Ray

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[Ray @HowToFootballBR]

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[Ray @HowToFootballBR]

3. Arsenal's right side: Biggest threat

Similar to the Chelsea game, Arsenal were targetting the right side with Saka out wide, Ben white in the half space, and Odegaard as support. We also saw Rice project himself there to make it 4 on that side.

The way they would penetrate the the 5-4-1 was with their quick combination and positional change, dragging Napoli defenders around for gaps to run into.

[Ray @HowToFootballBR]

3 Tactical Insights from Arsenal v Napoli 1-0 (mini-thread)🧵

[Ray @HowToFootballBR]

2. Arsenal's early pressing issues and how Napoli took advantage

One issue that gave Napoli some time on the ball in the 1st half was Arsenal's press not being synchronized. It was a 4-4-2, but Napoli often had Gilmour or Lobotka drop to make it 3v2 in the first line.

Whenever wingers would jump, it often left Rice & Merino in 2v3 situations in the middle. This was fixed by a heavier man-mark approach that forced Napoli to play long more often.

[Ray @HowToFootballBR]

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[Ray @HowToFootballBR]

3 Tactical Reasons Why Liverpool Beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 🧵

[Ray @HowToFootballBR]

3. Liverpool's switch of formation in the 2nd half

After the changes of Rio & Barcola, Liverpool shifted to a back 5 (5-3-2) to protect the half spaces better against Atletico's new front three (instead of the front two).

Munoz and Kerkez dropped into the last line, while Araujo tucked in.

[Ray @HowToFootballBR]

Watch Gravenberch's reaction 🫤

[🥰💔🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇳🇬 @AyozeAyomide]

Simple but back would have lead to the third goal 😭😭😂😂, what a useless player

[Ray @HowToFootballBR]

2 problems for Liverpool:

1. The late jumps and unsynchronized press

2. Right side having Bradley with Araujo (passive fullback)

[Ray @HowToFootballBR]

His biggest value come off the ball and position-wise. He might have been technical at Bournemouth, but we rarely saw that technicality under Pep or Maresca (yet).

In terms of chaos-inducing winger, I'd put him 4th in the pecking order (Doku, Ndiaye & Ait Nourri).

His best attribute is his deliveries to Haaland. Always has been. Other than that, that's why we feel "underwhelmed" when he has the ball...he's not Doku.

[themancitylad @cityzenken_]

A word of advice for Semenyo:

[Ray @HowToFootballBR]

Bouaddi playing a massive game. However, similar traits still bug me from the World Cup:

His lack of courage on the ball.

Whether it's a switch of play, or a carry in space, or a half turn, he will majoritarily choose the simple and easy option.

Which is not an issue when you're a 6.

But when you dominate possession like Man City, especially being under pressure un build-up...it's a skill you need.

However, he's still 18...and it's promising so far.

[Ray @HowToFootballBR]

The lack of finishing Man City have other than Haaland is worrying.

#pormci #ucl

[Ray @HowToFootballBR]

What I've seen from Man City today is a team that's still working to find itself. I feel like those Man City fans are having Guardiola like standards very early on.

As for the game itself, I have a feeling it's tweaks from now. Pillars of this team are set with Anderson as lone pivot, Haaland up top, very wide wingers, Cherki in that free role, diamond 4 in the center.

Just a matter of players' combination and game management now.

But expect this team to lose...and it's okay.

[Ray @HowToFootballBR]

The left half space is being wasted. Ndiaye has been holding his width all game, but no runs into that half space.

Gvardiol is an excellent player but it's not his profile.

[Ray @HowToFootballBR]

Context of stats matter:

1. I'm pretty sure Wirtz wasn't signed for his distance covering abilities. And that's normal, given he's the 10 (left & right) in a system that presses constantly.

2. He's also the person who tried the most in that ranking (he's not as high when you look at the pourcentage).

But the most important ones are the missed opportunities, something hard to track. The dribbling in crowded spaces, the missed passes, the "too slow" passes.

Also:

He's the player who competed in the most duels (13), yet he has only won 4 (ranked 7th overall). This is an issue with his game: when his on ball fails, his defensive effort doesn't back him.

Oh, and he also commited 5 fouls (one close to his goal from a shirt pull that wasn't necessary).

150 mil.

[𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒄𝒐🧣 @WilcoFtbl]

“Wirtz was terrible, what game did you watch?”

This one, I watched this one.

Hardest worker on the pitch, always on the ball and a major threat to break the lines.

Exactly what Iraola requires of his players.

Stand-out player in our new system.