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Tactics Tuesday: Goalscoring subs & set-piece coaches
34 Plays20 days ago
Gavin provides some tactical analysis on the 1-1 draw against Spurs and looks at some of the selection dilemmas ahead of the Brighton game.
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Transcript
Introduction and Today's Focus
00:00:06
Speaker
sports podcast network Hello and welcome back to the Daily Fulham Podcast, your home of all things Fulham. Today is
Fulham vs Tottenham: Performance Review
00:00:15
Speaker
Tactics Tuesday. My name is Gavin Ruffell and I'm just going to be offering up some further insights and further reflections on that performance against Tottenham and maybe look ahead to the next game against Brighton. Some selection dilemmas what Marco Silva might look to do.
00:00:29
Speaker
So first let's look back at the performance against spurs we spoke about this in the match review and what an impressive display it was from full and it just shows their ability that they can go away from home to these top clubs and they can put in a performance like that and not look to come away back against the wall for ninety minutes so a lot of pressure.
00:00:54
Speaker
rely on set pieces, as is the tactic for a lot of teams and and and the want and the need, the desire to do that, they can go to these grounds and dictate the play, be the better side. I think in every metric you look at, they were better than Spurs in that game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. I think Spurs ended up with slightly more possession, but that's obviously skewed by the fact that they played the last 15 minutes.
00:01:15
Speaker
with a man advantage. So again, further impressive display. performance i And I want that to be the narrative.
Credit to Fulham or Blame on Big Teams?
00:01:21
Speaker
I see the narrative so often when the big six teams are involved, especially on Sky.
00:01:26
Speaker
when they don't get a result or it's ah or it's a performance it's not in keeping with what we've seen in the past it's oh this team were flat they were missing this player no you credit the opposition you know i saw it against Manchester City when Fulham lost 3-2 oh look at Manchester City without Rodry okay we've we've seen the issues Manchester City do have without Rodry and They're on an extremely bad run, or in this game, oh, it's typical Spurs, in that you go and you go away to Manchester City, win 4-0, and then you put in a flat, disappointing display at a home to fool them in the game that probably people, a lot a lot of people probably expect you to win, but you give
Tactical Adaptation by Fulham
00:02:01
Speaker
them credit. They're a good team, Marco Silva's an excellent manager, they play some great football, and I think what's impressive about the football they play is they can mix it up as well. They can play with the ball on the floor, but if Leno needs to go long, or what an ascent horse needs to go long, they can do that, they get crosses into the box,
00:02:16
Speaker
So they pose a lot of threats, they ask a lot of questions from you because they're not predictable in the play. they have They do have their set patterns of play ah but they mix it up well and they can cause problems for a lot of teams as as we've seen this season. and I think going into the game, probably people would have seen Sander Berger and Sassa Lukic sitting next to each other and think, oh, that's ah that's a defensive setup. For them all looking to soak up pressure, but that's that's not not the case, is it? I mean, we know Sander Berger from his time previously in the Premier League, he has some more attacking
Player Roles: Berger and Lukic
00:02:46
Speaker
attacking qualities. And okay, they're not players that can necessarily provide assists or provide goals, but they can start attacks and they can link the play well. And I thought they did that really well on this occasion.
00:02:59
Speaker
And if you look at one of the chances, I think it was a Wobbe's effort that cracked the bar, the interplay there, and when we speak about Tottenham, what they're so good at is with their high press and winning the ball in your own half. And if you're able to beat that press, have the players that are capable of doing that, then it can lead to success. And you look at the chance for the Wobbe call,
00:03:20
Speaker
I mean, if that was a team higher up in the league, if that was in Manchester City or Liverpool and that ended up with the ball in the net, people would be talking about that for days.
Defensive Contributions: Basley and Isid the Op
00:03:28
Speaker
Obviously, it didn't end up in the net, but you can still marvel in the football that they tried to play. And Calvin Basley, I thought, had a really solid game after a shaky start.
00:03:37
Speaker
nearly given a goal away in the first minute and he would have probably had flashbacks to the game there last season where he did make a couple of mistakes. ah There were circumstances for that, he was playing on his own favourite side, he was playing on the right side I think next to Tim tim Reem on that occasion but he overcame that and Lee putting a really solid display next to he said the Op who continues to be a really good performer for Fulham this season. There were a lot of doubts coming into the season about him and maybe he's the inconsistencies in his game, sometimes a bit lackadaisical maybe and makes the odd error, can be prone for that sort of thing. But I thought again, the performance he put in against Spurs just illustrated what a top centre half he can be on his day and we need to eradicate the feeling of concern when he is asked to play in Joachim Anderson's absence.
Resilience Against Spurs
00:04:24
Speaker
We know what Joachim Anderson is all about and what he offers the team but
00:04:28
Speaker
Isid the Op is more than a worthy deputy and going into games now there should be no concern about Isid the Op if Joachim Anderson is out for an extended period of time. Isid the Op is showing he's up to the task. He can perform just as well. He was superb as was the whole of the team. as as As I said on the the review show, it would have been difficult to single out individuals because this wasn't that type of game. It was a performance where the whole team performed well. And you need you need to do that when you're going away to tough grounds.
00:04:56
Speaker
And I think what was equally impressive was the fact that they went behind, but they just stuck to the task. ah Marco Silva's instructions, he did make a couple of substitutions, didn't he bring in on Harry Wilson and Tom Kearney, Tom Kearney getting the goal. But the instruction would have been just keep doing what you're doing. And eventually, if you're more clinical, more incisive, have that cutting and edge, then you will get your reward and they managed to do that.
Struggles with Set Pieces: What's Missing?
00:05:19
Speaker
I'm gonna come on to one area where Fulham can definitely improve and see what needs to change there. Before I do that, let me tell you about our sponsors here. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and r's, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster. So one area where Fulham have struggled this season is set pieces. They're the only team in the Premier League that hasn't scored from a free kick or a corner. They've had the third most amount of corners in the Premier League so this has been an ongoing problem all season. On the weekend we were
00:06:12
Speaker
We were interested to see who was going to be taking the set pieces in the absence of Andreas Pereira because he's over 99% of set pieces for Fulham when he's in the team. So on this occasion it was Sassa Lukic, was there much of a change? Well no, ultimately because they didn't score a goal from it, although Raoul Jimenez did have a header over the bar and Fraser Forster did look slightly vulnerable coming across for one of them. I think stats will also tell you that Raul Jimenez actually makes first contact for a lot of them, but he's either heading it over the bar or he's volleying it over the bar and watching these games a bit closer and inspecting the delivery from set pieces. It's not like they don't beat the first man and they do have physicality in that box. Players up there like East of the Op and Calvin Bassey and Sanderberg or Raul Jimenez, these are players that are really good in the era. Joachim Anderson when he's in the team.
Upcoming Match Against Brighton
00:07:02
Speaker
but it's just either the ball's not falling for them or something's not quite working. So that leads you to set-piece coaches. Fulham don't have a set-piece coach, whereas many other teams do. I know the Arsenal set-piece coach is getting a lot of credits, getting a lot of plaudits in a minute because Arsenal are a real threat from corners. You saw that on the weekend against West Ham. You need to have the deliveries, you need to have the players attacking, but there's another nuance to it isn't it and you can talk to some people some maybes from a different generation about set piece coaches and they'll give you that they'll give you a quizzical look won't they and they'll bring up the Sean Deish meme where he stood in front of a green brick wall but sir I'm a big believer in that if you can get an extra 1% out of your game then by all means do it.
00:07:47
Speaker
if If it requires getting a set piece coaching to make those set pieces more effective and give you a chance of scoring goals for them, then that's another nuance you can add to the game because As much as it's great and it's to be scoring goals from open play, you want to have that threat from set pieces. And as I said, Fulham can mix up their game. Well, they do put a lot of crosses into the box, but it just seems when crosses into the box come from a dead ball, they don't seem to lead to a goal. So that is one area where I think they can improve. And and yes, set piece set piece coaches, I wouldn't scoff at the idea of that.
00:08:24
Speaker
At the end of the day, you're looking to improve the output from your team. If you can do that with a set piece coach, then by all means, I'd i'd be fully on board with that.
Midfield Configurations and Pereira's Role
00:08:34
Speaker
But one thing that is probably a bigger concern is the next game now for Marco Silva which is against Brighton. Brighton and bright and a team are doing extremely well this season up there in the top four and they'll be a tough nut to crack. got Tough run of fixtures now as has been said on a few occasions and you can't look past Brighton and for that game he's got a bit of a selection headache now hasn't he because he's got limited options now in midfield.
00:09:00
Speaker
We've briefly addressed the Andreas Pereira situation, haven't we? And Pereira put out a statement on Instagram saying that some of the wording had been twisted to make him ah appear in in in a negative light, and there might be some truth to that.
00:09:14
Speaker
ultimately we're not quite sure we're guessing the reasons why he was left out against Spurs but Fulham leads him back for this game against Brighton because if he's not back then they they're really seriously depleted. Sassilukic is picking up another booking which means he's going to be suspended for that game. Tom Kearney who came on to score a goal he likely would have fitted in. Tom Kearney he's not a guy you you see starting many games he started quite a few games last season and next to Paulina but getting up getting on a bit maybe some people doubt whether he can play 90 minutes but it would have been an opportunity for him to start that game. I feel Harrison Reed's course is a longer term absence absence as well so ah it leaves you with limited options. I've seen people suggesting that Alexa will be complete in the game. I would not be a fan of that just because I think Alexa will be is having such an effect, having such an influence in games. He's had more goal contributions than any other fallen player this season. I would like to keep him where he is
00:10:09
Speaker
We saw again on the weekend, he started on the right, he created chances, he had chances of his own and then he went over to the left and he set up that goal for Tom Keaney. So I like him playing where he's playing. I wouldn't be a fan of making more than one change.
00:10:26
Speaker
to a position if it's completely and unnecessary. So who are your other options then? I guess people who watch more of the academy and some of the England youth games will be crying out for Josh King who's had some sub appearances. He's been on the bench quite a few times this season. I just think it's easy to romanticise a youth player starting a game in the Premier League for Fulham, but Marco Silva will be wary of the opposition he's up against.
Pereira's Relationship with Fans
00:10:50
Speaker
This is not an FA Cup game against a team in League 2.
00:10:53
Speaker
he's up against ah ah a team that's in the top four absolutely flying so that's a big big hole if he throws him in there into a higher intensity game than what he's used used to playing in so I think full of need Andreas Pereira back for this game and Yeah it would be interesting when he comes back into the full and full what sort of reaction he gets because I know he there was many many dissenting voices towards him this season or the second half of last season as well so he's he's not on side with the fans as it is so this little saga
00:11:24
Speaker
is only going to make matters worse, but it's it's not the first time we've seen a situation like this arise and it won't be the last. If they're fully committed, they're back on board and getting back in the team because because they definitely need him for this
Squad Depth and Goal Sources
00:11:35
Speaker
game. Beyond this game, maybe they can revert to Sanderberger and Sasseleukic and show that they can those two can play together and Fulham can be an attacking threat as much as they give them that defensive stability as well. But for this game where they are short on numbers I would like to see Andreas Pereira back in the fold if he is available to play, if if if indeed it's not an injury getting back in the team. Before I wrap this tactics episode up let me just tell you all about GSPN.
00:12:02
Speaker
The Global Sports Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasts. With dedicated daily content for every Premier League rapid broadcast in five different languages, it's your one-stop shop for your daily football fix.
Impact of Increased Substitutions
00:12:14
Speaker
Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcast.
00:12:18
Speaker
It's more of a squad game now than ever, isn't it? With more substitutions being available to sides in the Premier League. I think this has caused a bit of debate, isn't it whether people want to see five or whether people want to just revert back to free substitutes.
00:12:33
Speaker
I quite like having nine substitutes on the bench. I'm i'm a bit 50-50 on whether there should be three or whether there should be five. I know Gary Neville on commentary for the game. Was it Arsenal against West Ham? We were saying that a lot there seems to be a lot of substitutions that causes it the game to lose its its natural rhythm. It's a bit stop-start.
00:12:53
Speaker
But the statistics, again, if we look at the statistics, Fulham have actually scored more goals from substitutes than any other side of the season. So that just kind of dispels the theory that the more substitutes favours the bigger clubs with the bigger squads. And Fulham are building a decent squad for themselves. And we've seen that in the last few games with Harry Wilson coming off the bench and and scoring and Tom Kearney scoring that critical goal.
00:13:17
Speaker
ah Also a word on Tom Kearney, he came out and ah he apologized for that red card. He probably felt it wasn't a red card at the time but seeing the replay. Everything looks worse in slow motion doesn't it when you when you slow everything down but I think it's hard to argue that that wasn't a red card and it was just disappointing the flow of that game the way it was going.
00:13:35
Speaker
full could go to get the winner i said i said as well i was surprised that this is one of the type of
Raoul Jimenez and Transfer Speculations
00:13:41
Speaker
things i was surprised he didn't play more of was so i don't know try a bit more of it maybe he was a bit reluctant to make changes in because of what happened against walls the fact that they were forced to play with ten men for fifteen minutes and maybe didn't want to make his fourth and fifth substitution so early in the game with ten minutes to go cuz you He might have feared there would have been a scenario where that ah that happened again. But a downward trial will have his part to play. I'm sure in the coming games, I know Rees Nelson is going to be out of the Arsenal game ah being on loan, so we'll probably see him back in full. Now, if Harry Wilson is not to start in that position, he's he's got options, which is great which is great to have. Despite the injuries, there are players that can come off the bench and impact the game, which is what you want. You want those different options.
00:14:20
Speaker
10th in the league at this stage, 12 consecutive scoring games, creating a lot of chances and a lot of tension will be on Raoul Jimenez now because of the miss chances. I mean you could say Fraser Forster was probably the man of the match in that game which is a testament to the way Fulham attacked because he made some crucial saves in the one or two from Jimenez himself.
00:14:42
Speaker
So he's just, he doesn't quite see him as sharp as he did a few weeks ago, but all it takes is one goal. You know, whatever whatever part of the body that comes off you, if it comes off your knee, if it comes off your backside, goals, bring confidence. And yeah, he could you could do with one because he's gone a few weeks now and start, people start asking questions, don't they? And January transfer windows, not too far away, ah less than a month from now. So if he goes a few more games without scoring a goal, then it's going to lead to more heightened speculation about what Fulham might do in the transfer window to bolster that position. But the good thing for Fulham is they're not having to rely on the centre forward to score goals. You look at Manchester City, they are relying on their centre forward to score goals and we've seen in the last few games that Harlem hasn't been able to score goals and Manchester City struggled to find the back of the net and we're talking about one of the top teams in Europe.
Fulham's Offensive Strategy
00:15:34
Speaker
Yeah going back to Fulham, they have goals from
00:15:37
Speaker
various sources and that that's that's a positive and ah yeah you go into these games now the game on the weekend it kind of reminded me of that ah display against Liverpool last season when they when they lost 4-3 that they can go to go to these places and not be overawed play to their strengths because they know their strengths are good enough to hurt opposition teams no matter who that is no matter where that is and that's exciting when you're going to games with that sort of attitude rather than, as I said before, that mindset of let's soak up pressure, let's dig in deep, let's be so defensively resolute and see what we can
Wrap-Up and Next Episode Preview
00:16:12
Speaker
do. Maybe hit them on the break, maybe score from set pieces, not fool them, look to impose their game style on whatever team they're playing against them. And for that very reason, it's exciting going into games. You're not going into games fearful. You're going into games thinking, I'm looking forward to this, looking forward to seeing what Fulham can do against a quality side.
00:16:32
Speaker
That'll do it folks for our Tactics Tuesday episode. Thank you all once again for listening and be sure to tune in next time as we build up to the encounter against Brighton. We'll see you all for that.
00:16:49
Speaker
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