Counter attacking/making use of pace

[Bergen Blade]

A warning: Some may view this as a nasty attempt at finding something negative about the club. They will not consider it a valid observation of something that we could possibly aim to do better.



This summer's recruitment of strikers saw Danny Wilson add pace to our forward line, something a lot of people have missed for a long time. In Blackman, Cofie and Miller we have strikers who have individual ability as well as good pace and we should look to make good use of it, as it can be an excellent weapon.


But if you don't know how to make effective use of pace and aren't determined to counter attack when you get the chance the pace can be wasted.


Sometimes it is difficult to do it. Wilson has commented on it a couple of times, that when the opposition come to the Lane to defend deep, there can be little space for the likes of Blackman to run into.


The opposite scenario - when it's easiest to get in behind the opposition - is when we're

• away
• leading
• into the second half
• the opposition start taking more chances, sending more players forward

The last three away games are perfect examples. But even if the scenarios have been ideal we haven't seen Blackman or Cofie run onto an accurate through ball and finished the game off. Why? Why do Sheffield United so rarely get a two goal lead through good counter attacks?


For me it was typical against Hartlepool that we allowed them to equalise before we started going for it again. We got the winner, which for me proves that we've got more quality than most teams in this league and are able to do get away wins, even if we do it the hard way.

An example of us not taking the chance to get in behind Hartlepool: Gallagher could play Cofie through on goal:




But chooses to pass it backwards instead:





I think we are afraid to overcommit going forward and lose the lead. Therefore we don't prioritise adding another goal. But counter attacking doesn't have to involve huge risks. It is about identifying the situations where you can punish the opposition; the attribute of pace; and doing things with quality.

 

[TarquinDelouche]

I think we are afraid to overcommit going forward and lose the lead. Therefore we don't prioritise adding another goal. But counter attacking doesn't have to involve huge risks. It is about identifying the situations where you can punish the opposition; the attribute of pace; and doing things with quality.

It's precisely this that annoys me, because recently we've been losing the lead anyway. Until we can feel secure with our defence and keep it tight at the back, we're in the position of needing to score at least twice to stand a chance of continuing any kind of winning streak.

 

[Robbie]

The screen shots and direction given, would send Cofie towards the corner. He's not going to get in behind the defence. The defender will just force him out wide.
It's not clear where the other striker or winger is, so it could be that it is just left up to PG to get into the box.

 

[TarquinDelouche]

Given that situation, PG should have rolled it toward the D on the edge of the area. This would leave the goalkeeper unsure whether or not to come for it, the two defenders split (Cofie runs through the middle) and both make for the ball. What you're left with is a GK in no-man's-land and two defenders going backwards for our one man out on his own up top. A net gain, in my eyes.

 

[OllyBlade]

We've also had a lot of players in recent years whose instinct is to check back. Flynn this year, Quinn last few seasons - none really bomb it forward. I'd like us to make more use of Miller in this respect - what I've seen suggests he is good at counterattacking runs, he should be brought on and I was disappointed when Wilson instead put on Cresswell and Porter against Orient - they both ended up going for the same headers, was a waste of time.

 

[Pinchy]

So Gallagher beheads the fullback whilst Cofie trips himself up over the centre-back's feet?

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

The screen shots and direction given, would send Cofie towards the corner. He's not going to get in behind the defence. The defender will just force him out wide.
It's not clear where the other striker or winger is, so it could be that it is just left up to PG to get into the box.

Now if Cofie ran behind the centre back he would be bearing down on goal in a central position.....

 

[grafikhaus]

A warning: Some may view this as a nasty attempt at finding something negative about the club. They will not consider it a valid observation of something that we could possibly aim to do better.

Not at all, Bergen. It's obvious you 'know your football' and your input is always valuable. (the 'Like' button is bottom-right ).

As well as your points, it seems that more and more English teams are trying to 'do a Barcelona' i.e. pass, pass and pass again. This is fine if there's an end result but teams like United just go labouriously from one side of the pitch to the other, back again, but when the 'killer ball' is required it's normally a 'drifted punt' which plays into the hands (or heads) of defenders.

Brendan Rogers is playing a dangerous game at Liverpool with his insistence on playing it out of defence - something that is always tricky in English football given the willingness of forwards to chase the ball down.

Especially in the Third Division, there's a place for Route One and adventure which will unsettle weaker defences. By all means, keep some elements of the Spanish game such as measured passes rather than Hooof, but try to utilise another of their strengths - the bombing-forward full back. We had it with Lowton and there are signs we can do it with (don't laugh) Hill.

 

[Bergen Blade]

The screen shots and direction given, would send Cofie towards the corner. He's not going to get in behind the defence. The defender will just force him out wide.
It's not clear where the other striker or winger is, so it could be that it is just left up to PG to get into the box.

It's not just that Gallagher isn't spotting the opportunity, Cofie's also just jogging, when he should have been sprinting at full speed even before the first photo. The chance was there to be taken.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Now if Cofie ran behind the centre back he would be bearing down on goal

Bit like this?

 

[Ollessendro]

I agree with a lot of what you say Bergs. I think that Wilson can be too conservative as manager, particularly when we take the lead. We sit back as a team, when we go ahead, and rarely push on for a second. It is really frustrating, as it invites pressure and a few times this year we have squandered our lead. The instructions must be coming from the coach. I would like to see Wilson use pace more, especially in the situations you mention. By all means leave a lump like Kitson/Cressy/Porter on to win balls/hold up, but stretch defences with Cofie or Millar. The last thing that a big ale house 3rd division centre back wants after running around for an hour is to face a younger, fitter and quicker attacker!

 

[blade too long]

Surely the defence knew where he was going due to the big arrows marked on the pitch so could defend it easily

the left back is already following the red arrow in the top corner

 

[Robbie]

Now if Cofie ran behind the centre back he would be bearing down on goal in a central position.....

The chances of that without the defender intercepting or putting a lot of pressure on the striker is very minimal.

I'm not saying we shouldn't be looking at these options, but it's not as clear cut as is being made out.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I'm not saying we shouldn't be looking at these options

Then we agree one hundred percent.

 

[Grecian2000]

I agree with a lot of what you say Bergs. I think that Wilson can be too conservative as manager, particularly when we take the lead.

I am not sure about this. His attitude is almost Keeganesque after Blackwells tedium. I think we keep our shape and continue to pass the ball but we've lost a lot of the attacking flair from last season so it's going to be far more difficult to come up with the second goal.
I agree with Bergs, with better run making from the front two, we have the ability in McDonald to quickly pass and run our way to the other end of the field.

 

[Hodgyman]

As much as I enjoy watching United playing the passing game, United must also vary their attacks by sometimes playing more direct attacking methods (as described by Bergen). If a team consistently employs a single, therefore predictable method, then it is too easy for the opposition to anticipate what is going to happen and plan how to defend it in advance. Let's not help the opposition by making their job easier.

 

[super_pig]

i enjoy this tactical analysis you're into Bergen.. keep it up mate
most of our counter attacks last year were led by lowton and williamson bombing down the right and LJF bombing down the left (when he was fit).. we simply don't have the attacking fullbacks that are an essential part of the modern game.. as for gallagher.. he always checks back and passes backwards doesn't he??

 

[Ollessendro]

I am not sure about this. His attitude is almost Keeganesque after Blackwells tedium. I think we keep our shape and continue to pass the ball but we've lost a lot of the attacking flair from last season so it's going to be far more difficult to come up with the second goal.
I agree with Bergs, with better run making from the front two, we have the ability in McDonald to quickly pass and run our way to the other end of the field.

I have already said that our defence will be the key to success this year. Losing Williamson, Lowtong, Ched and Quinn has taken a lot of quality out of the team. We need to be rock solid this year (like Charlton last) and take our chances. That said, I think Kitson and McDonald are better than most in this division. On their day Blackman, Gallagher and Flynn are also too hot to handle. Hence I think there will be opportunities to finish teams off. For example at Orient on Sat-di, when we did attack we carved them apart. K Mac was involved, Flynn beat his man and Doyle should have scored.

Whilst Wilson is more tactically astute and takes more chances than Blackwell in general, I think he is conservative when we go ahead. My opinion is that his tactics and substitutions are all about holding onto that lead. It has worked a few times (Yeovil and Orient - where we never looked like conceding when we went ahead) but not at others (Colchester, Hartlepool and County). To be fair to Wilson, in some of those games we missed chances and it is not his fault.

 

[raul]

I'm of the belief that although on paper we should have the ability to break quickly, the pace we now have up front is unrefined and the risk of all flooding up in support only to lose it and be vulnerable on the counter break is something we need to get right first. Bergs - my impression on what I've seen so far is that KMac is sitting a lot deeper this time round because a) he doesn't yet trust those in front to pick his passes and b) the overlapping full backs aren't there. I think we should move forward quicker when he feels the team is able to.

The big positive for me is that we are still trying to find our natural balance between attack and defence and have thus far remained undefeated whilst we do so. We'll get there (and we only did so around Xmas last year with better players) but I think ultimately we'll end up being far more effective as a more compact side than the swash and buckle we all enjoyed last year.

 

[grafikhaus]

While we're musing about tactics, I've long thought a 'killer free kick' would be as shown (couldn't get a more relevant pic.)



Two players over the ball, wall/defence expecting the usual cross or shot, player 7 breaks to the side of the wall, player 21 lays it through to him, balance of defence totally gone, every player in the wall out of action, low powerful cross into 6 yard box, promotion guaranteed!

 

[Grecian2000]

Think there might be more value in running at 5 whilst he's mincing around like that.

 

[Robbie]

While we're musing about tactics, I've long thought a 'killer free kick' would be as shown (couldn't get a more relevant pic.)

View attachment 5330

Two players over the ball, wall/defence expecting the usual cross or shot, player 7 breaks to the side of the wall, player 21 lays it through to him, balance of defence totally gone, every player in the wall out of action, low powerful cross into 6 yard box, promotion guaranteed!

It's worth trying on occasions, or even having a player to the left as a decoy, to bring an extra player out the box.

However, with your idea, on the majority, the defence line will be marginally behind the wall... The bald player on the left of the wall (Anelka is it?) will drop away from the wall should the number 7 make such a run and the ball is played to him.

Drogba and Mikel will then disperse to help out with the defence.... It will have been discussed at great lengths previously.

The defensive line will all generally be in front of the attacking line, ie towards the ball, so the percentages are then on their side if the ball is smashed across the box.

 

[Balham]

While we're musing about tactics, I've long thought a 'killer free kick' would be as shown (couldn't get a more relevant pic.)

View attachment 5330

Two players over the ball, wall/defence expecting the usual cross or shot, player 7 breaks to the side of the wall, player 21 lays it through to him, balance of defence totally gone, every player in the wall out of action, low powerful cross into 6 yard box, promotion guaranteed!

Basically, a version of this?

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Basically, a version of this?

Or This?

 

[TarquinDelouche]

I've not seen any official confirmation, has Gallagher gone back yet?

 

[Ollessendro]

Nar den Highbury and Balham, there's a few cracking free kicks. Tha can see dem av bin wurked on trainin ground! The beautiful game played at its very best.

 

[super_pig]

my impression on what I've seen so far is that KMac is sitting a lot deeper this time round because a) he doesn't yet trust those in front to pick his passes and b) the overlapping full backs aren't there. I think we should move forward quicker when he feels the team is able to.

agree totally .. ched was on KMac's wavelength but i don't think Cofie or Blackman have quite woken up to the possibilties yet..
yet.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

agree totally .. ched was on KMac's wavelength but i don't think Cofie or Blackman have quite woken up to the possibilties yet..
yet.

I think that was Monty's chief problem as well. Nobody was on his wavelength.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I'm of the belief that although on paper we should have the ability to break quickly, the pace we now have up front is unrefined and the risk of all flooding up in support only to lose it and be vulnerable on the counter break is something we need to get right first. Bergs - my impression on what I've seen so far is that KMac is sitting a lot deeper this time round because a) he doesn't yet trust those in front to pick his passes and b) the overlapping full backs aren't there. I think we should move forward quicker when he feels the team is able to.

It was McDonald who played it forward to Gallagher in the above situation, so that's one occasion where he did do what you describe, although we didn't take advantage. I think the opposition is able to concentrate more on closing down McDonald this season. Last season we had Quinn/LJF and Williamson/Lowton as great threats, and it meant the opposition had more ground to cover.

McDonald is often capable of receiving the ball with his back to the opposition goal, shaking off his marker and passing it forward with vision and accuracy. While this is often hugely impressive, it is often done from so deep (like you point out) that it doesn't set up chances directly. In other words we need to improve what we do following McDonald's first class playmaking, both when counter attacking and when the opposition have men behind the ball.

 

[raul]

It was McDonald who played it forward to Gallagher in the above situation, so that's one occasion where he did do what you describe, although we didn't take advantage. I think the opposition is able to concentrate more on closing down McDonald this season. Last season we had Quinn/LJF and Williamson/Lowton as great threats, and it meant the opposition had more ground to cover.

McDonald is often capable of receiving the ball with his back to the opposition goal, shaking off his marker and passing it forward with vision and accuracy. While this is often hugely impressive, it is often done from so deep (like you point out) that it doesn't set up chances directly. In other words we need to improve what we do following McDonald's first class playmaking, both when counter attacking and when the opposition have men behind the ball.

"Yes raul, you are right again" would have done....