Monthly Archives: August 2011

Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal – Goal Analysis

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1-0 Welbeck

Anderson lifts the ball over the Arsenal defence for Welbeck to run in behind, although he looks third best to the ball as both Djourou and Koscielny react and are closer to the ball.

However, Djourou inexplicably tries to shield Welbeck from the ball instead of dealing with it himself, and only manages to fall over, which gives Welbeck a simple header over Szczesny.  Koscielny could have dived across and headed it clear but he, like most people witnessing the game, must have thought Djourou was going to deal with it.

2-0 Young

The ball is headed clear to Young, who has space as Jenkinson had been dragged to the byline by Rooney.  Coquelin notices and immediately moves across to close him down.

Unfortunately once there, he is beaten far too easily by a simple drop of the shoulder from Young, and should have been aware that Young is chronically right-footed and rarely looks to move down the wing if he can cut inside. Coquelin’s square position gave Young the option to come infield and also meant he react quickly enough as Young made the move. It is a great finish from Young though, once he had beaten his man. Rooney is in an offside position but it is clear he is not interfering with Szczesny’s vision of the shot.

3-0 Rooney

Not a lot you can do about this freekick, apart from not conceding it in the first place. Excellent.

3-1 Walcott

Evra comes infield to intercept the ball, leaving van Persie and Walcott free at the back post, as Young is standing and watching.  Despite having time to chest the ball down and clear it, Evra slices his clearance up in the air.

Ramsey wins the header against Anderson, and once the ball falls to Rosicky both van Persie and Walcott call for the ball.  Jones and Evra are drawn to the ball, while Evans drops deep, playing the Arsenal forwards onside.  Young belatedly realises the danger but it is too late for him to do anything about it.

As if feeling left out by the catalogue of errors being made in front of him, De Gea allows Walcott’s shot from a tight angle to go through his legs, without reacting until the ball was in the back of the net.

4-1 Rooney

Szczesny was in discussion with Rosicky about how to handle Anderson as the freekick was taken, which is why he didn’t react to what was quite a poor attempt, not in the corner and halfway up the goal.

5-1 Nani

A fast break causes Arsenal problems, but as the ball is played in to Rooney in front of the defence, Koscielny (6) pushes out to close him down while Djourou (20) remains back. With Nani positioned as he is, surely Djourou should see that Koscielny has pushed out and move across to cover Nani.  The last thing he should do in this situation is also push out to close down Rooney, but that is what he elects to do, leaving Rooney with a simple pass through to leave Nani 1-on-1 with Szczesny.

6-1 Park

As the ball is pulled back to Park, Djourou should push out to close him down.

He doesn’t move, allowing Park to take a controlling touch then drive the ball into the bottom corner.

6-2 van Persie

A quick break down the right gets Jenkinson in behind Young who tries and fails to cut the ball out in mid-air instead of tracking back.  Jenkinson’s cross towards van Persie is intercepted by Jones.

Jenkinson is alive to the clearance and heads the ball across goal, where both Ramsey and van Persie are now unmarked, and van Persie lashes the ball into the top corner.

7-2 Rooney

A penalty.

8-2 Young

Young with an identikit goal to his first except this time he didn’t have to beat his man as nobody even attempted to close him down.  At least a certain Arsenal defender got a good view of the goal…

Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal – Match Analysis

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Manchester United named the same side that played against Tottenham, with the same strengths wide and the same weaknesses through the middle of the team as mentioned in that report. However Arsenal’s well-publicised injured and suspended players were joined by Vermaelen and Sagna, meaning Coquelin would make his league debut in the protection role and Jenkinson and Traore would be tasked with nullifying Manchester United’s main threats of Nani and Young.

Manchester United started the stronger as expected, with Smalling causing Traore an early problem, Rooney taking a long range shot which was comfortably saved by Szczesny, and Young releasing Wellbeck in behind to stab wide. Coquelin started well, tracking a run from Anderson into the box and strongly winning the ball. Arsenal did look to cause problems themselves, with Traore overlapping Arshavin, getting in behind Smalling and firing the cross in dangerously.

Early impressions from the first 15 minutes suggested that Arsenal may be susceptible to intelligent third man runs as the younger defenders were marking tight and occasionally guilty of ball watching.

Manchester United’s emphasis on width is shown by their passing map for the first 20 minutes, although Arsenal weren’t lacking for possession around their opponent’s penalty area.

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With all the inexperience on display, perhaps Djourou wouldn’t have been the first choice to make a goal-conceding error, but it wouldn’t exactly be out of character for the centreback. Anderson lifted the ball over the defence and it seemed simple for Djourou to comfortably nod back to Szczesny, but he instead let it bounce then unsuccessfully tried to hold off Wellbeck who was grateful for the easy header past the keeper.

Arsenal’s reaction would be interesting – would they fold? – but it was positive, and Evans inexplicably pulled Walcott back by the shoulder as he burst into the box gifting Arsenal an immediate opportunity to equalise from the spot. However, the angle of van Persie’s run up couldn’t have telegraphed the direction of the shot any more clearly to De Gea, and the weakness of the strike gave him every opportunity to pull off the save. On the subsequent attack Young picked the ball up just outside the penalty area, managed to work half a yard for a shot and curled it beautifully into the top corner for 2-0.

That should have also been the red card count, as Arshavin seemed to be trying his best to get sent off at every available opportunity, and Jenkinson showed his inexperience by climbing over Young for a ball over the top when arguably he was the last man. Arsenal would be punished regardless, as Rooney placed the free kick in the opposite corner to Young from nearly the same blade of grass. Szczesny could do little with either strike.

Arsenal would at least score their first goal of this league season before halftime, as Evra was caught horribly out of position, and van Persie and Walcott were queuing up at the far post to shoot. It would be Walcott who beat De Gea through his legs with a shot that the keeper seemed to collapse on even though it appeared to be struck rather tamely at his right foot. Arsenal had certainly had chances in the first half, providing a modicum of hope, but it was hard to imagine that Manchester United wouldn’t add to their goal haul in the second half.

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Halftime changes would surely be required, but even if Arsenal had suitable players on the bench, the rules of football prevent substituting an entire back four. At the very least Arshavin looked like a red card waiting to happen.

One characteristic of Manchester United’s dominance in the first half was just how often they were able to win the ball back and transition to attack, stymying Arsenal when they did have possession and giving their defence little respite.

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Arsenal would create the first real chance of the second half, Rosicky picking out van Persie to volley with his wrong foot at the near post, De Gea making an adroit save low down. Then Arshavin drove in on goal and took the shot when Walcott was free at the far post. Perhaps Arsenal weren’t dead yet, they were having the lion’s share of the ball, in the opposition half, and Manchester United were unable to apply any pressure on the counterattack with Nani in particular guilty of wasting the ball.

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However, Djourou gifted another freekick to Manchester United, which Rooney put in the opposite corner with Szczesny unsighted behind the wall. It would have been a simple save had Szczesny moved the correct way, but he seemed to be in conversation with Rosicky as the freekick was taken. Almost immediately it was five as once again the Arsenal back four fell to pieces and the simplest through ball left Nani in acres of space to finish. Park, on as a substitute, would roll in the sixth through Djourou’s legs.

6-1 was also the scoreline once before between these two sides at Old Trafford, but the defence on that day consisted of Grimaldi, Stepanovs, Luzhny and Cole, only one of which anything close to a first team starter at the time. However today’s back four contained the second and third best centrebacks at the club, and the jury is still out whether Traore or Gibbs is Arsenal’s first choice left back. This more than anything should concern Arsenal fans, as Wenger supposedly haggles over the price of Cahill. It’s difficult to imagine Djourou in particular can be given many more opportunities in an Arsenal shirt.

At least van Persie would lash in a second to prevent that scoreline from repeating itself. Jenkinson would then make it three red cards in three games with a second yellow for bringing down Hernandez, both yellows potentially straight reds in their own right for being last man. This led to Walcott filling in at left back where his only contribution would be to concede a penalty. 7-2, if you haven’t kept up. There was still time for Young to make it eight.

Arsenal were certainly the architects of their own downfall, and if truth be told it is unlikely that any other team in the Premier League, or indeed the cups, will lose by such a margin at Old Trafford this season. It seems impossible for Wenger to use the words “mental strength” in relation to this team again, and despite the players missing it mustn’t be forgotten that these players aren’t all debutants or youngsters. The only scant consolation is that, if there’s ever a time to lose 8-2 it is just before an international break with the transfer window still open and millions to spend. Arsenal fans must hope this shocks Wenger into spending it.

Manchester United will take a huge amount out of this match, although Arsenal going forward caused them problems and they won’t meet as compliant a defence in the league again this season. De Gea still managed to concede a soft goal. But you can only beat what’s in front of you, even if they are trying to beat themselves, and if you can keep putting the ball in the top corner then you’ll keep scoring. This season is certainly shaping up to be an intriguing Mancunian battle of very offensive teams, and it will be incredibly interesting to watch.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-5 Manchester City – Goal Analysis

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0-1 Dzeko

Nasri plays the ball in to Aguero and runs in behind looking for the one-two.  Aguero obliges with the ball, although Lennon also obliges with a half-hearted attempt to track Nasri.

Once there, it’s a simple ball across the six yard box, and Dzeko steals a march on Kaboul for a tap in.

0-2 Dzeko

Again Nasri with the cross, this time with little pressure on the ball from Corluka.  Even so, Dzeko is surrounded by three Tottenham defenders so it looks as if the cross is a waste, particularly when Aguero is free.

Even then, the ball is played behind Dzeko.  The three Tottenham defenders seem to dissolve to give him room, but despite that he still has a huge amount of work to dive away from goal and loop the header back across Friedel into the far corner. Exquisite header.

0-3 Dzeko

The simplest and most choreographed of runs from Yaya Toure seems to confound Assou-Ekotto and Modric, allowing Toure to get to the byline.

Once there, the Spurs defence face a difficult ball to defend across the six yard box, where any touch could result in an own goal. They cleverly deal with this potential embarrassment by leaving Dzeko open to tap in his hat trick.  Clearly he is not offside as he is behind the ball.

0-4 Aguero

Clichy plays the ball into Aguero, who plays it first time to Nasri and spins in behind looking for the one-two, as he knows he has drawn Dawson up the pitch by coming deep.

Once he picks up the ball, Dawson manages to get himself goalside, and it looks as if Aguero’s options are the two Manchester City players breaking forward to his right.

Instead, he beats Dawson by simply knocking the ball past him and knowing that he will be faster than his opponent who has to turn to give chase.  Then, as Friedel approaches, he lifts the ball over him into the roof of the net. Delicious.

1-4 Kaboul

Manchester City mark zonally at corners, and while criticism of this style of marking is widespread and usually nonsense, one commonly held negative is that it removes accountability; if a goal is scored, it is the fault of the system, rather than the man charged with marking the goalscorer.

In this case, Yaya Toure proves that there is accountability when marking zonally, if the ball arrives in your zone and you don’t even challenge for it but instead turn your back and let your opponent get a free header at goal.

Incidentally; offside?

1-5 Dzeko

Dzeko plays a one-two with Barry…

…then curls a brilliant shot first time into the top corner.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-5 Manchester City – Match Analysis

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Two players who have spent the summer agitating for moves from North London started the match, Nasri having completed his move from Arsenal and Modric still searching for his divorce from Spurs.

The Manchester City lineup looked very strong offensively albeit with little width, with Silva, Nasri and Aguero likely to interchange behind Dzeko as a target. Defensively they looked rather more frail, with Clichy and Lescott in particular weak points to be exposed by Lennon without the additional protection in midfield afforded by Mancini last season.

Redknapp’s approach was similarly offensively adept and defensively inept, with van der Vaart, Modric, Lennon and Bale in midfield behind Crouch, today’s choice of non-scoring centre forward. Only Kranjcar would be tasked with containing Manchester City’s considerable threat between the lines. The selections indicated an open, exciting Manchester City win would be on the cards.

The match started as expected with chances at either end in the opening 15 minutes, and the best chance would also come in an expected manner. Nasri came in off the left side and drove directly at the centre of the Tottenham defence, allowed to do so by the lack of a defensively minded central midfielder in the Tottenham ranks. He dropped the ball to Silva who struck an awkward shot at Friedel. Tottenham’s best chance of the opening period would also come as expected, with van der Vaart working enough space in front of Lescott to turn and shoot at the near post. The opening phase of the game mimicked basketball more than football, such was the end-to-end nature of play.

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Silva again would cause problems with a lateral run across the Spurs defence and a smart shot towards the corner which Friedel palmed wide. Manchester City were taking control of the match by this point, as Tottenham’s lack of protection in midfield was being exposed. Once again the obvious question was why Redknapp was trying so desperately to sell Palacios who was such an important part of their qualification for the Champions League, and not pick Sandro who had impressed so much during that campaign. The chalkboard below shows how often Nasri and Silva in particular were able to pick up the ball centrally in front of Tottenham’s back four in the opening 25 minutes.

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Tottenham would still create chances, but more rarely as the half wore on. Their best came as Crouch took the opportunity of a header on goal away from van der Vaart and deflected it to the far post where Bale was only able to slice over from six yards. But from yet another position just in front of the Spurs back four, Nasri played a simple one-two with Aguero to get in behind and crossed to Dzeko for a tap-in. The Spurs defence looked united only in being uniformly slow to react.

Spurs would awaken after the goal, and Bale gifted Crouch a free header which he put just wide with Hart beaten, then Manchester City would break almost immediately and Dzeko would show Crouch how it was done with an excellent header from a cross played behind him which looped back across Friedel and into the far corner. Nasri now had twice as many assists in his first game for Manchester City than he managed in the entirety of 2010/11 for Arsenal. Close shots from just outside the area from Dzeko and Silva would continue to underline the source of Tottenham’s ills to Redknapp, and it would just be a question of if he would take the numerous hints and change his system at halftime.

Apart from the clear deficiency in front of the back four, Spurs were also struggling to contain Manchester City on their right, which is where both crosses for the goals came from. The interception map shows the imbalance between both wings, where the Spurs left was well protected in their own half, while their right was open.

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Most of the reason for this imbalance stems from Tottenham’s wide players. Bale, as a converted left back, knows he has defensive responsibilities and tracks back to help defend when necessary. Lennon on the other hand is happy to stay upfield and wait for the defenders behind him to win the ball. With Clichy overlapping Nasri this often overloaded the Tottenham right.

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Redknapp would make a change at halftime, bringing Huddlestone on for Kranjcar, although suggestions of a groin injury for Kranjcar provided doubt that this wasn’t tactical. However it came about, surely it would be a good move for the second half. Indeed, Tottenham started the second half the stronger of the two teams, but the substitution of an injured Lennon for Defoe would suggest Manchester City would cause even more problems down the Spurs right if Clichy had no winger to be concerned with. In fact, a simple overlap on the opposite wing allowed Toure to cross for Dzeko to tap in for his perfect hat trick, before a Nasri ball in behind Corluka would free Aguero to walk past Dawson and make it 4-0. The match was over with 30 minutes left to play, even if Kaboul was able to highlight potential issues in the Manchester City defence with a consolation free header from a corner.

There can’t be too many more difficult starts to a league season than two of the top four, but early indications from this and the Manchester United game suggest that Tottenham’s problems run much deeper than simply whether Modric stays or goes. In a previous life this blog noted Redknapp’s lack of pragmatism in team selection when likely to be overrun in midfield – on that occasion it was the Milan game at White Hart Lane but the criticism still stands in their two most recent matches. Spurs will never beat top sides if they so often concede the most dangerous areas of the pitch to them.

Manchester City on the other hand look impressive, although it has to be said that their opponents have so far played into their hands. The ease with which Tottenham and Bolton were able to score against them suggests the balance between attack and defence needs work, but there’s no denying that a front four of Aguero, Silva, Dzeko and Nasri is phenomenal indeed and a joy to watch so far. As if to underline this fact, Dzeko scored his fourth and probably the pick of the day seconds from the final whistle.

Newcastle United 2-1 Fulham – Goal Analysis

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1-0 Best

The ball is thrown into Cabaye making a run into a gap in front of the Fulham defence, where it sits up nicely for him to take a shot at goal.

The ball bounces in front of Schwarzer, who can only deflect it up against the crossbar, and it falls nicely for Best to tap in.  Schwarzer should really have done better with the first shot.

2-0 Best

Obertan drives diagonally across the Fulham defence, drawing their back four across and leaving a gap at left back for Ba to drift into.

Ba controls the pass and volleys the ball across the penalty area, drawing Hughes into trying to cut the ball out in front of Best. He fails, and Best controls the ball excellently in behind to slot past Schwarzer.

2-1 Dempsey

From a set piece, Dempsey beats Coloccini in the air and his header strands Krul who was in no man’s land between coming to challenge (which would have been the wrong decision) and staying at home.

Liverpool 3-1 Bolton Wanderers – Match Analysis

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Liverpool elected to start with Suarez instead of Carroll, suggesting a less direct route would be the plan against the strong Bolton defence, which would include Cahill possibly for the last time if rumours were to be believed.

Certainly Suarez was prominent as Liverpool seized control of the match early, often found pulling out to the left while Kuyt played more up top. Suarez was working very hard to close Bolton down in particular, and was not afraid to throw himself to the ground to try to win freekicks either – not that any viewers of the 2010 World Cup would be surprised. The best chance of the opening exchanges would fall to Downing, released one-on-one but only able to show his chronic one-footedness as he overran the ball on his right foot and it was easily cleared without threatening Jaaskelainen’s goal.

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The opening goal would come from another piece of excellent play from Suarez wide on the left. He found Downing with a cross to the near post who drew an impressive clawed save out of Jaaskelainen, but Bolton were unable to clear and the ball fell to Henderson, who’s first shot was fortunately blocked into the perfect position for him to place his second in the top corner.

Suarez was at the heart of most of Liverpool’s positive play, releasing Downing down the left with a beautiful pass, drawing a save out of Jaaskelainen himself after being played in by Adam (curiously not reflected in the stats), then lifting a lob just over the Bolton bar in another one-on-one.

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It was all Liverpool to this point, with Reina having little to do except flap at a cross. The ineffectual Muamba came off after 25 minutes for Mark Davies, which helped Bolton to their first real period of possession in the match, although they weren’t able to create anything from it as they struggled to get the ball into the final third.

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In fact the teams seemed to cancel each other out for the rest of the half, with only the sublime (a Mark Davies run from his own half to a shot on the edge of the Liverpool box) and the ridiculous (an Adam dive and a Steinsson handball right on the edge of his own box) standing out in this period.

The second half began almost identically to the first with Liverpool seizing control – although Suarez’s “dive” this time around would later be revealed as a subtle trip by Knight. Liverpool’s increased pressure would also result in a goal for Skrtel, and this deflated Bolton to the point that they immediately gifted Liverpool the third by not bothering to close down Kuyt or Adam, who was able to simply slot home with his right foot from the edge of the box.

It was now just a question of how many Liverpool wanted to score, but they seemed content with 3-0. Bolton seemed just as content with that scoreline as they removed Kevin Davies for an additional midfielder. The game petered out, with only periodic claims for backpasses (justified) and penalties (unjustified) punctuating the little action occurring. Suarez’s removal for Carroll removed Liverpool’s main creative force with 15 minutes to go and signalled the end of meaningful proceedings, except for a mistake from Carragher gifting Bolton a goal they didn’t really deserve.

Bolton were woeful, Liverpool efficient. It’s difficult to draw too many conclusions from such a one-sided affair, but it’s hard to see how Bolton were able to keep Manchester City honest on Monday yet capitulate so meekly here.

Liverpool 3-1 Bolton Wanderers – Goal Analysis

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1-0 Henderson

As noted in Match Analysis, Suarez (7) spent a lot of the first half pulling out to the left, allowing Downing (19) to move infield. The goal would come from another such switch.

Suarez not only had the vision to see the run, but also the ability to deliver a beautiful ball with the outside of his right foot into perfect position for Downing to volley at Jaaskelainen first time.

Robinson (4) was perfectly positioned to clear the rebound, but he slipped at the vital moment allowing Kuyt (18) to collect the ball.

Henderson’s (14) shot is blocked well by Reo-Coker (19), but the ball squeezes out into the perfect position for Henderson to seize his second chance and place the ball beyond Jaaskelainen.

2-0 Skrtel

Skrtel (37) and Knight (12) are at the back post. Knight looks to have Skrtel covered.

Yet as Skrtel makes his run, Knight delays, and that’s all the room Skrtel needs to nod in from six yards.

3-0 Adam

Kuyt (18) picks the ball up in midfield, but there appears to be little danger, as Bolton have six men back and, although Knight is picking himself up and yet to get back into position, Adam (26) is not looking to exploit that space.

Mark Davies (16) makes no effort to close down Kuyt, and Reo-Coker is drawn to the ball. Even though Knight has recovered his position in the back four there is still a large gap in the centre of defence, suggesting that Robinson should have closed up to his centreback.

Once Adam receives the ball, Reo-Coker’s position makes it easy for Adam to turn him and drive into the space.

Neither Knight nor Robinson seem particularly bothered with closing Adam down, who is offered a simple shot from the edge of the box.

3-1 Klasnic

A long ball is played over the top towards Petrov but it looked comfortable for Carragher, until he attempts to play it with his left foot when he should have used his right in this situation.

Petrov makes a bit of a hash of bearing down on goal, allowing Carragher to recover.

Carragher’s tackle only plays it into the path of Klasnic, who sweeps home past Reina.

Chelsea 3-1 Norwich City – Goal Analysis

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1-0 Bosingwa

As Lampard (8) looks up, Bosingwa (17) is calling for the ball.  Hoolahan (14) hasn’t got back unto a position to cover him, and Tierney (23) is pointing out the free man.

Such is the space that Bosingwa has, that none of the Norwich defenders can get close to close down his shot.  Having said that, letting a right back shoot from 28 yards isn’t usually a cause for great concern, although this shot flies in at the far post.

1-1 Holt

A hopeful rather than incisive cross is played in by Naughton, which Ivanovic has under control.  Hilario inexplicably rushes out of his goal to try and punch it clear, and only succeeds in taking both of them out of the game and allowing the ball to drop to Holt.

Who, it has to be said, makes a relatively difficult finish look easy, hooking the ball back over his shoulder into the empty net.

2-1 Lampard

Through on goal, Ramires plays the ball…

…then collapses into Ruddy, earning a penalty and getting the keeper sent off.  These sorts of dives are becoming more and more prevalent – Lampard and Adam also notable exponents during the first weeks of the season – and should be considered in a similar vein to the Pires ‘kicking out’ dive.  It is the attacking player instigating the contact in all of these examples.

3-1 Mata

De Laet (24) has the ball on the touchline, but is being closed down by Bosingwa (17).  He knows there is a simple ball infield to Pilkington (12).

He plays it blind on the turn and massively overhits it, allowing Mata (10) in to finish smartly.