Now that's funny. I WAS thinking the exact same thing.

Now that's funny. I WAS thinking the exact same thing.
by Cavanaugh82 (2024-09-28 06:34:47)
Edited on 2024-09-28 06:36:48

In reply to: A Cavanaugh twist posted by BabaGhanouj

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How should you approach a team that is intent on just filling the box with defensive players to obstruct any direct line to the goal?

I've only played, coached, and officiated soccer at the recreational level so I don't have the depth of knowledge or experience into the finer strategies of high-level soccer that most people on here do. But, when I do sometimes look at corollaries to other sports for possible approaches and solutions. In basketball, when a defensive team is packing the paint what do you do? You have to make some outside shots and, if your starters are not great outside shooters maybe you have players on the bench that are. I wonder if ND has some players who might be better at trying to curl one in from distance.

I noticed on some of the few occasions that the Irish were able to get long passes completed to Engle or Chukwu that there were still five defenders back so it was 1-on-5, 2-on-5 or, at best 3-on-5 and the Irish player was being double-teamed, two defenders sticking specifically with them. In basketball, when a player is being double-teamed that means that someone else is open but not necessarily in this case. If I answered my previous question of 'If you were the coach...' (and I do have another) I would have said that my ideal formation would be 3-4-3 (if it's good enough for Emma Hayes it's good enough for me) with Engle-Chukwu-Hodson up front and Joseph in the offensive midfield position, Matriano in the defensive MF, and Klenke and Roy on outside. Maybe more people forward would create better odds especially since NCSt really wasn't pushing forward in any meaningful way.