Tweak to plan A

LGFOX said:
Something changed. Lots more long balls which weren’t always successful but opened up the play. 33% possession. Our least all season by a country mile. Coincidence?
Click to expand...
The more direct style obviously caused Southampton defenders problems, fast attacks running at players on angles is always going to be harder to defend than a slow passing build up and looking for the "perfect goal". We have the players and pace to scare the hell out of teams, which is what seemed to happen last night.
Wish we had made that switch in some of the previous games when we were losing 1-0 and Enzo refused to change it.
 
Game met game, and Enzo's charges were better at it than Southampton. Saints didn't put 10 men behind the ball, they tried fairly unsuccessfully to play out from the back, they then folded after the 3rd.

Don't think there were any fundemental changes to our approach, they just left gaping holes everywhere.
 
Southampton were frankly awful and didn’t pressure the ball at all. They virtually stood back and watched us move the ball into their net. Can’t see Preston or Blackburn doing that and I sincerely hope we don’t read too much into last nights score line ( however pleasant it was to witness). Heads down for Preston lads.
 
Lozfox1978 said:
Southampton were frankly awful and didn’t pressure the ball at all. They virtually stood back and watched us move the ball into their net. Can’t see Preston or Blackburn doing that and I sincerely hope we don’t read too much into last nights score line ( however pleasant it was to witness). Heads down for Preston lads.
Click to expand...
End of the day we do have better players than most if not all the teams in the Championship, and the best squad by a long way. If they are allowed to do their stuff then we should be OK. Thank goodness we didn't go a goal down or Southampton draw level last night and the frustration start to set in.
*Provided* we do complete the job the expectations will be very different next season. As someone mentioned it is against the Bournemouth's and Fulham's that we will be judged if we do get promoted.
 
Lozfox1978 said:
Southampton were frankly awful and didn’t pressure the ball at all. They virtually stood back and watched us move the ball into their net. Can’t see Preston or Blackburn doing that and I sincerely hope we don’t read too much into last nights score line ( however pleasant it was to witness). Heads down for Preston lads.
Click to expand...
It was like watching us against Plymouth and Stoke when Stephen Schumacher was in charge.

Great evening.
 
City went man for man and challenged Southampton to beat the press. They failed big time. Whilst Saints had more possession, it was mostly being forced back to their own goal by the relentless press. The only weak spell was 10 mins after half time when we wanted to gift them a way back in with some stupid passing. That we were so direct and ruthless when we did win the ball was great.
 
I've asked in another thread today if we have moved away from pure Enzoball to a more space based style...
If so it has breathed life back into our play and support.
It's hard to cheer Madds and Vesta standing on the ball and just looking around.
More please..
 
I think Claudio had given Enzo a call after the Plymouth letdown. Play my way or you'll be sent up the highway.

SSN showed us having over 70% possession against Millwall and Plymouth and losing.
Yet I think it was 47% and 34% against WBA and Soton and winning, which just goes to show the tippy tappy doesn't suit the lads.
I imagine Harry Winks had a lot less touches last night.
Finally, in the PL attackers would have a field day against our Kamikaze central defenders.
Just one last bit :) we need our scouts to find a JV9 (2) from somewhere.
 
Vestergaard was trying the long diagonal to mavadidi a little more than usual at the start, but the main change was the intensity. Every player was on their toes, snapping at Southampton & our passing was so much quicker & sharper.
Once the 2nd goal went in it was noticeable that every ball back to our keeper was just walloped up the pitch for the next 10 minutes or so ( & rightly so, no need for risks)
Then when the 3rd went in, we enjoyed ourselves. Great to see.
 
essingtonblue said:
Vestergaard was trying the long diagonal to mavadidi a little more than usual at the start, but the main change was the intensity. Every player was on their toes, snapping at Southampton & our passing was so much quicker & sharper.
Once the 2nd goal went in it was noticeable that every ball back to our keeper was just walloped up the pitch for the next 10 minutes or so ( & rightly so, no need for risks)
Then when the 3rd went in, we enjoyed ourselves. Great to see.
Click to expand...
Matt Piper picked out that there was some good man marking too. He was correct though I was surprised to see Vestergaard up on the left wing pressing to get the ball back.
 
JohnMitten said:
I think Claudio had given Enzo a call after the Plymouth letdown. Play my way or you'll be sent up the highway.

SSN showed us having over 70% possession against Millwall and Plymouth and losing.
Yet I think it was 47% and 34% against WBA and Soton and winning, which just goes to show the tippy tappy doesn't suit the lads.
I imagine Harry Winks had a lot less touches last night.
Finally, in the PL attackers would have a field day against our Kamikaze central defenders.
Just one last bit :) we need our scouts to find a JV9 (2) from somewhere.
Click to expand...
It clearly did until Christmas.
 
Although I was referring to tactics I agree that there was more commitment and drive last night.
I wonder if playing a rather longer game enabled/encouraged this as most players actually like to stretch their legs.
I realise that Enzoball is designed to demand less physical work but perhaps it leads to a lazier approach to play..
 
Last edited:
essingtonblue said:
Vestergaard was trying the long diagonal to mavadidi a little more than usual at the start, but the main change was the intensity. Every player was on their toes, snapping at Southampton & our passing was so much quicker & sharper.
Once the 2nd goal went in it was noticeable that every ball back to our keeper was just walloped up the pitch for the next 10 minutes or so ( & rightly so, no need for risks)
Then when the 3rd went in, we enjoyed ourselves. Great to see.
Click to expand...
And that’s why I think we’ll win at Preston. Especially if we still need a result. We showed v Saints that we will drive ourselves over the line and that determination will continue. Couple that with the quality we have and I cannot see a repeat of Millwall or Plymouth.

Choudhury showed this same spirit v West Brom.
 
Oadlad said:
Although I was referring to tactics I agree that there was more commitment and drive last night.
I wonder if playing a rather longer game enabled/encouraged this as most players actually like to stretch their legs.
I realise that Enzoball is designed to demand less physical work but perhaps it leads to a lazier approach to play..
Click to expand...
There’s two games left now there is nothing to save ourselves for.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top