Tactics Under Maresca

[HitchinFox]

1 hour ago, ozleicester said:

This is me... watched the game for 50+ years.. played at a few lveles for 35+... still have almost ni idea what our "tactics" are. I tend to be in the game. Obviously i can see us playing the ball rather than lumping it etc.. but i genuinely dont know if (or even what a 4,3,2,1 etc is when we play) we change our tactics

How's your understanding of Brahms? 

Seriously though, football is a form of entertainment, perhaps even comparable to art. Like many sports. I'd always argue that the more you understand what you're looking at or listening to – whether it's sport, a piece of sculpture, modern art, fusion jazz or East Enders – the more it "opens" to you and the more you get from it. Cricket is perhaps the best example of this when it comes to sport. A simple change of the field mid-over can create a great amount of excitement in those who know why the captain/bowler is doing it. Someone watching for the first time, however, might enjoy the overall experience – but would probably not even notice a bloke slowly walking out from the slips and onto the square leg boundary. 

At the end of the day, though, if whatever you are watching or listening to and it gives you enjoyment (or makes you "feel"), you're all good. I watch German porn. No idea what they're saying, but I still enjoy it. 


 

[StriderHiryu]

Leicester City 1 - 0 Sunderland

 

 

 

• Sunderland came to play. 4231 looking to hit us on the transition as expected. They had the most impressive high press seen at the King Power by an away team this season and they were successful in large period of the match at doing this.
• Even when they went behind, they stuck to their principles of playing this style.
  • The biggest difference between Sunderland and other teams that have tried to press high is that when they won the ball back, they were able to play between our lines. Slick passing and one two's, looking to find the opposite side winger if free, etc.
  • But they also dared play out from the back too. A few times this led to their own problems, Vestergaard winning the ball back high up in their half as a clear example, but it meant that overall the game was quite even, as reflected in the possession stats.
• From our point of view a few notable things stuck out:
  • Ricardo inverted from the other side with JJ playing RCB. This was pretty obviously done to marshal Jack Clarke who has been one of the best players in the division this season.
  • At times he played quite high up the pitch, the idea being that by attacking Sunderland we could pin Clarke back so that he wasn't an issue. 
  • Casadei was put into central midfield and we played longer more often than I've seen our team do in any match this season. The header he won to setup Nacho may well have been part of the tactical plan.
• The most notable thing for me in this game was that Hermansen played the ball long so often. To be honest I'm not entirely sure why, but here are some thoughts:
  • Winks and Ricardo were being followed by Sunderland players and given that their press was working early on, he didn't want to risk it. 
  • It was a deliberate game plan to try and draw Sunderland forwards and try to exploit them with the ball in behind. Defensively they were a bit naive so it's possible this was the idea.
  • It was an attempt to move our entire block further up the pitch so we could get our high press working. Not always the case when building from the back. 

This was definitely a good result and overall the stats show we did edge the game. But I think this was at best an indifferent performance. For me what was lacking was our usual composure in building with Winks and Ricardo and playing around the corner. When we did it, we opened up the game and made chances, but we were hesitant to do it. After an impressive first half, I felt like Sunderland tired between minutes 45-60 where we had 3 big chances to tie up the game with Casadei and Iheanacho. This was our best spell of the game, and here it felt like their press stopped working and we got hold of the game. However, Mowbray made 3 subs at around 60 minutes and this restored their press and made life difficult for us again. Then Hermansen kept smashing the ball long from goal kicks which just turned the ball over and over again! Enzo said he was happy with the game, so perhaps he wanted to see if we could dig in and protect a lead? I think we went long way too often and it allowed them back into the game and meant we lost control. We spent more time in this one in our 433 shape than the 3241, which is massive credit to Sunderland, who were hugely impressive.

 

Some of our players look tired in this game, and games every 3 days will do that to you. So that I think that was a factor, and will mean rotation is needed. I expect a lot of changes for QPR given the following game is high-flying Leeds.

[davieG]

4 hours ago, StriderHiryu said:

Leicester City 1 - 0 Sunderland

 

 

 

• Sunderland came to play. 4231 looking to hit us on the transition as expected. They had the most impressive high press seen at the King Power by an away team this season and they were successful in large period of the match at doing this.
• Even when they went behind, they stuck to their principles of playing this style.
  • The biggest difference between Sunderland and other teams that have tried to press high is that when they won the ball back, they were able to play between our lines. Slick passing and one two's, looking to find the opposite side winger if free, etc.
  • But they also dared play out from the back too. A few times this led to their own problems, Vestergaard winning the ball back high up in their half as a clear example, but it meant that overall the game was quite even, as reflected in the possession stats.
• From our point of view a few notable things stuck out:
  • Ricardo inverted from the other side with JJ playing RCB. This was pretty obviously done to marshal Jack Clarke who has been one of the best players in the division this season.
  • At times he played quite high up the pitch, the idea being that by attacking Sunderland we could pin Clarke back so that he wasn't an issue. 
  • Casadei was put into central midfield and we played longer more often than I've seen our team do in any match this season. The header he won to setup Nacho may well have been part of the tactical plan.
• The most notable thing for me in this game was that Hermansen played the ball long so often. To be honest I'm not entirely sure why, but here are some thoughts:
  • Winks and Ricardo were being followed by Sunderland players and given that their press was working early on, he didn't want to risk it. 
  • It was a deliberate game plan to try and draw Sunderland forwards and try to exploit them with the ball in behind. Defensively they were a bit naive so it's possible this was the idea.
  • It was an attempt to move our entire block further up the pitch so we could get our high press working. Not always the case when building from the back. 

This was definitely a good result and overall the stats show we did edge the game. But I think this was at best an indifferent performance. For me what was lacking was our usual composure in building with Winks and Ricardo and playing around the corner. When we did it, we opened up the game and made chances, but we were hesitant to do it. After an impressive first half, I felt like Sunderland tired between minutes 45-60 where we had 3 big chances to tie up the game with Casadei and Iheanacho. This was our best spell of the game, and here it felt like their press stopped working and we got hold of the game. However, Mowbray made 3 subs at around 60 minutes and this restored their press and made life difficult for us again. Then Hermansen kept smashing the ball long from goal kicks which just turned the ball over and over again! Enzo said he was happy with the game, so perhaps he wanted to see if we could dig in and protect a lead? I think we went long way too often and it allowed them back into the game and meant we lost control. We spent more time in this one in our 433 shape than the 3241, which is massive credit to Sunderland, who were hugely impressive.

 

Some of our players look tired in this game, and games every 3 days will do that to you. So that I think that was a factor, and will mean rotation is needed. I expect a lot of changes for QPR given the following game is high-flying Leeds.

I read somewhere Enzo thought there were too many long balls.

 

Found it

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-victory-over-sunderland-8856058

 

“On the ball, first half, we were quite good, second half we played too many long balls. Also, there is another team there to make a difficult game."

[StriderHiryu]

57 minutes ago, davieG said:

I read somewhere Enzo thought there were too many long balls.

 

Found it

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-victory-over-sunderland-8856058

 

“On the ball, first half, we were quite good, second half we played too many long balls. Also, there is another team there to make a difficult game."

Thanks for that. I'm going to post all of the quotes, because they are quite telling. For me it shows he's not a manager that pretends to see things that aren't there. A very refreshing change!

 

“A very difficult game. It’s the game we expected because we know they are a very aggressive team."

“Almost all of the games they have been man-to-man off the ball, so we expected it. On the ball, they have weapons like Bellingham, Ekwah, Clarke, Roberts. The goalkeeper is unbelievable.

“It’s been a very tough game. But it’s the game I’m most happy about in terms of the way we handled a different kind of game. The first 20 minutes we struggled to find the right measure of how to press, and then after 20 minutes we pressed very well. We were very aggressive."

“On the ball, first half, we were quite good, second half we played too many long balls. Also, there is another team there to make a difficult game."

[FosseSpark]

Over the moon that it looks like we will have Braybrooke, Alves, McAteer and cannon back in the fold before end of November. 

They could be influential in covering the system we have in place as the season progresses. Teams won't be expecting someone of Alves quality or a different type of striker when we play them second time. And McAteers' versatility will really help.

[Bryn]

I think he actually would have been quite displeased with the second half last night. We lost control and definitely didn’t keep the ball well.

[LFox99]

5 hours ago, StriderHiryu said:

• It was a deliberate game plan to try and draw Sunderland forwards and try to exploit them with the ball in behind. Defensively they were a bit naive so it's possible this was the idea.
• It was an attempt to move our entire block further up the pitch so we could get our high press working. Not always the case when building from the back. 

I'm guessing we didn't expect the ref to let them pull the shirts off all of our players

[StriderHiryu]

Just now, LFox99 said:

I'm guessing we didn't expect the ref to let them pull the shirts off all of our players

That’s going to happen in this division. It will happen in the Premier League too! So if games descend into that sort of affair, it’s something we need to solve. 

[sacreblueits442]

15 hours ago, Aleksz said:

Mowbray set them up fantastically. If Kel and Casadei take their chances it’s 3-0 on another day mind. 

...that would have taken out the encouragement that Sunderland was getting at only 1-0 down!!!

Their relentless press was them still being in the game till the last minute with a possibility for a point to be picked up. We get the 2 goal lead and the press from them would have dissipated.

[Spudulike]

The clear and obvious penalty incident involving the shirt pulling of Fatawu doesn't feature in the official match highlights. The Faes one does. Very odd why it's been disregarded and over looked. 

[ithuriel]

25 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

The clear and obvious penalty incident involving the shirt pulling of Fatawu doesn't feature in the official match highlights. The Faes one does. Very odd why it's been disregarded and over looked. 

They did not show a lot of the grabbing, shirt pulling and because they were doing it and getting away with it one or two of our players started to as well, was surprised the players having handbags at each other where both were carded in their box was a solitary thing last night, all down to incompetent reffing.

[Ashley]

1 hour ago, Spudulike said:

The clear and obvious penalty incident involving the shirt pulling of Fatawu doesn't feature in the official match highlights. The Faes one does. Very odd why it's been disregarded and over looked. 

Sorry but it wasn't a clear and obvious penalty on Fatawu. Just watched the game back now. 

 

The foul starts outside the box and Fawau goes down just inside, correct decision with the free kick.

 

Faes was a clear penalty. Vestergaard could have been given too. 

[ThumbsUp]

16 minutes ago, Ashley said:

Sorry but it wasn't a clear and obvious penalty on Fatawu. Just watched the game back now. 

 

The foul starts outside the box and Fawau goes down just inside, correct decision with the free kick.

 

Faes was a clear penalty. Vestergaard could have been given too. 

The correct way to play this would be an advantage for the foul that began outside the area and a penalty kick once it continued inside: 

 

https://www.footballrules.com/game-events/advantage/

 

I get why some people wouldn't know this but you'd expect a referee to know it. It's not really up for debate, it's a clear penalty.

[Staff]

23 minutes ago, Ashley said:

Sorry but it wasn't a clear and obvious penalty on Fatawu. Just watched the game back now. 

 

The foul starts outside the box and Fawau goes down just inside, correct decision with the free kick.

 

Faes was a clear penalty. Vestergaard could have been given too. 

It should have been a penalty, as the foul continued into the box before Fatawu went down 

Edited 25 October 2023 by Staff
As per the post above lol

[Ashley]

1 hour ago, ThumbsUp said:

The correct way to play this would be an advantage for the foul that began outside the area and a penalty kick once it continued inside: 

 

https://www.footballrules.com/game-events/advantage/

 

I get why some people wouldn't know this but you'd expect a referee to know it. It's not really up for debate, it's a clear penalty.

 

1 hour ago, Staff said:

It should have been a penalty, as the foul continued into the box before Fatawu went down 

 

It's never enforced, needs removing from the game or actually needs to be enforced moving forwards across all levels. 

 

Without being pedantic the ref has stayed in line with other games. Same with the 6 second rule and keepers.. it never happens.

 

Also, advantage wasn't played with last night's incident. Commentators also say how good the refs positiong and decision was with the actual decision. 

Edited 25 October 2023 by Ashley

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/what-enzo-maresca-reaction-mads-8858529

 

What Enzo Maresca reaction to Mads Hermansen proved as challenge sent to Leeds and Southampton
Analysis of Leicester City's 1-0 win over Sunderland, looking at their most difficult test yet, the performances of Cesare Casadei and James Justin, their growing tally of yellow cards, and more

ByJordan Blackwell
17:13, 25 OCT 2023UPDATED17:32, 25 OCT 2023

Mads Hermansen hurriedly launched the ball straight into touch without a Leicester City team-mate nearby to even attempt to keep it in. That is not the City way, or at least not what has come to be expected under Enzo Maresca.

But in his technical area, Maresca raised his hands into the air with his thumbs up on both. In his mind, Hermansen had made the right decision.

That Maresca was happy with his usually composed keeper thumping the ball away from danger showed how difficult a night this was for City. A couple of teams have gone man-to-man with them before, but none as aggressively as Sunderland did. Teams have tended to stop short of pressing Hermansen for fear of leaving an outfield player available, but the Black Cats went all out.

 

Hermansen launched 46 per cent of his passes on Tuesday night, way more than the previous high of 27 per cent at Blackburn. The game before, at Swansea, just seven per cent of his kicks went long.

He wasn’t the only one. The outfield players were ruffled too and rushed passes forward, either by punting it aimlessly or lacking accuracy. City’s 79 per cent pass completion was their lowest this season, way behind their average of 87 per cent.

Maresca said his team played too many long balls in the second half, and their attack, usually so strong late in games, didn’t threaten too much. It was only the second time this season they have failed to score in the final half-hour of a game, and they only had two shots in that period, their last effort on goal coming in the 71st minute.

Despite all this, they still won, and deservedly so. They scored early and had four more excellent chances to score that were brilliantly saved by Anthony Patterson.

And for all of the danger that Sunderland caused them, particularly through the quick feet of Jack Clarke and Patrick Roberts, there were not many opportunities for an equaliser. City only conceded two shots from inside their own box in the final 30 minutes and at no point did it feel like they were hanging on for the win.

This was a different and much more difficult test than they have faced before now, and they still came through it with three points they merited. Is there anything this league can throw at them that they can’t handle? The answer increasingly looks like a no.

 

New-look Casadei shows off best talents and more
In some kind of reverse Samson, Cesare Casadei, with his new shaved head, had his best performance as a starter for City on Tuesday night. He showed off the qualities seen in his first few substitute appearances, and more.

Assessing the City squad during the October international break, Casadei felt like the one player who had disappointed so far. He’d shown his talents in his first few outings, but between the September and October international breaks, he’d looked slow, sloppy, and a little bit lost.

But back into the side with Wilfred Ndidi, Yunus Akgun, and Dennis Praet all injured, he did a very good job. He grew in confidence as the game went on too.

His ability to arrive in the box, and his quality when he got there, were highlighted before he arrived, and he exhibited those in his first few games. In August, against Cardiff, Rotherham, and Hull, he played a total of 90 minutes and had five shots. In 187 minutes of Championship football across five games between the two international breaks, he had one shot, and just one touch inside the penalty box.

On Tuesday night, he made a real difference in that area of the pitch. His nod down to set up Kelechi Iheanacho’s first-half chance against the post was exquisite, and then he popped up himself early in the second period for two big opportunities. He could probably be criticised for the lack of a clean contact on the first of those chances, but it’s better that he’s missing opportunities than not having them at all.

His all-around game was very good too. He had more touches and more ball carries than he has had in any other match, while he led the City starters for pass completion at 95 per cent. His tally of six progressive passes was double his previous best.

He’s only young, so inconsistency is to be expected, but perhaps those difficult matches he had in September, notably at Norwich and Liverpool away, were because he was playing in a changed team. Against Sunderland, he slotted in alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and seemed more at home.

Perhaps when partnered with Yunus, another player finding their feet at the club, he’s not been entirely confident in what his job is. This time, he looked like a player that could make a real difference for City this season.

 

Justin 'unbelievable' as he's trusted with big job
Maresca flipped his defence around for the game purely to counteract the ability of Clarke, and it mostly worked. While the Championship’s top scorer did have Sunderland’s best two efforts of the first half, City generally restricted him from being at his most dangerous.

He only twice dribbled the ball into the box, and only Sheffield Wednesday have stopped him doing that fewer times this season. In that sense, moving James Justin to the right to cope with him paid off.

Justin is regarded as the best one-on-one defender at the club and he did stick to Clarke diligently. Maresca described his full-back’s performance as “unbelievable”.

Perhaps more than any other player in the squad, Justin is not playing how he would like to. He was at his best – and one of the best full-backs in the Premier League – when he was rampaging down the left or right flanks, combining his athleticism with growing quality. In his current position, where he has to drop into a back three whenever City have got the ball, he can’t do that so much.

A similar role was offered to Victor Kristiansen and he didn’t want to do it. He wanted to play as a full-back as he always had done and so has gone on loan to Bologna.

But Justin’s commitment and professionalism has seen him take to this new position very well. Having started training in pre-season earlier than everybody else, he was the first City player to meet Maresca, and he has quickly made the new manager one of his biggest fans.

 

City look to have learned dark arts
For a team that usually dominates the ball, it may be a surprise that City have picked up more yellow cards than all but two teams in the Championship. But maybe it’s a case of them employing the dark arts a little more.

Not all of the four bookings they picked up on Tuesday night could be categorised as such. Kelechi Iheanacho received a yellow card for sarcastically applauding referee Keith Stroud while Jannik Vestergaard had his name taken for wrestling Luke O’Nien.

But Ricardo Pereira and Justin both dragged back their wingers in the middle of the pitch to take yellow cards they were perhaps happy to, given it stopped a potentially dangerous attack. Maybe it’s a risk they feel they can take.

No City players have been sent off this season, with those who have been booked able to tighten up their game to steer clear of a red. The only problem is if the yellows tot up.

Vestergaard has already been suspended, while Harry Winks and Dewsbury-Hall are one booking away from a one-game ban. Ricardo, Abdul Fatawu, and Stephy Mavididi are two away.

In three of the previous four seasons, City were in the bottom half of the Premier League for yellow cards, and in the bottom five for two of those seasons. They were generally quite a nice team. Their rising tally this season suggests they’ve got a bit of a nasty, scheming streak to them again, which is probably something that will go down well with supporters as long as they avoid reds.

[norwichfox]

19 hours ago, StriderHiryu said:

That’s going to happen in this division. It will happen in the Premier League too! So if games descend into that sort of affair, it’s something we need to solve. 

One solution may be to paint our players shirts directly onto the skin (but not the shorts )

[fuchsntf]

On 22/10/2023 at 11:48, Koke said:

It's lovely to watch us just steamroll teams. We're simply much better than anyone else. I do however have concerns because some of the defensive errors we are making. We made a few yesterday that we got away with because Swansea are a run of the mill championship side. Vestergaard got outpaced so easily I actually laughed.  Got bailed out by Hermansen. Another time Ricardo (I think) just gave the ball away at the D of our box and they nearly scored. 

 

We'll get promoted easily, no problem. I hope Enzo have plans to upgrade a number of positions next season because average Premier League strikers will bury us with the way we defend so poorly at times.

To all who still  put out doubts & questions on our new found rekindled heroes..

 

Once upon a time There were two players who were gangly,turned left when they should of turned right, played football,like they spoke,& spoked like they played football..Nobody saw coming,what came next..2 none entity footballers,built one of the best Partnerships seen in English football, had the habit of irritating everyone,annoying because nobody could fathom how it came about…and built 2 great careers has footballers..then After dinner speakers…Never underestimate what is standing straight in front of you…

Gentlemen I give you..Tony Adams, & Steve Bould,2 of the most unlikely of thinking footballers,who broke many a record together..  > hey!, I hated Arsenal,but respect<

 

let’s not start redecororating or TCL ing  our Backline, even midfield too early..

Vesty,Faes,Coady Ndidi , just might Gobsmack/ flummox us all..

 

plus our guys are nicer…

Edited 26 October 2023 by fuchsntf

[fuchsntf]

19 hours ago, ThumbsUp said:

The correct way to play this would be an advantage for the foul that began outside the area and a penalty kick once it continued inside: 

 

https://www.footballrules.com/game-events/advantage/

 

I get why some people wouldn't know this but you'd expect a referee to know it. It's not really up for debate, it's a clear penalty.

Thx for the clear up…I unlike some will not bombastically sell my opinion if I am not sure..Many didn’t do their homework before posting.

Tho‘ why a ref was scared handing out a defo penalty,I don’t know…

He seemed well positioned. Maybe there is a phsychological trigger withinside us,that prefers to ignore certain incidents one moment,then go crazy the next 10 times.. This time it didn’t weigh in favour of the home/big team..

 

Faes, I am still waiting to see a slow down on the only angle they show,or a different angles..> does anybody have the breakdown from camera< I have yet to see anything that proves it’s even a penalty…This is not bias,there have also been other such open questions on incidents..That also in the name of the opponent it would be very interesting to see..

 

For a so called sluggish ponderous pairing of Faes & Vestergaard,we still play ( no critic ,myside) an highline . Maybe because of Mads potential always there!, involvement.

Enzo considers it a good calculated risk,or there might be simple stats,that show the fans view & perspective does not correspond with the coaches opinion on player game descision-valuation & capabilities..

 

Tactics with use of squad..

Could be a good weekend to play Choudhury,keep Casadei on a roll,rest Winks

Rest a CB reintroduce Coady .

 ANNND   Wait for it…….play

Daka.

Will answer many a question…Fans would love to know..

# The biggy one would be..Is our root squad has strong as we expect..

# Can we afford to miss Winks(sub only if needed)

# our service provider channels I suppose  stay the same,can Daka take his chance.

# If not, can we bring on the cavalary to change the game,with Plan A or B.

 

I just would like to see us use this game opportunity,of a sort of free card, & complete a full first choice selection in those positions,players that need that doubt to be squashed and complete a full circle around the squad,for this league and this seasons challenge.

I don’t believe we should live in fear of, bad descisions,or drop of points,or any fear

element…We keep that platform of confidence building & tentacle growing..

[FoxinNotts]

Big question for me is; Can Braybrooke play the Harry Winks role?

 

If the answer is ‘yes’, then we are not only looking good for moving up to the prem (assuming we go up) with our style, but we could be well set for the final half of this season.

 

I feel our biggest weakness is our over reliance on Winks, and his fitness.

[dmayne7]

Everything Maresca is doing is spot on so long may it continue.

 

The real test for whether he'll be a good manager or a great one will come down to his flexibility and ego. The Justin/Ricardo move on Tuesday was a smart idea and certainly worked in terms of negating Clarke. Problem was, it meant that Roberts had a ridiculous amount of room and you can't really afford to so that against better teams. Switching to a flat back 4, even for 15-20 mins would have really dried up what they had in attack. He's going to have to break away from the reliance on the current system next season if he wants to be as successful as he can be. The fact that he doesn't mind going long sometimes shows you that he is prepared to do so but will be interesting to see. We're looking a much better team than Burnley were last year but look at how they are struggling after steamrolling the league last year.

 

For his many flaws, Rodgers arrogance with tactics was what cost him. Didn't mix it up when needed and then when a subtle tweak was needed, he tried a completely different system as though only his tactical genius could win the game. Even Pep has thrown away a CL final but trying to be too smart. Enzo is being consistent in system which is great but I hope he will also realise it's not the only way to be successful and that sometimes trying to play a certain way, that is so reliant on complex patterns, doesn't compare to simplifying things. (Realise this last paragraph sounds a bit contradictory but basically there's some balance to be found in your principles/ability as a manager)

[Paninistickers]

I have missed feelings on the tactical pulls to prevent breakaways. I despise Man City doing it and felt refs should've pre warned them prior to games that they wouldn't hesitate to book or send off. 

 

That said the feeble, weak, meek gamesmanship from a Rodgers team appalled me too 

[foxfanazer]

Just now, Paninistickers said:

I have missed feelings on the tactical pulls to prevent breakaways. I despise Man City doing it and felt refs should've pre warned them prior to games that they wouldn't hesitate to book or send off. 

 

That said the feeble, weak, meek gamesmanship from a Rodgers team appalled me too 

I'm all for it. For too long we've had to watch tepid, feeble cowards roll over for other teams. It should be punished but it's definitely a ploy we should take advantage of

[Lionator]

1 hour ago, dmayne7 said:

Everything Maresca is doing is spot on so long may it continue.

 

The real test for whether he'll be a good manager or a great one will come down to his flexibility and ego. The Justin/Ricardo move on Tuesday was a smart idea and certainly worked in terms of negating Clarke. Problem was, it meant that Roberts had a ridiculous amount of room and you can't really afford to so that against better teams. Switching to a flat back 4, even for 15-20 mins would have really dried up what they had in attack. He's going to have to break away from the reliance on the current system next season if he wants to be as successful as he can be. The fact that he doesn't mind going long sometimes shows you that he is prepared to do so but will be interesting to see. We're looking a much better team than Burnley were last year but look at how they are struggling after steamrolling the league last year.

 

For his many flaws, Rodgers arrogance with tactics was what cost him. Didn't mix it up when needed and then when a subtle tweak was needed, he tried a completely different system as though only his tactical genius could win the game. Even Pep has thrown away a CL final but trying to be too smart. Enzo is being consistent in system which is great but I hope he will also realise it's not the only way to be successful and that sometimes trying to play a certain way, that is so reliant on complex patterns, doesn't compare to simplifying things. (Realise this last paragraph sounds a bit contradictory but basically there's some balance to be found in your principles/ability as a manager)

I think in great teams that comes in time. We may see different tactics as we head into 2024 and hopefully closer to the premier league, but firstly we need to carry on being competent at what Enzo wants right now. Tuesday proved that we're not there yet, fortunately we won but we need to show we can dominate against top teams. You'd think Sunderland will be up there, so I'd want to see progress for when we play Leeds and then Boro and Ipswich.

[HybridFox]

Enzo was on 5 live tonight. Should be able to listen back

 

Edited 26 October 2023 by HybridFox