Tactics Under Maresca

[Lillehamring]

11 hours ago, Chrysalis said:

Indeed, the result will be at some point teams will be fearful of our counter and wont press as much which will in turn improve the results of possession based play, this is why I think the two work well with each other, and its not as a simple as a either all out possession or all out counter.

When you have a superior squad and a system that is built to respond to the way most teams set up, there's not really anything anyone do - it's the ultimate 'unstoppable force'.

The latest trend seems to be to test the integrity of our defence and simply try to outscore us.  But the likes of birmingham and millwall have discovered that 2 goals won't do that.

[StriderHiryu]

1 minute ago, Finnegan said:

 

Not a victory for me, it's a victory for stats, facts and evidence. I wasn't the only one to point out he was performing pretty well on paper when actually given the opportunity. @The Doctor is another one that likes numbers and it's not a coincidence he's also a fan of Daka.

 

I said a few days ago, I think Maresca would be happy with Daka even without the goals. His movement is excellent, he's got the pace and the fitness to do the all round job that Enzo wants from his striker. He's got the athleticism to both drop in to link up but then spin and get forward. 

 

The second goal comes just because he's pressing. 

 

Watch the third goal again. Take nothing away from Ricky, Casadei or the move in general but watch Daka. He attacks the front post and takes both of the centre backs with him. That's why there's an ocean of space for Casadei to find. That will please Enzo just as much as him having the energy to get in the right place for a tap in for the first. 

 

Vards used to do all of this stuff as well, probably even better, but he just doesn't have the legs to do it consistently anymore. But Iheanacho just doesn't. I don't like the term lazy but he definitely is a bit lethargic and I don't think we'd have scored any of those goals with him playing today. 

 

I dont think Kel is up with play for the first, he definitely couldn't have pressed to win the penalty and I think he'd have been idling around the penalty spot waiting for a cut back instead of attacking the near post. 

 

Stuff like this is subtle but it's an example of how just simple movement around a football pitch and really using the space makes such a big, big difference. Iheanacho influences the game when he's on the ball and is pretty decent at it. But we've scored so many goals with Daka starting in the last few games because, like Vardy, Daka knows how to influence the game without it. 

 

 

Quoting this here in the tactics thread because it absolutely belongs here. I think we've been brilliant in the last 4 games from an offensive point of view and Patson Daka is one of the big reasons why. The team overall plays better when he's in the team. Whether that continues or not I don't know, but there's no reason to think it won't.

 

Actually a real shame for club and player that he's off to AFCON!

 

[UniFox21]

I've really enjoyed watching how Maresca has implemented slight tweaks to his system each week.

First few months we were very rigid in the tactics we used, and the football we played. 

 

Lately we've tweaked things ever so slightly to counter the opposition, but they've been so effective.

I think he's really growing into his role now. 

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-enzo-marescas-wout-faes-8996674

 

How Enzo Maresca's Wout Faes decision paid off as inevitable Leicester City serve up special
Talking points from Leicester City's 3-0 win over Rotherham, looking at another second-half rout, their domination, Wout Faes, Cesare Casadei, and the promotion race

ByJordan Blackwell
10:34, 24 DEC 2023

 

Describe a typical 90 minutes at the King Power Stadium under the Italian and it would have looked a lot like how the game panned out against Rotherham as City marked the halfway point of the campaign and of their manager’s first season in charge. There was frustration, patience, goals, and three points.

It is difficult to fathom that a team on course for such a mammoth points tally would have scored the joint-fewest goals in the first halves of home matches in the division. But that is the case for City, with just four in 12 after Rotherham kept them out on Saturday.

 

 

 

An opponent sitting deep, forming a barricade around their own penalty area and keeping City out for the first 45 minutes is nothing new. Earlier in the season, those sorts of halves led to grumbles and groans of dissatisfaction from the crowd at the break. That wasn’t the case on Saturday. It may be that the crowd were in a jollier, festive mood, but it also may be that they’ve become used to it now, and know what usually follows in the second half.

City have been leading at the break in just three of their 12 home matches and yet have won 10, more than any other side in the division. They have scored 19 goals in the second halves of home matches, five more than any other side in the division. Their goal difference in those periods is +16; the next best in the league is Leeds with +6.

He still does, but Maresca doesn’t really need to tell his team at the interval that they must stay patient. They know that their relentless passing and probing fatigues opponents mentally and physically, that the gaps become bigger and the lapses of concentration more pronounced, and that goals will be scored.

After goalless first halves, City supporters no longer need to worry about trudging home without seeing their team score. Second-half goals are inevitable.

Dominant display as City make light work of 'toughest game'
Truthfully, while the game played out in familiar fashion, City were perhaps more dominant than they ever have been before. With 24 shots, it was the most they’ve had in a match this season, while just two conceded is the fewest they’ve let an opposition side have against them.

They had total control and most of it was deep in Rotherham’s territory with the Millers stationing themselves closer to their own goal than many visitors to the King Power have before. It was one-way traffic.

Perhaps, then, Maresca’s pre-match message that this would be their most difficult game of the season stopped his players from becoming complacent. Because despite the ease with which City earned victory, all of their three promotion rivals in Ipswich, Leeds, and Southampton have dropped points against Rotherham.

It felt a little bit like he was over-egging the pudding given this was a match against a team without a win in 10, but he probably felt like it needed saying. When City last faced a team at the foot of the table, against Sheffield Wednesday last month, they produced their worst performance of the season, and was one of the few times they have shown complacency. Maresca didn’t want that to happen again and his team responded.

 

Maresca's defence decision pays off for free-spirited Faes
Maresca knew that Rotherham would sit deep and swapped his defence around as a result. His plan worked, albeit a little inadvertently.

With the Millers camped on the edge of their box, City’s wide defenders in the back three had to drive with the ball to get it forward quickly. James Justin is better at doing this from the right in Maresca’s eyes, and so he was switched, with Wout Faes moving to the left.

Maresca explains: “Becoming three at the back was much better with JJ on the right side because he can drive the ball better than when he plays on the left side. We expected them to sit, so we needed Wout and JJ to drive the ball.

“I think JJ is much better on the right side, and Wout is probably better than JJ on the left side. Wout is not the ideal player there but at least he’s probably better than JJ to drive the ball in the left side.”

Faes may not be “the ideal player”, but he was City’s best on the day. Both the Belgian and Justin did carry it forward into those areas, but Faes did so more effectively and it not only made City a greater threat on that side, but also forced the breakthrough goal.

As far as defenders go, Faes is a relaxed, free spirit. That doesn’t always work out for the best as it can lead to lapses in concentration, but in games like Saturday’s, it pays off. He really took on the role of an attacking player.

It wasn’t just in driving with the ball, but in passing it too. Maresca prefers a left-footed player to serve forward balls from that side but Faes still managed to play 20 progressive passes, nearly double anybody else on the pitch. Those balls into Stephy Mavididi and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall made City’s left side their best route to goal.

And that’s how it proved. Faes was doing his job of getting forward – he finished with 47 touches in the final third; his previous best was 12 – but this time he decided to continue his run. Quick passes from Dewsbury-Hall and Ricardo Pereira got the defender into the box and his shot created the havoc from which Patson Daka scored.

Consider City’s player of the season so far and most would say the influential Harry Winks, the born-again Jannik Vestergaard, the game-changing Mads Hermansen, or the all-action Dewsbury-Hall. But Faes is a contender. The hare-brained moments have been few and far between while he’s defending combatively and he’s consistently pushing the ball into the more dangerous areas. He’s a big asset for City right now.

 

Casadei gets timely confidence boost
So often City’s goals are about being in the right place at the right time. It’s an important skill, but it often means the scorers don’t get the same level of plaudits.

However, a goal of any kind can be a confidence boost, especially when you’re 20 years old. It’s fair to say that it’s not been the easiest of loan spells for Cesare Casadei so far, but despite the relatively simple nature of his diving header from inside the six-yard box, it did seem to instil a bit of belief in him and he had one of his better games, with his touch sharper and his passing better. It’s come in timely fashion.

Four games in 10 days means every member of the City squad is going to need to play if they are to come through the festive period with their winning run still going. Casadei will have a job to do, and after his long wait for a second City goal ended, he should approach his task with more confidence.

 

What can stop City now?
When analysing the December schedule, it felt like the four games before Christmas, all against bottom-half sides, were winnable and that taking 12 points from 12 was important to capitalise on a more difficult fixture list for their rivals, and to ensure they had momentum before the top-of-the-table clash with Ipswich. City have done their job, and done it well, scoring 13 goals in the process.

It’s hard to see what could stop City now. It’s not that they’re likely to win every game in the second half of the season, but based on the first half of the campaign, it’s difficult to see how they drop enough points for more than two teams to overtake them.

Avoiding injuries and complacency feel like the biggest challenges they now face, but the latter doesn’t seem likely when Maresca is in charge. He said: “With the players, it’s very easy. They know I’m quite strict and if some of them drop, they don’t play.

“It’s like this because the club need respect, the fans need respect, the opposition need respect, so you cannot drop. We need to continue in this way.”

If City do continue in this way and replicate their scores from the first half of the season, they will finish on 116 points, 10 more than any side has ever earned in an English league campaign. It should be fun.

[moore_94]

 

[Aleksz]

1 minute ago, moore_94 said:

 

Wow. The patience and passing is incredible. As is the sheer amount of players we’re playing in the last line no amount of players behind the ball is stopping that at this level.

[Chelmofox]

24 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

 

This reply made me laugh.

 

My favourite moment in that was Mavadidi's header.

 

[Lionator]

20 hours ago, moore_94 said:

 

It’s amazing because Rotherham kept their defensive discipline for 52 of those passes, then KDH’s marker just loses him for split second which allows him to get away and pull the RB out of position, and we duly punish it. It’s a masterclass in staying patient and wearing the opposition down. Rotherham defended this perfectly

for 99% of it, and it was just one split second lapse which allowed the goal to be scored. It’s incredible really. 

[ARTY_FOX]

20 hours ago, Chelmofox said:

This reply made me laugh.

 

My favourite moment in that was Mavadidi's header.

 

It amazes me that people can't see what we're doing. Especially the first half. 

 

Overload one side then switch the play, then do it again and again and again so the oppo spends 45 mins doing shuttle sprints across the pitch 

 

Then are shocked they look tired and we look fresh. 

Edited 25 December 2023 by ARTY_FOX

[coolhandfox]

People talk about no plan B, and maybe we don't have.

 

But what we do have multiple tweaks to plan A. 

 

So impressed we Enzo little tweaks in game.

[Steve Earle]

I won’t be able to see the Ipswich game which, apart from being our most important game since the last one (!), promises to be fascinating tactically.

 

Ipswich typically set up like no other team in the Championship, in an asymmetrical 3-3-3-1. Three quarters of their back four, starting with the RB, play in orthodox positions. The LB however is pushed further forward as a LWB/LM alongside the two pivots. This in turn allows them to play an orthodox RW alongside two 10’s, one (usually Broadhead) playing notionally off the left a la Maddison. Hirst plays the target man role better than I could ever have imagined.

 

Will Enzo adjust his tactics and if so how?
 

It’s likely that Ipswich’s two tens and two pivots will pick up Ricardo, Winks, KDH & Wilf when OOP. Then they add either the RW or the LWB to secure an overload which we’ll have to be alive to and have a plan for. And Davis’s role as LWB might mean Ricardo daren’t invert as often. So might we see something similar to Rotherham, with JJ playing on the right to counter Davis & Ricardo inverting from the left? What else do we expect from Enzo?

 

And Merry Christmas everyone! 

[blaaklint]

18 hours ago, Lionator said:

It’s amazing because Rotherham kept their defensive discipline for 52 of those passes, then KDH’s marker just loses him for split second which allows him to get away and pull the RB out of position, and we duly punish it. It’s a masterclass in staying patient and wearing the opposition down. Rotherham defended this perfectly

for 99% of it, and it was just one split second lapse which allowed the goal to be scored. It’s incredible really. 

KDH wasn't on the pitch at this point, it's Praet who plays in Ricardo down the left. Other than that, you're spot on.

[fuchsntf]

On 24/12/2023 at 10:37, UniFox21 said:

I've really enjoyed watching how Maresca has implemented slight tweaks to his system each week.

First few months we were very rigid in the tactics we used, and the football we played. 

 

Lately we've tweaked things ever so slightly to counter the opposition, but they've been so effective.

I think he's really growing into his role now. 

I actually think a bit opposite…

We are growing into his role,his definitions of system & Squad,

We now seeing, he always held that balance,definite & consequent  in some area,but showing wisdom and forethought that he too is learning .

 

we the fans in turn,are slowly aka this forum & pundits,slowly cutting out on the 

presumption,assumption angle…

Beforehand towards each period and single gameday he has put foreword our

issues & problems but not OTT broadcasting it. Often very canny,but genuinely

admits his learning curves,before,during & after games…

Definetely not arrogant or a braggart. He shows presently a cleverness & wisdom of recognising squad,team needs…He’s played every player,and gave them confidence

and shown to all and sundry,he can make them a certain success…

There is of yet no player,that can be pointed has the weakest,they take up their roles

and upto now all fit…

with accepting small tweaks to their game ( and gameday team)

without any under.achieving presentation…

That is Marascas redeeming strengths so far…

Its within this forum and it’s presumptions across the board,where not has individuals,but as a Forum our perspectives collectively are & have been skew-wiff.

The staticians,tacticians, decent punditrians are near in sharing,giving balanced insite ,but also often miss Enzo’s perspective.

We are still in that no-mans-land of figuring out his stragedies, dying to discover some of his magic formula of Plan A,B or C.

Thats why we can’t yet prejudge, and predict like many love to do…( not me),

manager,system and his coaching staff….

Sometimes in life it’s about being quiet,embrace what’s happening,

and simply enjoy the presentation….

Including at any time the perceived …the Good,the bad,the ugly & wow moments..

Our explosiveness from counter attack, or from slow calculating movement,is starting to show method within the  Enzo- ideology and system…

So far,including losses we have faced and turned every challenge to our advantage.

 

The funny thing is for todays game against Ipswich,

we and the championship world, are dying to see how it turns out,result wise, and the pro-contra performances….but probably For the first time,in our own history,you can’t produce a scenario,..win,lose,Draw…& performances. Where it will define,effect, disturb,or interrupt our potential aspirations,targets,demure nor progress and attitudes towards our season..

lose 4-0,draw even,might be a bit of a bummer ,but there simply will  be no implosion,

nor will it put  AFCON up as ascary uncomfortable position for us…

 

Where has We win,even draw,that’s going to psychologically hit the chasing pack,especially the 3 clubs behind us

A massive Glut of chronic injuries,is as I see it,the only danger to falter our/Enzo’s progress.

 

[Daz93]

18 hours ago, Steve Earle said:

I won’t be able to see the Ipswich game which, apart from being our most important game since the last one (!), promises to be fascinating tactically.

 

Ipswich typically set up like no other team in the Championship, in an asymmetrical 3-3-3-1. Three quarters of their back four, starting with the RB, play in orthodox positions. The LB however is pushed further forward as a LWB/LM alongside the two pivots. This in turn allows them to play an orthodox RW alongside two 10’s, one (usually Broadhead) playing notionally off the left a la Maddison. Hirst plays the target man role better than I could ever have imagined.

 

Will Enzo adjust his tactics and if so how?
 

It’s likely that Ipswich’s two tens and two pivots will pick up Ricardo, Winks, KDH & Wilf when OOP. Then they add either the RW or the LWB to secure an overload which we’ll have to be alive to and have a plan for. And Davis’s role as LWB might mean Ricardo daren’t invert as often. So might we see something similar to Rotherham, with JJ playing on the right to counter Davis & Ricardo inverting from the left? What else do we expect from Enzo?

 

And Merry Christmas everyone! 

I think that's the exact reason we saw that happen to prepare for this game. Definitely need JJ's pace and 1v1 defending against Davis and Broadhead. Will depend how we cover when Broadhead comes inside whether Vesty then steps or JJ follows with Abdul taking Davis.

[fuchsntf]

On 23/12/2023 at 17:43, StriderHiryu said:

 

Quoting this here in the tactics thread because it absolutely belongs here. I think we've been brilliant in the last 4 games from an offensive point of view and Patson Daka is one of the big reasons why. The team overall plays better when he's in the team. Whether that continues or not I don't know, but there's no reason to think it won't.

 

Actually a real shame for club and player that he's off to AFCON!

 

I reckon Daka will be happy and proud,that he can represent his country at his highest regional international competition level,next to the World Cup….

 

Are we saying that ,European  fans should begrudge our club African players their countries highest recognition..

I expect a profi-side from Europe,to organise their squads accordingly,they want the choice & spread of players,our fans every season demand that we scout so far afield…

After all these years,not being prepared…is or would be simply Dumb..From club itself..

And fans can’t have it both ways…The reason those AFCON players are more than tempting is we want that highly qualified

cut of that specific cake…

 

The modern fan tendency ( at least FT it seems) is to lambast, the new play,instead of welcoming him,then when it suits them,

dive into the negatives,, begrudge why we are every two yrs,we should  be losing their services of those players for any given period..

We should be supporting them on their journeys & international paths,while representing their country,because they also market and represent their clubs they play for…..Even if we took away the marketing or financial gains, ts the honour in the role calls

to have that association,from either club side,player,side,or international side….

 

Its seems we have forgot this in football and become snivelling,cynical little brats….

In Rugby it’s one of the most important issues of welding team character & strength…

Both Sets of sports participants accept this,but there is a set of media,,pundits and fans on the football side,who prefer to lead their agendas and campaigns with its…Shown in their different vocabularies..

 

 

 

 

[DesertFox]

On 24/12/2023 at 05:37, moore_94 said:

 

The other thing that often gets overlooked, which this clip illustrates well, is just how much we drag the opposition around the pitch, and just how draining that is. Even if this move came to nothing, it's still beneficial in grinding the opponent down. We are SO good at this - keeping the wingers really wide, and hitting long diagonals or otherwise switching play quickly. Every match I see an opponent's head visibly drop, as he has to slog half way across the pitch yet again, just to have the ball inevitably pinged past him again. It must be so demoralizing!

[fuchsntf]

On 25/12/2023 at 09:56, Lionator said:

It’s amazing because Rotherham kept their defensive discipline for 52 of those passes, then KDH’s marker just loses him for split second which allows him to get away and pull the RB out of position, and we duly punish it. It’s a masterclass in staying patient and wearing the opposition down. Rotherham defended this perfectly

for 99% of it, and it was just one split second lapse which allowed the goal to be scored. It’s incredible really. 

It’s that same type of discipline, we see some foreign bowlers in cricket have..Like the legend McGrath, landing/pitching the ball

practically in the same area,with a marvellous consistency, which allowed him to put a slightly different shape on it,even when batsman knew more often or not where it’s going to land,but more often than not still not being able to do something about it..

because of McGraths tweak or ground out consistency the batsman beat themselves..

 

Maresca system,or any system, it’s not that opposition doesn’t or does get used to

the oppo-teams tactics in playing it,

Its the challenge, ‘ can you do something about it ,let’s see then can you hold your consistency”

When I make those subtle tweaks,within the same system 

This in turn forces ( for no reason), the opposition to think they have to play differently,

instead of consistently keeping and believing to their own strength(s)..

Its really the simplest of con-tricks…

That’s why @StriderHiryu & a few others explanation of tactics enhances it more.

Including Enzo’s own great video of his explanations and varieties of..intention and introducing new approach

which supports a natural learning curve,when oppo teams try to knock it out of its concept…

 

The one thing is what some fans find some consistent moves  « boring » for long stretches,but there are

still method & purpose,wthinin not diving in to take the initiative ( seemingly), when offered…

I am nearly 70, I loved the decades of sort of gung-ho attitude in “ soccer“ & the best one wins..but that too can be mundane, & creates long periods of frustration.and lands often on stoney ground,or peaks out too early…( Leeds struggles for example)

 

.The wind has changed slightly,and we don’t always pretend to hide the ball,we are hiding it

by showing & offering the opposition sightings,but beggar the question, now do something about it…

Our productive transitions are more productive,clever,interesting and once in flow hard to stop..not all turns into goals,some are there to define or even test and self-learn the gameday avenues…

 

Yes I could occasionally scream and shout to do this or that,but now within their individualism,there is teams movement and priorities on the day…Players are told to keep that shape…manager,teammates and system demands it,but offers individual flexability…

 

The idea & manager is new all round for our club, and squad,so it will take a few seasons to evolve and develope..

Enzo and we disciples, just need to carry on believing it,when difficult periods.and certain twists appear…

One big positive,playing side he quickly got players onside and implementing the first strains….Brilliant that was a major step.

We now can afford to lose games, initiative is not lost…

Today is a major day for the ‚others‘, happily not us,but if we win,the strides are enormous against those a chasing..

Mind you ,any loss is pain, but this time not in the long run of things

 

 

 

 

[fuchsntf]

On 24/12/2023 at 13:37, moore_94 said:

 

 

               

 

[Gwyn]

On 24/12/2023 at 22:32, Chelmofox said:

This reply made me laugh.

 

My favourite moment in that was Mavadidi's header.

 

Don't get it‽

[Chelmofox]

1 hour ago, Gwyn said:

Don't get it‽

Have you never been subjected to someone at the KP should 'just get it forrwaaaarrrd' when we play all this tippy tappy sh1te?

 

During that move, someone shouted 'just shooooot'. The move was lost in a lot of people. I only realised how good it was when I saw the aforementioned tweet.

[UniFox21]

Really interesting tactical shape so far. 

Daka dropping deep is occupying both the centre half and a deep lying mid. Each time the RB is having to pull in to track Ndidi's run. 

Leaves Mavididi in so much space 

[tsintskaro]

He is not gonna survive 15 games in PL

[ARTY_FOX]

Poor game management today but it happens. 

[Muzzy_no7]

Awful tactics second half and subs tonight. 

[SafewayFox]

You can’t account for the terrible decisions from the referee BUT it was a level of ignorance/naivety that Enzo seemed to make pre-meditated substitutions rather than react to what was happening on the pitch.

 

Hamza SHOULD have come on for KDH and no idea why Kelechi was chosen ahead of Cannon, he hardly has shown himself as a defending from the front striker in his time here.