Talking Tactics

I don’t think he progresses it that well - when under pressure - and I wouldn’t say he has that real eye for a pass. It generally bounce it back or wide. Not like a Luiz who would turn & play forwards. Something Tielemans can do too.

I haven’t seen all the games but I was surprised when looking at the stats..

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My thoughts on Aston Villa's problems this season (free to read).

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Leadership ☑️
Composure ☑️
Physicality ☑️
Dominating Duels ☑️
Passing Range ☑️
Positioning ☑️
Set Piece Threat ☑️
Pace ☑️
Defending Small Spaces ☑️
Defending Large Spaces ☑️
Football Understanding ☑️

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Yeah, feels like it’s too far gone but that could change quickly…Bobb a bigger miss than first anticipated too.

This happened a few times vs Liverpool.

Gundogan ended up closing down Gomez with Foden covering in central midfield.

A defensive 4 of Lewis-Bernardo-Foden-Nunes.

Yikes.

Something Guardiola usually gets right is that balance in midfield.

Far post runs from just inside the oppositions half…

I understand the principle (create space to attack) but sometimes you just need to attack the space.

I think having one of them is fine but I’m not sure you win much if they are both regular starters.

Martinelli is a top first sub IMO

The game plan vs Man City seems fairly obvious at the moment. Go after them for the opening 15-20 mins. Take risks to press or run over them in midfield/wide areas

Get a goal then sit back & let them over commit to get back into it

They have conceded first far too often

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You look at the team from the weekend…Nunes & Lewis as the two wide men.

That’s not Guardiola.

At the moment it feels like their quicker players have no space to run into (like Haaland) & the players who look leggy/losing their pace (defence/midfield) have lots of space to cover.

Not an ideal combination.

Things can change quickly but it feels like the squad needs freshening up.

Possibly a new GK, RB, CB, 6/8 & goal scoring Winger within the next couple of windows.

Then they build again in a different way.

It’s a touch predictable at the moment.

Block long shots from Foden/Gvardiol & deal w/Bernardo Silva far post crosses to Haaland & that feels like a decent % of the game plan…

Obviously the key to a slower possession based approach is a top passer (KDB) and/or Dribbler (with end product..)

Then you add in City’s recruitment over the last few seasons. Other than Gvardiol, Haaland, Akanji & possibly Grealish the rest have been squad fillers (currently). Plus they have added three wide players (Grealish/Doku/Savinho) with no real goal scoring history.

Add in a key injury to Rodri (who can also fill in at CB when those injury prone defenders do get injured) and the squad does start to look thin (& slightly slow & old).

Under Pep, City have carried a thin, tight squad which is fine when everything goes well but it is a risk. Especially with an ageing squad that is asked to play lots of matches. Look at the minutes missed over the last few seasons by Walker, Dias, Ake, Akanji, KDB, Grealish, Haaland (plus others)..

My thoughts on Man City FWIW

For the last couple of seasons they have been the chasers that always finish strong. This is obviously a great characteristic but it’s also a bit like conceding the first goal then coming back to draw/win

It points at something not being quite right.

I never really classified Maatsen as that athletic. Doesn’t seem that keen on running back anyway…plus his size etc.

Maybe. I think you probably need Tielemans next to Kamara. Missing that extra pass/patience that Luiz often brought.

This can speed up the game, making the team in possession stretched, leaving gaps

Look at the situation here. If Rogers makes the pass then Watkins is in. If he doesn’t (which happens) Palace have Mateta free (as Carlos deep) & two + runners at Villa’s back line

Lack of control

This is what I was referring to with regards to the 3-2-5 structure.

A lot of teams will defend against that using a 5-4-1/5-2-3 shape with a CB jumping out to press one no.10.

This creates space in the oppositions back line, making it attractive to play early balls forwards.

It sounds counter intuitive to move to a 3-1 build up but the single DM is likely to be around Mateta and this move would force Crystal Palace’s midfield deeper.

It would also cause the back line more of a problem as they would be outnumbered 6v5.

When you think of a standard 4-3-3 there is very little space between the CBs & DM during build ups.

When teams build in the 3-2 shape this space increases as the middle CB drops deep, making it easier for the opposition to counter.

See Carlos & Mateta’s positioning here during Villa vs Palace

How do you strike the balance between being ambitious yet realistic?

Pre Brian Horton even, @talkintactics.bsky.social gave me the steer 👏

Different platform, still breaking the news 😉

As we approach the January transfer window, a reminder of last seasons success stories.

Both players - from the Championship - pretty much hit the ground running & improved the performances of their new clubs.

If you want an immediate impact, the Championship is the place to look.

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