Is just a footballing lesson in playing against a narrow defence. Both of their goals have come from width, namely their fullbacks.
Their attack begins with an attacking midfielder (Silva) running at and committing defenders on the wing before passing it on at the right moment to a fullback (Zabaleta) once the space has opened up.
No dilly-dallying on the ball. No aimless dribbling. No pot shots.
Just quick, incisive, forward thinking football. Dzeko only touched the ball to put it in the back of the net or have a shot from inside the six-yard box.
Scoring goals doesn't require some amazing striker who's good in tight spaces. It just requires a bit of guile, good movement on and off the ball, and good technical ability on the ball to put in a good delivery/pass from your midfielders AND defenders.
Looking at City this evening...
posted on 7/5/14
*due to the
posted on 7/5/14
comment by minididi (U17584)
posted 1 minute ago
But neither of City's goals today came from Dzeko holding up the ball well.
They came from their defenders and midfielders making the chance and Dzeko simply finishing it off.
Just look back at the goal Torres scored against Atletico. All it was from was a quick cross in from the right-hand side from Azpi.
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Azpi was playing RM/RW that day.
Dzeko has excellent movement, and is a good striker. We create a lot of chances though. Yes I do think having overlapping fullbacks help, especially if we play inverted wingers, but I do not think that's the reason we have been unable to unlock defences, the striker problem is the bigger issue.
posted on 7/5/14
comment by Kevin De Bruyne #ETO'OOOOOO (U14678)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by minididi (U17584)
posted 1 minute ago
But neither of City's goals today came from Dzeko holding up the ball well.
They came from their defenders and midfielders making the chance and Dzeko simply finishing it off.
Just look back at the goal Torres scored against Atletico. All it was from was a quick cross in from the right-hand side from Azpi.
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Azpi was playing RM/RW that day.
Dzeko has excellent movement, and is a good striker. We create a lot of chances though. Yes I do think having overlapping fullbacks help, especially if we play inverted wingers, but I do not think that's the reason we have been unable to unlock defences, the striker problem is the bigger issue.
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True but he essentially played to the effect of a fullback for that goal as it was Willian who initially got the ball and Azpi made an overlapping run. Something any decent full back should be doing in a match.
I admit we do have a striker issue but our general attacking play also contributes massively to our lack of goals against resolute defences as well.
posted on 7/5/14
There is a balance, and I believe with a solid striker up top our balance would be near perfect between attacking and defending. We may not be as offensive as City even with a new striker, but we will win a lot of games that we didn't this year, keep a strong defence and pick up points. I think our goal would be to get playing to something like Bayern did last season, or RM under Mourinho in 2nd season.
posted on 7/5/14
I admit we do have a striker issue but our general attacking play also contributes massively to our lack of goals against resolute defences as well.
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City's passing is more crisp. Most passes are weighted correctly. The close control of their players is much better, movement is better. Nothing to do with strikers. However they have a much older team, more experienced. We need to match them in their attacking play next season. I dont wana see slow lethargic play from our players anymore. 4 years of watching us play like this is too much.
posted on 8/5/14
I still hoe we bring luke shaw in barkley and costa that should make for a complete squad
posted on 8/5/14
'Hope
posted on 8/5/14
Barkley? I'd like Fabregas tbh, not sure how likely that is. But I guess we have to increase the amount of English players we have in the squad.
posted on 8/5/14
While I agree with some of the comments about our build play often being too slow and lethargic I think that City have a much better strikeforce.
Jose was linked with Dzecko last summer and I think he would have made quite a big difference.
If our build up play is ponderous then it could have a lot to do with how little faith our attcking midfielders have in our strikers - especially Torres.
If we had a top class striker at the peak of his game I'm sure our midfielders would be doing a lot more to get the ball to him in goalscoring positions.
With Torres you know you're wasting your time even trying to do that as 9 times out of 10 he'll just fack it up.
posted on 8/5/14
ive watched us very closely this season and its really simple 1.our full backs/wingers more then often did not play in the ball quicker from the wider areas into the opposition box then they should have 2.On ocassions when they did that we had no body in the box trying to attack the ball
So one we need to tell our fullbacks/wingers to play in the ball early and two we need to buy a striker who has a sense of urgency in the box because the ones we have now clearly lack that instinct,lampard was massive for us in fullfilling that role during his peak years so we didnt require as much assistance from the strikers as we do now