Because I am a masochist I have just re-watched the extended highlights and
Its clear that despite the usually p**s poor marking at the back actually the big issue was that they put a man on Mo and disposed him (or intercepted a pass to him) about 35 yards from our goal time and time again. It happened in the lead up to 4 of the 5 goals but it also happened about 5 times in the first 20 minutes to allow them to create chances that didn't lead to goals.
Because he is often deepest midfielder when he receives the ball we are f**ked if he loses it as they are straight in at our back 4 with no other protection. I'm generally a fan of Mo but on Saturday he was being out muscled consistently by stronger players and it caused us huge problems.
I do realise that this is a part of how we play and obviously when it works and we beat the press it can open teams up but in my opinion if teams are going to put high energy, pressing midfielders on Mo (and Villa had a man on him every single time he got the ball - this was their key tactic) then we really need to be able to spot this early on and adapt and by-pass him occasionally because the fact they have a man on him presumably means there is a bit of gap further up the pitch which we should be able to exploit.
Posted By: Jim on October 7th 2019 at 09:46:21
Message Thread
- So not one Wrather predicted we'd lose Saturday (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Oct 7, 08:47:57
- We also didn't expect a sub par performance (n/m) (NCFC) - KetteringRyu, Oct 7, 09:24:05
- I didn't expect you to reply to a NCFC related post be hey ho (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Oct 7, 09:38:00
- Because I am a masochist I have just re-watched the extended highlights and (NCFC) - Jim, Oct 7, 09:46:21
- That was the issue at the start of last season too (NCFC) - SimonOTBC, Oct 7, 10:00:43
- I agree. It actually makes me feel a bit better about the defeat because (NCFC) - Jim, Oct 7, 10:05:32
- I think it’s hard to do that in game (NCFC) - SimonOTBC, Oct 7, 10:26:02
- I agree. It actually makes me feel a bit better about the defeat because (NCFC) - Jim, Oct 7, 10:05:32
- They had a gameplan and it worked, they almost did to us whet we did to Leeds (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Oct 7, 09:58:33
- That was the issue at the start of last season too (NCFC) - SimonOTBC, Oct 7, 10:00:43
- Because I am a masochist I have just re-watched the extended highlights and (NCFC) - Jim, Oct 7, 09:46:21
- I didn't expect you to reply to a NCFC related post be hey ho (NCFC) - strap_on sally, Oct 7, 09:38:00
- We also didn't expect a sub par performance (n/m) (NCFC) - KetteringRyu, Oct 7, 09:24:05
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