. @sc_eastbengal vs @OdishaFC match analysis thread. 1/n

#HeroISL #ChhilamAchiThakbo #WeAreSCEB #JoyEastBengal #OdishaFC #AmaTeamAmaGame

Before moving onto the analysis, let's look at a few relevant stats.

xG:-

EB: 1.55
Odisha: 2.25

Shots:-

EB: 9
Odisha: 24

Shots on target:-

EB: 5
Odisha 6

2/n

Odisha out of possession & EB in possession:

Odisha pressed EB in a 4-3-3 midblock with the striker Onwu keeping a tab on the EB pivot (Milan). The midfielders pressed the opposition midfielders in their space/zone. The wingers stayed in the half spaces before pressing(3/n)

Onwu can also press the ball-carrier centre-back keeping the pivot in the cover shadow. The wingers had the responsibility of pressing the centre-backs out to in keeping the respective opposition full-backs in their cover shadow similar to @LFC. (4/n)

EB took advantage of this press by executing the 3rd man principle. Here, you can see Mauricio pressing Neville out to in keeping Raju in his cover shadow. Neville took the help of Tomba to progress the ball to Raju (3rd man). (5/n)

A similar thing can be seen again deep in EB's own half. Here, Jerry presses Fox keeping Jairu in his cover shadow. Fox took the help of the dropping Maghoma to progress the ball to Jairu (3rd man). This build-up resulted in a shot to the post by Pilkington. (6/n)

When Odisha was successful in restricting the EB buildup to the flank, they would execute element of space-oriented zonal marking. As you can see the ball near players are pressing aggressively and Mauricio tucking into an inverted position to cut off nearby passing lanes. (7/n)

EB pressed Odisha in a 4-1-4-1 space-oriented man marking where each player covers their space and keeps tab on a player entering into his space. Pilkington (CF) presses the ball-carrier CB keeping the other CB in his cover shadow. The wingers mark the FBs and the MFs, MFs (8/n)

Milan screens the defence and protects the space in b/w the midfield and defence. You could see in the previous image, Odisha MFs created an overload in the centre. However, Milan was in a pressing distance to Alexander if he received the ball. (9/n)

Again you can see a similar 4-1-4-1 space oriented man marking, since the Odisha MFs position in the space of EB MFs, the marking becomes too easy for EB (10/n)

Odisha CBs were instructed to carry the ball if they get the chance. When the CBs would enter an EB MFs space, he would press the CB, trying to keep an Odisha MF in his cover shadow. Also the winger would stay narrow and press the full-back only if he received the ball (11/n)

Odisha created midfield overload (as can be seen in the above images) as Milan was deep protecting his defense. But Milan's positioning was brilliant, he protected his space and also was in a pressing distance to the unmarked Odisha MF and others too did brilliantly. (12/n)

Odisha for a few minutes instructed their LCM & RCM to drop deeper and wide pushing the FB up in the ball near side to create a decisional crisis. When that happened the winger on the ball near side inverted to the half space and dropped deep to confuse the EB FBs. (13/n)

But the conundrum was that they dropped too deep to a midfielder's zone thus causing no decision dilemma on the FB. As can bee seen here, MAuricio (LW) drops to Milan's space and Hendry (LB) is easily marked by Raju. (14/n).

Here, again the same happens with Jerry (RW) dropping to Milan's space and Sarangi (RB) is easily marked by Jairu (LB) 15/n

However, in the second half, the movement got a little better. As you can see Tratt (LCB) carries the ball when given chance. Jerry (LW) inverts to the half space dragging Raju (RB) with him and Tratt easily feeds the ball to Hendry in a lot of space. (LB) 16/n

Other methods of Odisha build-up

Odisha built mostly ina 4-3-3 and sometimes Alexander could find himself in a little space when in an advanced position before Milan latching onto him and the South African would use the little time and space to link-up with Sarangi who..17/n

..would easily evade Magoma's marking (18/n)

Again you see the same link-up. (19/n)

The other pattern of Odisha's build-up was Onwu (CF) dropping deep to link up. However, he would get minimal support, as well as the movement of Jerry, was extremely poor in the first half who didn't help Onwu's case. Here, Onwu tried to feed Jerry, but he was static. 20/n

Again, you see Onwu dropping deep to open up a passing lane for Taylor. Onwu dropped deep often, causing the formation to mould from 4-3-3 to 2-4-2-2 with both the wingers providing height. (21/n)

Bright was bright

After Bright was subbed on, it was all EB. He was given the license to roam around and after his intro Steinmann, Pilkington and himself formed the three-man midfield and they created positioned themselves mostly on one vertical half thus causing overload 22/n

Again you can see Bright in a yard of space.23/n

With him EB's attack became more mobile. Bright was involved in a lot of pass & move play and it troubled Odisha. 24/n

He also acted as the gravity. It means the opposition pays more attention to him and pushes more bodies to press him, thus leaving other areas/players unmarked. 25/n

Struggle from set-pieces

EB struggled massively from set-pieces. One of the reasons being wrong personnel in zonal marking as well as lesser height. Odisha generated 0.94 xG from set-pieces with a total of 10 shots. 26/n

Odisha targetted EB's far post and penalty region. Far post due to overload and in the central region they used Tratt extensively because of his 6'3" height and he won all the aerial duels. Wrong personnel as in Maghoma and Fox were protecting the central region.... 27/n

With Fox and Steinmann they could have limited the danger. As you can see Tratt gets a free header. Maghoma should have been putting pressure on Tratt as a zonal marker of that space. 28/n

Other talking points:

1. Maghoma is great in attack but lacks the tracking and defensive ability. Teams can invert their wingers and ask their full-backs (FB) to overlap and Maghoma's defensive ability can be exposed.

2. Jerry's movements need to improve. n/n