Not convinced about how we are setting up. The idea of playing narrow and relying on fullbacks for width does not add up to me.
1 It leaves us exposed on the counter attack
2 Some of our strength is in our wide players such as Harrison, James, Sinnisterra.
3 I am not aware of other teams in the league using the system, which surely they would if it was that great.
Hope Jesse makes it work, but not viewing the new season with much confidence.
Perhaps this is our problem of not scoring enough goals by having 4 defenders on the halfway line....
If Kristianson is attacking down the right why not just shuffle the 2 CBs and LB over to leave a 3 at the back ?
We're the ones who are attacking with the idea of scoring a goal!
It's no wonder we don't score if we're more worried about the move breaking down and thinking about conceding ourselves!
I'm not saying to play total Kevin Keegan gung ho tactics but surely leaving our 3 remaining defenders is enough.... especially as teams only play ONE striker up top these days.
We even have 2 holding midfielders in front of them!
Let the opposition worry about us when we're attacking!
Football is made far too difficult these days than it actually is....
My problem lies in the fact that the tactics require the players to get it correct and not go walkabout. For example, if the rich full back is over lapping then it is the right midfield privot/RCDM who is supposed to drop and cover the RB while the RAM is supposed to become the 2nd striker. This is the exact same on the opposite side of the field. So far this season the double CDM have not followed this plan while the left and right atacking midfield players have also not dropped into the second striker roles. Basically it is supposed to look like this when the right fullback attacks.
Attacking from the right.
Meslier
Adams, Koch, Struijk, left back
Roca
Kristensen, Rodrigo, Harrison
Aaronson, Bamford
Attacking from the left.
Meslier
Kristensen, Koch, Struijk, Roca,
Adams
Aaronson, Rodrigo, left back
Bamford, Harrison
Now our guys like Bamford, Harrison, Roca (did it correctly in the Blackpool game) Adams, Forshaw, Rodrigo have not been able to actually understand their positional play correctly yet.
The actual theory behind the tactics is solid as the hold up man striker is often the pure central position between the 6 yard box and the penalty spot for crosses while the RAM is the front post and the LAM is the back post with CAM just on the edge of the box sweeping for the rebound. It also still leaves us 4 defenders.
It the same with the forward press. If it is on the right hand side high then it is the left DCM that holds back to provide cover. If it is left hand side high press then it is the Right DCM that holds back to provide cover. At the moment when the press is on both CDM are also going.
The tactics allow freedon at times but has very strict positional area requirements and when the players are not where they are supposed to be then it bcomes a counter chance for opposition.
Watch how Kristensen sits when the left fullback attacks. Watch how Aaronson plays the second striker or near post striker when he is at RAM or when he play CAM he sit on the edge of the box as that sweeper.
Point is our team is really far off the tactics that it is not funny.
I respect and share the concerns about the width. MB played a 4-1-4-1 which relied heavily on width right to the touchline. The JM systems rely on the wingbacks for width, but nothing like the way MB's system did.
Given this, it's no surprise Rapha was saleable and so may Jack Harrison be.
The issue is we don't have LB to make the balance work - Kristinsen clearly can do what's needed on the right.
Even though we will have a narrower front 3 I am most concerned about Sinisterra - for me he's a yellow card already. He has looked slow, with a lack of agility. This may be fitness, but he's dangerously close to being the next JKA.
Once the players get comfortable with how we play we'll be OK, but a wing LB that fits is vital with such a lack of left sided trickery ahead of them.