Bergen Blade
Well-Known Member
Pressing high up the pitch, and regaining possession quickly was said to be a feature of Wilder's playing style when he came here. Before Saturday it's worked for spells, especially at the start of games, but we haven't been able to keep it up all game.
Saturday was better in this respect, although it's still something we can improve even more. The combination of Scougall and Done helped, and I think their work should be appreciated, rather than described as "just running around a lot", "headless chicken" etc.
When we do lose possession high up the pitch Wilder wants us to make an attempt at getting it back straight away. This is what has also been described as Gegenpressing, and it requires great stamina and work rate from the players. Scougall is very good at this. He's able ro run - fast - very often and covers a lot of space.
It's not in vain if the pressing player doesn't quite make a block or interception. There is real value in putting the opposition player under pressure before he has time to pick out a pass, leading to a poor one which other members of our team can pick up.
Some examples by Scougall on Saturday. He doesn't always win the ball, but the way he's sprinting to put players under pressure means we regain possession, also thanks to other teammates showing tenacity, aggression and good pressing. I think Wilder appreciates this part of Scougall's game, unlike Nigel Adkins and it fits with the playing style he's trying to develop.
Richard Cresswell sometimes used to chase defenders around like a mad man, and sometimes he also got a tackle in, which fans liked. I used to think Cresswell's mad chasing was often in vain though, because it wasn't really an element to the playing style at the time. It usually just meant the opposition would throw in and start again without having the then out-of-breath striker bothering them. Gegenpressing is more about winning the ball and then punishing the opposition before they can regroup.
Our equaliser on Saturday happened like that. Basham's long ball wasn't accurate, but Sharp put the centre half under so much pressure that his clearing header was poor. Done was there to pick it up, ran, crossed for Sharp who scored. Scougall and Duffy had also got into the box as the cross came in.
Saturday was better in this respect, although it's still something we can improve even more. The combination of Scougall and Done helped, and I think their work should be appreciated, rather than described as "just running around a lot", "headless chicken" etc.
When we do lose possession high up the pitch Wilder wants us to make an attempt at getting it back straight away. This is what has also been described as Gegenpressing, and it requires great stamina and work rate from the players. Scougall is very good at this. He's able ro run - fast - very often and covers a lot of space.
It's not in vain if the pressing player doesn't quite make a block or interception. There is real value in putting the opposition player under pressure before he has time to pick out a pass, leading to a poor one which other members of our team can pick up.
Some examples by Scougall on Saturday. He doesn't always win the ball, but the way he's sprinting to put players under pressure means we regain possession, also thanks to other teammates showing tenacity, aggression and good pressing. I think Wilder appreciates this part of Scougall's game, unlike Nigel Adkins and it fits with the playing style he's trying to develop.
Richard Cresswell sometimes used to chase defenders around like a mad man, and sometimes he also got a tackle in, which fans liked. I used to think Cresswell's mad chasing was often in vain though, because it wasn't really an element to the playing style at the time. It usually just meant the opposition would throw in and start again without having the then out-of-breath striker bothering them. Gegenpressing is more about winning the ball and then punishing the opposition before they can regroup.
Our equaliser on Saturday happened like that. Basham's long ball wasn't accurate, but Sharp put the centre half under so much pressure that his clearing header was poor. Done was there to pick it up, ran, crossed for Sharp who scored. Scougall and Duffy had also got into the box as the cross came in.
