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Tactical Analysis:- Are we lacking a physical direct winger?
Before starting the analysis let's have a look at our wing options and their respective heights and strengths:-
Before starting the analysis let's have a look at our wing options and their respective heights and strengths:-
Eden Hazard :-
Height - 1.75 metres.
Strength:- Dribbling and link-up play.
Height - 1.75 metres.
Strength:- Dribbling and link-up play.
Marco Asensio Willemsen :-
Height - 1.8 metres
Strength - Long shot ability and crossing.
Height - 1.8 metres
Strength - Long shot ability and crossing.
Vinicius Jr :-
Height - 1.76 metres
Strength - Dribbling ability and raw pace.
Height - 1.76 metres
Strength - Dribbling ability and raw pace.
Lucas Vázquez :-
Height - 1.73 metres
Strength - Crossing and good defensive ability.
Height - 1.73 metres
Strength - Crossing and good defensive ability.
Rodrygo Goes :-
Height - 1.74 metres
Strength - Good technical player with clinical shooting abilities.
Height - 1.74 metres
Strength - Good technical player with clinical shooting abilities.
Let's analyze our gameplay now:-
Vs High press:- We play better against high press than against low blocks. Especially in Laliga where teams get carried away when in the possession&lose their defensive shape in transition & all it takes is a string of 2-3 wonderful passes by Kroos/Modrić to open the team apart.
But against big sides who despite pressing high, maintain their shapes well, we sometimes tend to struggle, especially when our creators like Luka Modrić/Hazard are having off day.
In these kinds of situations, the only solution you have is to play long to find a big physical forward, who can win the header or the 2nd ball and initiate an attack, and exactly in these kinds of situations, we miss a winger who can do that.
We all know how good Karim Benzema is in air, but due to him being our only good aerial forward, we are often man-marked by two CBs, making it impossible for him to win the ball.
In this case, having a big forward will give us 2 good options in the air & players like Ramos & Kroos (who generally delivers long balls) will have 2 options to aim at. This will also result in only 1 CB marking each player which will make it relatively easier to win the duel.
Vs Low Blocks:- The only way you can score past low block is either by long shot banger or by playing crosses. Modrić is often the man for us to find those long rangers but on his off days, or on days where he is closed down well.
We often struggle to find Benzema's head, due to him being the only tall forward. To counter this Zidane often throws guys like Casemiro and Ramos forward which left us weak behind. In this case also one physical forward can prove helpful.
This was something which made the BBC so successful, all 3 members of BBC were good in the air as they used to win the air duels more often than not. Benzema was the technical playmaker and Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale were someone who used to make runs behind the defenders.
In this current team, we have no one apart from Rodrygo who make runs behind the defenders. Vini tries to do that but his poor ball control often cost him, whereas both Hazard and Asensio are ball loving players, who like to play 1-2 and need the ball at their feet.
This team lacks a killer who can score with the first touch.
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how many touches you have in the whole game, if you have goals behind your name that's enough to win your team the football match.
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how many touches you have in the whole game, if you have goals behind your name that's enough to win your team the football match.
