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Opposition Analysis: MorecambeWatched the Stevenage v Morecambe game from Saturday as we play both of them this week
- I expect the Shrimps to line up in the same 4-2-3-1 they used v STE
- Derek Adams has moulded them into a well-organised, hard-working, physical team
In many ways, Morecambe are the antithesis to an Ian Evatt side. They play a very direct style of football - the most direct in LG2
They don't hesitate in getting the ball forward, playing the highest % of long balls in the league:
Morecambe: 26.1%
BWFC: 18.5%
LG2 avg: 21.8%
They don't hesitate in getting the ball forward, playing the highest % of long balls in the league:
Morecambe: 26.1%
BWFC: 18.5%
LG2 avg: 21.8%
The Shrimps also average the lowest amount of possession per game, with 43.8% - forgoing time with the ball in favour of hitting target man Cole Stockton to bring wingers Carlos Mendes Gomes and John O'Sullivan into play quickly
They are undoubtedly weaker after losing their main attacking threat in Burnley loanee Adam Phillips on transfer deadline day - the CAM was Morecambe's chief creator with 8 goals, 6 assists and 2 key passes per game
However they still have attacking talent, especially Spaniard Mendes Gomes
The former A. Madrid youth teamer has plenty of pace and trickery - scoring 8 goals this season, while providing 2 more
The former A. Madrid youth teamer has plenty of pace and trickery - scoring 8 goals this season, while providing 2 more
He plays predominantly on the left wing and looks to cut inside on almost every occasion
Despite playing in a LW role, he didn't attempt a single cross v Stevenage, instead usually opting to shift the ball onto his favoured right foot and attempting a shot as seen in this clip
Despite playing in a LW role, he didn't attempt a single cross v Stevenage, instead usually opting to shift the ball onto his favoured right foot and attempting a shot as seen in this clip
They also possess a capable target man in Cole Stockton who dominated the Stevenage CBs on Saturday
He is, unsurprisingly, the focal point of their attack and they use him regularly to get on the front foot, going long to him nine times out of ten
He is, unsurprisingly, the focal point of their attack and they use him regularly to get on the front foot, going long to him nine times out of ten
Morecambe's 2nd goal demonstrates this perfectly
Pinching the ball from a Stevenage throw, they play 2 passes to get the ball from their own box to the edge of the Stevenage box, with Stockton controlling the ball perfectly with his chest, taking 3 touches and then rifling home
Pinching the ball from a Stevenage throw, they play 2 passes to get the ball from their own box to the edge of the Stevenage box, with Stockton controlling the ball perfectly with his chest, taking 3 touches and then rifling home
Defensively, they're happy to sit in, reluctant to commit too many bodies forward - their FBs don't support the attack often.
Stevenage struggled to break them down, with Morecambe sitting in a low block for the majority of the second half, defending stoically with a back 6/7
Stevenage struggled to break them down, with Morecambe sitting in a low block for the majority of the second half, defending stoically with a back 6/7
Hard to imagine Morecambe playing any differently on Tue night. They'll happily let us see plenty of the ball and challenge our attack to break them down
For this reason, I expect IE to use the same attacking 4-2-3-1 we saw v Orient. The only question being who makes up the XI
For this reason, I expect IE to use the same attacking 4-2-3-1 we saw v Orient. The only question being who makes up the XI
