braineclipse
Steve Sedgley
I agree. I also think Sissoko could have done better. Lamela and Trippier had the right side fairly well covered, but then Sissoko decides to join them and leave his central midfield spot. Then he decides to stand off the Rochdale wide man and was caught completely out of position.I disagree completely.... if you look at the situation the player who scored isn't waiting at the back post, instead he runs in from a central position, as Wanyama completely gives up tracking him (and it wasn't a sprint he made to the back post either, he pretty much ambled his way in there).
If you watch the entire attack we have our four defenders deep which is ok. Trippier goes across to the player who crosses the ball. At this point they have three players in the box against Alderweireld, Foyth and Rose..... Toby gets attracted across to the oppositions left most player who makes a decent run and could receive a pass in from their crosser, Foyth see's Toby cover that run so moves across himself to take the player that Toby was covering, Rose then comes inside to take the player that Foyth was covering. This is what you would want your defence to do.
What you wouldn't want though is for your holding midfielder to decide that he can't be bothered to defend. Their goalscorer, who was running alongside Wanyama makes a run to the back post, Wanyama lets him do this even though we are already defending three on three in the box.
Just as poor as Wanyama in that opposition attack is Son, who has made no effort at all to try to cover the run of the opposition's full back (who also ends up in the box). In fact Rochdale end up pretty much 5 on 3 against us in our box in that attack.... with 1 minute to go in a game in which we are winning, which is shocking.
Had he been in position he too could have tracked a runner, but instead he's all the way out on the right. At least if you leave your position you have to use the advantage that creates when overloaded on that side. Get close to the opponent, try to make a difference. Not just stand off in cover.
bricky goal to concede, in a game of several below par performances. We'll get another chance at home and it shouldn't damage our season.