I'm re-watching the Spurs game now, primarily to assess Kolarov's performance but to also observe where we did well and where we made mistakes. It's slow going - stopping the playback to make notes, rewinding and watching sequences two or three times. I'm about a third of the way through.
Anyhow...
Fernandinho has twice now applied a sort of high press I hadn't seen our side attempt until now. When the ball goes back to their keeper, Kun begins to press and Fernandinho will position himself so that the only free option for Lloris is the man closest to the touch line nearest the ball. Fernandinho leaves this man very wide open. Then, just as the forced pass is made, Fernandinho steams forward at full speed to put immense pressure on the receiver.
This paid immediate dividends the first time he did this (on the right) as Navas intercepted the receiver's attempted pass, ultimately leading to a dangerous cross from Navas which Silva probably should have scored from.
The second time was on the left. This time Walker (I believe) gets the ball, Fernandinho steams forward, but Walker finds Wanyama as Kolarov is just slightly too slow to cut off the pass but is nonetheless continuing the press correctly which should lead to a turn over.
But Fernando is ball watching - he doesn't appreciate what's going on and Walker finds an open Erikson who has time to turn and hit a wide open Son as Fernando belated moves to press Erikson which - at this way too late juncture - simply takes Fernando out of the play.
As a result, it's Zabba and Otters are alone against Son and Lamela. Zabba must play centrally and cannot afford to cover Lamela as Son moves forward and forces Zabba to cut him off. Son releases the ball to Lamela, who by sheer dumb luck is offsides.
It's amazing how poor play from one person (Fernando) undoes all of our pressing and creates a nearly disastrous situation.
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Credit to Dax777 who anticipated the benefit of Fernandinho's high pressure (I didn't foresee this) - but not to side-track things - the part of the sequence where Fernando nearly costs us is why I think we need Fernandinho playing the 6 - or if not Fernandinho, someone who is fast, can read the game, who will move into open spaces and who can link-up play from the back.
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I'm also wondering if this is something that Fernandinho is doing on his own, or if the "open man trap" is something that Pep has had our team work on.
