₦airaland Forum

nitrogen:
A style that isolates our striker against small teams. Erasmus saw lots of the ball today because it was Liverpool that is more focused on scoring vs defending. Unfortunately, he is not the type that can do much with it, which means against small teams, he’s completely useless.

Lukaku, Osinmen type of players would do better as they are more aggressive, will come hustle for the ball and will do something on their own when they receive the ball. Erasmus is not fit for this style at all. In the meantime, to mask his weakness, what would a reasonable manager do?

adisaaowala:
If a team is consistent vs lower teams but falters against the big boys everytime, it wouldn't be out of place to exclusively label it a "quality" issue and say "ah - na there their talent reach".

However, it seems like the opposite is the case under Amorim.

I think the manager needs to sit down and re-assess the team's approach to our games vs lower teams - the Smash and grab approach that works vs Top sides wouldn't necessarily yeild much against the likes of Brighton etc and i think that's the point Nitrogen is trying to make..not necessarily about formation.

Our last 3 games vs Bournmouth, Wolves and Newcastle - we literally failed to create clear cut chances, despite playing 2 of those games at OT.

The game vs Newcastle ....we saw the effect when Mainoo came in for Orobosa - even though it didn't result in goals, the Magpies' dominance stopped and we started stringing passess together and keeping possession.

We want to see similar changes in tempo and momentum w.r.t the glaring problem of struggling to create chances vs Minnows..especially at OT.

It doesn't even always have to be facilitated by a change in personnel or formation - asking player X to drift in more or drop deeper etc while player Y pushes further to yeild visible, glaring positive effects...stuffs like that!

nitrogen:
Lol, that sounds unfair. Especially if it’s a new system for them and the manager has not had the chance for trainings.

adisaaowala:
If a team is consistent vs lower teams but falters against the big boys everytime, it wouldn't be out of place to exclusively label it a "quality" issue and say "ah - na there their talent reach".

However, it seems like the opposite is the case under Amorim.

I think the manager needs to sit down and re-assess the team's approach to our games vs lower teams - the Smash and grab approach that works vs Top sides wouldn't necessarily yeild much against the likes of Brighton etc and i think that's the point Nitrogen is trying to make..not necessarily about formation.

Our last 3 games vs Bournmouth, Wolves and Newcastle - we literally failed to create clear cut chances, despite playing 2 of those games at OT.

The game vs Newcastle ....we saw the effect when Mainoo came in for Orobosa - even though it didn't result in goals, we saw some stability and improvement in ball possession and retention..

We want to see similar changes in tempo and momentum w.r.t the glaring problem of struggling to create chances vs Minnows.....especially at OT.

It doesn't even always have to be facilitated by a change in personnel or formation - asking player X to drift in more or drop deeper etc while player Y pushes further to yeild visible, glaring positive effects...stuffs like that!

ChristineC:
Hojlund is at least 2 years away if not 3, from being anything resembling a constant goal threat.
in the meantime, a reasonable coach will seek an experienced striker. Hojlund gets isolated because of two things 1. he cannot keep the ball long enough for the support cast to arrive 2. he hardly make intelligent runs.
the few times he manages any of these in a month, he gets chances to do something in front of goal.

adisaaowala:
But just like you said earlier, these same players have shown that they can turn up...especially vs the big teams...

If you check, the performance today was very similar to what we saw vs city and even Arsenal (despite the loss).

I think the adaptability Nitrogen is talking about, isn't necessarily formation based.

Leyqute:
Players missing 5 yard passes and jogging lazily around has nothing to do with the system.

Leyqute:
Nah. Nitrogen is very wrong.

If we keep the ball well and find weaknesses in the opponent, we have a better chance of winning. That’s what we did against Arsenal, City, and Pool. Against smaller teams, you can notice the approach of the players and their mentality. They believe they can drop levels and Nottingham Forest will just lie down and allow them to score. The lack of consistency is the problem. The lack of passion and seriousness when it comes to smaller teams. That’s why we lose against them. It has nothing to do with the formation or structure.

Leyqute:
Everyone wants to turn up in a big clash and score goals because of the massive coverage. When it’s Crystal Palace and Soton, there are less eyes watching, so the players get slopping and sometimes don’t even bother doing the basics.

adisaaowala:
If this is the case, then I am afraid it's still a tactical/structural issue because the "whole squad" can't just decide to underate the opposition at the same time

adisaaowala:
We should be winning these kinda games comfortably - 2:0 up at half time should be the target....

Leyqute:
Players missing 5 yard passes and jogging lazily around has nothing to do with the system.

Danhumprey:
For once in a long while, we finally have a solid DM.
My gosh!!!
A solid DM.
Damn!

nitrogen:
Who is jogging lazily on the pitch? Rashford and maybe Garnacho. And I approve whatever disciplinary measures Amorim is taking to address that. But the other players are workaholics on the pitch. Ugarte, Bruno, Maz, Dalot, Mainoo, Erasmus, Amad, Martinez, etc don’t jog around.

adisaaowala:
If this is the case, then I am afraid it's still a tactical/structural issue because the "whole squad" can't just decide to underate the opposition at the same time


I see that we are gradually going from " they are not good enough quality wise" to " they are good but not consistent"...lol

adisaaowala:
If this is the case, then I am afraid it's still a tactical/structural issue because the "whole squad" can't just decide to underate the opposition at the same time


I see that we are gradually going from " they are not good enough quality wise" to " they are good but not consistent"...lol

nitrogen:
No now. Your thesis won’t fly. Everyone knows that small games give you the right position on the table. Players tend to flex their muscles again small clubs and only turn up a few times when playing bigger teams.

MRTA7:
We can't dance around reality. Rasmus is not good enough for the level we're trying to get to. Neither is Zirkzee. We will never get to the required level with those 2. There's no coachin Amorim can do that will turn them into top strikers.

Leyqute:
“They” here doesn’t mean the whole squad. You can have a 8 players turn up and 2 players will make costly mistakes and you’ll lose games.

This has been happening consistently under Amorim as well as ETH, who plays a different system by the way.

nitrogen:
Re missing 5 yard passes, yes players will have bad days, e.g Mainoo stinking up the joint in a game after playing very well the previous week. It happens. But it does not mean Mainoo is bad. It’s on the manager to continue to trust that he will come good in that game or make substitutions.

Only an alien or a superstar will give you a 10 performance every game, and if we have 11 superstars on the pitch, then we don’t need a manager. Just ask ChatGPT to give you a formation and subs suggestions based on the available super resources and we are home and dry.

adisaaowala:
Unfortunately, this has not been the case...atleast not with the disjointed performances we have seen from the side especially at OT..

We can't say that the terrible results are because 2 or so players consistently underate the opposition.. or there must always be 2 players underestimating the opposition.

If a system isn't working to give the required results, the onus is on the manager to investigate and proffer solutions.

Currently, our system isn't working vs the small teams..as evidenced by the results. The onus is on the manager to check and rectify whatever the issues are.

We can't be going from " the players are not good enough" to the " players are not consistent enough" even when there is a clear "loss pattern"

adisaaowala:
Unfortunately, this has not been the case...atleast not with the disjointed performances we have seen from the side especially at OT..

We can't say that the terrible results are because 2 or so players consistently underate the opposition.. or there must always be 2 players underestimating the opposition.

If a system isn't working to give the required results, the onus is on the manager to investigate and proffer solutions.

Currently, our system isn't working vs the small teams..as evidenced by the results. The onus is on the manager to check and rectify whatever the issues are.

We can't be going from " the players are not good enough" to the " players are not consistent enough" even when there is a clear "loss pattern"

MRTA7:
We can't dance around reality. Rasmus is not good enough for the level we're trying to get to. Neither is Zirkzee. We will never get to the required level with those 2. There's no coachin Amorim can do that will turn them into top strikers.

Leyqute:
The system delivered a 4-0 versus Everton, didn’t it? If you’re good enough, you’ll be consistent. I don’t know why that bit has flummoxed you. Lol

Leyqute:
The Liverpool that are topping the table, is it not because they’re consistent at creating chances and scoring goals?

nitrogen:
You really think Erasmus will be better in the current system? I honestly don’t think so. He would do better elsewhere. A reasonable coach would seek an experienced striker, but if the market is not open or there is no funds, then you may need to tweak things, e.g 3-5-2 with a very mobile midfielder that can support him upfront. Maybe a box to box kind of player that is always available to help in the midfield and can also take some pressure off Erasmus upfront.

We can’t keep doing the same thing over and over. It’s insanity.

Leyqute:
Everyone wants to turn up in a big clash and score goals because of the massive coverage. When it’s Crystal Palace and Soton, there are less eyes watching, so the players get slopping and sometimes don’t even bother doing the basics.

Leyqute:
@bolded. Okay. So, why did they lose?