Roberto De Zerbi *OFFICIAL*

[P.D.]

Think it’s very interesting when you consider:

1. RDZ basically saying Thursday was the first proper training session with the ‘full’ squad. All players that wanted to be here post window, and most serious injuries overcome.
2. The fact we are listening so strongly to medical staff on playing time restrictions.
3. This idea that we didn’t have a fully intense pre season because we wanted consistency, probably post World Cup has an impact on this too, as well as the crisis overall in the last couple of years.

We are ‘starting’ very late. And the results through that lens aren’t surprising. Clearly decisions have been made to try and reduce the likelihood of injuries as much as possible. But it means players are behind other teams physically. It means we’re slow to get rhythm in attack. But actually in that context a point at a physical Forest side is a really good one.

I don't think we should be making excuses for players that are so unfit, sure if you had a knock or were at the world cup there's some mitigation but there's no way Tonali should have started the season so unfit for example. It's just poor planning.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

The forwards don't have to win the first ball. They just have to be able to challenge for the ball so that the defender can't head the ball to where they want to, the idea is then that one of our midfield or other attackers pick up the second ball and you attack from there against a defence that isn't well organised.

Also the graphic above looks wrong.... What about the ball Kinsky played to Marmoush about half way through the second half? Where Marmoush cut inside and shot over the bar instead of squaring it to Kudus for a much easier chance?

Not my graphic as I said
And agree
Imagine if we had a striker and a 10 behind
Striker occupies CBS
10 picks up the ball
But aren’t doing that because the set up is 4-3-3
I’m fine with the tactic, I just think the line up doesn’t work for it

 

[P.D.]

The lack of a #10 who can link midfield and attack is what we are sorely missing. Once Madders and Kulu are back I think we will start to see what this team can be.

Overall, we dominated the majority of the game at a notoriously difficult ground for us. We weren’t great but were solid and never looked like losing. Every performance has been better than the one before…the literal definition of progress.

We all knew the attack was our weakest area. It will take time but all we can ask is to see improvements each week. If/Once it clicks this could be the football we have been waiting for.

It's unlikely Kulu will be back to full fitness before the new year at best and probably the same with Madders, it might even be next season before they're really up to speed so we shouldn't plan on them featuring much and start developing some alternative tactics.

 

[Gazza Dazzla]

It's unlikely Kulu will be back to full fitness before the new year at best and probably the same with Madders, it might even be next season before they're really up to speed so we shouldn't plan on them featuring much and start developing some alternative tactics.

That would basically mean Maddison being out for 2 straight seasons, seems extreme? RDZ said this latest knock was nothing serious (I know, I know…). Reckon we can hope for a fully integrated Maddison by after the big international break, about Early November.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Not my graphic as I said
And agree
Imagine if we had a striker and a 10 behind
Striker occupies CBS
10 picks up the ball
But aren’t doing that because the set up is 4-3-3
I’m fine with the tactic, I just think the line up doesn’t work for it

You don't have to have a 10 to pick up the second ball. In fact in many ways a player like Gallagher is a better bet for a player to get on the second ball as he would be more likely to win the duel for it compared to somebody like Marmoush.

Usually the idea when playing long balls to a number 9 is that the wide left/right players move inside a bit and the most attacking midfielder tries to get himself up the pitch to within 10 to 15 yards of the number 9. That then gives three players who can challenge for the second ball.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

You don't have to have a 10 to pick up the second ball. In fact in many ways a player like Gallagher is a better bet for a player to get on the second ball as he would be more likely to win the duel for it compared to somebody like Marmoush.

Usually the idea when playing long balls to a number 9 is that the wide left/right players move inside a bit and the most attacking midfielder tries to get himself up the pitch to within 10 to 15 yards of the number 9. That then gives three players who can challenge for the second ball.

So why isn’t it working?