Hi Matt, I agree to a point, but the defensive system employed by Bielsa and Marsch relied heavily on Kalvin's anticipation and ability to read where the danger was, and as you say Klich or Dallas getting back very quickly to make up the numbers. It fell apart when Kalvin was not fit, Dallas had to play left back and Klich's legs went.
Regarding the centre backs. I just don't think either Cooper or Koch are quick enough or good enough to cover the spaces left when both full backs go forward. They got away with it with the extra pace of White or Llorente and Kalvin's cover in the previous years, but with current personnel it needs to be tweaked. Even if it is something simple like - If one full back goes forward the other should be staying put. On Tue, 15 Nov 2022, 20:40 MATTHEW GAYNOR, <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi KOT > > > I dont think the defenders are necessarily bad. > > We managed to finish 9th in 20-21 with the same 4 CBs - generally Cooper > playing with whichever of Koch or Llorente was fit - with Ayling and Kalvin > occasionally filling in. > > > Of the 4 i'd say; > > Koch is plenty good enough and most consistent > > Struijk looked good initially but lost confidence in the chaos last season > - i think he could be good at CB > > Cooper makes mistakes (but gets blamed for everything) but we are more > organised when he is in the team > > Llorente seems to have lost the plot > > > There was a stat in one of the live games at the weekend of most goals > conceded from set pieces - and we werent in the Top 5. I dont think that is > the big problem anymore, despite being a pretty small team now. (Ie Little > players) > > > Its more to do with how open we are in transition. I can think of 3 > reasons; > > 1) We miss Kalvin who sat deep whilst Ayling or Alioski bombed on - making > a back 3. He was also very good at anticipating trouble on the break and > when to go for the ball > > 2) We're not as good as getting numbers back. Some of the chances > Bournemouth made it was Summerville or Gnonto as last defender - i dont > think Roca and to a lesser extent Adams are doing that, as well as Kalvin, > Dallas, Klich did. > 3) We are turning over more ball than before due to the 'play it through > the middle and hope tactic'. Equals more counter-attacks for something to > go wrong. > > > I think we need a left back more than a striker - but otherwise its more > tactics than the players > > > Matt > > > > > ------ Original Message ------ > From: "Kevin Lewis via Leedslist" <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Tuesday, 15 Nov, 22 At 12:35 > Subject: [LU] Defending: Players, System or Manager > > I've been trying to work out why Leeds just don't seem to be able to > defend. Statistics and observation bear out the the team can't defend at > all. We look vulnerable at set pieces, when trying to keep it tight and > most of all in transition. It is very difficult for a team to stay in the > premier league with defending like this. Especially as in more than 50% of > games the opposition will have better players than ours. > > My opinion is that firstly it is the quality of defenders. Koch and Cooper > are just bang average (or even below). Llorente and Struijk (in the > centre) are accidents waiting to happen. We don't have a real left back > and Kristensen is still finding his feet in this league. > > Marsch has done nothing to improve this. Whilst I do not want Leeds to > start playing like Everton or Villa. Even defenders as good as Liverpool's > are getting caught out this year when the full backs push on as they do. > He eventually has to realise with the quality of players he has, and the > quality of the opposition, there has to be some kind of compromise in > tactics as well as an overall improvement in individual defending. > > As well as this, at least 1 centre back with Premier League experience > needs to be bought. Now it won't be easy to get one, but a proper defender > would actually bring the best out of any of the other 4. > > Of course the requirement for a left back goes without saying. > > KOT > _______________________________________________ > Leedslist mailing list > Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist > To unsubscribe, email [email protected] > > Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ > > Rest in Peace Guy, and wear your hat! > > _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: https://mailman.gn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/leedslist/ Rest in Peace Guy, and wear your hat!
