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A backward step - problems revealed

 

AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham Hotspur
An insipid Spurs display as we lose to Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar

AZ Alkmaar vs Tottenham Hotspur Quick Takeaways

1. Players do not take responsibility - passing backwards is our default so we have time on the ball to stop and look. 

A player then gently rolls it to another player and he does the same, looks around, see no pass, rolls it sideways. It takes us an eternity to switch play, we will take 2 passes and each player 2 touches, when one pass will do.

We switch play because we are blocked on one side. By moving the ball slowly, we are blocked on the other side when the ball arrives.

2. Each player when they have passed seems to think that's the end of their involvement. 

They don't move into a position immediately to receive the ball, hence there is no urgency resulting in our pedestrian pace of play. 

It means the opposition can get players behind the ball all the time before we can go forward.

3. Players run forward aimlessly preventing counter-attacks, not helping them. 

For instance, there was an incident in the second half where Bergvall was driving forward with the ball into the space between the middle of the pitch and the right-hand touchline. 

There were 4 players ahead of him all running forward, yet Bergvall had NO passes on. 

Not one player was running into a position where they could receive the ball. 

It eventually goes out to Johnson who rather than take on a man goes backwards so they can get players back and recover.

To be a top player, it is what you do OFF the ball that matters more than what you do on the ball. 

We have youngsters who are not yet intelligent enough off the ball, hence we get insipid, disjointed performances like the one last night where we create nothing.

I did think the ref was awful, a home town ref and like so many, didn't want to get his cards out until late, when it doesn't really matter. 

You produce cards earlier to stop the professional fouls and force players to play fairly.

Goalkeepers are no longer allowed to go in knee up to protect themselves. Their goalkeeper did straight into the back of Solanke.

From our last performance that was a backward step.

COYS

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1 comment

  1. Indeed, goalies are not allowed to jump into players with their knees up, and yes, the ref was ultimately pretty awful. Another disgraceful decision, after Koopmeiner eventually received a late yellow after qualifying for at least two very blatant yellows, saw a wipe-out challenge on Pape Sarr at the edge of their box overlooked with the ref only waving to play on. He couldn't have seen contact with the ball as it was a long way away when both of Sarr's legs were taken away.

    Our performance seemed insipid to me too. No arguments there.

    Good to hear that Solanke's injury is expected to be pretty transient though :-)

    COYS!!