The planned breaks have been a thing for a while, its a Guardiola/Arteta thing
They get used for a couple of reasons,
1. A couple of seasons ago Arsenal played at Anfield, every time Liverpool had 2 or 3 shots in quick succession Ramsdale would go down (knowing its the goalkeeper they cant play on) this would kill the momentum Liverpool were building up to slow the game back down when the ball would eventually come back into play
2. The timed drinks break/tactical brief......usually on around 60-70 minutes an Arsenal player will go down (again usually enough to bring a physio on), the players will use it as an opportunity to go and get 'drinks' from the bench. The coach uses this as a 'mid second half' team meeting to alter anything he feels is damaging the team etc. Micro managed to the enth degree.
I will also throw in the 'set piece headed clearance' into the mix. An Arsenal player heads the ball away in a melay of players from a set piece, the palyer who headed the ball away will proceed to hit the deck, to avoid any 2nd phase ball coming in from the opposition.
All horrible tactics which are a virus on the current game, i have used Arsenal las the biggest example as i see it most with them.
For someone who has Saka, Odergaard, Martinelli, Rice, Trossard & Havertz at his disposal, Arteta is such a cowardly manager. With his back 4 of centre backs (its ok with Jake O'Brien though), if he was English he would be getting called a dinosaur
Great post.
3 big problems for me:
1. Predictability
Polarisation of top 2-3 and bottom 2-3. It's got wider. Lowest points accumulation of bottom 3 clubs is something like 7 out the last 10, or 5 out the last 7 seasons. 3 up 3 down more likely. THIS HAS BEEN A BLESSING FOR EVERTON IN THE LAST 4 SEASONS! But anything predictable is obviously less interesting over time.
2. Tactics
Great post above. We're seeing the US influence on 'Soccer' with playbooks of sequences like those above. Grim, not quite sure how we tackle it. Needs analysis and Video refs calling it out, very complex though.
3. Quality
The mis mgt at Spurs and Utd, alongside the
so far failed £1bn Chelsea experiment has opened the door for Forest, Brighton, Newcastle, Bournemouth and Villa. I love watching these guys demote the money sides. It's a shame Newcastle ownership is as it is, but they seem to be sticking to FFP more noticeably to their credit, and won the League Cup.
Ultimately these clubs are what they are, smaller squads, very well managed, balancing the books and winning games. At times though they are not great to watch, and are not serious Prem title contenders.
So it means we're watching a Grand National with a winner 10 lengths out but 8 horses in a scrum for CL. Is it exciting? Probably if you have a runner in there... Is the football 'great'. Not always. I don't think we'll have any CL teams in the last 4, that's another measure of quality. Or even the Europa. Could be a kinda weird off season like when Leicester won the title. But the Club world cup and all this shebazzle won't do anything for tiredness, quality or the expansion of squads with more bit part players.
I watched an old game the other night for about 15 mins. Quality of passing and football was higher, pace seemed to slow though! No Le Tissiers, Juninho's or even Zolas in the modern era of physicality and running 15km a game. Droidball.
