Ball Possession, Pressing and Productivity

[BlueToff]

The difference this time around however is that we have a manager in charge now who states that his whole philosophy of football is built on the foundation stone of pressing.

Well he doesn't.

It's one of the things he does want from his players but Koeman's lack of identity has been a benefit in the past - he's very adaptable, or at least was.

For some reason, he's stuck in his ways atm.

 

[davek]

Well he doesn't.

It's one of the things he does want from his players but Koeman's lack of identity has been a benefit in the past - he's very adaptable, or at least was.

For some reason, he's stuck in his ways atm.

The only thing I've consistently heard from Koeman since he arrived, style-wise, is his admiration for a pressing game. His comments particularly when he arrived around fitness levels was that he needed them right up there in order to carry out the game plan he was to roll out here.

 

[Eggs]

...defending needs to be a buzzword too.

 

[Seathestars]

I think for pressing you need quick players, we’re too static.
Same for possession, too static. Pass and move, we seem to pass but nobody moves.

 

[Milkman]

Or, as teams used to do when we had Hibbert or Neville at full back.....pressure the defenders who are okay on the ball and when they give it to weak link the possession will come back from a hoof or a mistake.

Wrong this. Hibbert made his own space through his excellent attacking football brain.

 

[Toffe3m4n]

The movement across the team, whether on the ball or off it, is just simply not good enough. There's just no cohesion or any clear communication in the team and I wonder if this is what Koeman has been alluding to when he has expressed his current issues with training.

 

[COYBL25]

Wrong this. Hibbert made his own space through his excellent attacking football brain.

lol

 

[riddick]

Short answer: no, we don't do any of these.

 

[Brisan123]

Ball Possession, Pressing, Productivity

Three Koeman buzzwords that allude to his preferred style of play, yet none of which we have seen Everton excel in this season.

So why isn't it working? Let's look at each in turn.

* Ball Possession
Rarely a post-match interview goes by without Koeman giving his assessment on how we did in this aspect of play. But what exactly is "Ball Possession"? We can safely assume that he means the way in which Everton both keep and use the ball.

Rather than being wasteful and trying percentage passes, Koeman likes his teams to keep possession of the ball and play forward with a purpose.

However, all too often this season, we have seen the ball advanced towards the middle third before being moved back to Keane, who then has no options in front of him but to knock a long ball into the channel or towards the striker.

Why is this happening? Two reasons:

1. When the ball reaches the midfield, there is no space for the attacking players to operate in. Why is that? Because:

2. There is no one running beyond the opposition backline to stretch them, which would create that pocket of space in front of the back four. Instead, the opposition backline can squeeze up and reduce any space for our attacking midfielders to operate in.

So far too often do we see: Pickford to Keane to Schneiderlin to Gueye, back to Schneiderlin back to Keane then long towards Rooney.

There is no threat in behind the opposition.

How do we address this? Personnel. Play a striker in the central position who will run beyond (e.g. Calvert-Lewin or Niasse), or, wingers who will stay high and wide playing on the shoulders of the opposition full backs (e.g. Mirallas, Lennon, Lookman).

Currently, our wide players are coming inside and our central striker is dropping deep. In other words, they are all occupying the same space.

* Pressing
Again, another feature of play that Koeman mentions frequently is how he likes his teams to press from the front.

So what does this mean? It means that, upon losing possession in the final third, the forward players force the opposition defenders into "traps" where they can then attempt to win the ball back high up the pitch, or force a percentage/ long ball to nowhere in particular.

However, ask yourself the question; how many times have you seen us win the ball back in the opposition half this season? Very rarely would be my answer.

So why isn't it working? Two reasons:

1. Personnel (again). Rooney playing as a centre forward, Sigurdsson playing on the left, etc. These players are not blessed with pace/ acceleration when it comes to closing down that first man. By the time they get there, the opposition player has had time to get his head up and pick a pass.

2. Our defensive line. It's all well and good telling the forwards to press the ball when we lose it, but look at how deep our defence is! This leaves an absolute ocean of space either between our defence and our midfield or between our midfield and our attack, again allowing the opposition to bypass our slow press by passing to someone in space in the middle third.

So how do we solve these problems?

- Change the personnel (use players who can press quickly and effectively) and play a higher line. This in turn has an impact on selection at the back too; we should use our fastest defenders and also instruct Pickford to set his starting position outside his area to sweep up longer balls over the top.

* Productivity
What does it mean? Creating clear cut chances and taking those clear cut chances.

We have scored a rather embarrassing 5 league goals this season. Man City scored 7 in one game last week and 29 overall. Leicester (bottom three) have doubled ours scoring 10, whilst Stoke (also below us in the table) have scored 9.

Ironically, this is very closely linked to the first two points; if we sort out our "Ball Possession" and "Pressing" issues then the "Productivity" would naturally follow.

* The Future Plan
It is not all doom and gloom. We certainly have a versatile squad and some tweaks to the team and tactics should see some vast improvement.

Although they may not be our best players, the manager should perhaps be looking at Calvert-Lewin, Mirallas, Lookman and Lennon to provide us with that pace, width and willingness to run beyond. Then look to upgrade these positions in January.

This could have been summed up by saying
Watch a repeat of the City vs Napoli game last Tuesday night.
One of the most enjoyable games of football I have watched in years.
It had everything the football purist could want plus it had everything you pointed out before.
There again how much did Citys squad cost to assemble and how much would Napoli’s team cost to buy.
Wether we like it or not money talks and we don’t have enough of it.
The former Newcastle chairman was on SSN and said the new owners will need to put a minimum of 300 m into the team to have them competing at the top end of the table.
I couldn’t see one of our present squad getting into a City United or Chelsea first 11

 

[bitter-no-better]

We have a possession of 51% and pass completion at 80% (Ranked 9th). The issue for me is getting a balanced team with pace on the flanks and up top. If your going to persist playing 2 defensive midfielders then you need to play a back 3. (in my opinion).

Pickford
Keane Jags Holgale
Baines Morgan Gueye Vlasic
Rooney Davies/Sig
Sandro

Is what i would go.

 

[BlueToff]

The only thing I've consistently heard from Koeman since he arrived, style-wise, is his admiration for a pressing game. His comments particularly when he arrived around fitness levels was that he needed them right up there in order to carry out the game plan he was to roll out here.

Ironically enough the players he's brought in (attacking wise) all have very good work rates.

He just isn't finding a system to get the best out of any of them

 

[NCLBlue]

Ball Possession, Pressing, Productivity

Three Koeman buzzwords that allude to his preferred style of play, yet none of which we have seen Everton excel in this season.

So why isn't it working? Let's look at each in turn.

* Ball Possession
Rarely a post-match interview goes by without Koeman giving his assessment on how we did in this aspect of play. But what exactly is "Ball Possession"? We can safely assume that he means the way in which Everton both keep and use the ball.

Rather than being wasteful and trying percentage passes, Koeman likes his teams to keep possession of the ball and play forward with a purpose.

However, all too often this season, we have seen the ball advanced towards the middle third before being moved back to Keane, who then has no options in front of him but to knock a long ball into the channel or towards the striker.

Why is this happening? Two reasons:

1. When the ball reaches the midfield, there is no space for the attacking players to operate in. Why is that? Because:

2. There is no one running beyond the opposition backline to stretch them, which would create that pocket of space in front of the back four. Instead, the opposition backline can squeeze up and reduce any space for our attacking midfielders to operate in.

So far too often do we see: Pickford to Keane to Schneiderlin to Gueye, back to Schneiderlin back to Keane then long towards Rooney.

There is no threat in behind the opposition.

How do we address this? Personnel. Play a striker in the central position who will run beyond (e.g. Calvert-Lewin or Niasse), or, wingers who will stay high and wide playing on the shoulders of the opposition full backs (e.g. Mirallas, Lennon, Lookman).

Currently, our wide players are coming inside and our central striker is dropping deep. In other words, they are all occupying the same space.

* Pressing
Again, another feature of play that Koeman mentions frequently is how he likes his teams to press from the front.

So what does this mean? It means that, upon losing possession in the final third, the forward players force the opposition defenders into "traps" where they can then attempt to win the ball back high up the pitch, or force a percentage/ long ball to nowhere in particular.

However, ask yourself the question; how many times have you seen us win the ball back in the opposition half this season? Very rarely would be my answer.

So why isn't it working? Two reasons:

1. Personnel (again). Rooney playing as a centre forward, Sigurdsson playing on the left, etc. These players are not blessed with pace/ acceleration when it comes to closing down that first man. By the time they get there, the opposition player has had time to get his head up and pick a pass.

2. Our defensive line. It's all well and good telling the forwards to press the ball when we lose it, but look at how deep our defence is! This leaves an absolute ocean of space either between our defence and our midfield or between our midfield and our attack, again allowing the opposition to bypass our slow press by passing to someone in space in the middle third.

So how do we solve these problems?

- Change the personnel (use players who can press quickly and effectively) and play a higher line. This in turn has an impact on selection at the back too; we should use our fastest defenders and also instruct Pickford to set his starting position outside his area to sweep up longer balls over the top.

* Productivity
What does it mean? Creating clear cut chances and taking those clear cut chances.

We have scored a rather embarrassing 5 league goals this season. Man City scored 7 in one game last week and 29 overall. Leicester (bottom three) have doubled ours scoring 10, whilst Stoke (also below us in the table) have scored 9.

Ironically, this is very closely linked to the first two points; if we sort out our "Ball Possession" and "Pressing" issues then the "Productivity" would naturally follow.

* The Future Plan
It is not all doom and gloom. We certainly have a versatile squad and some tweaks to the team and tactics should see some vast improvement.

Although they may not be our best players, the manager should perhaps be looking at Calvert-Lewin, Mirallas, Lookman and Lennon to provide us with that pace, width and willingness to run beyond. Then look to upgrade these positions in January.

I’m on board, send Bill and Mosh your CV!

Totally agree with the deep defence, leaves us with so much ground to make up with slower players

 

[sharkey1001]

The prime example of this for me was Distin in 14/15.

Teams would press Stones or Jags and the ball would always go to Distin.

Similar is happening now with Williams.

Jose when at Chelsea, informed Chelsea to sit back and rigid at Goodison but leave space on our right hand side until McGeady got the ball... I counted 8 times they did it and won possession from that clown.

I cant remember us under Koeman every setting up to target weaknesses in team, or indeed any instructions other than "don't run fast". Dreading tonight.