Could say the same about the away game there start of the season. Leicester didn't get a point, we gifted them one after dominating the ball then decided to afford Vardy of all people the freedom of our penalty area unmarked: "go on son, pick yer spot...."
Is there a system around where a misplaced/mistimed pass to the deepest midfielder who because of that goes on to lose the ball doesn't end up with the team being in massive problems?
One of the things that Ange has failed to address is the positioning of the double pivot in midfield. Sarr doesn't hold his defensive position or he ambles back into a defensive position, after he joins the press, leaving his partner exposed and trying to cover both. It happened again yesterday. Unfortunately Bentancur had a tendency to overcommit and consequently left us with no midfield cover behind him. Our defence defend in a line as they are supposed to, leaving opposition players in yards of space in front of them to fashion a good chance. This was pointed out weeks ago but is still happening and one of the reasons we are too open. Ange did address this in the Carabao cup game vs Liverpool. But hadn't done so in the league.
This. A massive flaw with Ange is either his failure to adapt or if he does it's not quickly enough.
A system has to be able to cover mistakes as much as possible. For a lad to have that much space to run into is outrageous.
I think that's mostly injuries/fatigue. Sarr is usually excellent at those covering jobs, but recently hasn't been.
That's essentially why you need your 6/DM to only very rarely lose possession. Almost to the same extent as centre backs.
The same issue was pointed out weeks ago though, I think in the 6-3 loss to Liverpool. Then it was Biss rather than Bentancur partnering Sarr. I don't think it's just fatigue, it's tactical to have Sarr join the press but no one cover across his position. But then he leaves a hole behind. And, we've seen full backs do the same too. This is part of the reason we concede goals.
We are already in one. We need some results and fast. The players need to wake up to this.
The famous press with 5 players, get done by one pass then have the opposition wwitth 40 yards of space to attack the back 4, while complaining the remaining single midfielder isn't good enough to read danger. You'd have to be Doc Oc to dela with that set up.
This is our starting position. Look how high Bergvall is. Where is Sarr?
Which in turn leads to more fatigue. Why not instead have one then sit and hold their position in front of the defenders. Especially in a side riddled with injury and fatigue. Btw I think you were trying to explain the same thing as me just much more effectively!
The amount of space in the midfield area in that first picture and nobody in there looking for the ball is criminal.
We haven't reached the depth of that season when Barnsley were in the PL... (was it 97/98?) but we're definitely heading into that direction, I agree.
That's not even about seeing danger, it's a player being aware of where the space is and wanting to get on the ball, whether a DM or ACM. Should be even more on an ACM to want to get into those types of spaces and get on the ball there.
