Overthehills
Long term sufferer - Ever optimist
It's been said week in week out, not just my thoughts, but the thoughts of the masses....We've missed that drive in the middle of the park. We've been lethargic, slow, sluggish, no real drive.
I can't say all, but a good few wanted McAtee and Doyle back in there together (me included)...
I think tonight is a testament as to why that was the right decision. We started with energy, we started on the front foot, we passed forwards and the front lines caused a number of early problems.
The Sunderland goal in my opinion was a lazy blip. We gassed ourselves a bit and Berge went for the dredded hoofed clearance, as a result we find players caught out of position and they capitalise. Stupid goal to give away, overall against the run of play and very much our own fault (namedly Berge's).
But the mentality switch was there, mainly due to that positive minded, midfield engine room. The two Man City lads need to take a bow, it was all about them in combination tonight. They understamd one and other fantastically, but they just have so much positive drive. A lot has to be said about the coaching that they have received at the elite really.... literally everything is played forwards and if there is space in front of you, then you get yourself into it..... major difference.
Earlier today I found myself wondering about heat maps (boring I know). I'm not going to bash Norwood because his stats speak for themselves, he's an integral part of the squad. But I have found a real annoyance and i am not sure if it is just me...
I find the overall lack of tempo in midfield leads to strikers drifting out onto the flanks far too often.... It pisses me off to see Ndiaye in particular (but all of the other strikers as well), drifting out wide. What use are strikers on the flanks with an empty box??
I would have liked to see a heat map of the strikers with the static midfield that we have had with Norwood and Berge in recent weeks and months, throw Fleck in there and even more so....
Suddenly you throw drive back into midfield (McAtee and Doyle) and you have midfield players driving down the flanks again and linking up. As a result, you then have forwards in much narrower and attacking mind positions....Strikers in the box where they belong!
I'm not deluded enough to believe that the above is the total solution. There are so many positives again tonight... Robbo's a Rock... Gorgeous george was a very well disciplined 'ferocious george'..... etc etc.
But in my opinion, that set up tonight was nearer the attacking minded, naughty, dangerous Sheffield United side that we all love to see....
Save the likes for the positive contributions of the players, not for my post.....
I can't say all, but a good few wanted McAtee and Doyle back in there together (me included)...
I think tonight is a testament as to why that was the right decision. We started with energy, we started on the front foot, we passed forwards and the front lines caused a number of early problems.
The Sunderland goal in my opinion was a lazy blip. We gassed ourselves a bit and Berge went for the dredded hoofed clearance, as a result we find players caught out of position and they capitalise. Stupid goal to give away, overall against the run of play and very much our own fault (namedly Berge's).
But the mentality switch was there, mainly due to that positive minded, midfield engine room. The two Man City lads need to take a bow, it was all about them in combination tonight. They understamd one and other fantastically, but they just have so much positive drive. A lot has to be said about the coaching that they have received at the elite really.... literally everything is played forwards and if there is space in front of you, then you get yourself into it..... major difference.
Earlier today I found myself wondering about heat maps (boring I know). I'm not going to bash Norwood because his stats speak for themselves, he's an integral part of the squad. But I have found a real annoyance and i am not sure if it is just me...
I find the overall lack of tempo in midfield leads to strikers drifting out onto the flanks far too often.... It pisses me off to see Ndiaye in particular (but all of the other strikers as well), drifting out wide. What use are strikers on the flanks with an empty box??
I would have liked to see a heat map of the strikers with the static midfield that we have had with Norwood and Berge in recent weeks and months, throw Fleck in there and even more so....
Suddenly you throw drive back into midfield (McAtee and Doyle) and you have midfield players driving down the flanks again and linking up. As a result, you then have forwards in much narrower and attacking mind positions....Strikers in the box where they belong!
I'm not deluded enough to believe that the above is the total solution. There are so many positives again tonight... Robbo's a Rock... Gorgeous george was a very well disciplined 'ferocious george'..... etc etc.
But in my opinion, that set up tonight was nearer the attacking minded, naughty, dangerous Sheffield United side that we all love to see....
Save the likes for the positive contributions of the players, not for my post.....
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