We know teams are going to sit very deep against us next season again. And while we get frustrated at the lack of ability to break these teams down, I have a lot of sympathy for the side. Very few players are capable of unlocking such tight spaces and these are Championship players. I know the defenders are also Championship standard, but packing the last third with so many numbers is a real leveller quality wise for defenders.
This is all over the world and the best example is how the lower nations frustrate top international teams far more than thy used to before this level of organisation became common in football.
The area we need to focus on improving is set pieces. Because of our territory and possession we win a lot of corners and free kicks in attacking positions. Our inability all season to deliver decent balls meant most of these were wasted. Also our lack of a Chris Wood to target in the box made the good balls easier to defend. We need to make more of these opportunities that come from the pressure we create. Once we have the lead and sides have to come out we showed there really is no one better than us in the league (until Easter)
The other side to set pieces is defending. We were no where near good enough at this and too often it gifted sides the lead against the run of play and gave them even more to hold on to.
I'm sure Bielsa will be aware of this because the stats will show it. I hope he spends the time during pre-season to improve it and it is considered in our transfer policy.
There's that much room for improvement here that it could easily be worth double digit points next season
Set Pieces
posted on 30/5/19
Yep, the lack of space for us and conversely a lot of space for the opposition when they beat the press are the primary reasons why we need so many more chances to score.. we get a lot of half chances in crowded areas.
I think a bit more quality in the final third will help improve our conversion rates.
Agree on set pieces too, but with a caveat. We’re a small side, that’s partly because Bielsa favours fit, tidy mobile, footballers over beef. So to some weaknesses at set plays is inevitable. Eg. Big traditional centre forwards who can get around the pitch are a rare/expensive breed. Be nice to have a target man to mix it up a bit and also provide an additional target/defender for set pieces.
Even allowing for that, Set pieces can and need to improve.
posted on 30/5/19
We would benefit from more quality in the final third as well. But I think it will take a lot more quality in the final third to make a major difference and that will be hard to find.
Think we can make a big difference with set pieces easier quicker and cheaper.
Agree that the hardest factor is our squad size. Bamford should be better in the air with his height but that’s not going to change. It’s why I mentioned Wood. Che Adams would be a very good player but we can’t afford and then it means losing Roofe who has been excellent. The threat doesn’t always have to be the centre forward though
posted on 30/5/19
Good article and idea and deserves more comments than this.
posted on 30/5/19
Yeah one of my biggest criticisms of last season was the acquisition of the best crosser in the league the season before we signed him, yet we had no height or target men for him to aim for. Would have bagged loads of goals with Douglas crossing to a good aerial striker. We also missed Bartley from set pieces.
posted on 30/5/19
England almost won a world cup with a solid defence and being effective on set pieces. Not really our strength st the moment but an area that could and shoukd be looked at and could make a vital difference.
posted on 1/6/19
Thanks Rob, think it’s the irony of a football forum that the articles discussing actual football tend to attract the least interest.
I was going to go on and mention what both of you have said, I agree that I think Douglas was brought in to solve this problem but he well short. Both because his form/ability was no where near what it was the previous season and also a lack of targets in the box.
England relied on set pieces at the World Cup and it worked. They side overachieved. Wasn’t just England though, the whole World Cup smashed the record for most goals scored via set pieces. This supports my reasoning that more organised defences that sit deep are much harder to split open than they used to be. Even when there is a large gap in skill levels like there often is at a World Cup. Much larger than playing sides in the same division. That’s why set pieces are so important.