Morgan / Tactical explanation of Pochettino's tactics

Interesting detail on the tactical approach. Apologies if posted previously - think there was a similar article recently but without the same level of tactical insight.

>>>>>>>

Like last season with Jack Cork, you seem to have been handed instructions to play a few steps ahead of Victor Wanyama in midfield. It all started with Pochettino’s arrival. Before that I was used more as the anchor man just in front of the defence. When he came, he spoke to me straight ahead « I saw a couple of videos from you and I think you’ve the techical and physical abilities to do more attacking ». Then he asked me to play a step ahead, to get into space and burst forward. I’m expected to do the constant link between defence and attack whilst maintaining the same intensity in terms of pressing. Even if I can’t do that all 90 mn (laughs)

Your pairing with Victor Wanyama is improving but it will still require a bit of time before you’ll get to the same marks than when you played with Cork…

Absolutely. We know each other for years (with Cork) so we had a perfect understanding of one another on the pitch. Last season we knew exactly how the other did play. With Wanyama I had to start over. We’re not there yet, that’s for sure. He struggled a bit to cope with the way he’s pressed. He wasn’t used to that in his former league and it was a tad difficult for him athletically. But you’re right, it’s way better now. It can only improve because as we see at training he’s a very good player, technically in instance. It’s more about physicality and positioning but that will come.

You spole about pressing earlier, do Pochettino asks to isolate the player in possession or does he prefer playing 1v1 all across the field, kind of « matching » a lot of Championship use to do ?

First of all, we have to close the central zones. He keeps saying it’s the heart of play and there’s always more options from the central zones: switches of play etc… He emphasises on blocking passing lanes. Anyway when I do press, I try to leave the worst passing option possible to the opponent. Pochettino asks us not to give the opponent the choice. But it requires a massive amount of work from a collective point of view. It’s not surprising after six or seven months working on it that we’re now able to harass and fully inbalance some of the teams we face. We couldn’t do that from the start as it’s a massive work put in at training.

He wants us to recover the ball as high as possible, so for that it’s usually up to a forward to trigger the pressing ; so then we’ve to follow. Personnally, I sometimes have to leave my zone to help on one side if a winger who was out of position because he was in a forward zone and couldn’t fall back in time. I’m the closest to the ball to intervene so then even if I’m tired, I’m kicking my ass. So then, the winger has to fill my zone and then we switch positions. This is the basic philosophy.

We have precise drills and patterns depending of the situation. On goalkicks, if they attack from the right side etc. Pochettino is all about detail, really. I recall that he showed us from the start that a meter or half a meter could block two passing lanes in midfield. We just had to move a step ahead or orientating our body a given way to face the opponent in order to put him into trouble

So then Lambert runs a bit more than before…

Even him runs more, says it all (laughs). It’s not his thing but he’s adapting to what the coach’s demands. It’s often him or Osvaldo who triggers the first wave of pressure. If one of the two starts, it triggers the whole process. Pressing is first and foremost a collective thing. If I’m coming out, the winger will react that way, so will my team mate in midfield and so on.

How is all that implemented on daily basis at training ?

You’re ought to know we play a 11v11 game every wednesday. It’s often against the reserves, or the academy ; youths basically but intensity is maximal. The staff implements several patterns of play depending of the situations. And as we changed the system – because Pochettino likes to play with a 10 and a lone striker – because Osvaldo and Lambert are both out and out forwards, it requires adaptation

We work on patterns to get the ball out from the back on goalkicks: the last two games, both CM had to get to both angles of the penalty box while the two CB had to spread to both sides of the box. Full backs have to get close to the byline and the midway line. The purpose is to get the ball out from the back on ground and not hoofing the ball on Lambert. If the pass toward Wanyama isn’t possible, we have the two center backs. If opponents close us down, so then both full backs are unmarked in a free zone. The aim is to find them as soon as possible in order to write off the most opposing players as we can.

If ever we don’t have a short option, that means that the opponent has closed us down as a team ans so then we’ve to play long on Lambert because it will be 1v1 in the air. But we often change that pattern because opponents adapts after a couple of games.

While attacking, there’s also the will to pass the ball on the floor and stretch opposing defences. Hence how crucial is your role as you’re a specialist to switch the play.

We must know how to oxygenate play, dictating the rythm, surprise the opponent. Pochettino asks me to switch the play often because he likes that. He wants us to devellop a genuine playing identity. Even falling back as a team is necessary, he gives us license to attack. He wants his full backs to get into attacking positions, put under presure opponent’s wingers. We always have to scan around. If you’re head first in Premier League…

That playing intelligence, is it the recipe of your success against the best teams ?

I do think so, indeed. But it’s because we’re more at ease with all the teams trying to get the ball out from the back, such as Chelsea, Manchester City or Swansea. We often speak about Arsenal or Swansea for ball retention, but Swansea really is the best there is in England. They’re really impressing. From now on, Bony gives them the running into depth which stretches the lines. Not a surprise if their manager is Laudrup with his experience as a player, his experience in Spain

Back to us, with all that work implemented by Pochettino, we’re now able to suffocate those teams. We saw that at Liverpool. Last season, we had a lot of struggles with teams playing route one football such as West Ham. Even this season, we haven’t played so well even if Jääskeläinen saves them.

Southampton is currently 4th on the table. The ambitions got to another level. Proof is that a lot of teams now play very defensive against you, as if they were afraid of you

Indeed, we often play very organised teams. It’s a good indication

I bet that you’ll end the season in the top 6, was I right to do so ?

(laughs) I’m being very honest. If we end up 10th, it will be a failure for me. I’m playing to win, not to stay in mid-table even if that’s decent, in some way. I think we’ve enough quality on and off the pitch to do something good. But there’s a crucial point to take into consideration: our propensity to handle pressure/expectations.

Imagine that we’re in the top 5 in December or January, it won’t be the same situation as now. Expectations will be much more important, focus [from the opinion] as well. It’s different from (he pauses)... It’s not the same to be an outsider than being a genuine contender. We don’t have that experience ans I don’t know how we will react. Will we panic ? Will we be up to that ? Players such as Lambert or Lovren have a lot of experience. Even guys such as Lallana or I have play hundreds of games. But not to end up in the first places on the table

Are you satisfied with your season so far ?

Right from the start – no. Against WBA it was OK but I wasn’t very good against West Ham even if I come this close to score. I had a tad more difficult period. As I’m a perfectionnist, I’m not satisfied with being « decent ». I know I wasn’t that bad but it wasn’t good either. I’m satisfied since the Liverpool game. I just played three good games against Palace and Swansea

You were in the storm after your tackle on Mohamed Diamé. You get to the ball first but what you put into that challenge was impressing.

Back then I was wondering why there was hurling. I knew I got the ball so I didn’t understood. I still apologized straight away. I’m not the kind of guy to injure another player. What was funny though was that we met referees in order to speak about supposed behaviours, rules and tackles. It was the WH game’s referee. Watching the video he said « it’s supposed to be yellow on that one but you got the ball first ». Problem was more the impact in the tackle, I didn’t realize that on the pitch.

From a distance, one wouldn’t think you’re that powerful even if you don’t have Rickie Lambert’s frame either

But I don’t wan’t Lambert’s frame, I wouldn’t move if so. You don’t even know how massive he is. I gained strength because we’ve a very good individual program. I had to be more powerful without loosing on mobility/dynamism. By the way, I’d like to say that Southampton’s medical staff is amazing. I haven’t had a muscular injury for two and a half years and it’s nothing to do with luck. I have a good lifestyle but we do a lot of prevention. In instance we work a lot on glueteal muscles before every training session.

Very, very interesting, thank you. Could you provide a link for the source?

That's Mourinho's team talk sorted then....

Vood article. Think it was posted a few weeks ago and possibly from l'Equipe.

Very, very interesting, thank you. Could you provide a link for the source?

Not sure, it was emailed to me

http://kickoff.blogs.lequipe.fr/morgan-schneiderlin-pochettino-cest-lart-du-detail/

The original article in French

Most interesting. Makes a change from the tedious threads being started by the usual suspects.

Thanks for sharing. Really interesting read although it does give the opposition a lot to consider.

Excellent piece and really makes a mockery of England's attempts to graft on a pressing game.

You can see the attraction to the national side: it suggests you can make up for deficits in technique with fitness and physicality but it requires brains and constant drilling. This ain't mongloid Rooney chasing down back passes to the keeper but involves split second decisions when to leave your zone to support others while working out which passing lanes are the most dangerous or threatening.

Anyone think this is way too much information?

Anyone think this is way too much information?

Not really. Alan Hansen would have worked it all out in no time, he's just never given a long enough analysis slot to explain it all.;-)

Anyone think this is way too much information?

Most smart managers will have worked out the bare bones Morgan has revealed, working out the system is the easy bit it's knowing how to counteract it especially when the team are as well drilled as as they are in the execution. Arsenal only got the win through two mere brain farts, that aside they didn't create much more despite on paper having what many would assume to be superior firepower.

Like last season with Jack Cork, you seem to have been handed instructions to play a few steps ahead of Victor Wanyama in midfield.

It all started with Pochettinos arrival. Before that I was used more as the anchor man just in front of the defence. When he came, he spoke to me straight ahead « I saw a couple of videos from you and I think youve the techical and physical abilities to do more attacking ». Then he asked me to play a step ahead, to get into space and burst forward. Im expected to do the constant link between defence and attack whilst maintaining the same intensity in terms of pressing. Even if I can’t do that all 90 mn (laughs)

Your pairing with Victor Wanyama is improving but it will still require a bit of time before you’ll get to the same marks than when you played with Cork…

Absolutely. We know each other for years (with Cork) so we had a perfect understanding of one another on the pitch. Last season we knew exactly how the other did play. With Wanyama I had to start over. We’re not there yet, that’s for sure. He struggled a bit to cope with the way he’s pressed. He wasnt used to that in his former league and it was a tad difficult for him athletically. But you’re right, it’s way better now. It can only improve because as we see at training he’s a very good player, technically in instance. It’s more about physicality and positioning but that will come.

You spole about pressing earlier, do Pochettino asks to isolate the player in possession or does he prefer playing 1v1 all across the field, kind of « matching » a lot of Championship use to do ?

First of all, we have to close the central zones. He keeps saying it’s the heart of play and there’s always more options from the central zones: switches of play etc… He emphasises on blocking passing lanes. Anyway when I do press, I try to leave the worst passing option possible to the opponent. Pochettino asks us not to give the opponent the choice. But it requires a massive amount of work from a collective point of view. It’s not surprising after six or seven months working on it that we’re now able to harass and fully inbalance some of the teams we face. We couldnt do that from the start as it’s a massive work put in at training.

He wants us to recover the ball as high as possible, so for that it’s usually up to a forward to trigger the pressing ; so then we’ve to follow. Personnally, I sometimes have to leave my zone to help on one side if a winger who was out of position because he was in a forward zone and couldnt fall back in time. Im the closest to the ball to intervene so then even if I’m tired, I’m kicking my ass. So then, the winger has to fill my zone and then we switch positions. This is the basic philosophy.

We have precise drills and patterns depending of the situation. On goalkicks, if they attack from the right side etc. Pochettino is all about detail, really. I recall that he showed us from the start that a meter or half a meter could block two passing lanes in midfield. We just had to move a step ahead or orientating our body a given way to face the opponent in order to put him into trouble

So then Lambert runs a bit more than before…

Even him runs more, says it all (laughs). It’s not his thing but he’s adapting to what the coachs demands. It’s often him or Osvaldo who triggers the first wave of pressure. If one of the two starts, it triggers the whole process. Pressing is first and foremost a collective thing. If I’m coming out, the winger will react that way, so will my team mate in midfield and so on.

How is all that implemented on daily basis at training ?

You’re ought to know we play a 11v11 game every wednesday. It’s often against the reserves, or the academy ; youths basically but intensity is maximal. The staff implements several patterns of play depending of the situations. And as we changed the system – because Pochettino likes to play with a 10 and a lone striker – because Osvaldo and Lambert are both out and out forwards, it requires adaptation

We work on patterns to get the ball out from the back on goalkicks: the last two games, both CM had to get to both angles of the penalty box while the two CB had to spread to both sides of the box. Full backs have to get close to the byline and the midway line. The purpose is to get the ball out from the back on ground and not hoofing the ball on Lambert. If the pass toward Wanyama isn’t possible, we have the two center backs. If opponents close us down, so then both full backs are unmarked in a free zone. The aim is to find them as soon as possible in order to write off the most opposing players as we can.

If ever we don’t have a short option, that means that the opponent has closed us down as a team ans so then we’ve to play long on Lambert because it will be 1v1 in the air. But we often change that pattern because opponents adapts after a couple of games.

While attacking, there’s also the will to pass the ball on the floor and stretch opposing defences. Hence how crucial is your role as you’re a specialist to switch the play.

We must know how to oxygenate play, dictating the rythm, surprise the opponent. Pochettino asks me to switch the play often because he likes that. He wants us to devellop a genuine playing identity. Even falling back as a team is necessary, he gives us license to attack. He wants his full backs to get into attacking positions, put under presure opponent’s wingers. We always have to scan around. If you’re head first in Premier League…

That playing intelligence, is it the recipe of your success against the best teams ?

I do think so, indeed. But it’s because we’re more at ease with all the teams trying to get the ball out from the back, such as Chelsea, Manchester City or Swansea. We often speak about Arsenal or Swansea for ball retention, but Swansea really is the best there is in England. They’re really impressing. From now on, Bony gives them the running into depth which stretches the lines. Not a surprise if their manager is Laudrup with his experience as a player, his experience in Spain

Back to us, with all that work implemented by Pochettino, we’re now able to suffocate those teams. We saw that at Liverpool. Last season, we had a lot of struggles with teams playing route one football such as West Ham. Even this season, we haven’t played so well even if Jääskeläinen saves them.

Southampton is currently 4th on the table. The ambitions got to another level. Proof is that a lot of teams now play very defensive against you, as if they were afraid of you

Indeed, we often play very organised teams. It’s a good indication

I bet that you’ll end the season in the top 6, was I right to do so ?

(laughs) Im being very honest. If we end up 10th, it will be a failure for me. I’m playing to win, not to stay in mid-table even if that’s decent, in some way. I think weve enough quality on and off the pitch to do something good. But there’s a crucial point to take into consideration: our propensity to handle pressure/expectations.

Imagine that we’re in the top 5 in December or January, it won’t be the same situation as now. Expectations will be much more important, focus [from the opinion] as well. It’s different from (he pauses)... It’s not the same to be an outsider than being a genuine contender. We don’t have that experience ans I don’t know how we will react. Will we panic ? Will we be up to that ? Players such as Lambert or Lovren have a lot of experience. Even guys such as Lallana or I have play hundreds of games. But not to end up in the first places on the table

Are you satisfied with your season so far ?

Right from the start – no. Against WBA it was OK but I wasnt very good against West Ham even if I come this close to score. I had a tad more difficult period. As I’m a perfectionnist, I’m not satisfied with being « decent ». I know I wasn’t that bad but it wasnt good either. I’m satisfied since the Liverpool game. I just played three good games against Palace and Swansea

You were in the storm after your tackle on Mohamed Diamé. You get to the ball first but what you put into that challenge was impressing.

Back then I was wondering why there was hurling. I knew I got the ball so I didnt understood. I still apologized straight away. I’m not the kind of guy to injure another player. What was funny though was that we met referees in order to speak about supposed behaviours, rules and tackles. It was the WH game’s referee. Watching the video he said « it’s supposed to be yellow on that one but you got the ball first ». Problem was more the impact in the tackle, I didn’t realize that on the pitch.

From a distance, one wouldn’t think you’re that powerful even if you don’t have Rickie Lambert’s frame either

But I don’t wan’t Lambert’s frame, I wouldn’t move if so. You don’t even know how massive he is. I gained strength because weve a very good individual program. I had to be more powerful without loosing on mobility/dynamism. By the way, I’d like to say that Southampton’s medical staff is amazing. I haven’t had a muscular injury for two and a half years and it’s nothing to do with luck. I have a good lifestyle but we do a lot of prevention. In instance we work a lot on glueteal muscles before every training session.

Excellent piece and really makes a mockery of England's attempts to graft on a pressing game.

 

You can see the attraction to the national side: it suggests you can make up for deficits in technique with fitness and physicality but it requires brains and constant drilling. This ain't mongloid Rooney chasing down back passes to the keeper but involves split second decisions when to leave your zone to support others while working out which passing lanes are the most dangerous or threatening.

For some teams this style might mitigate deficits in technique but once you've won the ball you have to keep it and turn possession into goals, which require technique. Saints have kept possession very well and turning it into goals is improving. We need another playmaker though.

Can someone condense that for me into a few lines? I can't be arsed to read all that

Anyone think this is way too much information?

Interesting to read but there's little in there that other coaches won't have known. One thing I noted was that MS thinks still we have no effective solution to the problems we have had with teams that don't build from the back and hit us down the channels. We did beat West Brom but they were without Lukaku and Jaskelainen, as he said, played a blinder for West Ham so maybe the more cautious approach against those teams is the solution.

Can someone condense that for me into a few lines? I can't be arsed to read all that

We close their arses down.

Can someone condense that for me into a few lines? I can't be arsed to read all that

You're a lazy bastard.

And can't be arsed to read a decent article about your team.

Great read that.

Interesting he thinks Wanyama struggles with the Physical and Positioning side and not the technical side since move from the SPL. Personally thought it was the opposite!

Can someone condense that for me into a few lines? I can't be arsed to read all that

We close their arses down.

The rumours that Morgan signed for Arsenal really and was just with us for a few seasons under a gentlemens agreement were true after all.

But he will join the Gunners only when he has finished his playing career with us, and as Arsene's replacement. (Seems a bit more clued up than yer average footballer, or perhaps I'm being unkind).

Seems a bit more clued up than yer average footballer, or perhaps I'm being unkind.

No you are not being unkind. He's smart. I think you have to be clued up to make this system work. My comment was tongue in cheek.

Thanks to Benj for presenting that in a legible format, I wouldn't have read it otherwise.

Really interesting read. I am amused that he said if he had Lambert's build he wouldn't move at all.

Excellent piece and really makes a mockery of England's attempts to graft on a pressing game.

 

You can see the attraction to the national side: it suggests you can make up for deficits in technique with fitness and physicality but it requires brains and constant drilling. This ain't mongloid Rooney chasing down back passes to the keeper but involves split second decisions when to leave your zone to support others while working out which passing lanes are the most dangerous or threatening.

Which is exactly why this system wouldnt work unless you do what I said before about building a team from the bottom age group up and in so essence they should be picking players used to each other.

These systems require massive amounts of time to coach and so wouldnt work between usual national windows IMO

On a seperate note what a breath of fresh air Poch is with his techniques and strategy after footballing dinosaurs of Redknapp, Burley etc Clearly he is a man with clear direction and IMO unless we can genuinely spend to achieve his ambitions he wont be here long.

As I said at the time, why oh why would we put 'all' this info out there, since it came out we have been out tactics by 2 teams and lost 3.

There is simply no need to go into such depth on how we play, yeah decent coaches could probably suss it, but it must be a lot easier to hear it from the horses mouth.

Not blaming Spider-Man really, but was he given the okay to out all of this?

I would suggest that most teams know how we play anyway, its not difficult to work out with the data and analysis equipment we have.

As I said at the time, why oh why would we put 'all' this info out there, since it came out we have been out tactics by 2 teams and lost 3.

There is simply no need to go into such depth on how we play, yeah decent coaches could probably suss it, but it must be a lot easier to hear it from the horses mouth.

Not blaming Spider-Man really, but was he given the okay to out all of this?

This 100%. Could not agree more if I died trying.

Always felt this Poch feller to be a bit of a muppet tbh. Good tactician, strong sense of leadership/management/being in control, but all things considered a bit dull and could be a little brighter to really succeed in this business.

Wonder how much longer this dreadful run can continue before Nicola has enough and sends the muppet packing. I for one couldn't care less and wouldn't shed a tear to see the back of him.

After watching tonight's game and the rather disorganized way we played, I can see why Schneiderlin was able to describe things in such detail.

He is crucial. Forget about Boruc, Lallana or Lovren. Schneiderlin is the pump that makes our game flow and without him we don't look as good defending or attacking. In midfield we lack support, either when trying to play it forward and when trying to find a gap in the defensive line. Without him we end up passing the ball sideways and resorting to long balls or the occasional cheeky pass from Davis through to the strikers.

After watching tonight's game and the rather disorganized way we played, I can see why Schneiderlin was able to describe things in such detail.

 

He is crucial. Forget about Boruc, Lallana or Lovren. Schneiderlin is the pump that makes our game flow and without him we don't look as good defending or attacking. In midfield we lack support, either when trying to play it forward and when trying to find a gap in the defensive line. Without him we end up passing the ball sideways and resorting to long balls or the occasional cheeky pass from Davis through to the strikers.

correct, he is usually where he needs to be when he needs to be. If occasionally he isn't then he has the engine to get him there

pretty quickly. Think we'll miss him when he's gone and I can see that coming all too quickly. Still never mind perhaps we'll sign Victor's brother, McDonald.

They are knackered, jaded and picking up muscular injuries.

Plus agreed Morgan is the fulcrum, thankfully we didnt listen to the knee jerkers and sell back when he was useless and would never make it.