Now seen Spurs play Dortmund twice at home in the UCL. The contrast between their tactics could not be more striking and i think what we did to them last season was a factor last night.
Last season i was up in the middle Club tier and had a great view. I began the game almost in awe of Dortmunds tactics. They pretty much played 4 players up against our back 4. When in possession their entire team bar the GK was in our half. Because of these numbers they always had a passing option on and were able to move it around beautifully and put some great moves together. Usual technically good, skillful and quick play. BUT then one ball over the top and Son was onside with their entire half to run into. Goal. Not long later the same for Kane, onside and clean through barely 10 yards inside their half. My awe of their aggressive attacking tactics changed, it was crazy suicidal tactics. We could have had loads more that day and exposed them over and over in this way.
Roll on 15 months and what i saw last night from an awesome seat next to the BD dugout was the opposite. Out of possession all their players retreated to within about 40 yards from their goal. One player would break out from these ranks and confront whoever had the ball and then quickly retreat back to the packed deep sitting midfield.
This made the first half a cagey affair and their tactic of trying to counter quickly did see them create a couple openings while our attacks were crashing against a 10 man defence.
2nd half, two things happened. Firstly, we scored. Always a game changer but BD did switch off for a couple seconds and Vertonghen had time and space to put in an awesome cross. It was some absolute quality to get it over the head of the giant Zagadou and right on to Son's foot.
BD didnt need to chase the game from there but i think as a team who are usually so attacking, their natural instincts to attack got the better of them at times and we had a bit more space to operate in. Coupled with that our midfielders were making space for themselves by going passed their man - Winks, Sisokko, Eriksen all did this, they broke the line and BD were pulled about and opened up a bit more by us.
Both games were brilliant results and it bodes well for the 2nd leg, because i suspect their setup and tactics last night were a response to our counter attacking threat which they had tasted and fear. 3-0 down, they know that counter attacking threat is a massive danger. 1 goal from us and they need 5. Our tactics for that game will be easy. Them finding a balance will be extremely difficult. It plays right in to our hands!
Overall, our tactics in both games were the difference.
A Tale of Two Dortmunds
posted on 14/2/19
comment by baz ta’rd (U19119)
posted 23 seconds ago
comment by The Hybrid Doos (U10416)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Flashy flibble (U10324)
posted 13 minutes ago
Great article
Why did you use BR rather than BD?
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I kept reading it as Brendan Rodgers cos it said BR
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You replacement for poch at end of season will be Rodgers.
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Dear God no!
If Poch did go, i'd 100% take the Wolves manager over Rodgers.
posted on 14/2/19
Poch aint going nowhere and Baz is shocking at wumming
posted on 14/2/19
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 3 minutes ago
Poch aint going nowhere and Baz is shocking at wumming
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Why are people rising to it then?
posted on 14/2/19
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 21 seconds ago
Poch aint going nowhere and Baz is shocking at wumming
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Personally I dont want him at Utd, not a criticism he’s a great manager, but Ole will do, so that works for me, Real might decide to move for him, so I wouldn’t be overly shocked if you were to get Rodgers to replace him.
posted on 14/2/19
comment by Your Honour (U17603)
posted 40 seconds ago
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 3 minutes ago
Poch aint going nowhere and Baz is shocking at wumming
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Why are people rising to it then?
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Lol what. Youre basically a Leicester fans answer to Tomkins
posted on 14/2/19
comment by baz ta’rd (U19119)
posted 59 seconds ago
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 21 seconds ago
Poch aint going nowhere and Baz is shocking at wumming
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Personally I dont want him at Utd, not a criticism he’s a great manager, but Ole will do, so that works for me, Real might decide to move for him, so I wouldn’t be overly shocked if you were to get Rodgers to replace him.
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Ole will do but we both know Rodgers will never be spurs manager
posted on 14/2/19
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Your Honour (U17603)
posted 40 seconds ago
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 3 minutes ago
Poch aint going nowhere and Baz is shocking at wumming
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why are people rising to it then?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lol what. Youre basically a Leicester fans answer to Tomkins
----------------------------------------------------------------------
What does this mean then?
posted on 14/2/19
comment by Your Honour (U17603)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Your Honour (U17603)
posted 40 seconds ago
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 3 minutes ago
Poch aint going nowhere and Baz is shocking at wumming
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why are people rising to it then?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lol what. Youre basically a Leicester fans answer to Tomkins
----------------------------------------------------------------------
What does this mean then?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
youre a bitter nobody who pops up with sour comments every now and then
posted on 14/2/19
Borisov plant of Automotive and Tractor Electrical equipment FC vs Arsenal tonight.
posted on 14/2/19
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 27 minutes ago
comment by Your Honour (U17603)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Your Honour (U17603)
posted 40 seconds ago
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 3 minutes ago
Poch aint going nowhere and Baz is shocking at wumming
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why are people rising to it then?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lol what. Youre basically a Leicester fans answer to Tomkins
----------------------------------------------------------------------
What does this mean then?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
youre a bitter nobody who pops up with sour comments every now and then
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Glad you haven't taken it personally.