Myth. protecting the central defence

[paulgmurphyhumphries]

Football fans and the growing number of media pundits seem to be falling into the same trap. One or two people share an opinion and the rest follow like sheep.
The latest is that Pelligrini is somehow offering extra protection to the back four in an attempt to disguise defensive frailties. Nonsense, it has always been an integral role of central midfielders to protect the back four. Whether that be to the quick counter attack, closing down on the edge of the box, tracking attacking forward runs from opposing midfielders, doubling up with full backs to counter opposing full backs, etc.
The work of a central midfielder is multi-skilled, personally I do not believe we have one of the needed calibre at present. My wish is that long term Nastasic may fill this role, though probably we will never find out.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

The latest is that Pelligrini is somehow offering extra protection to the back four in an attempt to disguise defensive frailties.

Pellegrini 'is offering extra protection to the back four'? I'm fairly sure people are actually bemoaning the lack of protection that the back four has been receiving from midfield, particularly with regards to the work previously done by de Jong and Barry.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Those accustomed to running up and down the furrows and ruts of punditry are forever on the lookout for a new angle. Emperor's new clothes is an oft seen and heard tale within the footy programmes on telly.

 

[supercity88]

Every non defender on the pitch should be providing cover for the back 4, that is their role in defending. Pellegrini's way of playing will be to keep possession and break teams down, Fernandinho will add pace to the midfield and when the opposition counters with a quick ball forward, it will be his job to track the runner whilst the defenders will press the ball and attempt to intercept. This is what the high line is about. Ideally you have one centre back looking to press the ball into the striker's feet and the other ready to sweep the ball in behind. A De Jong/Makelele style player is out of fashion now because there are more complete footballers out there able to break play and yet add forward thinking passes and support too, the likes of Khedira, Gundogan, Busquets and hopefully Fernandinho and in the future Rodwell. De Jong and Makelele whilst effective were passengers when the other team sat and allowed you possession, they did not offer enough in that position. Instead, the top teams have a deep lying playmaker like Alonso, Xavi etc combined with a more mobile and defense minded player able to provide incisive passes too, Khedira, Busquets etc. Or that player sits and covers for the full backs to bomb forward. Our players are still adjusting and until we have the preferred back 4 the system wont be seen in its full effectiveness. Pellegrini doesn't trust the current combination enough for it to work. When Kompany and Di Michelis are back then we will see a better style of play.

 

[Deleted member 52846]

Football fans and the growing number of media pundits seem to be falling into the same trap. One or two people share an opinion and the rest follow like sheep.
The latest is that Pelligrini is somehow offering extra protection to the back four in an attempt to disguise defensive frailties. Nonsense, it has always been an integral role of central midfielders to protect the back four. Whether that be to the quick counter attack, closing down on the edge of the box, tracking attacking forward runs from opposing midfielders, doubling up with full backs to counter opposing full backs, etc.
The work of a central midfielder is multi-skilled, personally I do not believe we have one of the needed calibre at present. My wish is that long term Nastasic may fill this role, though probably we will never find out.

With only two in central midfield there isn't enough protection from the strkers or wingers for the two in the middle and thus the two in the middle are not providing enough protection for the central defenders.

So far this season i've found us to be wide open in the middle of the pitch because of a lack of ortection in all areas through the middle.

Huddlestone had an easy run out against us the other week. He bossed the game from start to finish because he had time and space all game.

 

[ballinio]

Football fans and the growing number of media pundits seem to be falling into the same trap. One or two people share an opinion and the rest follow like sheep.
The latest is that Pelligrini is somehow offering extra protection to the back four in an attempt to disguise defensive frailties. Nonsense, it has always been an integral role of central midfielders to protect the back four. Whether that be to the quick counter attack, closing down on the edge of the box, tracking attacking forward runs from opposing midfielders, doubling up with full backs to counter opposing full backs, etc.
The work of a central midfielder is multi-skilled, personally I do not believe we have one of the needed calibre at present. My wish is that long term Nastasic may fill this role, though probably we will never find out.

With only two in central midfield there isn't enough protection from the strkers or wingers for the two in the middle and thus the two in the middle are not providing enough protection for the central defenders.

So far this season i've found us to be wide open in the middle of the pitch because of a lack of ortection in all areas through the middle.

Huddlestone had an easy run out against us the other week. He bossed the game from start to finish because he had time and space all game.

This is true.

 

[jma]

Your defence needs a ridiculous amount of protection from at least two midfielders in front of them, working their bollocks off all game, if you are going to play a massively risky high line, as Pellegrini has instructed. (Unless you are going to have 70% possession every game).

I don't think City have the midfielders to play that way.

I also don't think many of the players have the appetite for it. As we know, they don't like being told to do stuff that they don't want to do.

 

[blueparrot]

Your defence needs a ridiculous amount of protection from at least two midfielders in front of them, working their bollocks off all game, if you are going to play a massively risky high line, as Pellegrini has instructed. (Unless you are going to have 70% possession every game).

I don't think City have the midfielders to play that way.

I also don't think many of the players have the appetite for it. As we know, they don't like being told to do stuff that they don't want to do.

Wrong, if you play a high line there is less space in front of the defence to protect, making it easier for the 4 or 5 midfeild players to press and close down. If the defence need protection anywhere it is behind them from balls over the top. They should be protected from these by closing down the ball quickly so any long pass isn't accurate. But it can't be the job of 2 players all the midfield and attackers have to be mobile and work for 90 minutes.
Dortmund Bayern and Barca all do it perfectly well with only 1 defensively minded midfielder.

 

[AshtonBlueMooner]

The team are currently in transition and it is obvious that not all have adapted to MP's tactics. Not all players are doing their jobs of closing down, this is where the gaps are then created and where we are currently being exploited. I hope that as players get used to the system that we then start to retain possession and create more chances. We need to do it very soon though.......... Like today.........or Sunday at the very latest!!!

 

[6one]

don't get the original post's point. He seems to be a bit confused.