An Analysis of Man City's 1st Goal
An Analysis of Man City's 1st Goal
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| What went wrong for Spurs to concede the first goal? |
Right, in the last Tottenham Hotspur Blog News (THBN) article, Laporte's Arm Had a Material Affect, we looked at the correct VAR decision to disallow the Manchester City winner.
It also showed what nobody seems to be talking about and that is the change in direction of the ball thus clearly showing the handball had a material affect on the goal.
Now we will look at Manchester City's first goal.
After the Aston Vill game, I wrote a piece on the long-standing problem I have with Kyle Walker-Peters in attacking situations, but I also pointed out a defensive frailty that he needs to work on to 'make it' at this level.
That problem was his vision, he doesn't look around enough to see what is around him and it is too easy for players to coast in behind him unawares and he Manchester City opener was scored by Sterling coming in behind him.
Now while I had this spot on and was fearful of this, particularly in this match as Sterling scores so many goal by coming in behind defenders, KWP made an error, yes, but there were others areas of concern, mitigating circumstances and he was put in a very difficult situation by others.
But let's backtrack and have a look at the goal in detail.
We had this problem all game. First, we have 3 men on one. Yes, there is a second man near so does one player, Eriksen, need to be as close, should he be a yard to his right to stop a first-time cross?
The defenders are in a line, no issue with that, but Alderweireld doesn't know where his man is, so Kyle Walker-Peters has to tuck in to keep an eye on Aguero. Alderweireld needs to have Aguero in his peripheral vision.
There are two other men there so KWP has 3 he is looking after. Was there any communication? Did KWP shout to Alderweireld or remain quiet.
The ball has been laid back to that second man and you can clearly see his body shape is to whip the ball in first time. Eriksen is nowhere near him.
Aguero and Sterling are on the move for it already. Alderweireld can't mark Aguero, he doesn't know where he is.
Kyle Walker-Peters still has three to mark, but his body position isn't one of a player sensing danger and about to burst into life, his feet position tells us that.
In Fig 3 the ball has been whipped in first time with the nearest player, Eriksen, having no chance to stop it. That is where this goal stems from, that error, that man.
It is his job to be aware of the other man and the potential to whip in a first time ball, Eriksen should be positioning himself so he can prevent it if the ball is laid back to the City guy.
That is the root cause. change that and you stop the cross, you stop the goal.
Aguero has stolen a march on Alderweireld while KWP still has three men on his own. He has to judge the flight of the ball and decide to go for the ball regardless.
He can only let it go out if he knows there is nobody behind him, but there is and Walker-Peters doesn't know where Sterling is.
Sterling has gone around the back of Kyle Walker-Peters who hasn't got anywhere near the ball or the flight of the ball. Sterling tucks away but Aguero is also on hand for a header back or a Lloris save and Alderweireld is out of play still.
I am going to draw your attention to one more point in the next article and it is a problem, it will surely hold us back this season.
It also showed what nobody seems to be talking about and that is the change in direction of the ball thus clearly showing the handball had a material affect on the goal.
Now we will look at Manchester City's first goal.
After the Aston Vill game, I wrote a piece on the long-standing problem I have with Kyle Walker-Peters in attacking situations, but I also pointed out a defensive frailty that he needs to work on to 'make it' at this level.
That problem was his vision, he doesn't look around enough to see what is around him and it is too easy for players to coast in behind him unawares and he Manchester City opener was scored by Sterling coming in behind him.
Now while I had this spot on and was fearful of this, particularly in this match as Sterling scores so many goal by coming in behind defenders, KWP made an error, yes, but there were others areas of concern, mitigating circumstances and he was put in a very difficult situation by others.
But let's backtrack and have a look at the goal in detail.
 |
| Man City 1st goal Fig 1 |
We had this problem all game. First, we have 3 men on one. Yes, there is a second man near so does one player, Eriksen, need to be as close, should he be a yard to his right to stop a first-time cross?
The defenders are in a line, no issue with that, but Alderweireld doesn't know where his man is, so Kyle Walker-Peters has to tuck in to keep an eye on Aguero. Alderweireld needs to have Aguero in his peripheral vision.
There are two other men there so KWP has 3 he is looking after. Was there any communication? Did KWP shout to Alderweireld or remain quiet.
 |
| Man City 1st goal Fig 2 |
The ball has been laid back to that second man and you can clearly see his body shape is to whip the ball in first time. Eriksen is nowhere near him.
Aguero and Sterling are on the move for it already. Alderweireld can't mark Aguero, he doesn't know where he is.
Kyle Walker-Peters still has three to mark, but his body position isn't one of a player sensing danger and about to burst into life, his feet position tells us that.
 |
| Man City 1st goal Fig 3 |
It is his job to be aware of the other man and the potential to whip in a first time ball, Eriksen should be positioning himself so he can prevent it if the ball is laid back to the City guy.
That is the root cause. change that and you stop the cross, you stop the goal.
Aguero has stolen a march on Alderweireld while KWP still has three men on his own. He has to judge the flight of the ball and decide to go for the ball regardless.
He can only let it go out if he knows there is nobody behind him, but there is and Walker-Peters doesn't know where Sterling is.
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| Man City 1st goal Fig 4 |
I am going to draw your attention to one more point in the next article and it is a problem, it will surely hold us back this season.
COYS
2 comments
I can see why Zidane does not fancy him for Real
He should be standing out not standing back
Example Kevin De Bruyne
Shitty were that good on the day I felt a few mistakes, and he wasn't unique in that respect as you've pointed out, were to be expected. It's so much harder to do everything right and look good when the opposition are strong and put you under pressure, and that was true for the whole game.
I can't claim to be a coach, or to see with a coach's eyes, but I was very pleased with the performance overall. We were somewhat lucky with our goals - not without skill but things fel…