whilst I would enjoy it if Spurs go down

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Originally Posted by WES

It is amazing how difficult we make passing through a press look.

At one point in the Sporting match one of their defenders had the ball at the top of their box as we pressed. A midfielder ran into the space behind the press, the defender clipped the ball over the pressing players to the midfielder who took one touch and then played it to their left side where the left sided defender had run into space and away they went.

I remember wondering why we can't seem to do something so simple. Three players playing a simple pattern using skills that you would expect every professional footballer to have.

Baffling

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We've had two midfielders under Arteta who could play through the lines- Partey and Jorginho. He has replaced them with Zubimendi and Merino.

I have no idea what Zubimendi is supposed to be doing. But he provides absolutely nothing other than sideways passes. It is not unusual to see him hopelessly out of position (where on earth was he for Bournemouth's winner?) and we have seen the odd slip in possession. Maybe that has made him scared to try anything.

Either way, I am watching a midfielder who seems to have no real range of passing. And we know that isn't him.

Two things always helped us in trying to play through a press- Odegaard always wanting the ball and showing for it, and those runs inside that Saka used to make. Both of those things have disappeared from our game over the last year and a bit.

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Originally Posted by Peter

We've had two midfielders under Arteta who could play through the lines- Partey and Jorginho. He has replaced them with Zubimendi and Merino.

I have no idea what Zubimendi is supposed to be doing. But he provides absolutely nothing other than sideways passes. It is not unusual to see him hopelessly out of position (where on earth was he for Bournemouth's winner?) and we have seen the odd slip in possession. Maybe that has made him scared to try anything.

Either way, I am watching a midfielder who seems to have no real range of passing. And we know that isn't him.

Two things always helped us in trying to play through a press- Odegaard always wanting the ball and showing for it, and those runs inside that Saka used to make. Both of those things have disappeared from our game over the last year and a bit.

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Not convinced playing through the press is down to just 2 players, Peter. The 3 Sporting players that played through us are probably no more skilled then every player in our squad. The have to want to do it, they have to be trained to do it, they have to have to hesitation in doing it.

And that is Arteta's job imo.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WES

Not convinced playing through the press is down to just 2 players, Peter. The 3 Sporting players that played through us are probably no more skilled then every player in our squad. The have to want to do it, they have to be trained to do it, they have to have to hesitation in doing it.

And that is Arteta's job imo.

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Yes, but it requires movement. Movement, particularly from defensive players, involves risk. If you lose the ball, you are out of position.

The moment you put the ball in that area you need options for the next two passes. That requires movement ahead of and behind the target of the first pass. We dont want to do it.

We prefer to push teams back by using width in the defence. Once they are back in their positions we are more comfortable playing passes and looking for gaps. This is why some people believe we face low blocks. We don't face them, we create them. And Arteta likes it.

Once you have an opponent pinned back in their block, you can probe, look for gaps, win set pieces, maybe even try the occasional shot. And for the whole time that is happening, you are in control.

That is what Arteta wants. If you are going to lose the ball, lose it as high up the pitch as possible with the opponents pinned back as far as possible.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter

Yes, but it requires movement. Movement, particularly from defensive players, involves risk. If you lose the ball, you are out of position.

The moment you put the ball in that area you need options for the next two passes. That requires movement ahead of and behind the target of the first pass. We dont want to do it.

We prefer to push teams back by using width in the defence. Once they are back in their positions we are more comfortable playing passes and looking for gaps. This is why some people believe we face low blocks. We don't face them, we create them. And Arteta likes it.

Once you have an opponent pinned back in their block, you can probe, look for gaps, win set pieces, maybe even try the occasional shot. And for the whole time that is happening, you are in control.

That is what Arteta wants. If you are going to lose the ball, lose it as high up the pitch as possible with the opponents pinned back as far as possible.

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You need players like an inform Saka, Summerville, Doku, Kudos etc to pick their way through those kinds of defences and find gaps.

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Originally Posted by 7sisters

You need players like an inform Saka, Summerville, Doku, Kudos etc to pick their way through those kinds of defences and find gaps.

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I like Summerville but not convinced he could step up from West Ham to a top club but for the right money I'd give him a shot.