Some questions to those that watched the game on Sunday:
- What was our pressing like? Did we press from the front, or when QPR reached a certain point in our half?
strikers pressed from the front. lamela was on fire and caught them a few times. ade looked like he had to try to keep up.
- If we did press in the first half, did we press the same way in the second half?
yes but we undoubtedly faded in the later part of second half. our passes were going awry.
- Were there times when we purposely played on the counter-attack?
yes we often broke but in numbers with the guy in front not going all out but anticipating support. a couple of "quick transitions" from outside the penalty box when we interecepted and got possession. so there is variety in play. but
mostly we passed out wide, back to centre and probed. as such:
- Did we seem to approach the second half in a way to save energy, or did we drop-off through tiredness?
it felt like we slowed down after going 3 up. if we did slow down i think it was not deliberate, we were making more and more sloppy passes as time wore on.
- If so, is/will that be a weakness directly from the 'pressing tactic' that Poch is said to prefer?
yes - but here is where rotation seems to be a critical part of poch's thinking, and expects players to go all out . bentaleb for dembele as an example gave new legs in the midfield and was a very effective sub.