Tactical Analysis

I'm sure you guys are pretty tired of Dedier Drogba's whining about how the opponent was better and there was nothing we could do. Although individually they were indeed better, as a team we could actually take them on. Just remember how Romania held France n Italy...Here are some tactical thoughts I had...views are entirely my own.

1) Remember the opening 20 minutes when we actually took the game to them? With 3 bouncing through balls to Firdaus that took 2 tries to actually go in, and Syarif's one on one chance? The great interplay down the left flank with Ded, Adib Syarif n Sufian all getting in the action? Thats what we should have maintained. That should have been our game plan. Basically we were pressing them very high up, with Syarif doing a good job closing down the defence and the wingers pushing up to cut off their wingbacks. Also with good, early balls that their defence could not cope. Somehow we slackened off, due to fatigue and prob also cos it may not be our style. That allowed them time and space, which started their dominance...

2) On a side note, I think Huzer should stop suaning Syarif about the missed chance. At the point when Syarif got the thru ball, he has ran 3 times more, at 3 times the pace and his heartrate was prob 3 times that of Huzer. So I understand why he missed. I have been there before. Its tons easier to send a thru ball and watch (and then comment on the miss) then to actually finish the chance. =)

3) No offence to the defenders, but the through ball thingy against us was getting very predictable but we still fell for it again n again. I thought some reaction mid game would be in order, but wat to do. About the defenders' positioning and how to counter that, I will cover in a separate article.

4) Once again, attacking wise, pushing wide and sending in crosses was the way to go. Rem how dangerous Abu's cross was, and how my cross/shot troubled the keeper? We did it well beginning of first half, den stopped until Abu and myself tried..Its something the wingers must think of doing. Hug the line, and cross early.

5) The strikers need to help in closing down, esp Fir. In the second half Adil and myself made a conscious effort to close down their 2 central midfielders together, but was undone once the midfielder turn back and pass to his defender. Closing down cannot be done by one or 2 players la, more must make the effort, then they will gabra and lose possession.

6) One another side note, I feel we should rethink one or 2 of our players' positions. Its obvious Sufian23 is a more attacking, free role kind of player who hardly sticks in a position. That means that putting him as part of a 2 man central midfield partnership is gonna make the central midfield zone a bit empty. He should be playing more as a behind striker role in a 4-4-1-1. An alternative is a right mid slot when we could express his creativity and hopefully send some crosses in. =P
And I'm thinking Syarif is also more of a flank player. His closing down of the wingbacks is quite effective and with his speed he could do some damage on the flanks, right down to the byline.

Thats all for now. Will go to work on the Art of Defending Part 2. We should make a conscious effort to snap this losing streak, and what a good time it will be if not next week on holy ground, where we beat them before. =)

Rgds
Arsene Nasz