Post by emperorsuperbus on Oct 19, 2020 11:42:29 GMT
I think the key lesson in Monday’s debrief is not how to defend narrow lead
We seem to shut-up shop as soon as we take the lead (even with a big chunk of the match still to play). But that invites pressure on us and concedes a lot of possession. So, with a lot of the ball, the opposition naturally speed the game up, how ever much we want to try to slow down the tempo. If it goes well for us, and we repel every attack, and the opposition commit more and more people forward, we might counter against a depleted back-line and extend our lead. (I can't remember a single counter-attack against Burton when we were 1-0 up. I can remember three at Sunderland though: a shot narrowly over the bar, and two breaks, one of which should have ended with a sending off for Wright). But having to play that way for over 40 minutes (as on Saturday) or for over 80 minutes (as at Sunderland), even with a little bit of bad luck, or a single mistake, we are likely to concede.
What's the alternative? Ramp up the pressure on the opposition to barnstorm a second goal immediately after the first? Maybe that's naive (as naive as the commentary of Hadwin and Brookman, who seem to lose patience and declare the match a bore if we're not 3-0 up at half-time). It was noticeable, though, as soon as we conceded against Burton and we had to start committing forward again, we carved out three or four good efforts on goal in very little time.
So I think we do need to review how to play when we have taken the lead...!
yes you are right to pick me up on that, my communication was awfully unclear there, in cold light day after evening before
I was trying to say the 3 take outs were in this order, obvious one about defending lead mode with 30 minutes to go is not even in top 2
1. team needs to learn quickly how to play in different ways, short or long, one side or other, into this person or that, and make those decisions on the pitch, change it when not working - rather than continuing with something otherside have come ready for.
2. even in some of our defeats we had more intensity and focus from the whistle than we managed in the first quarter of match here. Can’t keep doing that if you want to deserve wins.
3. Got lead after 65 minutes, keep your tempo, keep playing for possession and territory. You can time waste and drop tempo and try to see it out after 85 minutes, but showing no interest in taking throw ins after 65 minutes is too far out, our mindset changed from tempo, possession and territory that was needed.
And the point I was making to all fans in the “not too bothered about that” mood in this thread, The players and managers need to be self critical and analytical after failures like that, would it not be best journey for supporters to be on the same page as the teams development, as this story develops?