest]

15 minutes ago, SafewayFox said:

How’s that then mate?

 

If Timmy is at RB and Youri stays, that right hand side = triangle passes 🔥

 

Memory recalls that exact partnership ripped a new one against Man City.

Presumably because he offers infinitely more as a goalscoring and creative threat than Praet, who while admittedly a tidy and busy player is someone I am struggling to understand the clamour for.

[volpeazzurro]

2 hours ago, Genesis1 said:

Could we not play Praet on the right? I feel like he'd be a better option that when we've had Perez, Albrighton, Lookman and Maddison there. Plus it would give him the game time he wants and I think he makes our starting 11 much stronger.

I agree, I think that could work well, offers far more than Perez too.

[SafewayFox]

2 hours ago, Guest said:

Presumably because he offers infinitely more as a goalscoring and creative threat than Praet, who while admittedly a tidy and busy player is someone I am struggling to understand the clamour for.

But Madders can do that in multiple positions.

Praet has the athleticism over Madders to make those “busy” runs that you stated.

 

It’s all irrelevant anyway as can’t see Praet staying anyway.

 

 

[LFox99]

2 hours ago, Aleksz said:

An observation of my own from watching that first half of the Preston game again is that when we play with the four at the back our full backs are actually sitting a lot narrower in possession. Something used a lot by the big clubs - Cancelo/Walker at City for example.

 

Obviously with the XI at Derby, playing 3 at the back, the full backs has a lot more license to get forward hence Thomas and Castagne playing so high.

 

But note Ricardo’s position in these screenshots at Preston. This one in the lead up to Barnes’ goal.

 

 

He sits a lot narrower in Possesion instead of looking to overlap Albrighton and this allows Maddison and KDH to play a lot higher - presumably in an attempt to get them both putting up more numbers this season and get amongst the goals.

 

 

Also has its defensive benefits - having Ricardo sat narrower like that will hopefully prevent getting countered when committing those guys forward. Almost Kante-esque.

 

Something Rodgers has looked at clearly - we often struggled with our build up play last year.

Oh yeah, Ive noticed it most with JJ playing on the left. He wouldn't overlap Barnes that often but would instead drive through the middle. Wonder whats going on there

[Pliskin]

One thing I have noticed is Barnes and Albrighton were getting a lot of opportunities to break away. 
 

We seem to be working on freeing up our wide players. Doing what teams like Man City and Liverpool do when they play against a deep block, somehow try and free up the creative players by offering more rotation I to spaces. 
 

No signings has possibly been a god send to Brendan’s tactics, because he’s less inclined to buy a player to “fix” a problem. He now has to work with that he has and try and come up with something different. But there’s no reason why not.

 

JJ, Ricardo, Castagne, KDH, Youri, Barnes, Madders and Vardy are all class dynamic players. And there really hasn’t been anyone who has looked way off the pace during the pre season. Even Soumare has looked more positive. 
 

Another observation, is KDH has a right set of pins on him. 

Edited 25 July 2022 by Pliskin

[Chelmofox]

20 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

 

Another observation, is KDH has a right set of pins on him. 

Wife keeps bringing this up. Starting to piss me off a little!

[Bordersfox]

1 hour ago, LFox99 said:

Oh yeah, Ive noticed it most with JJ playing on the left. He wouldn't overlap Barnes that often but would instead drive through the middle. Wonder whats going on there

Inverted wingbacks - I found this short piece enlightening.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0cnz85d

[Genesis1]

2 hours ago, SafewayFox said:

But Madders can do that in multiple positions.

Praet has the athleticism over Madders to make those “busy” runs that you stated.

 

It’s all irrelevant anyway as can’t see Praet staying anyway.

 

 

I think he'll stay. When Man Utd wanting Magurie and whichever team wanted Ghezzel. They both said they wouldn't pay but we still heard bits and pieces of something going on, where as with Torino, they said they're not willing to pay and wanted a loan move, haven't really heard anything from them or anybody to be honest.

 

 

Plus a lot of the people who are saying he's not good or we should get rid, are the ones who are also upset we've not made signings and think selling him will get us these '6 players'. 

[Vardinio'sCat]

6 hours ago, Aleksz said:

An observation of my own from watching that first half of the Preston game again is that when we play with the four at the back our full backs are actually sitting a lot narrower in possession. Something used a lot by the big clubs - Cancelo/Walker at City for example.

 

Obviously with the XI at Derby, playing 3 at the back, the full backs has a lot more license to get forward hence Thomas and Castagne playing so high.

 

But note Ricardo’s position in these screenshots at Preston. This one in the lead up to Barnes’ goal.

 

 

He sits a lot narrower in Possesion instead of looking to overlap Albrighton and this allows Maddison and KDH to play a lot higher - presumably in an attempt to get them both putting up more numbers this season and get amongst the goals.

 

 

Also has its defensive benefits - having Ricardo sat narrower like that will hopefully prevent getting countered when committing those guys forward. Almost Kante-esque.

 

Something Rodgers has looked at clearly - we often struggled with our build up play last year.

Talking about exactly this on RL tonight, referred to Pep using it at Bayern and last season at Man City. Also KDH referred to it in an interview. From 39'30 in.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0cp021m

 

 

[Vardinio'sCat]

2 hours ago, Bordersfox said:

Inverted wingbacks - I found this short piece enlightening.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0cnz85d

 

Note to self, always finish the thread before posting, saves on unnecessary typing.

[Tom12345]

14 hours ago, pmcla26 said:

 

Fair enough if that's each of yours' opinions. Personally, I think it's a bit of a crazy opinion to have but that's just my take. I'm taking Ndidi 10 times out of 10 over Mendy. IMO, one is bordering on world class, and the other is an average/decent Premier League player. 

Fair opinion too. Good we have options!

[Bordersfox]

6 hours ago, Vardinio'sCat said:

 

Note to self, always finish the thread before posting, saves on unnecessary typing.

Great minds and all that...

[sacreblueits442]

12 hours ago, Aleksz said:

An observation of my own from watching that first half of the Preston game again is that when we play with the four at the back our full backs are actually sitting a lot narrower in possession. Something used a lot by the big clubs - Cancelo/Walker at City for example.

 

Obviously with the XI at Derby, playing 3 at the back, the full backs has a lot more license to get forward hence Thomas and Castagne playing so high.

 

But note Ricardo’s position in these screenshots at Preston. This one in the lead up to Barnes’ goal.

 

 

He sits a lot narrower in Possesion instead of looking to overlap Albrighton and this allows Maddison and KDH to play a lot higher - presumably in an attempt to get them both putting up more numbers this season and get amongst the goals.

 

 

Also has its defensive benefits - having Ricardo sat narrower like that will hopefully prevent getting countered when committing those guys forward. Almost Kante-esque.

 

Something Rodgers has looked at clearly - we often struggled with our build up play last year.

...it also makes us vulnerable to be countered out wide!!!

[sacreblueits442]

10 hours ago, LFox99 said:

Oh yeah, Ive noticed it most with JJ playing on the left. He wouldn't overlap Barnes that often but would instead drive through the middle. Wonder whats going on there

...allows the midfield to push higher up the pitch!!!

[SafewayFox]

39 minutes ago, sacreblueits442 said:

...it also makes us vulnerable to be countered out wide!!!

Hence the importance of getting Beast Wilf back.

Mendy is no where near athletic/physical enough to roam across but a fully fit Wilf is built for exactly that, putting out fires and giving the ball a couple of yards to a team mate.

Edited 26 July 2022 by SafewayFox