Possession football - the wrong feet?

[Azza]

This is just a very brief look at our style of play after I noticed something while watch Chelsea on boxing day. Keeping the ball is all well and good, but when it's at the feet of the wrong players it doesn't really help. Now watching Chelsea they play out from the back a lot, but one thing is very evident, Terry and Cahill released the ball pretty much right away to Fabregas if he was available. Now we all know we do the same but the problem we have is, and judging from the fume and booing, we pass it back a lot and our defenders have a lot of possession. So I've decided to have a look into this.

All stats are from WhoScored.com


So using the Chelsea match yesterday as an example.


Team possession - 62.5%
CB possession - 9.7% (Terry - 3.8% | Cahill - 5.9%)
Highest possession - Fabregas 13.7%

So as you can see the league's leading assist maker has the ball, a lot!

So from the last 5 Premier League games lets look at the stats for Everton, Arsenal, Chelsea and City all considered play out from the back teams and see how much the CBs have the ball and who has it the most.



Everton

Arsenal

Chelsea

City

Team possession over 5 games

Summary

Do I need to summarize or does this just show what we all thought any way?

 

[Boss_Blue]

@Brownie

 

[Dithering Dougie]

Not passing the ball forward shocker!

 

[Tubey]

Just confirms what we all know really. Our possession is in the wrong areas given how teams are setting up against us.

Mourinho advocates "pragmatism" - basically setting up to beat the opposition rather than believing in a one size fits all approach. That's why he's a world class manager. Martinez really needs to understand that there are circumstances where you have to adapt your philosophy to meet the needs at hand, whether that's injuries, lack of confidence or whatever.

That's why Mourinho parking the bus against Liverpool was genius, as it is what was required to get the job done given the circumstances, recognising the opposition would attack relentlessly but were fragile in defence, suiting an absorb then strike counter attacking game. Then you see this season the exact opposite, where his teams are imposing themselves when the circumstances dictate they're a stronger side and certain players need to be involved heavily on the ball.

Would Martinez have done that? Not on your life.

 

[johnnyW]

Just confirms what we all know really. Our possession is in the wrong areas given how teams are setting up against us.

Mourinho advocates "pragmatism" - basically setting up to beat the opposition rather than believing in a one size fits all approach. That's why he's a world class manager. Martinez really needs to understand that there are circumstances where you have to adapt your philosophy to meet the needs at hand, whether that's injuries, lack of confidence or whatever.

That's why Mourinho parking the bus against Liverpool was genius, as it is what was required to get the job done given the circumstances, recognising the opposition would attack relentlessly but were fragile in defence, suiting an absorb then strike counter attacking game. Then you see this season the exact opposite, where his teams are imposing themselves when the circumstances dictate they're a stronger side and certain players need to be involved heavily on the ball.

Would Martinez have done that? Not on your life.

total have to disagree with you there mourinho has and always has setup his team to not loose. his first concern is always his defence and his teams are built on and around a strong defensive core, if a player can't defend they don't play for mourinho for very long a.k.a mata in recent memory.

The liverpool game, now I love mourinho but let's be honest he went there to play for a draw and only got the win because of gerrards slip. I think chelsea only had like 3 shots on target in the whole game.

I find it strange when mourinho parks the bus and gets a result he is a tactical genius but when big Sam dose it he is a dinosaur.

 

[riddick]

That's actually really interesting. Looks like we rally need someone who is comfortable on the ball and can pass.

 

[Jags..class]

That's actually really interesting. Looks like we rally need someone who is comfortable on the ball and can pass.

How many players do we have that can pass and comfortable on the ball.

Barry
Stones
McCarthy
Barkley
Mirallas

 

[Jamo Martinez]

The one game we won in that run was the one Barkley was top in team possession stats. That was the one game Barkley played centre mid and thus was available to receive the ball from the defenders

Obviously better for Barry to lead the stats than Jags but even Barry is a defensive midfielderand is generally a safety first player. Even if we look beyond the defenders possession, We see the likes of Fabregas and Hazard leading possession stats for Chelsea not Matic, and Cazorla for Arsenal rather than Flamini.

 

[thirdmantackle]

Basically teams allow Distin, Jags and Barry time on the ball as they know they won't cause any damage

 

[streeky]

well I hope rm gets to watch united this mid day. No tippy tappy just get the ball forward and let your attackers attack. 1 holding in midfield and 2 attacking mids .Looks a good attacking system and your defence looks set against the counter. I haven't seen any reports about hoof ball because their forwards fight to win the ball in the air and on the deck, but they certainly get it forward quick. The misconception that you need possession to win football matches torn up if you have a motivated skilful attack. All we need to do know is find a system that works with 4 attacking players walking around up front. ????

 

[bourneblue]

I've got no problem playing possession football,but when the opportunity arises to break with pace we must use it.
Went the Southampton game and honestly it was like watching subbuteo, no movement off the ball whatsoever, way too slow, and most worrying of all far too predictable.
Martinez needs to shake things up big time. We have players with pace and skill in abundance. We need to use that pace and skill when going forward.

 

[steken1]

Just confirms what we all know really. Our possession is in the wrong areas given how teams are setting up against us.

Mourinho advocates "pragmatism" - basically setting up to beat the opposition rather than believing in a one size fits all approach. That's why he's a world class manager. Martinez really needs to understand that there are circumstances where you have to adapt your philosophy to meet the needs at hand, whether that's injuries, lack of confidence or whatever.

That's why Mourinho parking the bus against Liverpool was genius, as it is what was required to get the job done given the circumstances, recognising the opposition would attack relentlessly but were fragile in defence, suiting an absorb then strike counter attacking game. Then you see this season the exact opposite, where his teams are imposing themselves when the circumstances dictate they're a stronger side and certain players need to be involved heavily on the ball.

Would Martinez have done that? Not on your life.

Done it last season against arsenal when Rom scored playing off the wing.

 

[Mogwai]

Mirallas and Mc Carthy aren't spectacular at distributing the ball

 

[Tubey]

Done it last season against arsenal when Rom scored playing off the wing.

Indeed... A one off though, but definitely a pragmatic fix, although I'd argue that it was Monreal being abysmal and Lukaku being such a strong runner on the ball that made it work that day, rather than an overall change of philosophy.

 

[Furey1878]

Indeed... A one off though, but definitely a pragmatic fix, although I'd argue that it was Monreal being abysmal and Lukaku being such a strong runner on the ball that made it work that day, rather than an overall change of philosophy.

We've taken a more pragmatic approach a few times this season:

Liverpool away - The game plan to hit them with pace on the counter went out the window with Mirallas getting injured, and us being, well, crap on the day.

Lille away - Set up to stop Lille from playing and pushed for the winner in the last 20.

Wolfsburg away - Soaked up pressure and let Lukaku and Mirallas do their thing on the counter.