Passing the Ball about when 3+ up

It’s a very European approach, Pep’s first year at Barca I watched them doing it so many times so annoyed. Intense as *, get the game won, and take a break afterwards rather than go for the * throat be brutal.

Adored Ange’s relentless approach, but he done the same twice against the Scum, skelp first half second half calm possession control the game not all out.

It’s a very Rodgers thing, and it’s for keeping fitness through the season, and it works.

it really, really works. It does my * in but

 

One thing under Rodgers, in both spells but it’s been so much better this season and rarer… this year we want 3 before that style. There’s been a lot under him there’s been a 1 goal lead, us cruising, and settling in and getting cocky. Rodgers has got more canny though, he wants us to kill the game and be controlled.

It’s something I appreciate logically, and on a football and full season level. As a mad Tim, does my * in and I want 6.

The Hearts 2nd half yesterday though, I think we were absolutely making sure of a cleansheet, to boost Sinisalo. He’s in for the rest of the season, he’s young, we all know it’s because Kaspar’s injured. It was extra just control, game management yesterday.

 

The we never stop with Ange was more about us scoring late winners, which we often did than us scudding teams for 90 minutes.

I'm fine with it, the game was won and they want to stay fit. We'd all moan if a player got injured or suspended.

I think we also have to remember many of the players were on international duty, while maybe not played much they all had to travel a lot which can be tiring.

 

We blew teams away a lot early as well. But the biggest part wasn’t about early or late, it was about always making sure a shy, a corner, free kick… they were rapid, as soon as possible us switched on. Players moving for the ball, not giving a minute for the opposition to recoup their formation or position.

Relentless. And a * lot of running from us. We always were moving, never resting on the pitch, and not letting them a minute. People forget how disastrous that was at the start, until we got a squad to rotate. Maeda and Hatate signing, before the window even opened as well. That was a turning point

 

When reading that, it's no suprise we had a mental injury list similiar to spurs just now

 

I think a lot of it is human nature. If you're 3 up at half time, miles ahead in the league, and the atmosphere is bit pedestrian, it's hard to be playing at 100% and winning 50/50s. That isn't to excuse downing tools but I think it does excuse taking the foot off and playing out the game.

A good game is also reliant on the other team coming out and having a go which often doesn't happen when we're 3 0 up at half time. They are more concerned about not getting embarrassed.

It's boring but it is what it is really. On the ange point, I remember thinking the games where we went a couple up early on were good for about 60 minutes then the paced completely dropped out the team.

 

Yesterday I think it was about restoring confidence in the team and not letting Hearts back into the game, especially when Bernardo came on needed to find fitness.

More generally though, we need more players who can switch the play and mix up the passing range. One of our centre backs needs to start playing long passes to bypass a high press, and we need a forward to be looking for these runs. And one of our centre mids needs to start turning and driving at the opposition midfield more.

 

I think we’re doing it for a few reasons and not totally against it, we still created chances just controlled it totally.

Nearing end of season and 13 points clear with a massive GD already.
Quite a few players look fatigued especially after travelling half way round the world to play internationally.
Everyone will want to stay fit for cup game now.

Not saying it’s the right way to do it but goes back to Rodgers first time here and talking about taking a breather when we have the ball not without it.

 

Granted it can be incredibly tedious when it's done for long periods, subs introduced into the game might try to impress or prove a point and add a bit of excitement to proceedings but they also have to be wary of following any preconceived instructions or game plans. We would all love our players to go out and express themselves openly but oppositions equally try to save themselves from being the victims of a * good humping. Their own frustrations, resentments or desperation could result in injuries to our players as further goals are sort after . So it's a balancing act really, stick or twist? A double edged sword in some events.

But oh at the final whistle to see Brendanicus Maximus Pointicus enter the centre circle, extend his arms sidewards and loudly enquire "Are you not entertained?" to the crowd. Loud grunts emitting from some sections of the otherwise raucous spectators as they are awakened from their second half slumber. A cacophony of ear piecing cheers replace the soothing monotonic rumbles of afternoon snoozes.

It is what it is, and for the secured points I'd tolerate it.

 

You are right of course. Confidence building, and easing Bernado back into fitness, who I thought had a very good last thirty minutes.

The way to beat a high press is by passing through it, but you need quality players capable of doing that. We hit them from deep in our own half for the first and third goal, so we did have a good measure of success against their high press.

Liam Scales is very good at delivering long searching passes from defence, and I think we have missed that in recent big games.

The other way to beat the high press is to have a centre back who can drive forward confidently and aggressively into midfield, Ajer style. Probably Bernado is our best midfielder at breaking up play and turning to drive at the opposition midfield more. I think we need two quality midfielders in the summer, one attacking and one defensive, especially if Hatate goes and with McGregor getting on in years.

 

I much preferred Ange's style of constantly attacking. I feel like you can have very little complaints when you don't win playing that way.

 

I was okay with it towards the end as I wanted Sinisalo to get that clean sheet.

 

It's when it creeps in in tighter games, where maybe it is 0-0 for long spells, we seem to do the "recycling" of the ball thing and assume we will eventually just wear the opponents down, or find a mistake.
The unfortunate thing is, the opposition is thinking about that mistake we may (often) do as well.

If we are 3 up, it isn't much of an issue. Heck, it is wise. conserve energy, rotate out the squad, save the players from potential burn outs and injuries. It is good game management when it gets to the stage we are 3 or more up.

The comparisons to Ange (and even under Rodgers early in the season) will always be used and fall in to the category of being the ideal/romantic view of how we should always play football. In a perfect world, players wouldnt burn out, get injured and can play that way for 90mins a game, 2-3 games a week for 10 months of the year.
Unfortunately, we don't live in that perfect world - just ask Ange this season at Spurs.

One of the work arounds is to have a squad depth of real quality in all positions which allows players to be rotated more often and rested more. But as much as I believe we can spend more on players, we can't have two full sets of 11 UCL level players (OUR UCL level).

So we need to accept the way Rodgers goes about it, taking the foot off the gas when we are 3 up, passing the ball around the back a bit more to take the sting out the game and buy ourselves a rest.
I just wish we didn't have to see it at times when the games still in the balance. Rather see a first half explosion and a second half reserved performance, over a 75minute recycling/possession football, and ending chassing a game at 100 miles an hour.

 

I don't mind it so much at 3-0. I completely understand where your coming from but at that score we've won the game and I think we're trying to conserve a bit of energy, we've been quite fortunate with injuries this season, with Bernardo and Forrest the only notable ones.

It annoys me a lot more when we do it at 1-0 and 2-0. Prime example was the 2-2 draw at Aberdeen earlier in the season, just allowed them back into it after playing it safe at 2-0.

 

Normally I'd agree with the OP but I felt there were reasons for it yesterday. Players had been away on international duty with a lot of travelling for some of them. Players just back from injury and bedding them back in without taking undue risks. We have 2 CBs out crocked and there is no point risking the 2 we were paying picking up an injury as well.

So while I get it, and would normaly agree, I don't think yesterday was a game to go all guns blazing in once it had been won.

 

Big Idah constantly makes those runs but we don't capitalise on it and teams now know that we would rather pass the ball about at the back. We should utilise the speed of Maeda and the runs of Idah more often to mix things up and ensure opposition teams can't get comfortable

 

Second half was a non event yesterday, was a bit dull but I’d take that every week.

 

Comes across you want dull football every week.

* that , people pay good money to watch us and for 45 mins you will sit there and get bored stiff ?

am all for game management when you find a winner with 10 mins to go.

Can’t remember when last we had a full on decent 90 mins

Have we become so complacent that we have forgot to entertain the

paying customers?

 

I’m fine with taking it easy in a game in principle because it’s a long season and it makes sense to manage for injuries and fatigue.

However..

Our other huge challenge is complacency. You’re winning so much it’s easy for complacency to creep in - at all levels.

There’s a balance there. You’ve got to keep the squad hungry and motivated but also manage through games in terms of injuries.

 

Understand it at times but hate it aswell, there's times where there's clear attacking opportunities and they go back the way * booooo, * for the attacking side aswell.

Yesterday and after the internationals it's really understandable though