I think AVB is, like me, a 'safety first' sort of person - the priority is to cut off their final ball and keep them from crafting chances, then look to control possession, and then go forward when possible. So we spend a lot of energy winning the ball, the problem is that we can't really keep up that sprinting tempo once actually on the ball so in possession we either look fast and sloppy or slow and static; which is why it's important to press and win it in high positions to cause a scramble closer to their goal (if that makes any sense, sorry :lol
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I am sure that AVB's preferred vision of the game is to control midfield, if you look at his Porto side and the interviews he has made before about how much he prioritizes ball circulation (not possession per se, but how quickly and intelligently it is used in possession). The issue is that we don't have the players to one-touch recycle the ball both rapidly and precisely - so being a pragmatist, AVB has decided to focus on our strengths in defense and "crack" player up front. We only really need that one critical final pass (not even a pass - just some space for Bale to sight goal is enough), we don't need to orchestrate the tempo and weave patterns through them time and time again. OTOH, it's risky when it's so finely margined - while Arse didn't have many clear shots on goal, we were pretty reliant on their poor final touch and Lloris's brilliant reading of the game.
I'm sure we would look more fluid and cohesive in possession if we had Arse's Wheelchair/Cazorla/Arteta triangle, or Moutinho/Modric and Willian/vdv. However, we have to make do with what we have atm, and I think AVB is doing a very good job in this regard. My concern - which I've admittedly reiterated like a chronic horse abuser - is that we will continue to buy Dempseys and various "good stats" players or flashy dribblers this summer when we are in such need for those "Continental passers" whose qualities you can't quite quantify. OTOH, we did a great job with profiling Lloris so perhaps I've being a little harsh on our scouts.