Paulo Bernardo

That's a good question and I'm not really certain, mate; but FWIW, the kind of thing I'm thinking is as follows:

1) We're not really inverting anymore (except Taylor sometimes) and teams can just block McGregor and that's our build up dead. This means our build up (after the obligatory gazillion sideways passes) is really unbalanced and focussed down the left wing. I think this has a knock on effect on our (lack of) movement, but I'm not sure how.

2) Our defence with CCV out is one of the slowest I've ever seen (except Bernabei, who is rarely correctly positioned to use his pace defensively), this means that a simple turnover in a not-particularly-dangerous position can result in a goal (Aberdeen) or several goalscoring chances (Hibs). Take the Miovski goal: Bernabei misreads where Bernardo wants the pass; a few quick passes and Miovski's on it; Bernabei can't use his pace due to his starting position, AJ is caught out of position and so can't cover, Nawrocki doesn't have the pace to hold Miovski up effectively and so has to retreat too quickly and Scales doesn't quite have the pace to get back quick enough. Goal. After these chances happen enough times, I think our midfielders are going to be a little risk averse as they have no confidence in the back 4. Imagine that break away with CCV and Starfelt, it would have been mopped up and possession recycled and the pressure continued on the Aberdeen back line.

3) Our extreme lack of pace at the back means we can't squeeze play like we could before, which makes it more difficult to recycle possession and exacerbates point 2 above. This affects the defensive work of someone like O'Riley who excels at quickly snapping in to press the player on the ball: we're just not close enough anymore.

I don't know if any of the above is right, it's just my attempt to explain to myself the feeling I have that the defence are a big source of our problems. All I would say in evidence is that it's very noticeable that it's not ony the defence that plays better when CCV is playing, the whole team plays better.

 

Ok. Not sure for the most part how it means the midfield drops out the whole game.

 

Well the TL;DR of the post is that I think we might not be compact enough to support each other in the press, we could be too unbalanced to facilitate intelligent movement (maybe) and our openness to counterattacks may be making our midfielders risk averse.

 

A lot of the time we are super compact. CBs are literally halfway into the opponents half.

If anything our midfield not finding space to receive the ball is a big thing for me. Rogic for instance had that knack of right time, right place. Mooy was similar. O'Riley and Bernardo especially don't.

I do think our CBs in particular could get the ball out quicker, as not doing that gives teams too much chance to pack the defence.

TL;DR we are too compact and slow

 

Fair enough, mate. I did say I was just trying to explain things to myself and wasn't sure. I was just thinking out loud really. I'll keep an eye out in future games.

 

Make a lot of good points there regarding the defence and issues with them.

I mentioned after Aberdeen game about Rodgers talking during pre season after yokohama game about inverted full backs and how he used them differently and said he preferred to keep 3 men back in defence to guard against being countered. I don't know why he's moved away from that but I think it would address some of the issues you've pointed out.

Against yokohama we set up 4231, if ball was on right hand side the rb (Iwata) would push on and support right winger, lb (Taylor) would move into midfield next to rcm (Hatate) and lcm (Mcgregor) would push forward and become a 2nd number 10 next to o'riley.
If we lost possession the inverted full back would drop back to create a back 3 and the other full back would move in centrally to keep 2 dms in there.

I was actually really impressed by the set up of it and was excited to see it develop. Its probably last time this season I could see a game plan.

 

Anyone see his reaction when Walsh gave the penalty? Loved that.

 

Aye spotted that, on his feet giving it fist pumps supporting his mates. Pure passion, superb.

 

Definitely seems to have a bit of passion for playing for us, that’s always nice to see.

 

There was a wee clip of his sheer frustration on the bench for the team the game before as well.

Think before he got subbed against Hibs he was showing a bit of frustration on the pitch as well, a couple of wee needless fouls, and honestly I don’t really mind that (I * did at the time). He done a daft wee pull back of an arm that was needless just after he done brilliant to work the ball in behind the defence for a chance. Frustrating at the time that, and something coaching time needs to get him to channel in the proper way on the pitch but I don’t mind it in hindsight, because it’s a guy on the pitch going through the same emotions as those in the stands.

 

If he is going to cost us £6m in the summer we need to see him be a game changer for us against SPFL teams. He has had a good we run and decent form, but for the money are we saying he is worth it? Not sure given the competition when/ if Hatate comes back in. Worried that the club will use his signing to placate fans for selling MOR in the summer. They are similar in style but PB isn't as effective imo.

 

100% think that's the plan. Agree that at this moment he isn't as effective but may be the case that he shines more without Oriley beside him.

 

I hope so, I think there are times when they seem to cancel each other out due to a similar style of play. O'Riley has a bit more drive and willingness to get up the park than PB and also a sweeter left foot.

 

I don't think we should pay the £6m as yet.

He's not shown enough for me and I think when Hatate is back and fit, he's back out the team. He's nowhere near O'Rileys level.

That being said, if we do get £30m for O'Riley, I wouldn't be against bringing in Bernardo and someone like Gronbaek but I think you're talking nearly £16m for the two of them. Doubt the club sanctions that sort of expenditure in the midfield.

 

Yeah both probably too similar in there together. Think either one would be better off with either Hatate or Mcgregor as the other 8 beside them but aye o'riley definitely further ahead in his development than Bernardo

 

Think O'Riley will be gone in the summer whether or not we sign Bernardo. But agree, we can only sign him for £6mil if he's gonna be starter in midfield. Can't be buying squad players for that money.

 

O'Riley is the sort of player we need to be keeping long term rather than cashing in. But with the only ambition of this board to be the short term profit then agree it's likely he will go.

I like Bernardo but think he needs to show more in the next few months. He has improved no doubt, but for that money I would want to see a bigger influencer especially against domestic sides.

 

If big clubs come in, which they will, he will want to go. You can't keep players longer than they want to be here, in the long run it just doesn't work.

 

If we were more ambitious in terms of building a team that can accomplish something on the park, our better players may want to stay.

We are also a big club, but have a small board that will drop it's pants for a decent offer for any player.