Attracting pressure

[Bergen Blade]

I think we've taken some steps in the right direction the last couple of matches. Bringing back Seriki was the right move, and pairing him with Brooks on the right will hopefully help us fix that side from now on. Tanganga back in the middle and McCallum deservingly keeping his place at left back. We'll have to see if there is further tweaks to make in midfield and up front, but for now I am reasonably happy with the way the team is taking shape.

Which means we can look at more minor details in our play. Today we had 20 shots, but why are so many blocked? Why don't we create more when we complete almost twice the amount of passes than the opposition? Why does Wilder go on about us getting into so many good positions, but not always having a lot of efforts on target?

One thing to look at is how we neglect the value of attracting pressure when we start building attacks. I'll save some time and quote an article:

How Drawing Pressure Creates Space​

One of the most effective and often misunderstood tactical tools in football is drawing pressure to create space. For coaches, mastering this concept and knowing how to coach it can unlock more control in possession, improve your team's ability to break lines, and open up attacking opportunities.

Why Drawing Pressure Works​

In the most basic terms, space is created when a defender leaves their position. If an opponent steps out to press the ball, they are vacating the space they were originally responsible for. This presents a momentary advantage a gap that your team can exploit. The higher up the pitch this happens, the more dangerous the space becomes.

It may seem counter-intuitive to allow opposition players to close you down, especially in your own half. But the key is that it’s done deliberately and with control. Top-level players often appear calm, even passive on the ball, not because they lack urgency, but because they’re baiting the press intentionally waiting for pressure to arrive before springing into action.

Recognising the Triggers​

The goal is to attract opposition players towards the ball to create space elsewhere. Common scenarios where this happens include:

• Centre-backs or deep midfielders holding the ball to invite forward pressure.
• Goalkeepers involved in build-up who pause or delay passes to bait the press.
• Sideways or backwards passes to lull the opposition into stepping forward and leaving their structure.

The player in possession is drawing the press but the real benefit lies with teammates positioned to exploit the space vacated by the pressing player.

Quick Execution is Key​

Once pressure has been drawn, your players must act quickly. Time is critical because:

• The space created by the pressing player will only be open briefly.
• Additional opposition players may shift over to cover the exposed zone.
• If the ball carrier takes too long, they risk losing possession in a dangerous area.

The first or second pass after attracting pressure is often the line-breaking pass. Sometimes, though, the best route to exploit the space is not a direct forward ball but a recycled pass a short backwards or sideways pass to a teammate with a better angle or more time to play forward. What matters most is that the action is performed quickly and decisively.

The Role of Off-the-Ball Players​

Drawing pressure only works if teammates are tuned in and actively helping create and exploit space. This requires:

• Smart positioning: Moving into areas where space will open up, not where the ball currently is.
• Adjusting angles: Ensuring the ball carrier has passing options that stretch the opposition.
• Timing: Starting movements or adjusting positions just as the press is being triggered.

Teaching players to understand why they are moving, not just where, is crucial. This helps develop autonomous players who recognise pressing cues and anticipate space being created.

I'll give one example of us not doing this, but there were loads more:

McGuinness has time on the ball and nobody presses him. Seriki is available, so he passes to him:



Although this is one successful pass and we move a little bit further forward, QPR easily move across and maintain 11 men behind the ball. Seriki is not moving forward and we still have to find ways to get past all their players and we have less space to do it. It is not impossible, but it's more difficult.

What we need to do more of, is for McGuinness to hold on to the ball or even advance with it, until someone (i.e. blue circle marked player)decides to close him down, and then pass it, hopefully forward and hopefully to a player moving forward. If this is done again and again, there's a bigger chance QPR will give up space and eventually this may be the difference between a shot blocked or hitting the net.

Hopefully something to work on at Shirecliffe the next couple of weeks.

 

[Ned the Donkey]

I think we've taken some steps in the right direction the last couple of matches. Bringing back Seriki was the right move, and pairing him with Brooks on the right will hopefully help us fix that side from now on. Tanganga back in the middle and McCallum deservingly keeping his place at left back. We'll have to see if there is further tweaks to make in midfield and up front, but for now I am reasonably happy with the way the team is taking shape.

Which means we can look at more minor details in our play. Today we had 20 shots, but why are so many blocked? Why don't we create more when we complete almost twice the amount of passes than the opposition? Why does Wilder go on about us getting into so many good positions, but not always having a lot of efforts on target?

One thing to look at is how we neglect the value of attracting pressure when we start building attacks. I'll save some time and quote an article:


I'll give one example of us not doing this, but there were loads more:

McGuinness has time on the ball and nobody presses him. Seriki is available, so he passes to him:

View attachment 225257

Although this is one successful pass and we move a little bit further forward, QPR easily move across and maintain 11 men behind the ball. Seriki is not moving forward and we still have to find ways to get past all their players and we have less space to do it. It is not impossible, but it's more difficult.

What we need to do more of, is for McGuinness to hold on to the ball or even advance with it, until someone (i.e. blue circle marked player)decides to close him down, and then pass it, hopefully forward and hopefully to a player moving forward. If this is done again and again, there's a bigger chance QPR will give up space and eventually this may be the difference between a shot blocked or hitting the net.

Hopefully something to work on at Shirecliffe the next couple of weeks.

Fantastic analysis.

Maybe this - in part, at least - is what Wilder means when he talks about taking more risks, which has been a fairly consistent theme in interviews and press conferences: don't be a afraid to hold on to the ball and draw an opposition player towards you.

 

[Slug]

I think we've taken some steps in the right direction the last couple of matches. Bringing back Seriki was the right move, and pairing him with Brooks on the right will hopefully help us fix that side from now on. Tanganga back in the middle and McCallum deservingly keeping his place at left back. We'll have to see if there is further tweaks to make in midfield and up front, but for now I am reasonably happy with the way the team is taking shape.

Which means we can look at more minor details in our play. Today we had 20 shots, but why are so many blocked? Why don't we create more when we complete almost twice the amount of passes than the opposition? Why does Wilder go on about us getting into so many good positions, but not always having a lot of efforts on target?

One thing to look at is how we neglect the value of attracting pressure when we start building attacks. I'll save some time and quote an article:


I'll give one example of us not doing this, but there were loads more:

McGuinness has time on the ball and nobody presses him. Seriki is available, so he passes to him:

View attachment 225257

Although this is one successful pass and we move a little bit further forward, QPR easily move across and maintain 11 men behind the ball. Seriki is not moving forward and we still have to find ways to get past all their players and we have less space to do it. It is not impossible, but it's more difficult.

What we need to do more of, is for McGuinness to hold on to the ball or even advance with it, until someone (i.e. blue circle marked player)decides to close him down, and then pass it, hopefully forward and hopefully to a player moving forward. If this is done again and again, there's a bigger chance QPR will give up space and eventually this may be the difference between a shot blocked or hitting the net.

Hopefully something to work on at Shirecliffe the next couple of weeks.

Fantastic analysis as always mate.

However, I am pretty sure that they didn't press McGuinness for a reason....he is a dreadful footballer.

 

[Back post bob]

I think a big problem our players have you can see the cogs turning in there head before deciding what to do. I lost count how many times we failed to either pass to the overlapping player or hit the ball too hard for them to catch.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I think we've taken some steps in the right direction the last couple of matches. Bringing back Seriki was the right move, and pairing him with Brooks on the right will hopefully help us fix that side from now on. Tanganga back in the middle and McCallum deservingly keeping his place at left back. We'll have to see if there is further tweaks to make in midfield and up front, but for now I am reasonably happy with the way the team is taking shape.

Which means we can look at more minor details in our play. Today we had 20 shots, but why are so many blocked? Why don't we create more when we complete almost twice the amount of passes than the opposition? Why does Wilder go on about us getting into so many good positions, but not always having a lot of efforts on target?

One thing to look at is how we neglect the value of attracting pressure when we start building attacks. I'll save some time and quote an article:


I'll give one example of us not doing this, but there were loads more:

McGuinness has time on the ball and nobody presses him. Seriki is available, so he passes to him:

View attachment 225257

Although this is one successful pass and we move a little bit further forward, QPR easily move across and maintain 11 men behind the ball. Seriki is not moving forward and we still have to find ways to get past all their players and we have less space to do it. It is not impossible, but it's more difficult.

What we need to do more of, is for McGuinness to hold on to the ball or even advance with it, until someone (i.e. blue circle marked player)decides to close him down, and then pass it, hopefully forward and hopefully to a player moving forward. If this is done again and again, there's a bigger chance QPR will give up space and eventually this may be the difference between a shot blocked or hitting the net.

Hopefully something to work on at Shirecliffe the next couple of weeks.

I’d add to this that our off the ball movement and the speed at which we move the ball needs to also improve if we are to create the additional space you speak of.

Our movement at the top of the pitch is all too frequently non existent and this enables their defence patterns to sit goal side to nullify any attacking threats.

Not to labour the point, but in an ideal world we need at least 2 and possibly 3 CFs to come in to the squad each of whom being capable of starting in the 11. Allowing Cannon, One and Marsh to go out and get some pitch time elsewhere to establish what future they have with us going forwards.

UTB

 

[S64 Blade]

Fantastic analysis as always mate.

However, I am pretty sure that they didn't press McGuinness for a reason....he is a dreadful footballer.

Surely that’d be a reason to press him, as you’d have a higher chance of winning the ball?

 

[Uganda Blade]

Fantastic analysis.

Maybe this - in part, at least - is what Wilder means when he talks about taking more risks, which has been a fairly consistent theme in interviews and press conferences: don't be a afraid to hold on to the ball and draw an opposition player towards you.

If Wilder talks about it so much, why are the players not doing it? (not directed specifically at you, Ned)

 

[Rufus Smalls]

Interesting analysis.

Also, it wasn’t really until Davies came on that we started attacking from midfield. Davies gets on the ball and tries at least to run past the opposition midfielders and draw the defenders forward to try and tackle him. That creates space further forward for our strikers to exploit.

Hardly ever happens without Davies or at least O’Hare attacking from midfield.

 

[Ned the Donkey]

Fantastic analysis as always mate.

However, I am pretty sure that they didn't press McGuinness for a reason....he is a dreadful footballer.

I think this has been true for years. Teams choose which players to press and which players not to press.

It always looked to me like teams would not bother pressing Egan because initially when he joined us his passing wasn't very good, but over time he worked on it and it improved significantly, then they needed to press him.

Long passing seemed to be one aspect of Bash's game that improved over time as well.

Looking at it from the other side it was noticeable yesterday that more than once QPR overturned the ball because Ings was leading the press (backed up by others) and they could never settle.

 

[Ned the Donkey]

If Wilder talks about it so much, why are the players not doing it? (not directed specifically at you, Ned)

My take is that it's because they have to be confident, take risks. You can't tell someone to be confident and it switches on, it develops over time (and for some players (Gilchrist?) for whatever reason it's not in their nature - they're risk averse - and they take the safety first option and never develop that side of their game).

Beyond that this is just one aspect of a busy fixture list: there's everything else to fit in, regular training, opposition analysis, and so on - we've not seen many Alan Knill free kicks for instance, it all takes time.

Hopefully after another international break manager they players and the team will improve across several areas.

 

[Cheeky Blade]

Could someone draw me a goal? Just for old times sake…

 

[skegblade]

I think we've taken some steps in the right direction the last couple of matches. Bringing back Seriki was the right move, and pairing him with Brooks on the right will hopefully help us fix that side from now on. Tanganga back in the middle and McCallum deservingly keeping his place at left back. We'll have to see if there is further tweaks to make in midfield and up front, but for now I am reasonably happy with the way the team is taking shape.

Which means we can look at more minor details in our play. Today we had 20 shots, but why are so many blocked? Why don't we create more when we complete almost twice the amount of passes than the opposition? Why does Wilder go on about us getting into so many good positions, but not always having a lot of efforts on target?

One thing to look at is how we neglect the value of attracting pressure when we start building attacks. I'll save some time and quote an article:


I'll give one example of us not doing this, but there were loads more:

McGuinness has time on the ball and nobody presses him. Seriki is available, so he passes to him:

View attachment 225257

Although this is one successful pass and we move a little bit further forward, QPR easily move across and maintain 11 men behind the ball. Seriki is not moving forward and we still have to find ways to get past all their players and we have less space to do it. It is not impossible, but it's more difficult.

What we need to do more of, is for McGuinness to hold on to the ball or even advance with it, until someone (i.e. blue circle marked player)decides to close him down, and then pass it, hopefully forward and hopefully to a player moving forward. If this is done again and again, there's a bigger chance QPR will give up space and eventually this may be the difference between a shot blocked or hitting the net.

Hopefully something to work on at Shirecliffe the next couple of weeks.

Easy to generalise like this, but qpr also had a game plan which you do not take into cosideration
Blocked shots ? Thats what defenders do

 

[tyke1889]

Could someone draw me a goal? Just for old times sake…

The Blades path to goal

 

[Frank the tank]

I think we've taken some steps in the right direction the last couple of matches. Bringing back Seriki was the right move, and pairing him with Brooks on the right will hopefully help us fix that side from now on. Tanganga back in the middle and McCallum deservingly keeping his place at left back. We'll have to see if there is further tweaks to make in midfield and up front, but for now I am reasonably happy with the way the team is taking shape.

Which means we can look at more minor details in our play. Today we had 20 shots, but why are so many blocked? Why don't we create more when we complete almost twice the amount of passes than the opposition? Why does Wilder go on about us getting into so many good positions, but not always having a lot of efforts on target?

One thing to look at is how we neglect the value of attracting pressure when we start building attacks. I'll save some time and quote an article:


I'll give one example of us not doing this, but there were loads more:

McGuinness has time on the ball and nobody presses him. Seriki is available, so he passes to him:

View attachment 225257

Although this is one successful pass and we move a little bit further forward, QPR easily move across and maintain 11 men behind the ball. Seriki is not moving forward and we still have to find ways to get past all their players and we have less space to do it. It is not impossible, but it's more difficult.

What we need to do more of, is for McGuinness to hold on to the ball or even advance with it, until someone (i.e. blue circle marked player)decides to close him down, and then pass it, hopefully forward and hopefully to a player moving forward. If this is done again and again, there's a bigger chance QPR will give up space and eventually this may be the difference between a shot blocked or hitting the net.

Hopefully something to work on at Shirecliffe the next couple of weeks.

Best example was when tom Davies turned his man and the entire pitch just opened up in front of him and QPR were wide open and panicking

First thought for me was why did that look so alien to how we play that a players first thought being slightly risky averse and positive just looked completely against everything else we've seen all season

Confidence is a factor but even last season when we were winning games I was continually annoyed at our players first thought to be a safe sideways or backwards pass and it has to stop

 

[Snowflake]

Fantastic analysis.

Maybe this - in part, at least - is what Wilder means when he talks about taking more risks, which has been a fairly consistent theme in interviews and press conferences: don't be a afraid to hold on to the ball and draw an opposition player towards you.

Peck does it frequently but then often loses it !

 

[Whitby-Blade]

We’re simply too slow and too predictable, the vast majority of the time we are in possession we know who will receive the ball next and the ball rarely gets there speedily.

Only COH and Tom Davies have that bit of unpredictability about them, in the 442 COH is forced wide where he loses potency.

When Davies came on we looked brighter. His brave in possession, when receiving the ball he often drops a shoulder, feints for a pass and drives with the ball even deep in our half. He’s by far our most technically gifted player available at the minute. He tried threading the ball for the 2 front men about 3 times in the last 20 mins, they didn’t come off but it made QPRs job much harder as we weren’t as predictable. We were able to attack through the centre rather than shuffling the ball from wing to wing looking for openings that weren’t on as QPR had so much time get their defensive shape due to our lack of urgency.

The squad is really imbalanced, we’re desperate for Blaster and Gus as we’re crying out for technical ability.

 

[Nick Jansky]

The squad is really imbalanced, we’re desperate for Blaster and Gus as we’re crying out for technical ability.

And intelligence. This squad doesn’t appear to be overly blessed with it. There’s certainly not much speed of thought.

 

[blades_95]

We’re simply too slow and too predictable, the vast majority of the time we are in possession we know who will receive the ball next and the ball rarely gets there speedily.

Only COH and Tom Davies have that bit of unpredictability about them, in the 442 COH is forced wide where he loses potency.

When Davies came on we looked brighter. His brave in possession, when receiving the ball he often drops a shoulder, feints for a pass and drives with the ball even deep in our half. He’s by far our most technically gifted player available at the minute. He tried threading the ball for the 2 front men about 3 times in the last 20 mins, they didn’t come off but it made QPRs job much harder as we weren’t as predictable. We were able to attack through the centre rather than shuffling the ball from wing to wing looking for openings that weren’t on as QPR had so much time get their defensive shape due to our lack of urgency.

The squad is really imbalanced, we’re desperate for Blaster and Gus as we’re crying out for technical ability.

Completely agree, we have a squad that could arguably play a few different formations because we’re so imbalanced, but we don’t really fit one shape / style.

I think the 442 is slightly better than the 4231 weird hybrid shaped for this squad, but as you say O’Hare then becomes less effective. We’ve been catering for too long to playing wingers who are really ineffective, they don’t get good crosses in, they can’t beat a man & there’s zero goal threat. We just shift the ball wide and backwards constantly.

For what it’s worth I think the 5-3-2 would suit us and mitigate some of our weaknesses and allow us to play through the middle more:

Cooper
Tanganga McGuinness Mee
Seriki McCallum
Peck Davies
O’Hare
Cannon Campbell

Not mad on the back 3 but that’s probably as good as we can do currently, and just ask them to defend their box. It allows O’Hare to play through the middle with two strikers in front of him, and ideally try and utilise Cannon’s runs more (no use sticking him in here and there, give him a run of a few games in a 2). It gives Seriki and McCallum a bit more licence to attack as two of our better attacking performers recently.

We would also have a bit of natural depth then in this system. Ogbene (I know I know) at RWB, Burrows LWB, Soumare CM, Brooks maybe at CAM, Ings & One up top.

I don’t really understand why Wilder is being so stubborn to not even give this a go and see if it works.

 

[S64 Blade]

Agree about Davies’ impact. He’s a very good player, if his fitness wasn’t an issue he wouldn’t be playing for us.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

I think we've taken some steps in the right direction the last couple of matches. Bringing back Seriki was the right move, and pairing him with Brooks on the right will hopefully help us fix that side from now on. Tanganga back in the middle and McCallum deservingly keeping his place at left back. We'll have to see if there is further tweaks to make in midfield and up front, but for now I am reasonably happy with the way the team is taking shape.

Which means we can look at more minor details in our play. Today we had 20 shots, but why are so many blocked? Why don't we create more when we complete almost twice the amount of passes than the opposition? Why does Wilder go on about us getting into so many good positions, but not always having a lot of efforts on target?

One thing to look at is how we neglect the value of attracting pressure when we start building attacks. I'll save some time and quote an article:


I'll give one example of us not doing this, but there were loads more:

McGuinness has time on the ball and nobody presses him. Seriki is available, so he passes to him:

View attachment 225257

Although this is one successful pass and we move a little bit further forward, QPR easily move across and maintain 11 men behind the ball. Seriki is not moving forward and we still have to find ways to get past all their players and we have less space to do it. It is not impossible, but it's more difficult.

What we need to do more of, is for McGuinness to hold on to the ball or even advance with it, until someone (i.e. blue circle marked player)decides to close him down, and then pass it, hopefully forward and hopefully to a player moving forward. If this is done again and again, there's a bigger chance QPR will give up space and eventually this may be the difference between a shot blocked or hitting the net.

Hopefully something to work on at Shirecliffe the next couple of weeks.

I like your work and great analysis'.....looking at the pic i think Peck and Jiro are too static hiding behind the QPR players...they should move and give McGuiness the opportunity to pass the ball forwards to them.....good confident teams/players do this and it tends to panic the oppo to come out more.

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

I like your work and great analysis'.....looking at the pic i think Peck and Jiro are too static hiding behind the QPR players...they should move and give McGuiness the opportunity to pass the ball forwards to them.....good confident teams/players do this and it tends to panic the oppo to come out more.

I agree, a pass between the 2 QPR players to Peck who turns and has two one on one options to the left with plenty of space to work in and carry it forwards.

 

[Gin&Juice]

I think a big problem our players have you can see the cogs turning in there head before deciding what to do. I lost count how many times we failed to either pass to the overlapping player or hit the ball too hard for them to catch.

Sign of massive unconfidence. A confident team doesn’t overthink. Needs a complete gutting. I don’t think some of the players are that bad. Peck in particular. They’re all young lads mostly who have never been in this situation.

 

[Frank the tank]

Completely agree, we have a squad that could arguably play a few different formations because we’re so imbalanced, but we don’t really fit one shape / style.

I think the 442 is slightly better than the 4231 weird hybrid shaped for this squad, but as you say O’Hare then becomes less effective. We’ve been catering for too long to playing wingers who are really ineffective, they don’t get good crosses in, they can’t beat a man & there’s zero goal threat. We just shift the ball wide and backwards constantly.

For what it’s worth I think the 5-3-2 would suit us and mitigate some of our weaknesses and allow us to play through the middle more:

Cooper
Tanganga McGuinness Mee
Seriki McCallum
Peck Davies
O’Hare
Cannon Campbell

Not mad on the back 3 but that’s probably as good as we can do currently, and just ask them to defend their box. It allows O’Hare to play through the middle with two strikers in front of him, and ideally try and utilise Cannon’s runs more (no use sticking him in here and there, give him a run of a few games in a 2). It gives Seriki and McCallum a bit more licence to attack as two of our better attacking performers recently.

We would also have a bit of natural depth then in this system. Ogbene (I know I know) at RWB, Burrows LWB, Soumare CM, Brooks maybe at CAM, Ings & One up top.

I don’t really understand why Wilder is being so stubborn to not even give this a go and see if it works.

I agree with you about the 5-3-2 but you would have to put tanganga in the middle of the three ,he is badly exposed on the right of a three as shown this season and attested to by Millwall fans
Wether he would be smart enough to play the Egan role in not sure but he would certainly have the pace to mop up behind the other two carthorses

That aside I think the system would suit our players and I'm hoping wilder goes with it at the stadio del rustico

 

[Bergen Blade]

Fantastic analysis as always mate.

However, I am pretty sure that they didn't press McGuinness for a reason....he is a dreadful footballer.

Easy to generalise like this, but qpr also had a game plan which you do not take into cosideration

It wasn't just when McGuinness was on the ball though, it was pretty much when both our centre halves were on the ball, and also when Peck and Riedewald dropped deep to get on the ball. QPR's game plan was to prevent us passing through them. They were happy to stay deep and compact and let us pass the ball around at the back.


Before the game I was looking forward to finally seeing Seriki and Brooks together on the right hand side. Not only that, but QPR had a midfielder (Field) playing left back. We did create a bit down that side, but not as much as I'd hoped. I think we need to improve our general play, including passing patterns, movement and also the topic of this thread. It can be a big help if we do better at the start of our attacks.

One more example, and here we've moved up Seriki close to Brooks, it's a good chance to double up on their emergency left back, if only we can create some gaps and get the ball to them:

Tanganga is on the ball, but he does not draw pressure from Burrell. He gives it to Peck dropping deep on the right.


Peck, standing still, is not bothered about attracting pressure either and QPR are happy to let him have it. Burrell moves across and blocks some passing avenues and prevents a run into space. Peck passes it to Brooks who, with his back to goal, is put under so much pressure by Chair he has to go back to the centre halves again.



So there's little dynamism to our play. We're passing it about, but we don't pull opponents out of position and we don't find space and we don't penetrate.

IF Tanganga had managed to draw Burrell on to him, and then found Peck who could've ran into that space, drawing the pressure from Chair, it may have been a better start of a the attack. It may have lead to something, possibly Seriki&Brooks against an isolated stand in left back - same, but edited photo here:

 

[blades_95]

I agree with you about the 5-3-2 but you would have to put tanganga in the middle of the three ,he is badly exposed on the right of a three as shown this season and attested to by Millwall fans
Wether he would be smart enough to play the Egan role in not sure but he would certainly have the pace to mop up behind the other two carthorses

That aside I think the system would suit our players and I'm hoping wilder goes with it at the stadio del rustico

Good point but then the thought of McGuinness RCB terrifies me!

 

[blades_95]

It wasn't just when McGuinness was on the ball though, it was pretty much when both our centre halves were on the ball, and also when Peck and Riedewald dropped deep to get on the ball. QPR's game plan was to prevent us passing through them. They were happy to stay deep and compact and let us pass the ball around at the back.


Before the game I was looking forward to finally seeing Seriki and Brooks together on the right hand side. Not only that, but QPR had a midfielder (Field) playing left back. We did create a bit down that side, but not as much as I'd hoped. I think we need to improve our general play, including passing patterns, movement and also the topic of this thread. It can be a big help if we do better at the start of our attacks.

One more example, and here we've moved up Seriki close to Brooks, it's a good chance to double up on their emergency left back, if only we can create some gaps and get the ball to them:

Tanganga is on the ball, but he does not draw pressure from Burrell. He gives it to Peck dropping deep on the right.

View attachment 225277
Peck, standing still, is not bothered about attracting pressure either and QPR are happy to let him have it. Burrell moves across and blocks some passing avenues and prevents a run into space. Peck passes it to Brooks who, with his back to goal, is put under so much pressure by Chair he has to go back to the centre halves again.

View attachment 225278

So there's little dynamism to our play. We're passing it about, but we don't pull opponents out of position and we don't find space and we don't penetrate.

IF Tanganga had managed to draw Burrell on to him, and then found Peck who could've ran into that space, drawing the pressure from Chair, it may have been a better start of a the attack. It may have lead to something, possibly Seriki&Brooks against an isolated stand in left back - same, but edited photo here:

View attachment 225281

Teams used to allow us that same time & space when Robinson had the ball at cb, as they knew he was limited & couldn’t carry possession. Close down Anel and press him so he can’t go on a run, but happily let Robbo move it to his LB again and again before lumping an aimless ball.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Teams used to allow us that same time & space when Robinson had the ball at cb, as they knew he was limited & couldn’t carry possession. Close down Anel and press him so he can’t go on a run, but happily let Robbo move it to his LB again and again before lumping an aimless ball.

Yes, I agree with that. But yesterday QPR seemed to give the Robinson treatment to any of our players who had it in a deep position. I think there are ways to make distribution from centre halves a little better, even if they're not brilliant technically.

 

[bladesince64]

Peck and Riedewald are not ball carriers and so mainly pass sideways and backwards (not criticising them particularly)

Davies, Blaster and Gus however are able to progress on forward runs, keeping possession and therefore open up spaces and enable strikers to make runs.

Campbell is very good at timing runs into attacking areas.

I'm convinced that with these 3 players coming back that they will transform our season.

The quality in this division is at a very low bar and we get a few wins and we're back in and around the top half.

Derby (nothing special but well organised with a decent in form striker)
5 wins on the spin and now gone from bottom 5 up to 10th

 

[bakeblade]

I think we've taken some steps in the right direction the last couple of matches. Bringing back Seriki was the right move, and pairing him with Brooks on the right will hopefully help us fix that side from now on. Tanganga back in the middle and McCallum deservingly keeping his place at left back. We'll have to see if there is further tweaks to make in midfield and up front, but for now I am reasonably happy with the way the team is taking shape.

Which means we can look at more minor details in our play. Today we had 20 shots, but why are so many blocked? Why don't we create more when we complete almost twice the amount of passes than the opposition? Why does Wilder go on about us getting into so many good positions, but not always having a lot of efforts on target?

One thing to look at is how we neglect the value of attracting pressure when we start building attacks. I'll save some time and quote an article:


I'll give one example of us not doing this, but there were loads more:

McGuinness has time on the ball and nobody presses him. Seriki is available, so he passes to him:

View attachment 225257

Although this is one successful pass and we move a little bit further forward, QPR easily move across and maintain 11 men behind the ball. Seriki is not moving forward and we still have to find ways to get past all their players and we have less space to do it. It is not impossible, but it's more difficult.

What we need to do more of, is for McGuinness to hold on to the ball or even advance with it, until someone (i.e. blue circle marked player)decides to close him down, and then pass it, hopefully forward and hopefully to a player moving forward. If this is done again and again, there's a bigger chance QPR will give up space and eventually this may be the difference between a shot blocked or hitting the net.

Hopefully something to work on at Shirecliffe the next couple of weeks.

Good stuff as usual.
Unfortunately bearing in mind our current standard of players, confidence levels and league position, to deliberately invite pressure would cause us even more problems. In your example the thought of McGuinness deliberately inviting the opposition on to him would terrify me.
The key to moving out of trouble is to become hard to beat and stop making silly mistakes and gifting goals.

 

[Rochdaleblade]

I think we've taken some steps in the right direction the last couple of matches. Bringing back Seriki was the right move, and pairing him with Brooks on the right will hopefully help us fix that side from now on. Tanganga back in the middle and McCallum deservingly keeping his place at left back. We'll have to see if there is further tweaks to make in midfield and up front, but for now I am reasonably happy with the way the team is taking shape.

Which means we can look at more minor details in our play. Today we had 20 shots, but why are so many blocked? Why don't we create more when we complete almost twice the amount of passes than the opposition? Why does Wilder go on about us getting into so many good positions, but not always having a lot of efforts on target?

One thing to look at is how we neglect the value of attracting pressure when we start building attacks. I'll save some time and quote an article:


I'll give one example of us not doing this, but there were loads more:

McGuinness has time on the ball and nobody presses him. Seriki is available, so he passes to him:

View attachment 225257

Although this is one successful pass and we move a little bit further forward, QPR easily move across and maintain 11 men behind the ball. Seriki is not moving forward and we still have to find ways to get past all their players and we have less space to do it. It is not impossible, but it's more difficult.

What we need to do more of, is for McGuinness to hold on to the ball or even advance with it, until someone (i.e. blue circle marked player)decides to close him down, and then pass it, hopefully forward and hopefully to a player moving forward. If this is done again and again, there's a bigger chance QPR will give up space and eventually this may be the difference between a shot blocked or hitting the net.

Hopefully something to work on at Shirecliffe the next couple of weeks.

The problem I have with this tactic is that it relies on McGuiness passing the ball accurately.