Advancing
Introduction & Conclusion
Another game, another opportunity to write up some observations about my football team, ladies and gentlemen welcome to some unconstructed match thoughts on AC Milan vs Liverpool, unconstructed because these notes were written in the spur of the moment without any post editing. I watched the game over 2 days so that may have broken my flow of analysis, but I’m inclined to say we saw a very good tactical performance, which is much more important than the result. Good showings from Ngumoha, Wirtz, Szoboszlai & Frimpong. I will now end this introduction by concluding.
Match Analysis
Key players operating in slightly different positions, Gravenberch — CB, Szoboszlai — LCM. Grav as the CB is fine because he’s receiving facing forwards and at an angle to play inside, Morton in between the lines as first receiver. On Morton: he excels by giving off that nonchalant temperament; first time passes, shimmies, feints and lots of pausing on the ball. Nothing fazes him. Allows him to retain the ball at a high rate. Only wants to pass forwards when he has time, if he’s being pressured by an opponent and cannot create separation he’ll go backwards.
On conceding transitions: Transitions are an ‘issue’ for every big team. High field tilt in the opponents half mean that when you do concede transitions, they seem more potent as the space the opponent has to run into is enlarged due to how deep their low block previously was.
Szoboszlai receiving the ball outside of the oppositions block, facing forwards is very nice situation to be in. he can find passers from deep, or if close enough, shoot. Similarly, he can thread passes through gaps if given time to look. Can he replace some of Trent’s value as a passer?
Minute 20. Beautiful standard ovation for our Diogo.
Szobozlai’s goal was insane, firstly let’s talk about the build-up to the goal, AC Milan were steadily squeezing us on our right side, a few shaky exchanges between VVD, Grav and Alisson, the ball noticeably up into the air from player to player. Grav receives the ball facing forwards, carries the ball forwards and whacks a 60-yard pass to Rio, who carries and carries before finding Szoboszlai who almost cutely curls the ball into the far post. Shows off his ball-striking and his large feet!
Wirtz seems to always know what to do to achieve his goals on the pitch: threaded ball around the corner to release Rio, letting the ball run across his body to be able to push it forwards in one motion, tight 2 touches to receive in pressure and move it onwards quickly. So many good things to see from this guy, so many things we can learn from a footballer who plays the game like this, I’m so excited to see more. Another observation: he can play at different speeds.
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Noticeable detail in the way we build-up from the back: both #8’s continuously drop in by essentially jogging towards the ball signalling the readiness to receive, the opposition player follows, whatever space said player has left behind will look to be exploited by the build-up unit. An example: Grav’s half turn, allows him to bypass his marker AND exploit space left behind. This is a part of the reason why we appear to be so dynamic, our intentions regarding ball progression are centred around creating, exploiting and running into spaces.
I think this half has been shown the importance of having up-and-down fullbacks who can help in those transitions moment you will inevitably concede. The fullbacks essentially control the wide and half space of their side. Especially considering we have seen both Bradley and Kerkez be deployed as narrow fullbacks when we’re camping in the opponent’s half. I very much like the fact that Bradley and Kerkez were fielded as the fullback options in this 2nd half showing, affirms my belief that these 2 are our first-choice fullbacks. Bradley being out-ran by Leao in the transition for the Milan’s first goal is nothing to be particularly disappointed about.
Jones seems to become more influential creatively against low blocks, when the ball starts to be circulated and he’s able to get a series of passes and touches in, that’s where you start to him use more tools in his box, reverse passes, flicks, dummies, etc, Jones almost definitely excels creatively at a slightly slower tempo of play.
Our diagonals from the left side to right side are lethal, Bradley, Salah, Frimpong, Szoboszlai as possible recipients is a mouthwatering prospect. Gravenberch, VVD, Macca and hopefully Kerkez as the passers from that side makes it viable that we’ll see a lot of goals from this dynamic. I mention this because of Frimpong’s shot on goal from Gakpo’s quality diagonal. Proper outlets play from Frimpong that.
Use of full backs seems to be this: One narrow, one wide. Kerkez seems to be narrow, Frimpong wide. Logical choice, considering their qualities. I do feel though that in this game, Kerkez hasn’t racked up enough volume of involvement, we’ve haven’t been able to see him in situations where he can be go forwards, which I guess could be seen as a trade-off when operating in that position, the spaces are tighter. Frimpong’s been in loads of dynamic situations, Kerkez hasn’t.
Think we’ve struggled in this half to really exert ourselves in our usual manner because Milan have generally sat deeper as a block and not conceded many attacking transitions, player quality & profile obviously being a major factor here, Gakpo and Doak are the only traditional attackers on the pitch.
Frimpong will and should win loads of fouls next season. Physically less capable but understands the importance of getting your body between the ball and the opponent.
Bradley in those half spaces is very subtle and effective, first time passes around the corner, lay-offs, dummies, can remember a few examples from previous seasons too, Chelsea at home comes to mind. It’s almost as if he understands the need for urgency in those spaces, very rarely do we see him receiving in the half spaces not in rhythm with the speed of the move.
Great goal by Gakpo, encapsulates his strengths quite well, not a 2-way winger but can create a LOT of threat from cutting in, in swinging crosses, shots and as we saw for the goal, off-ball running to access the space in behind the defence. It cannot be denied that amount of threat he creates from his position, even if I think it would be optimal to push him into the centre forward position.
Gracias.
*ADVANCES*.
