Tim Krul’s distribution has been a sore point of mine all season; over-optimistic lumping of the ball to one of Cissé or Ba in a fairly rigid 442 system. The game at the weekend, especially the second half saw an adoption of what I would call a 5a side distributive method within a much more flexible 433 formation. It’s the way that I’ve always played with when playing competitively in those smaller formats.
The idea is simple: build from your own box by dropping your left/right backs deep. If an opposing forward is drawn out towards one of your full backs, keeper rolls it to the other. If no forward comes, take your pick. It’s a simple and effective way to start attacks when space is at a premium. Obviously 11 a side doesn’t have such spatial constraint, but the end result remains the same, play the ball short and low and you are in control of what is happening.
I’ve watched Cissé’s second goal about 10 times tonight but every time I watch it I notice new things..
1st viewing I notice Liverpool don’t even touch the ball.
2nd viewing I notice none of our players touch the ball more than twice before passing apart Ben Arfa’s penetrating run (3 times) and Cissé’s control and finish (3 times).
3rd viewing I watch the movement of our players without the ball: subtle, nuanced, controlled.
4th viewing I begin to take in the full sweeping nature of the move, an unstoppable force. It’s like our players know exactly what pass they’re meant to be making when, it’s beautiful.
5th viewing brings my favourite realisation. Nine out of our eleven players touch the ball in the move, contributing to the goal.
Williamson to Krul.
Krul to Jonas.
Jonas to Cissé to Tioté.
Tioté to Guthrie.
Guthrie to Ben Arfa..
[Ben Arfa carries]..
Ben Arfa to Cabaye.
Cabaye to Ba.
Ba through Ben Arfa to Cissé..
GOAL.
This is almost total football. Could we be any further from the punt and hope of early in the season, or the punt-knockdown-goal approach under Hughton?
9/11 players involved..
Pardiola indeed..
