Piece
Tour Winner
In my view, its not necessarily the players or the manager, it is how we actually play that is our failing (and always has). Here's why:
Defence: We mark space not men. Time after time we slot back into formation but we don't mark or track men. It makes it easier for the opposition to move into pockets of space in front of the back four. You look at the decent defending sides, they are mobile nd track runners. The Cavani chance early second half last night is a classic example of standing off and ball watching while the runners play round them. Chile play a heavy pressing game when they lose the ball - they swarm all over you. Not saying we should adopt this style, but we don't apply pressure or mark well enough.
Attack: Our passing recently has been better than in recent years. The failing is that we are too slow, too predictable and as with our defence, we're not mobile enough. The front men have got to move around more and quickly, pull the defence around to create opportunities. We rely too much on mistakes and set-pieces for our goals. Again, you only have to look at Chile, Columbia, Holland, Germany, etc. on how it should be done. It seems that the players are afraid to move out of position in case they are caught out of position - this was precisely the issue when we were flobbed 4-1 by Germany in the last WC.
I'm glad that we are trying to play more of passing game, dispelling the years of long-ball. We need though to take it to the next step and show unpredictability and quick movement upfront, and be more mobile and mark better in defence. Somehow (don't have answer) we have to change how the players play and that can't happen overnight.
Defence: We mark space not men. Time after time we slot back into formation but we don't mark or track men. It makes it easier for the opposition to move into pockets of space in front of the back four. You look at the decent defending sides, they are mobile nd track runners. The Cavani chance early second half last night is a classic example of standing off and ball watching while the runners play round them. Chile play a heavy pressing game when they lose the ball - they swarm all over you. Not saying we should adopt this style, but we don't apply pressure or mark well enough.
Attack: Our passing recently has been better than in recent years. The failing is that we are too slow, too predictable and as with our defence, we're not mobile enough. The front men have got to move around more and quickly, pull the defence around to create opportunities. We rely too much on mistakes and set-pieces for our goals. Again, you only have to look at Chile, Columbia, Holland, Germany, etc. on how it should be done. It seems that the players are afraid to move out of position in case they are caught out of position - this was precisely the issue when we were flobbed 4-1 by Germany in the last WC.
I'm glad that we are trying to play more of passing game, dispelling the years of long-ball. We need though to take it to the next step and show unpredictability and quick movement upfront, and be more mobile and mark better in defence. Somehow (don't have answer) we have to change how the players play and that can't happen overnight.
