Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal | Tactical THREAD

➡️ Cucurella seems to have Saka's number?
➡️ Gusto's best defensive performance?
➡️ Odegaard invisible but decisive, Palmer the opposite
➡️ Caicedo stepped up as defensive shield
➡️ Raya swept to perfection
➡️ Rice at LCM is too vanilla Arsenal erred today by using Rice as a LCM off the ball, which meant he couldn't get to grips with Cole Palmer who arguably had his best big match display this season in terms of 'involvement'.

Having said that, Cole Palmer didn't make the most of it with some poor decision making in key moments but it was overall a step in the right direction as he didn't ghost but tried to impact the game.

Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea | Tactical Thread

➡️ Palmer ghosts (played in front of Ugarte/Casemiro) ➡️ Mazraoui inverting sets traps for Madueke
➡️ Hojlund made it stick too much (release earlier)
➡️ Maresca stop A team v B team
➡️ Chelsea vulnerable out wide

#CFC #MUFC Palmer was given a free ride against Newcastle, with plenty of space to operate in.

In this game, United had two defensive minded players in midfield (but both with a tendency to leave space in behind). Palmer failed to exploit this space, dropping too deep to connect player and letting United midfield get set up.

Maresca needs to show some more balls or inventivenss here and be prepared to take Palmer off, or combine him with anoher playmaker in these type of games where he is stifled especially bigger games where space is at a premium.

Ten Hag 's 7 DEADLY TACTICAL SINS

❌ Large distances in midfield (3-1-6)
❌ Lack of quality overlaps
❌ CB's either too slow or feeble
❌ CF's starved or undercooked
❌ Lack of legs/positional IQ at CDM
❌ Bruno, Rashford - Hollywood Ball
❌15 min press

A THREAD 🧵

#MUFC How often did we see United play this absolutely moronic 3-1-6 shape in possession where there was zero relationisim in the midfield region, no chance for the deepest midfielder to find consistent options to pass it to and create some triangles... a key concept for when a team is trying to control chaos.

Eriksen, Casemiro, Mainoo... all suffered at times as the sides deepest pivot only to see their partners flying forward to pick up pockets of space with no real chance of the ball getting there and watching their team mate swarmed under pressure.

Not to mention this also left the team pretty vulnerable on the counter which we will touch upon later.

Ten Hag’s #MUFC tenure vs Arne Slot brief #LFC reign is a wonderful study in the importance of good coaching.

Failure to sign Zubimendi - was easy for Liverpool’s build up to take a hit and for them to lose ‘control’.

Instead Slot coaches his way out of it.

A THREAD 🧵 Ten Hag’s terrible player profiling especially in the midfield region has really haunted Manchester United during his entire reign.

The 6 region has completely baffled him on and off the ball.

Yet this is the area of the pitch where the modern coach most needs to excel in since the rise of Guardiola…

Klopp-Ball to Slot Ball…

5 KEY DIFFERENCES we’ve observed since Arne took the post.

A Thread 🧵

#LFC #LiverpoolFC We touched upon this previously but it seems super fast starts to rattle the opposition are Klopp’s bread and butter whereas Slot tends to want to digest the action before unsheathing his sword…

https://twitter.com/pythaginboots/status/1828343857722884293

A key difference between Arne Slot and Klopp?

Intensity of 1st half vs 2nd half.

Klopp used energy of the crowd to win the first 15 minutes and ride the momentum for remainder of game whereas Slot prefers surgical approach first before loosening handbrake.

A THREAD (w Data)🧵





Due to the small sample size, we looked at Slot time with Feyenoord to see if this was a coincidence or if this is a deeper principle he has always abided by. The numbers shocked us…

Feyenoord definitely stepped it up more second half compared to first half…

The COSTLIEST transfer errors by GREAT managers …

A THREAD 🧵 The sale of Jaap Stam. Jaap was the world’s best centre back during the treble season but a season later he was sold (not quite in his prime but still operating at a world class level).

Early in the 2001–02 season, Stam was controversially sold to Lazio in Italy after Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was reportedly upset by allegations Stam had made in his autobiography Head to Head about the club. Stam made numerous statements in the book about his views on opposing players, and alleged that Ferguson's approach to buy him was done without the permission of PSV. Later, Simon Kuper reported that contrary to initial belief, Ferguson had noticed that Stam's tackling numbers were declining and simply assumed the defender was past his playing peak.Laurent Blanc was signed as his replacement.

In 2007, however, Ferguson described the decision to sell Stam as an error: "At the time he had just come back from an achilles injury and we thought he had just lost a little bit. We got the offer from Lazio, £16.5m for a centre back who was 29. It was an offer I couldn't refuse. But in playing terms it was a mistake. He is still playing for Ajax at a really good level."

Greatest Ever WING DUOS …

A THREAD 🧵 Where else to start but ‘Robbery’…

One thing you’ll realise about most of these wing pairings is this uneasiness of an alliance, great wingers are by nature quite selfish and used to being the star player of their side from a young age and want to ball hog so having to share the limelight with another can be quite a emasculating process.

Whilst Robben and Ribery to the outside observer was an unreal wing pairing and full of chemistry, in truth they set up camp on opposite flanks demanding that they get the lions share of possession - fortunately their team mates did a wonderful balancing act and allowed them to hit a zenith in football that they wouldn’t have been able to do without each other.

Robben, a left-footed right winger, was known for his trademark move of cutting inside from the right flank and unleashing powerful shots with his left foot. His incredible dribbling, pace, and finishing ability made him a constant threat. Ribéry, a right-footed left winger, brought creativity, agility, and exceptional ball control. His ability to beat defenders and provide precise crosses and key passes complemented Robben’s direct approach perfectly.

Together, they helped Bayern Munich win numerous titles, including multiple Bundesliga championships, DFB-Pokal trophies, and the coveted UEFA Champions League in 2013. That season, they were pivotal in Bayern’s historic treble-winning campaign, which also included the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal titles.

Calafiori to Arsenal… Tactical Analysis

🔴What strengths does he bring?
⚪️What would he improve?
🔴How does he fit?
⚪️What does he not bring to the table?

A THREAD 🧵 Strong in the air, Calafiori has duelled with the likes of Osimhen and lived to tell the tale so in terms of a combative POV he should handle the physical tussles of the Premier League…

Ugarte to United… Tactical Analysis

What strengths does he bring to Manchester United? What would he improve? How does he fit? What does he not bring to the table?

A THREAD 🧵

#MUFC I have likened him to a Gattuso/Kante style of CM, he’s a rabid ball winner who seeks and destroys. If given a role where he can be freed up to hunt for the ball, he can be a menace… one of Europe’s leading ball winners statistically whilst at Lisbon

SLOW players blessed with PERPETUAL MOVEMENT...

i.e. players who may have lacked pace, but through intelligence, footwork, agility and most importantly STAMINA/MOVEMENT (i.e. constant offering for the ball) could wield their influence on the biggest of stages.

A THREAD 🧵 Kroos is the modern poster boy for proving that even in this so-called space age of fitter, faster - it doesn't necessarily mean better. There is still space in the game for a human snail to lord it over gym-forged Adonis' through his insatiable desire to get on the ball and calculate the right pass, time and time again.

The Greatest EVER Stopper Defenders…

(Hard man CBs reknowned for man marking, aggression and warfare)

A Thread 🧵 My GOAT is Jurgen Kohler. Van Basten’s toughest opponent and starred in Italia 90 and as a wise head for Dortmund UCL win. Good in air, fast across ground, vigorous in the tackle and could play ball. Complete as it gets as a stopper.

#ARSBAY Tactical Preview & Predictions [Thread]

Prediction: Leaning towards Gunners... but Bayern can hurt them if either counter via Sane or have too many periods where they set up camp in final third.

➡️ Bayern build up looks compromised with Arse press very strong, Pavlovic/Kimmi only routes out
➡️ Bayern should surprise press, not sustain it, as Raya to Havertz will cause issues
➡️ Arse must avoid allowing Bayern final third 'camping' as wide areas are vulnerable, too many box threats

See thread below for more points and in-depth details...

#FCBayern #Arsenal #UCL Arsenal if they select Zinchenko should be pretty strong at building up, unless they choke - Kane/Muller are not your go-to forwards for central pressing and I'd advise them to sit off and protect passes going into Zinny/Jorginho rather than put pressure on the CBs and tire themselves out.

Manchester United v Galatasaray - Analysis

➡️ Hojlund, Mount can hold head up high - solid
➡️ United looked fluent for once in possession
➡️ Dalot - sell, not good enough.
➡️ Onana - atrocious. Taibi vibes atm, sort it out!
➡️ Gala were piranha-like, smelt blood.

#MUNGAL #UCL Honestly a tough pill to swallow that.

The United midfield actually functioned well, Mount, Hannibal as wide midfielders - it suited them, it made sense and the football was actually enjoyable.

The Dalot error for the Zaha goal epitomises everything that is wrong with him. He is just 'flimsy' and Lindelof is the same. They're too soft to play for United.

Arsenal v Tottenham: NLD Preview

➡Outcome of the game may hinge on Spurs’ midfield rotations
➡Will Ange’s narrow rest defence be exploited?
➡Raya + Havertz combination from goal kicks
➡Saka v Udogie. Solomon v White. Who can isolate the fullbacks better?

[Thread]

#ARSTOT Spurs have been mightily impressive this season in circulating the ball during the build-up, despite not possessing top-tier ball progressors.

To compensating for this, they heavily rely on the off-the-ball movement. While maintaining a 2-1-2 structure, their players constantly swap positions to carve out spaces within their framework.

We’ve seen what happens they struggle to move the ball like in the first half against United, so it’s imperative they nail this part of the tactical battle.

#FCBMUN [Tactical Thread]

➡️ Rather have Obama in goal than Onana
➡️ 5-4-1 shape off ball yet Sane walks past 3 players
➡️ Musiala sends Casemiro almost into retirement
➡️ Reguilon and Rash = good attacking chemistry, poor defensive chemistry
➡️ Kane v Hojlund

#MUFC #FCBayern So United started well. Generally proactive but dropping back into a 5-4-1 or 4-1-4-1 shape to frustrate Bayern with Casemiro floating between cb/cdm.

Whilst Sane was having moments, none of it was really coming off and Kane looked isolated. ETH's gameplan seemed to be working.

NUFC - Last season, we were among the rare few to say they'd feel liberated by the Carabao Cup concluding, whether loss or not, and that Willock & Isak would provide them with a second wind for the tiring Joelinton & Wilson to ensure a top 4 finish. It's worrying that this is September, not February, but the need for changes is clear. Suggestions:

A) When your attack loses trust in the defence, the final ball is often forced, and vice versa. When the defence knows that the attack is too brawny, they'll not defend in tandem as a unit. Livramento needed to provide recovery pace in defence & thrust in attack to take the pressure off both sides of the pitch, no more Matty - who is a target for the opposition to pin their wingers on. Burn as LCB & Targeted LB is a recipe for relegtion.

#NUFC #NewcastleUnited B) Midfield rotation: Last season, the constant norm was Guimarães & the 2 slots were rotated between 3 players. Now it seems that Howe is sticking to a settled 3 - a bad idea, especially given the game style they go for - very taxing. With the UCL too, this needs to change. We did say that Tonali alone won't fix the midfield.

Many young players become memes despite their overwhelming talent being quite obvious but it just seems nothing is going for them and they are on the verge of being written off…

Probably the best example of zero to hero is the rise of Gareth ‘Fail’ into Gareth Bale.

[Thread] I watched a young Bale feature for Saints vs WBA at the Hawthorns and was instantly bewitched. Magical left foot, so cultured… felt like an alien, a left back who just didn’t fit the mould of a British full back. I remember signing him on football manager that night 😂

Tactical Dynamo: How Amrabat would redefine Manchester United’s playbook

➡️ Unraveling the veracity of long pass
➡️ Licha, Onana & Amrabat, build-up ensemble
➡️ Not as aerially dominant as Casemiro
➡️ Rice-esque dribbler
➡️ Ball-DAWG terrier in defence

#MUFC

[Tactical Thread] Long passing forms an important part of his game, and the stats suggest he's a world leader in this aspect. However, upon closer inspection, the eye test reveals that he's good but not great.

Is Sandro Tonali A Good Tactical Fit For Newcastle? [Thread]

➡️Brings midfield support to Bruno G
➡️Trippier unleashed
➡️Tactical evolution in the long run
➡️However, Tonali’s presence doesn’t resolve the question of whether Bruno is still the ideal choice as the 6

#NUFC Tonali brings much needed support to Bruno G in midfield. Despite having success playing in a swashbuckling style, Eddie Howe knows against Europe’s elite, his side needs more balance in midfield.

Rice and Lavia is a potentially gorgeous combination. Wet behind the ears at UCL level? yes but complementary. Rice weakness in build up is cancelled by Lavia's comfort in pivot and Rice can protect him defensively.

Ricedo is yesterdays news. Time for Lice.

#Arsenal

[Thread] We covered a lot of this in our Havertz tactical thread but Lavia would still enable the 3-2-2-3 formation as he can take over from Zinny/Partey as a conduit in the build up phase. His favourite thing to do is collect it off CB's and remain deep, controlling from the back.