2020/21 Season: Could We See A Change In Playing Style?

[wassy04]

We didn’t play the same game every week, far from it, although the approach was predominantly counterattacking. The Derby match after lockdown was a good example of Sabri tactically outwitting his opponent by varying our approach several times during the 90. If our players hadn’t squandered several good chances we would have comfortably won.
Employing a low block defence to entice the other team forward so that spaces can be exploited on the counter means risking losing possession rather than attempting to keep the ball. When we had it we often quickly attacked opponents with long passes and by rapidly carrying the ball forward. Such an approach meant putting the ball at risk rather than playing safe and attempting to keep it.

Yes Sabricadabra, I'm glad you posted this because that is exactly how i see at well.

Sabri do want to keep a low compact defensive structure and I don't believe that that will change next season. But when that is said we did manage to vary how and when we did press the opposition. The Derby game is a great example. In that game we did at times press very high up the pitch which rattled Derby to some extent but it also opened up space between our lines which I believe a better team could and would have exploited. When that is said I remember at the time I watch the game that I thought that it was Da Costa that started the high press and the rest had to follow so I'm not entirely sure that Sabri has instructed this. Either way it work very well.

As I have written in this thread before, I believe our biggest issue last season when forming the low compact defensive block was that we in some games became passive in ou press which opened up space and resulted in the opposition being able to create too many dangerous situations. Hopefully this will not be the case this season with the added players (especially in the midfield area). Fixing this issue could easily result in 5-10 less goals conceded and would most likely give us an addition 8-10 points. Scoring more goals is not the only way of securing success.

Be interested to know how you think the proposed change in shape to 352 will help this? Particularly given the failings when we tried it last year.