Fleck's Anticipation & Pressing

[SwissBlade]

I thought Fleck was very unselfish on the goal last night and laid it on a plate for McBurnie. However, that's not the point of this thread, the goal was almost irrelevant. I want to highlight something which has become a Fleck trademark this season and has led to him stepping up to be so effective in pressing teams when we're not in possession.

There was an angle on sky last night from behind the goal which showed exactly where Fleck started his run from following the goal kick which led to the goal. It was pretty much on the halfway line. Apologies for the blurred images, but just paused and print screened the you tube video and this isn't the angle i wanted to show, but it still highlights the point.

1. When the ball is kicked by the keeper, the defender is under no pressure, can see the ball coming and there should be zero danger. You can see that McBurnie has started to press. However, out of shot, Fleck is already well on his way.


2. The Ball is almost with the defender, Fleck has already run about 15-20 yards and he's still miles away, but he's at full pelt. McBurnie has seen the run from Fleck.
Defender is still under no pressure. There should be no danger except to be under pressure when he receives the ball and then play it quickly before the full press from Fleck.



3. Somehow the defender freezes and lets the ball pass him, giving fleck a 70/30 as the ball is coming directly at him.
Very rough estimate but fleck has covered 25-30 yards in between 3-4 seconds from when the ball was played by the keeper to it actually being in Flecks possession.


We're probably the second most organised side after Liverpool when we're not in possession. Yet Fleck has the freedom, the anticipation and pace to close down the defender from 30 yards away.

Carragher has talked about Lundstram and Fleck doing this during his analysis this season and i also started a thread about the deep runs from the pair of them to press high https://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-overlapping-centre-half-trick.76744/

Great to see and from a coaching perspective this demonstrates how important the press is to our game, particularly this season. Fleck is getting better and better in this team, this system and this season.

 

[N20 Blade]

Excellent post/point, Fleck really has improved massively in all areas this season. As you’ve highlighted he’s reading the game better and seems to be even fitter than before but also faster. The final component is he’s now a goal threat, which is the vital component for any midfielder. Whereas Norwood (understandably) has yet to boss the opposition, Fleck certainly has. If was from somewhere other than Glasgow he’d be in a top four team! For me the fact that three of our league one team are still playing and contributing so much is testament to our approach and success.

 

[CoatesyBlade]

Yes I was amazed and was making the exact same point last night. Great post. Needed to be highlighted ... Never seen a press like it!

 

[DronnieBlade]

Behind Moose, he is most certainly the fastest player across the ground at the club.

UTB

 

[SwissBlade]

Excellent post/point, Fleck really has improved massively in all areas this season. As you’ve highlighted he’s reading the game better and seems to be even fitter than before but also faster. The final component is he’s now a goal threat, which is the vital component for any midfielder. Whereas Norwood (understandably) has yet to boss the opposition, Fleck certainly has. If was from somewhere other than Glasgow he’d be in a top four team! For me the fact that three of our league one team are still playing and contributing so much is testament to our approach and success.

He's grown so much as a player in the last 3 years, recent performances have pushed him higher up the list for Player of the Season.

In the earlier part of the season we had Lunny coming down the right and making late runs into the box, because much of the play was coming via Enda/ JOC/ Fleck combos. But more recently we've been building play down the right with Baldock/ Bash/ Lunny/ Besic. For me it shows that we are well balanced down both sides.

I guess that we choose to exploit the left or right because of weaknesses down those sides, Norwich and West Ham weaker down the right, Burnley down the left.

As for Norwood, he bosses the opposition by dictating play, last night he was great to watch, even if the execution wasn't always there, the vision to move the ball, switch play was fantastic.

One thing is also worth mentioning is that when McBurnie plays alongside Didsy, we've also started to use the strikers differently. They seem to be pulling players out wider, which creates space for Fleck/ Lunny or Baldock/ Enda to make those runs with pace through the middle. Whereas with Mousse and Didsy or McBurnie, Mousse plays off Didsy/ McBurnie and they play more centrally and Mousse is on the front foot, looking to get in behind, so Fleck becomes more of a creator.

Really interesting to see plans A, B, C in action

 

[SwissBlade]

Behind Moose, he is most certainly the fastest player across the ground at the club.

UTB

Enda Stevens might disagree with that.

 

[Rodley]

He is the POTY in my opinion. Give him the ball and stuff happens. Brilliant mind, fiercely competitive and his eye for a forward pass is phenomenal. All the players have improved at PL level, but him, Basham and Baldock have been phenomenal particularly. The drive they bring to the team is incredible.

 

[S64 Blade]

Been our best player so far this season, for me. I didn’t think he’d make the step up either.

 

[Bladesway]

He has been a brilliant part of a brilliant team. Don’t know how anyone can say POTY about any of our players. All the way through the squad, everyone contributes. I’m just enjoying how brilliant we are under Wilder and Knill. Best January signing was made b the club yesterday bar none.

 

[SwissBlade]

He has been a brilliant part of a brilliant team. Don’t know how anyone can say POTY about any of our players. All the way through the squad, everyone contributes. I’m just enjoying how brilliant we are under Wilder and Knill. Best January signing was made b the club yesterday bar none.

Its going to take a really amazing end to the season for one player to stand out from the lead group!

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Its going to take a really amazing end to the season for one player to stand out from the lead group!

Go on then, I'm up for it.

 

[Blademan89]

Definitely gone up a level In performance, his passing/vision can be that of the very best also, he sees passes not many do. That pass to moose to send him 1v1, everyone expected it to go out left to Stevens as it was the clear and obvious pass.

 

[Kenilworth]

Behind Moose, he is most certainly the fastest player across the ground at the club.

UTB

Not sure he is the fastest without the ball. I’d have Baldock, Stevens and Bash ahead of him in a straight running race.
Certainly one of, if not the quickest, when in possession.
Magic to watch the man in action.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I thought Fleck was very unselfish on the goal last night and laid it on a plate for McBurnie. However, that's not the point of this thread, the goal was almost irrelevant. I want to highlight something which has become a Fleck trademark this season and has led to him stepping up to be so effective in pressing teams when we're not in possession.

There was an angle on sky last night from behind the goal which showed exactly where Fleck started his run from following the goal kick which led to the goal. It was pretty much on the halfway line. Apologies for the blurred images, but just paused and print screened the you tube video and this isn't the angle i wanted to show, but it still highlights the point.

1. When the ball is kicked by the keeper, the defender is under no pressure, can see the ball coming and there should be zero danger. You can see that McBurnie has started to press. However, out of shot, Fleck is already well on his way.
View attachment 68349

2. The Ball is almost with the defender, Fleck has already run about 15-20 yards and he's still miles away, but he's at full pelt. McBurnie has seen the run from Fleck.
Defender is still under no pressure. There should be no danger except to be under pressure when he receives the ball and then play it quickly before the full press from Fleck.

View attachment 68350

3. Somehow the defender freezes and lets the ball pass him, giving fleck a 70/30 as the ball is coming directly at him.
Very rough estimate but fleck has covered 25-30 yards in between 3-4 seconds from when the ball was played by the keeper to it actually being in Flecks possession.
View attachment 68351

We're probably the second most organised side after Liverpool when we're not in possession. Yet Fleck has the freedom, the anticipation and pace to close down the defender from 30 yards away.

Carragher has talked about Lundstram and Fleck doing this during his analysis this season and i also started a thread about the deep runs from the pair of them to press high https://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-overlapping-centre-half-trick.76744/

Great to see and from a coaching perspective this demonstrates how important the press is to our game, particularly this season. Fleck is getting better and better in this team, this system and this season.

From behind the goal:

 

[Bergen Blade]

Not sure he is the fastest without the ball. I’d have Baldock, Stevens and Bash ahead of him in a straight running race.
Certainly one of, if not the quickest, when in possession.
Magic to watch the man in action.

A tweet from October 21st

 

[Trigger Blade]

From behind the goal:
View attachment 68364

When Martin passed the ball out, JF was still in our half! That’s extraordinary, although obviously he couldn’t have expected the ball to go past the defender, but his determination and vision deserved a reward.

 

[SwissBlade]

From behind the goal:
View attachment 68364

Thats the angle! Look how alert he is. Half the players aren't even facing the ball. Just their defender, Fleck and McBurnie on it.

 

[SwissBlade]

A tweet from October 21st
View attachment 68367

I'm sure some statto on twitter will be have access to the stats from last night.

 

[nicksufc]

I thought last season the only thing missing from Fleck's game was a lack of goals, and he has really stepped up in that area this season, largely because of the formation which has given him a lot more license to break into the box from midfield. Another genius move from Wilder & Knill.

 

[blademark]

It's quite possible that we are the only team in the PL who would have scored that goal in the same circumstances. I just can't imagine anyone else being bothered to run for what seemed like a safe pass.

 

[SwissBlade]

It's quite possible that we are the only team in the PL who would have scored that goal in the same circumstances. I just can't imagine anyone else being bothered to run for what seemed like a safe pass.

Yeah Leicester have got strikers that press, but not central midfielders that make a 30 yard sprint to close down a short goal kick

 

[Edinblade]

A tweet from October 21st
View attachment 68367

And we used to moan about our team having no pace. How times have changed.

 

[Akinbiyi]

Enda Stevens might disagree with that.

Georgey B might too

 

[SwissBlade]

Georgey B might too

I remember seeing him in the FA Cup in our first year in the championship (i think against Preston) and i was sat on the South Stand. He looked rapid as fook down that right hand side.

 

[cahill]

He's grown so much as a player in the last 3 years, recent performances have pushed him higher up the list for Player of the Season.

In the earlier part of the season we had Lunny coming down the right and making late runs into the box, because much of the play was coming via Enda/ JOC/ Fleck combos. But more recently we've been building play down the right with Baldock/ Bash/ Lunny/ Besic. For me it shows that we are well balanced down both sides.

I guess that we choose to exploit the left or right because of weaknesses down those sides, Norwich and West Ham weaker down the right, Burnley down the left.

As for Norwood, he bosses the opposition by dictating play, last night he was great to watch, even if the execution wasn't always there, the vision to move the ball, switch play was fantastic.

One thing is also worth mentioning is that when McBurnie plays alongside Didsy, we've also started to use the strikers differently. They seem to be pulling players out wider, which creates space for Fleck/ Lunny or Baldock/ Enda to make those runs with pace through the middle. Whereas with Mousse and Didsy or McBurnie, Mousse plays off Didsy/ McBurnie and they play more centrally and Mousse is on the front foot, looking to get in behind, so Fleck becomes more of a creator.

Really interesting to see plans A, B, C in action

Tha far too intelligent to be on here

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I thought Fleck was very unselfish on the goal last night and laid it on a plate for McBurnie. However, that's not the point of this thread, the goal was almost irrelevant. I want to highlight something which has become a Fleck trademark this season and has led to him stepping up to be so effective in pressing teams when we're not in possession.

There was an angle on sky last night from behind the goal which showed exactly where Fleck started his run from following the goal kick which led to the goal. It was pretty much on the halfway line. Apologies for the blurred images, but just paused and print screened the you tube video and this isn't the angle i wanted to show, but it still highlights the point.

1. When the ball is kicked by the keeper, the defender is under no pressure, can see the ball coming and there should be zero danger. You can see that McBurnie has started to press. However, out of shot, Fleck is already well on his way.
View attachment 68349

2. The Ball is almost with the defender, Fleck has already run about 15-20 yards and he's still miles away, but he's at full pelt. McBurnie has seen the run from Fleck.
Defender is still under no pressure. There should be no danger except to be under pressure when he receives the ball and then play it quickly before the full press from Fleck.

View attachment 68350

3. Somehow the defender freezes and lets the ball pass him, giving fleck a 70/30 as the ball is coming directly at him.
Very rough estimate but fleck has covered 25-30 yards in between 3-4 seconds from when the ball was played by the keeper to it actually being in Flecks possession.
View attachment 68351

We're probably the second most organised side after Liverpool when we're not in possession. Yet Fleck has the freedom, the anticipation and pace to close down the defender from 30 yards away.

Carragher has talked about Lundstram and Fleck doing this during his analysis this season and i also started a thread about the deep runs from the pair of them to press high https://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/the-overlapping-centre-half-trick.76744/

Great to see and from a coaching perspective this demonstrates how important the press is to our game, particularly this season. Fleck is getting better and better in this team, this system and this season.

That's a brilliant post - always good to see things not apparent on the night. And enormous credit to Fleck. I think on the upper end of your speed stats, though, he comes over as being close to Usain Bolt...

 

[stringer]

Enda Stevens might disagree with that.

As might George Baldock. And Dean Henderson, actually

 

[SwissBlade]

That's a brilliant post - always good to see things not apparent on the night. And enormous credit to Fleck. I think on the upper end of your speed stats, though, he comes over as being close to Usain Bolt...

Here’s my workings that I rough estimated: distance : looked like he ran halfway into the half, so a quarter of the pitch, which is 110yards according to wiki. 27.5 Yards but let’s say 25-30

Time: from the ball being kicked to Fleck getting there looked to be 3 seconds on the highlights vid, but could be slightly less. So 2-4 secs

Only way to solve this: bolt v Fleck 27.5 yard sprint for the ball

 

[Cerberus Blade]

When Martin passed the ball out, JF was still in our half! That’s extraordinary, although obviously he couldn’t have expected the ball to go past the defender, but his determination and vision deserved a reward.

He was like a Lurcher after a rabbit! (Great post SwissBlade btw!).

 

[S40BLADE]

Isn't there a stat where two of the fastest sprinters in the league are Stevens and Fleck? Remember seeing a graphic about it a few weeks ago.