12 Feb 2021 11:39:51
Putting aside my concerns for the form of Pusilic and Ziyech. I'm more concerned about our chances created in open play and shots on target.
Since TT took over I think we have had about twenty shots on target and thirteen of those were against Wolves and a woeful Burnley.
Let me make this very clear, I do NOT blame the manager. He is still finding out about the squad and working on finding the best system but nether the less it is a concern.
It could be our lack of movement, it could be over elaborating, could be the final pass of maybe the players.
I would love to know what you guys think the problem is and how it can be fixed?
Or, maybe you don't think it is an issue?
12 Feb 2021 13:16:04
It loooks like it will take the players some time to learn to get the ball forward quickly, Tom. You could see last night the defenders first thought when they got the ball was still to turn round and play the ball back or square.
12 Feb 2021 13:48:26
I'm not sure how these stats compare to other side's over the same period of time, but I think they're the sort of stats that can look worse in isolation.
In the end it's a results game and the results have been good under TT. The squad hadn't been together too long before TT took over, and he still hasn't had too long with them. For that reason I'm not too concerned about the performances, as long as the results stay positive between now and the end of the season.
Next season, with a little more consistency in players and coaching i'd expect to see the performances improve.
12 Feb 2021 14:05:43
BruCeFC. Last night the transition from the back to midfield was very slow and we rarely broke the press. I do think Jorginho being available to receive the ball from the CB’s in tight situations is a big help.
“J†to be honest I’m not a massive fan of stats but we are not having the amount of efforts I would have thought likely and I think our talented players should have.
Without doubt, results are the most important thing but we do have creative players. I also except that a few of our talented players are well below form.
12 Feb 2021 16:05:28
Yes transition from defence is very poor of Zouma and/ or Rudiger are playing it makes it worse neither is very mobile; at least Christensen carries the ball forward into midfield.
12 Feb 2021 16:43:50
I’m know a lot of fans don’t rate Jorginho but he can collect the ball from the CB’s in tight spaces and move the ball on. His lack of pace is an issue.
12 Feb 2021 18:20:47
I did write a reply to your question Tom but it hasn't appeared yet. May have been edited for some reason or just disappeared in the ether when I submitted it, a pity cos was quite long - perhaps too long or some other probolem - but may try to write something again about possible reasons for our creative problems at some stage though perhaps we will score a basketful against the Magpies and I won't need to!
{Ed001's Note - 12 Feb 2021 14:59:32
Big question you've asked Tom and not an easy onw to answer.
Like you Tom, I think the fact that we are creating so few chances and taking even less while allowing opposition sides good chances of their own is worrying. It will surely hurt as some time soon and we are lucky it hasn't in last few games.
My thoughts may be obvious ones but here we go. I think there have been a number of underlying problems for any manager to deal with this season. Including why some of our most potentially creative players have haven't been in the consistent form we need them to be. For instance, Pulisic hasn't looked the player we all thought was world class, creating and scoring great goals towards the end of the season and before he imjured himself in the FA Cup final. He has struggled to rediscover that confidence/ form, has been worried a couple of times since - if a while ago now - by injuries.
Then there are our two potentially world class imports from the Bundesliga who have struggled to adapt to the faster pace and physicality of the EPL the more so cos of the C.V. situation, and Havertz got it of course. Ziyech also got injured early and though shone a few times earlier this season with defemse splitting passes is possibly still carrying at least a minor injury problem or is also finding the pace and physicality hard to adapt too. He didn't like chilly night in Barnsley that's for sure!
The point about high pressing oursepves is that it is obviously about forcing errors and quick turn over high up the pitch to create chances. and about winning the ball too when possible through tackling, not something many of our fowards/ AMs are very good at (Werner has actively pulled out of some, needs to get over this) except Mount (and Kante of course when pressing forward) at the moment though Pulisic has that in his armoury as he showed last season at times. But we can and surely must improve in this area in time.
What is also missing imho and we have said this before is the type of attacking player who can from match-to-match create many/ at least several chances/ goals by consummate skill ie Hazard or Pulisic when was on song last season (or Werner v Southampton earlier this season) or by own bulldozing physicality and skill ie Costa and Drogba. Also about being brave with that, esp. if wingers, and taking oppn defender on, getting to the byline etc.
It is also, of course, about having the right personnel in right places as Conte so quickly realised in his first season in adapting our formation after just a few games - indeed at half time v Arsenal when we were down 0-3 - to the qualities (or lack of them! ) of the squad at his disposal and his use of Moses at wingback was masterly. I have wondered whether our two managers this season have felt any burden beyond picking the players they would want on then pitc? E. G. either to (over) play new expensive signings not yet fully adapted or to bring back out of favour ones to put in shop window. Haven't really thought this thought through perhaps.
Creating more good chance is also about having one or two players who can open up a defense with a special pass from middle of field or deeper of course. In the past we have had several players who could do this, not least a Lampard or Cesc, or even a Luiz occasionally. I had thought Ziyech could do this, and there were signs of this early season (eg the pass/ -es for Werner v Brighton) but not recently; otherwise, and thinking off top of my head, Mount has probably done this most, and Kovacic a few times too.
Anyway, your good question got me thinking!
Was that the reply? I don't know why it never came through sorry.}
12 Feb 2021 19:02:40
Yes it was the one Ed001 many thanks for re-posting mate. Though it was a bit long!
{Ed001's Note - I don't know. It is odd it showed up for me to find to be honest. That tells me it wasn't deleted by an editor, as it would be gone then.}
12 Feb 2021 19:15:19
Thanks for your reply JBS and you put forward some interesting views. You also ask some more questions about our current players and maybe the type of player we require in the future.
I honestly believe the Pusilic drop in form is only temporary and I remain confident that Ziyech will find some form.
Pusilic had three opportunities to put through passes that would have IMO led to clear goal scoring opportunities and mucked all three up. This is just not like him.
Why is Ziyech spending so much time with his back to goal. This is not his strnghrh and almost forced him to take several touches. I can only remember a couple of occasions when he was in a good position to play a first time ball between the lines. Both times he made incisive passes that opened up there defence. It just maybe with Ziyech that we don’t get the ball quickly enough to his feet?
I’m sure the manager is working on solutions and I also think we will stuff The Magpies on Monday.
COME on MY MIGHTY BLUES.
12 Feb 2021 20:34:36
Thanks Tom and agree that Pulisic will regain form soon. Will also hope that Ziyech can adapt and become the crafter of defense splitting passes he looked to be early on for us.
Onwards and hopefully upwards
KTBFFH.
12 Feb 2021 20:59:32
Big question you've asked Tom and not an easy onw to answer.
Like you Tom, I think the fact that we are creating so few chances and taking even less while allowing opposition sides good chances of their own is worrying. It will surely hurt as some time soon and we are lucky it hasn't in last few games.
My thoughts may be obvious ones but here we go. I think there have been a number of underlying problems for any manager to deal with this season. Including why some of our most potentially creative players have haven't been in the consistent form we need them to be. For instance, Pulisic hasn't looked the player we all thought was world class, creating and scoring great goals towards the end of the season and before he imjured himself in the FA Cup final. He has struggled to rediscover that confidence/ form, has been worried a couple of times since - if a while ago now - by injuries.
Then there are our two potentially world class imports from the Bundesliga who have struggled to adapt to the faster pace and physicality of the EPL the more so cos of the C.V. situation, and Havertz got it of course. Ziyech also got injured early and though shone a few times earlier this season with defemse splitting passes is possibly still carrying at least a minor injury problem or is also finding the pace and physicality hard to adapt too. He didn't like chilly night in Barnsley that's for sure!
The point about high pressing oursepves is that it is obviously about forcing errors and quick turn over high up the pitch to create chances. and about winning the ball too when possible through tackling, not something many of our fowards/ AMs are very good at (Werner has actively pulled out of some, needs to get over this) except Mount (and Kante of course when pressing forward) at the moment though Pulisic has that in his armoury as he showed last season at times. But we can and surely must improve in this area in time.
What is also missing imho and we have said this before is the type of attacking player who can from match-to-match create many/ at least several chances/ goals by consummate skill ie Hazard or Pulisic when was on song last season (or Werner v Southampton earlier this season) or by own bulldozing physicality and skill ie Costa and Drogba. Also about being brave with that, esp. if wingers, and taking oppn defender on, getting to the byline etc.
It is also, of course, about having the right personnel in right places as Conte so quickly realised in his first season in adapting our formation after just a few games - indeed at half time v Arsenal when we were down 0-3 - to the qualities (or lack of them! ) of the squad at his disposal and his use of Moses at wingback was masterly. I have wondered whether our two managers this season have felt any burden beyond picking the players they would want on then pitc? E. G. either to (over) play new expensive signings not yet fully adapted or to bring back out of favour ones to put in shop window. Haven't really thought this thought through perhaps.
Creating more good chance is also about having one or two players who can open up a defense with a special pass from middle of field or deeper of course. In the past we have had several players who could do this, not least a Lampard or Cesc, or even a Luiz occasionally. I had thought Ziyech could do this, and there were signs of this early season (eg the pass/ -es for Werner v Brighton) but not recently; otherwise, and thinking off top of my head, Mount has probably done this most, and Kovacic a few times too.
Anyway, your good question got me thinking!