"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
I still don't get the team speed discussion.
Our goals against were mostly the result of breakdowns in shape, not being outpaced. Rivero's goal in the season opener is an example of the latter, but Vanney realized about 3-4 games in that we didn't have the guys to play a high line and so we sat deep for the rest of the season. The problem is that if you're sitting deep, you need at least one guy protecting the back line during transitions. We didn't have that, ever.
Vancouver had one of the best defensive records in the league, not because they're fast (as if Manneh and Techera are doing any defending) but because they plant two guys right in front of the back line every game.
I think he is a potentially great keeper, with all the right physical tools. But his mental approach is incorrect and he does not have the emotional strength of purpose. He was slighted by the Julio Cesar situation when he should have seen it as an opportunity to learn and grow. A shame. He could have been a legend.
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
The second game against Columbus and the final against Montreal, we looked like we ere chasing the play. It's not just a matter of getting behind the backline; it's also the sheer reflex ability to react, particularly when you're playing a short passing game through the middle as we often do. And it compounded problems when we turned the ball over, in terms of the ability of the other team to counter quickly.
We got shredded on counter way too many times due to lack of speed in midfield, esp the reckless way the midfield pushed up and get caught. A stud DM might have prevented a lot of goals by using speed and covering up the mistake of others.
A team without ton of speed can recover from losing possession, but that requires midfielders to play smarter soccer and team chemistry. RSL under Kreis was maybe average in speed in midfield, but they had great chemistry and understanding of each other's game to make up for a lot of lost possession in the midfield. Beckerman isn't exactly athletic DM, but he worked well with other box to box mids to create turnovers.
But for TFC, since we lack team chemistry to work in tandem, we need a destroyer DM who can cover a lot of space to shield the back 4. Cheyrou isn't that guy.
Esp if fullbacks will be only ones providing width, meaning the DM will have to do a lot of work to cover.
If WJ and Bradley ends up being the 2 box to box mids, I see a lot of squirrels chasing a nut soccer in the mid. Those 2 play high press soccer to create turn overs and best as late arrivals in the box on attack. This still means TFC needs a CAM, or another playmaker because neither Bradley or Will Johnson are creative enough to be the offensive spark in the midfielder. Good passers yes. Not Javier Morales type of playmaker. Which means TFC relies on Giovinco to create everything again.
I don't mind if Osorio becomes a sub because 1) you need depth and 2) there will be enough rotation going around and Oso will get enough mins. Come to think of it, TFC is spending way too much on starters and I'm concerned more about depth. And we still don't have a starting GK or a stud DM and cap space is dwindling fast.
Picking up Beita and Moor are good starts. WJ IMO is a luxury signing at this point.
“Years have gone by and I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football.
I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’
And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
-Eduardo Galeano
Forgot who but someone suggested that Warner is off, I have to admit I'd be a bit shocked unless we pick a different DM. Otherwise he's decent depth.
Agree, he's not aggressive in his communication with the back line and is often too far off his line and with distribution. Not sure if Cesar had anything to do with it but it can't have helped.
I played 2-3-5 in high school too.
I saw a story somewhere saying that Guardiola has brought a lot of that back.
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
I could see out formation be something like
4-4-2 (Diamond)
New GK
Beit-Moor-Perquis-Morrow
Cheyrou
Johnson-Bradley
Osorio
Seba-Altidore
or
4-2-3-1
new GK
Beit-Moor-Perquis-Morrow
cheyrou-Bradley
Johnson-Seba-Osorio
Altidore
or even 4-3-3
New GK
Beit-Moor-Perquis-Morrow
Johnson-Cheyrou-Bradley
altidore-Seba-osorio
just loose set ups but good ideas where we can for in our key players, the players can be changed out but I think our balance and our team is much better off and solid vs last year
Most teams bring burners in later. We havn't really had a burner since Oduro - who's skill set points to the issue of burners in MLS.
Speed doesn't score in this league (except for Castillo). If a guy was quick and could score, he wouldn't be playing here.
What speed does is move teams out of shape. With the exception of Columbus and DCU who cross the ball hoping for a defensive miscue, in the case of DCU, or a bit of athletic brilliance from Kamara at CBUS, MLS has become a league where goals are created by the penetrating pass through lines. Think Pirlo to Silva or Kaka to Larin or Bradley to Seba. Those passes are easier when teams are out of their defensive shape in the midfield. Reacting to speed can do that. But, that's where a good DM comes into play for a team.
Teams that rely purely on speed on attack doesn't do well, IE Vancouver. You need other ingredients also.
But speed does break down shape of defence esp on counter and allow others to exploit gaps and space. If you look at Seattle and LA during stretches of 2nd half, they were horrid, getting punished by teams that use speed to pull defence out of shape. Seattle and LA got away with taking a lot of risks and having a slow mid by having a stud DM. When Ozzie Alonso got injured for Seattle and Steve Gerrard was too slow to help out on defence for LA, these 2 teams got exposed badly. (And LA will be trying to figure out how to play Gerrard without sacrificing being solid defensively)
Hence why I think a stud DM is a priority for TFC. Our midfield has average speed and lacks cohesion. We don't keep shape very well. A stud DM will cover up for a lot of these faults to a degree.
“Years have gone by and I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football.
I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’
And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
-Eduardo Galeano
btw anyone have an opinion on whether Johnson is the same since the broken leg?
"There are some people who might have better technique than me, and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players, tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust, and daring." - Johan Cruyff
So, if you're a homegrown signing like Jay Chapman, you've got to be thinking, what did I get myself into? I'll never get to play in this midfield?
“Years have gone by and I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football.
I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’
And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
-Eduardo Galeano
“Years have gone by and I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football.
I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’
And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
-Eduardo Galeano
Chapman really get's stuck in when hes playing. However fitness and positioning was clearly as issue. I think he is coachable.
I'd point out there were a lot of individual mistakes on goals last year as well. Poor individual defending / decisions was definitely a theme. I will not miss Jackson for this reason.
Not dismissing team speed, but the number of times someone just fell flat on their face during what should have been a manageable situation made me worry, a lot.
Having what should be competent a RB and CB will help a ton.