Jefe
Just doesn't shut up
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2021
- Messages
- 7,317
- Reaction score
- 16,801
So on reflection, what did he get right and wrong yesterday?
Starting with a 4231. Wrong if understandable?
Swapping Neto and Hwang initially. Wrong?
Swapping them back. Right
Going to a 3/5 atb when we were being dominated. Right
Leaving 2 up top when we had 10 men ? Right
Bringing on Doc as a LWB. Wrong, maybe RAN was struggling, maybe Doc over Bueno for height and strength?
Leaving Neto as a lone striker .Wrong, but maybe settling for a point in a game you've been poor in with 10 men makes it understandable?
Or am I too worried about tactics and it was just about intensity?
- Going unchanged: wrong. If you're on a successful streak it makes sense of course, but the side who capitulated in the second half last week couldn't have complained if he made changes. Luton obviously present a different challenge to Liverpool, so persisting with luxury players like Cunha (who was largely anonymous again) demonstrated an unawareness of tactical context.
- Going with the same front three: wrong. If he must insist on Neto-Cunha-Hwang, even that precise configuration is sub-optimal. Cunha is not a number 9, and Hwang would be a better fit in the middle. Cunha may find more space out wide to run at defenders.
- Starting Hwang and Neto switched: wrong. Neto tore Gomez apart down the left last week for large spells, so of course let's randomly start him down the right, where he has historically struggled to hit his best form. GON saw sense eventually and reverted, which then led to us gaining a foothold in the game.
- Going 5 at the back: right. The sensible call, and a rare example of O'Neill employing a premeditated tactical change that had the desired effect. It invited Luton on to us of course, but we only needed to be moderately well organised to blunt Luton's limited attack force. Over-hit passes and crosses became the only outlet, easily dealt with by Dawson and Kilman, who really came into their own at this point. It was pretty comfortable stuff for the most part.
- Bringing on Doc for RAN at LWB: mega wrong. RAN was arguably our best defender in the first half. Assuming he had a mystery knock, square pegs in square holes when you have Bueno available; Doc has never played in that specific position to my knowledge. Should've been a straight swap at RWB, and Bueno at LWB if RAN was hurt. Semedo was poor until then (the sort of performance we've come to expect in the less glamorous ties), first shanking a clearance that led to Morris hitting the post, and was so clearly targeted by Luton that even the commentators were making note of it, with Dawson playing outside of him at points. He was so determined to not go forward that he'd rather set up a Luton player with a hospital back pass after the break.
- Leaving two up: mixture. It was good that he kept two up top as a positive outlet, but the goal was not a result of that. It came from sheer will and individual brilliance by Neto. It doesn't change the reality that neither Neto nor Cunha are centre forwards that can make the ball stick. Sasa had to come on, really. It increasingly feels like GON and Sasa have fallen out.
- Taking off Cunha for another midfielder, leaving Neto as a lone striker: mega wrong. Pedro was handily MOTM but a lone striker he is not. He would have understood if GON brought on Sasa as a tactical change. The ball just kept coming back. It's really because Luton are so poor that this didn't bite us on the **** - a semi-competent side would've punished us for that.