While it might sound like the same culprit that gave us the negative football we have experienced under the leadership of our previous managers, Solskjaer can not afford to neglect the amount of goals we concede. It is also worth remembering that while Ferguson will be remembered as an attacking and proactive coach by most fans, and certainly Solskjaers own admission, he put great emphasis on being able to defend well. In my opinion, this is a trait other attacking and proactive coaches share with Ferguson.
Bringing in a quality centreback will be crucial. But even a high quality centreback would struggle to look good in the defence we have seen this season. It is worth noting that Klopp was able to improve the Liverpool defence quite a bit even before adding van Dijk to his team. And most of the player he had at his disposal was considered really poor during Rodgers time at the club. The same was the case at Tottenham for Pochettino. Toby Alderweireld played a big part in improving the defence, but more importantly they defend better as a team. Players that are limited look good, players that are good look great and players that are great sometimes look world class (Toby?!).
There is a few examples of quality defenders struggeling in poor teams. One, in my opinion, was when Vidic went to Inter. By all means, age probably caught up with him, but he struggled alot in Inter. And I always felt it was mostly due to a poorly organized defence and team. We have seen a similar example in Real Madrid where good defenders have looked poor due to system. I did not watch much Serie A last year, but maybe this was the case with Bonucci at Milan?
We probably where a good organized team without the ball during Mourinhos time here, but without good enough players. Mourinho spent a significant amount but failed to improve significantly on Jones and Smalling. To top it all of, he probably sold one of our better defenders in Blind.
Another area where Jose Mourinho failed was structure when we where in possession. In my opinion, this is one of the big changes in football the past decade (and its a natural evolution if you think about it); you need to create a structure for how to play out from the back.
Coaches like Benitez and Mourinho became very successfull due to modernising some of the Sacchi-principle. Their teams where so well-organized and good at putting pressure on the opponents as a team. In Germany, they took it further and decided to put the pressure on the players with the biggest weakness on the ball, the defenders, and at the same time in the area of the pitch where it would be to their biggest advantage winning the ball back.
As a result, it became crucial for teams to have defenders that where good on the ball. Furthermore, the best teams teams developed a certain structure to support the defenders on how to cope with the pressure. A safety net. Obviously, players like Jones and Smalling have a bigger need for this type of safety net than Rio or Vidic.
You dont have to be a smart player to be a fullback at Spurs. You just have to move in accordance with the instruction. As a centreback, you pass the ball to the fullback who went wide immediately when your team won the ball. Unless the opponent do something stupid and tries to take out the fullback. Then there will be room through the middle, and he will be able to pass through the lines with ease. The fullback will usually have more passing options out wide, higher up the field. I dont think its brilliant and its quide rigid. But up until the final third, it guides players on where to move and where to pass (hence, it actually also makes it easier to run). After a year with Young at fullback, it is easy to envy this type of system.
I think this is a part of the game that surpassed Mourinho, but it is a part of the philosophy of the best young coaches of this decade (Pochettino, Klopp, Conte, Emery etc). I can’t remember that it were a part of Klopps Dortmund, but he has certainly adopted it with Liverpool. Like Ferguson, he seems to be able to adjust. Please dont get me wrong, I’m not saying this is something new. I’m saying that it became a lot more important as teams became better at pressing.
I love Solskjaer, but I’m worried about this part of the game for a number of reasons:
- OGS has been gone from this level of football for the entire decade and there had been a significant development since he left.
- Molde conceded so many goals during his time there.
- Very few teams in Scandinavia are able to build from the back. I did not watch much of Molde in his last period, but I watched some in his first. They where fine in the last third, but there buildup play was average. Even by Eliteserien-standard.
- OGS likes to attack and he likes to attack fast. Bless him! But the modern game needs a bit of patience as well. You will not be able to attack on the counter all of the time as a top team. And if you try, you will run your players to the ground.
If any of you feels that this sounds a bit far fetched, I would recommend you to watch a game in Eliteserien or when a norwegian team plays in the Europe League (you will have to hurry, because they will probably be eliminated in july). I’m sure that the first thing you will notice is the (lack of) build-up play.
My hope is that McKenna or Carrick can help him on this part of the game. Hopefully, it will also be easier to implement a better structure with better players than what he used to have at Molde.
To build from the back is an old cliche that holds so much truth to it. Its the foundation of a team and in the PL you will struggle to win without it. In fact, you will struggle to make top 6 without it. Solskjaer is smart. I’m sure he will adapt somehow. It will be interesting to see how.
Bringing in a quality centreback will be crucial. But even a high quality centreback would struggle to look good in the defence we have seen this season. It is worth noting that Klopp was able to improve the Liverpool defence quite a bit even before adding van Dijk to his team. And most of the player he had at his disposal was considered really poor during Rodgers time at the club. The same was the case at Tottenham for Pochettino. Toby Alderweireld played a big part in improving the defence, but more importantly they defend better as a team. Players that are limited look good, players that are good look great and players that are great sometimes look world class (Toby?!).
There is a few examples of quality defenders struggeling in poor teams. One, in my opinion, was when Vidic went to Inter. By all means, age probably caught up with him, but he struggled alot in Inter. And I always felt it was mostly due to a poorly organized defence and team. We have seen a similar example in Real Madrid where good defenders have looked poor due to system. I did not watch much Serie A last year, but maybe this was the case with Bonucci at Milan?
We probably where a good organized team without the ball during Mourinhos time here, but without good enough players. Mourinho spent a significant amount but failed to improve significantly on Jones and Smalling. To top it all of, he probably sold one of our better defenders in Blind.
Another area where Jose Mourinho failed was structure when we where in possession. In my opinion, this is one of the big changes in football the past decade (and its a natural evolution if you think about it); you need to create a structure for how to play out from the back.
Coaches like Benitez and Mourinho became very successfull due to modernising some of the Sacchi-principle. Their teams where so well-organized and good at putting pressure on the opponents as a team. In Germany, they took it further and decided to put the pressure on the players with the biggest weakness on the ball, the defenders, and at the same time in the area of the pitch where it would be to their biggest advantage winning the ball back.
As a result, it became crucial for teams to have defenders that where good on the ball. Furthermore, the best teams teams developed a certain structure to support the defenders on how to cope with the pressure. A safety net. Obviously, players like Jones and Smalling have a bigger need for this type of safety net than Rio or Vidic.
You dont have to be a smart player to be a fullback at Spurs. You just have to move in accordance with the instruction. As a centreback, you pass the ball to the fullback who went wide immediately when your team won the ball. Unless the opponent do something stupid and tries to take out the fullback. Then there will be room through the middle, and he will be able to pass through the lines with ease. The fullback will usually have more passing options out wide, higher up the field. I dont think its brilliant and its quide rigid. But up until the final third, it guides players on where to move and where to pass (hence, it actually also makes it easier to run). After a year with Young at fullback, it is easy to envy this type of system.
I think this is a part of the game that surpassed Mourinho, but it is a part of the philosophy of the best young coaches of this decade (Pochettino, Klopp, Conte, Emery etc). I can’t remember that it were a part of Klopps Dortmund, but he has certainly adopted it with Liverpool. Like Ferguson, he seems to be able to adjust. Please dont get me wrong, I’m not saying this is something new. I’m saying that it became a lot more important as teams became better at pressing.
I love Solskjaer, but I’m worried about this part of the game for a number of reasons:
- OGS has been gone from this level of football for the entire decade and there had been a significant development since he left.
- Molde conceded so many goals during his time there.
- Very few teams in Scandinavia are able to build from the back. I did not watch much of Molde in his last period, but I watched some in his first. They where fine in the last third, but there buildup play was average. Even by Eliteserien-standard.
- OGS likes to attack and he likes to attack fast. Bless him! But the modern game needs a bit of patience as well. You will not be able to attack on the counter all of the time as a top team. And if you try, you will run your players to the ground.
If any of you feels that this sounds a bit far fetched, I would recommend you to watch a game in Eliteserien or when a norwegian team plays in the Europe League (you will have to hurry, because they will probably be eliminated in july). I’m sure that the first thing you will notice is the (lack of) build-up play.
My hope is that McKenna or Carrick can help him on this part of the game. Hopefully, it will also be easier to implement a better structure with better players than what he used to have at Molde.
To build from the back is an old cliche that holds so much truth to it. Its the foundation of a team and in the PL you will struggle to win without it. In fact, you will struggle to make top 6 without it. Solskjaer is smart. I’m sure he will adapt somehow. It will be interesting to see how.
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