I agree with a number of posters that it is mostly the coaching side that lets us down.
Proficient training is what brings players up to a level of ability/fitness to do the basics of a job, but it is good/focused coaching which takes the team performances beyond the sum of the parts. The days when, as Sir Matt once reportedly said, "you just throw the ball to good players and let them get on with it"...have gone.
I sometimes wonder if the training is proficient, at least in terms of fitness; however since we seem to be slow to start, we can nevertheless keep going for the 90+mins now required. Its the coaching that seems to leave gaps, what positions to take up, at certain stages, transition issues, both attacking and defending seem woeful at times. Positioning at throw-ins beyond the18 yard line to draw defenses back, so called 'quick' free kicks were it seems only the taker knows what he's going to do, the recipient looking surprised to receive the ball. Sometimes laughable attempts to initiate a 'press', although lately it seems we can manage it may be once or twice before our discipline goes.
This is all about coaching the ability of players to keep their timing and discipline.
We do have some extremely talented players and individual brilliance does not need to be stifled, but the little flicks and back-heels from Bruno, the 'Maradona-like' turns from Greenwood, the near post runs from Cavani or the half turn speed of Rashford needs to have programmed responses identified, if such actions are unsuccessful and the ball is lost or needs to be recovered. When Fred and McTominay go 'hunting as a pair' to win the ball or stop the opposition, those closest to them have to plug any gaps, automatically as an instant response; hence coaching players in levels of concentration are high on the list. Any player can get rocked-back on his heels once in a game, by any direct opponent, but he should never experience that in the same situation again, in that same game.
IMO if there is a weakness in Ole's management style/team, it seems to be in and around the concepts used (or not) in Coaching, perhaps at its worst instance the ability to recognise were training stops and coaching begins. Maybe a DoF will help him here?
Proficient training is what brings players up to a level of ability/fitness to do the basics of a job, but it is good/focused coaching which takes the team performances beyond the sum of the parts. The days when, as Sir Matt once reportedly said, "you just throw the ball to good players and let them get on with it"...have gone.
I sometimes wonder if the training is proficient, at least in terms of fitness; however since we seem to be slow to start, we can nevertheless keep going for the 90+mins now required. Its the coaching that seems to leave gaps, what positions to take up, at certain stages, transition issues, both attacking and defending seem woeful at times. Positioning at throw-ins beyond the18 yard line to draw defenses back, so called 'quick' free kicks were it seems only the taker knows what he's going to do, the recipient looking surprised to receive the ball. Sometimes laughable attempts to initiate a 'press', although lately it seems we can manage it may be once or twice before our discipline goes.
This is all about coaching the ability of players to keep their timing and discipline.
We do have some extremely talented players and individual brilliance does not need to be stifled, but the little flicks and back-heels from Bruno, the 'Maradona-like' turns from Greenwood, the near post runs from Cavani or the half turn speed of Rashford needs to have programmed responses identified, if such actions are unsuccessful and the ball is lost or needs to be recovered. When Fred and McTominay go 'hunting as a pair' to win the ball or stop the opposition, those closest to them have to plug any gaps, automatically as an instant response; hence coaching players in levels of concentration are high on the list. Any player can get rocked-back on his heels once in a game, by any direct opponent, but he should never experience that in the same situation again, in that same game.
IMO if there is a weakness in Ole's management style/team, it seems to be in and around the concepts used (or not) in Coaching, perhaps at its worst instance the ability to recognise were training stops and coaching begins. Maybe a DoF will help him here?
