May 16 2012, 05:56 PM
QUOTE(Styrroyds @ May 16 2012, 05:30 PM)
just suddenly had the urge to write this:
during our first few months we were playing great and winning games. Parker was, to me, that final jigsaw piece that actually made us competitive for the league title. But as we all know, we had our March-April meltdown although there wasnt any drastic squad changes.
The question is; why? It would be easy to think that Harry really let the England post get to his head, but to me it's not enough to justify how we went from championship material to going a goal behind and chasing every game.
Was it tactics? Opponents finally figured us out?
Mental? Fatigue?
I'm still deeply dissatisfied with our run-in... and would like to discuss possible reasons why we ended up that way.
Oh where do I start. It all begins with the mood in the locker room. Uncertainty crept in when 'arry and chairman did not come out and say that 'arry was not interested in the England job. 'arry's head was obviously somewhere else as we became tactically poor.during our first few months we were playing great and winning games. Parker was, to me, that final jigsaw piece that actually made us competitive for the league title. But as we all know, we had our March-April meltdown although there wasnt any drastic squad changes.
The question is; why? It would be easy to think that Harry really let the England post get to his head, but to me it's not enough to justify how we went from championship material to going a goal behind and chasing every game.
Was it tactics? Opponents finally figured us out?
Mental? Fatigue?
I'm still deeply dissatisfied with our run-in... and would like to discuss possible reasons why we ended up that way.
On the pitch, our strength in offence comes with pace and width. The marauding runs of Bale and Lennon will draw the attention of at least 2 opposing players on each side (total of 4 players distracted). This gives Modric and vdV more space to move the ball around the inside and find space.
And with Lennon out, we had either van der Vaart or Modric playing on the outside and hence out of their preferred positions. Bale then tries to cut in from the left as there is more space inside but he is most effective staying wide and drawing the attention of the wing back and another opposing player.
When we have no threat of attacking or counter attacking with pace on the wings, the opposing team can commit more players into their attack too. And this will overrun our midfield.
The come from behind win by the Gunners took the confidence away from the team. And the sudden realization that we were vulnerable make us tentative in many matches. Watching the 13 pt gap evaporate also has a psychological impact on players mindset.
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