12 Jan 2021 12:19:44
Having listened to the odd press conference that OGS has given, he has said Uyd need to stop conceding silly goals from set pieces, but continues to use zonal marking.

Is it zonal marking or the players fault?

Perhaps reverting to back to man marking would help. I can't help but state the obvious. If I can see it why can't the coaching staff.

1.) 12 Jan 2021
12 Jan 2021 13:44:33
As Einstein once said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. ”

If Ole wants us to stop conceding silly goals he needs to change to a man-marking system, and change our style of play to control possession.

If we keep letting the other team have the ball in the hope that we can catch them on the break, we will keep conceding chances and therefore goals.

2.) 12 Jan 2021
12 Jan 2021 13:56:34
Each system has its flaws, and really comes to down to tactical preference.

Man marking systems mean you have to win your individual battles. While it can cause havoc with your defensive shape if one player has to follow another around.

Zonal systems mean you can keep your shape much better, but without effective communication defenders can be caught unaware of who is in their zone.

In modern football especially at the highest level, zonal marking is pretty standard. We are just bad at it. Is it the coaching? Or are our players poor at communicating and/ or poor with staying in their position.

Probably a bit of both. Maguire often gets caught ball watching and get drawn out of position because of that. While he also doesn't talk enough with his fellow defenders, often letting someone run into his partners zone on their blindside without giving them a heads up.

3.) 12 Jan 2021
12 Jan 2021 15:47:15
I think that whatever preference you have as a coach, it really boils down to the intelligence and quality of the players at your disposal.

4.) 12 Jan 2021
12 Jan 2021 16:04:36
We do what a lot of teams do and use a mixture of zonely and man to man.
You mark what are considered dangers zones and lines while also picking up players.

5.) 12 Jan 2021
12 Jan 2021 16:05:24
Shappy, if we are bad a zonal marking, why are we continuing with it?

You ask are we just bad at zonal marking? Yes. Look at the goals we've conceded.

Or are our players poor at communicating? Yes. No obvious leaders out there doing the organising.

Is it the coaching? Yes. If we are poor at zonal marking, a coach (es) needs to be saying something.

It's another situation where every man and his dog can see it, except our own manager and coaches.

Our defenders need to be at their most determined tonight. They have Tarkowski, Mee, Barnes and Wood who will win plenty of aerial duels against us.

6.) 12 Jan 2021
12 Jan 2021 16:42:35
Improving players, especially defenders isn't Ole's strong suit unfortunately. His idea of improving the defence is playing with 2 defensive midfielders.

7.) 12 Jan 2021
12 Jan 2021 17:04:01
Wazza, a lot of the problems which make us bad at zonal marking will carry over to man marking.

Communication, positioning, reading of the game and winning your personal duels are issues for most if not all our defenders.

8.) 12 Jan 2021
12 Jan 2021 18:05:41
A lack of coaching hasn't helped. Mahuire and AWB often drop deep and play opposition players onside.

Poor communication hasn't helped. I remember. ber the old days of Pallister, Bruce, Sam, Rio etc shouting making secure players kept the backbone tight and onside.

9.) 12 Jan 2021
12 Jan 2021 19:41:56
Shappy, does that mean we just stick to what we’re doing and continue to concede goals from set pieces? Sorry but that’s rubbish.

If we don’t change it, the same things will keep happening. Communications is much less of a factor in a man to man system, compared to zonal.

10.) 12 Jan 2021
12 Jan 2021 20:02:09
How many goals have we conceded from corners.

11.) 12 Jan 2021
12 Jan 2021 20:40:58
jred, I believe we are 6th for most goals conceded from set pieces this season. That needs to improve.