screening of back four, tracking back and ball retention

[saintbob40]

Last night and last Sunday (with the excuse of 10 men of course) we seem to hit a brick wall at about 60 minutes where the holding midfielders stop screening the defence, the wider players stop tracking back as much (at all-McGoldrick??)and the ball retention goes to pot. It is very easy to blame the back four for defensive failings but often the root cause of the problem lies higher up the pitch, e.g Gillette giving away the ball 10 seconds before the second goal. The ball just stopped sticking last night and the defence and keeper were left on the back foot trying to deal with wave after wave of attacks, often pretty heroically. At times the midfield was non-existent last night.

 

JP needs to encourage the boys to put in the honest graft when defending as well as playing the beautiful game going forward.

[Saint_clark]

The thing is, they're told to sprint after every ball for 60 minutes and then they're exhausted.

[Weston Super Saint]

The thing is, they're told to sprint after every ball for 60 minutes and then they're exhausted.

 

Maybe they should put in a bit more stamina training.....

 

Most professional footballers can last the distance, why can't ours?

 

I can't recall BWP putting in anything other than a short jog tbf, is it a coincidence he came on after about 60 minutes??

[Saint_clark]

Maybe they should put in a bit more stamina training.....

 

Most professional footballers can last the distance, why can't ours?

 

I can't recall BWP putting in anything other than a short jog tbf, is it a coincidence he came on after about 60 minutes??

 

Actually I thought BWP put in one of his best performances for us last night, he was far far more effective than Dyer in any case.

And most professional footballers aren't being told to sprint constantly.

[Legod Second Coming]

Last night and last Sunday (with the excuse of 10 men of course) we seem to hit a brick wall at about 60 minutes where the holding midfielders stop screening the defence, the wider players stop tracking back as much (at all-McGoldrick??)and the ball retention goes to pot. It is very easy to blame the back four for defensive failings but often the root cause of the problem lies higher up the pitch, e.g Gillette giving away the ball 10 seconds before the second goal. The ball just stopped sticking last night and the defence and keeper were left on the back foot trying to deal with wave after wave of attacks, often pretty heroically. At times the midfield was non-existent last night.

 

JP needs to encourage the boys to put in the honest graft when defending as well as playing the beautiful game going forward.

 

This is a very good point.

 

The WHOLE team have a responsibility to defend as well as attack.

 

Both goals were conceded from balls needlessly given away in midfield, causing problems with players then out of position.

[Whitey Grandad]

This is a very good point.

 

The WHOLE team have a responsibility to defend as well as attack.

 

Both goals were conceded from balls needlessly given away in midfield, causing problems with players then out of position.

Exactly! There was one moment in the first half when Surman ran towards their corner in support of Dyer who promptly cut inside and passed the ball to Ipswich who gleefully nipped into the big hole where our left-back should be. If he's not there then a midfielder should be watching and covering for Surman's run.

[dubai_phil]

Posted elsewhere - I was worried we used our pre-season time in ball skills, and may have neglected teh stamina work. Hard to know whether kids will develop it as they get used to playing or whether we need to change our approach. I'm sure opposition managers will note this, sit back and let us play for an hour then run us ragged in the last third of the game.