I’ve been thinking for a while about how to structure this thread because I wanted to cover #Nyoni’s impact both in possession and out of possession.
There’s simply too much material to fit into one thread without making it exhausting to read, so I decided to split it into separate parts. Long tactical threads can be difficult to get through, and I don’t want this one to feel like a chore.
This part will focus on how Trey Nyoni leaves his mark on the team in possession - how he creates freedom for the full-backs, manipulates the opposition press, and facilitates ball progression through different variations and mechanisms.
Let’s get into it🧵#LFC
I’m not sure whether Iraola deliberately allows the opposition to create 3v2/4v2 overloads. He usually commits the player on the ball-side to pressing off the ball, allowing the team to switch play immediately, while Isak often moves over to the side where the winger has been drawn into defensive duties
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He stood in a mid block on the left and wasn't arsed to defend either on the front or the back end.
I was gonna do a thread on it, but it pissed me off so much when I watched the game again I couldn't.
It was horrendous.
Tomorrow, a thread will be posted about some concerning off-the-ball symptoms from Cody Gakpo. I noticed it against Villarreal and initially thought it was just a temporary issue, given that he had only just returned from injury and might need a game to get back up to speed. However, the same issue cropped up twice in quick succession early in Sunday’s match #LFC
There was so much footage that I didn’t know what to choose from, but to avoid appearing biased, I selected what I felt was representative of yesterday’s match and the one against Villarreal
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Gakpo says Liverpool were willing to defend one-v-one against Brighton.
Iraola's press relies on defenders winning the duels it leaves behind. Their willingness to accept those situations allows the rest of the team to squeeze the pitch and attack the ball.
Every player who presses needs to trust the team-mate behind him. Gakpo's words suggest that belief is growing: players are accepting the risks that allow the whole system to work.
Tomorrow, a thread will be posted about some concerning off-the-ball symptoms from Cody Gakpo. I noticed it against Villarreal and initially thought it was just a temporary issue, given that he had only just returned from injury and might need a game to get back up to speed. However, the same issue cropped up twice in quick succession early in Sunday’s match #LFC
What impresses me most about Barcola is how well he carries out his defensive duties. Gakpo really disappointed me in that regard yesterday and against Villarreal
I’m not an expert; I’m just an amateur learning about football and trying to pick up on certain elements that give opponents an advantage. Thank you for the kind words, but believe me, I’m just a drop in the ocean compared to the sharks of knowledge on this platform
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1.4.3.3. with a back line of Araujo – Jacquet – Virgil – Kerkez. At St James’ Park, matches often resemble basketball games, and it’s easy to get carried away by the unstable emotions of the stadium. Given Iraola’s nature, that is highly likely, which is why I’d like to use a hybrid RB who, in the attacking phase, would tuck inside and narrow his position, while Jacquet would be given the freedom to step up higher after we lose possession. This would give us an extra layer of protection against Newcastle’s quick transitions and fast attacks, while also buying the team some time to recover its shape. His higher positioning would serve a similar purpose to the role of a No. 6 - in general, I believe he could play there in many situations.
What’s more, we don’t yet know how mentally stable the team has become when falling behind, because last season we often completely fell apart in those moments. So, at the start of the season, I’d rather try to avoid putting ourselves in those situations, rather than adding more problems to the already long list of things Iraola has to rebuild and establish in order for the boys to function as one cohesive unit.
It may be a somewhat naïve approach, especially knowing Andoni, but it could also be the first sign of an internal change in him - showing a touch of pragmatism and an ability to adapt quickly depending on the opponent #LFC
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Szoboszlai should become Iraola’s nominal and long-term RB; it’s the coach’s job to convince him of that. Generally, I had a slightly different plan for the game today
1.4.3.3. with a back line of Araujo – Jacquet – Virgil – Kerkez. At St James’ Park, matches often resemble basketball games, and it’s easy to get carried away by the unstable emotions of the stadium. Given Iraola’s nature, that is highly likely, which is why I’d like to use a hybrid RB who, in the attacking phase, would tuck inside and narrow his position, while Jacquet would be given the freedom to step up higher after we lose possession. This would give us an extra layer of protection against Newcastle’s quick transitions and fast attacks, while also buying the team some time to recover its shape. His higher positioning would serve a similar purpose to the role of a No. 6 - in general, I believe he could play there in many situations.
What’s more, we don’t yet know how mentally stable the team has become when falling behind, because last season we often completely fell apart in those moments. So, at the start of the season, I’d rather try to avoid putting ourselves in those situations, rather than adding more problems to the already long list of things Iraola has to rebuild and establish in order for the boys to function as one cohesive unit.
It may be a somewhat naïve approach, especially knowing Andoni, but it could also be the first sign of an internal change in him - showing a touch of pragmatism and an ability to adapt quickly depending on the opponent #LFC
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Jacquet & Araujo understand their roles and the range of behaviours required in a high press. That allows them to eliminate gaps and maintain cohesion. That’s exactly what I expected from these signings #LFC
Regardless of how high up the pitch they press, pressing teams will always look for players with certain profiles - qualities that are essential for defensive structures to function properly:
identify the trigger → leave your reference zone → take away passing options → apply pressure - either win the ball back or, at the very least, buy time for your teammates to recover and restore the team’s shape.
His long legs and considerable height make him extremely difficult to escape from once he closes an opponent down. He can make the player on the ball feel completely trapped, with very few, if any, ways out. And when necessary, #Araujo is also willing to use a tactical foul, which is another important part of good defensive play.
The ability of a centre-back to delay an attack after the first or second line of pressure has been beaten can be easy to overlook, but it is incredibly important. Sometimes the centre-back’s job is not to win the ball at all - it is simply to slow the attack down and give his teammates those extra few seconds they need to recover their positions and rebuild the defensive structure
Okay, but the conversion rate of good opportunities seems low. That’s just the eye test, of course, and my subjective opinion
That also restricted the shooter’s field of vision. Small details, but they make such a big difference
Did you watch the game against Villarreal? Did you see the problems he caused during defensive transitions by neglecting the basic principles of defending, such as tracking his man? It kept creating numerical advantages for the opposition. Unfortunately, it fails more often than it works
. #Araujo is a temporary solution that is working quite well given our current situation. He provides defensive stability, which is something I highlighted at the start of the season. However, Iraola will look to shift the emphasis towards the attacking phase, and only a natural, modern right-back can unlock this team’s full potential.
We need a player with creative instincts, good ball control and a wide passing range, including the ability to play progressive passes over longer distances. Barcola/Rio like receiving balls played into the wide channels, bypassing the opposition’s second line — it’s one of the key ways to play through an opponent’s press.
We often create promising situations for runs into the box and overlapping movements, both inside and outside. That’s why we need a profile who can recognise these moments and exploit them with their crossing ability.
Bradley would tick those boxes with his well-timed runs into the box when the winger stretches the opposition, opening up inside channels between the centre-back and full-back.
Of course, we could keep Araujo as a rotational option for the centre-backs, but wouldn’t that be counterproductive if we want to develop Ndukwe? That money would be better invested in other areas of the squad #LFC
