We Ain't Got No History: All Posts by Lamin OoChampions of Europe!https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52884/21_SBN_002_We_Aint_Got_No_History_Favicon_32x32..png2013-05-06T21:04:07+01:00https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/authors/lamin-oo/rss2013-05-06T21:04:07+01:002013-05-06T21:04:07+01:00Ramires on the counter vs Man United
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/M6jyDpLBm9KitUfUDe1DmVtjqUE=/80x0:3918x2559/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/12764961/168102883.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Alex Livesey</figcaption>
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<p>Ramires is fundamentally a player who thrives on transitions. His tireless work rate off the ball, his ability to tackle and his explosive speed make him a real threat in counter attacks. This is not new to us. And it is of no particular surprise to find him in the thick of this vital game-winning goal against Manchester United which was built on a quick break from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea's</a> half.</p>
<p>But first, let's back up a bit.</p>
<p>Chelsea played this game with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110218/frank-lampard">Frank Lampard</a> and Ramires in the double pivot of the usual 4-2-3-1 formation. They took turns going forward from their deep position through out the game and it followed a pattern. When the team was attacking through possession play, Lampard was the one who joined the attack. Ramires went forward mainly on the counters. Here's a look at Oscar's chance from the first half.</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2587149/oscar_shot.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Oscar_shot_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2587149/oscar_shot_medium.png"></a></p>
<p>After intercepting a pass from United, Oscar quickly moved down the right wing and Lampard would find the Brazilian with an uncomplicated pass. Ramires was almost level with Lampard when this attack began but, as you can see in frame 2, he ended up alongside <span>Demba Ba</span> in the box by the time Oscar took a smart shot at United goal.</p>
<p>[<b>Side note</b>: The difference between Ramires and Lampard is not simply that one joins the counter-attack and another doesn't. After all, Lampard has made a name for himself with his forward runs. But while you expect Lampard to make a late run and position himself near the edge of the box, somewhere near Mata and Howard Webb in the picture, Ramires offers himself as an option at the very tip of the attack.]</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2587277/Moses_shot.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Moses_shot_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2587277/Moses_shot_medium.png"></a></p>
<p>We see Ramires doing the same thing in another chance in the first half. This time, the Brazilian pounced on a slip from <span>Phil Jones</span>* to begin the counter attack. Again, when <span>Juan Mata</span> cut the ball back for <span>Victor Moses</span> to aim for the sky, Ramires had made it into the opposition's box.</p>
<p><i>* I want to laugh at this so bad but I can't. (Damn you, John! You ruined it for us!)</i></p>
<p>Consider that was my super long-winded intro and now let's talk about the build up to the goal, which began with a vital challenge from Ramires. A long ball from Johnny Evans sent the ball into Chelsea's half. After the two sides played a short game of hot potato with the ball, substitute Wayne Rooney was in possession 20 yards out from the Chelsea goal. This was when Ramires picked the England striker's pocket. Like this:</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2587341/1dw67.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="1dw67_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2587341/1dw67_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p>Rooney believed he was fouled but clearly the striker tripped himself when tangling with Ramires's standing foot and the ball was pretty much in the Brazilian's possession. From here, Lampard would carry the ball forward while Ramires sprint past his midfield partner like a kid chasing an ice cream truck.</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2587453/Mata_passes.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Mata_passes_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2587453/Mata_passes_medium.png"></a></p>
<p>When Mata received the ball from Lampard near the halfway line, the Spaniard quickly tried to release it to Fernando Torres, who had come on for Victor Moses (much to Tony Gale's delight) and played on the flank (much to Tony Gale's disappointment). Mata's pass was intercepted by Johnny Evans, which fits the overall pattern of the game: Chelsea's attack breaking down repeatedly in the final third.</p>
<p>Mata, however, would get another shot when Ryan "We Don't Do That Here" Giggs mis-controlled the ball. With Jones filling in for the out of position Rafael* at right back and tracking Torres, Chelsea had an extra man in midfield: Ramires. Mata lobbed the ball over Giggs, just for fun and because he can, to the unmarked Ramires, and then dashed forward into the box from the left wing. Here was where the vital mistake occurred from United's perspective. There were three United players around Mata at this point but no one tracked his run when the ball left his feet. Jones had Torres to mind; Giggs shifted his attention rightly to Ramires. But neither Rooney nor Antonio Valencia bothered to followed the Chelsea number 10 into the box. <i>Gracias, amigos!</i> </p>
<p><i>* Smile!</i></p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2587549/five_vs_four.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Five_vs_four_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2587549/five_vs_four_medium.png"></a></p>
<p>And this is pretty self explanatory. Ramires dribbled toward the United back four, two of whom were occupied by Chelsea strikers. He then made a back-heel pass, because he's Brazilian and Brazilians do back-heel passes, to Oscar, who found Mata salivating and rubbing his little belly on the back post. (Click <a href="http://i.minus.com/izhhcdyDddmVf.gif">here</a> for the GIF of the goal.)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">* * *</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">So on a day that Chelsea struggled to find the break through against a lackluster Manchester United, Ramires's physicality, speed and energy play a crucial role in setting up this counter-attacking goal.</p>
https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/5/6/4305682/goal-analysis-juan-mata-ramires-man-unitedLamin Oo2013-04-12T21:43:01+01:002013-04-12T21:43:01+01:00Analyzing the two goals against Rubin Kazan
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/k3zi0WTsoXyApp2Vv7JpLrxfSNw=/0x395:3041x2422/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/11413869/166331063.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dmitry Korotayev</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Two goals set up by two box-to-box midfielders with two distinct sets of attributes.</p> <p>The best thing about winning the 1st leg 3-1 is that you can lose the second 2-3 and still go through to the next stage. So here we are: <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chelsea</a> in the semi-finals of the Europa "We Care More About You Now Than We Did In The Previous Round" League. The goals from <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110873/fernando-torres" class="sbn-auto-link">Fernando Torres</a> and <span>Victor Moses</span> made sure that the fans can sing "One Team In Europe" again despite the sloppy defense's best effort to throw the game against Rubin Kazan.</p>
<p>The game plan was simple: contain and counter. Stay compact defensively with a 4-5-1/4-3-3 shape and break quickly to score on the counter. As it turns out, the latter part of the strategy worked better than the former in this game. With the youngster Nathan Ake anchoring the midfield, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110218/frank-lampard" class="sbn-auto-link">Frank Lampard</a> and Ramires completed the inverted midfield triangle of the Mourinho days. Playing in their best positions as box-to-box midfielders, both Lampard and Ramries contributed to the goals, in their own ways.</p>
<p><b>The Torres Goal</b></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2464135/1st_goal.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2464135/1st_goal_medium.png" class="photo" alt="1st_goal_medium"></a></p>
<p>From the very early stage of the game, Chelsea were defending deep with two rows of defensive shield ahead of <span>Petr Cech</span>. In this particular case, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110645/paulo-ferreira" class="sbn-auto-link">Paulo Ferreira</a> was off injured on the sidelines, which meant that Moses had to drop back to the left back position and Torres to the left wing. Ake, who was almost the fifth defender at this point, would make an important interception* to start the break with Ramires.</p>
<p><i>* He was also the top interceptor of the game with 7 interceptions.</i></p>
<p>Shut down by two opponents, the Brazilian would quickly lose the ball but this phase of the game was vital for the buildup to the goal because it pushed Torres up the field from his initial left wing position. So when <span>Cesar Azpilicueta</span> grabbed a hold of the subsequent misplaced pass from Rubin Kazan and found Lampard centrally, the midfielder can send a first-time long pass up the pitch like this:</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2464239/lunapic_136578856818087_7.gif"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2464239/lunapic_136578856818087_7_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Lunapic_136578856818087_7_medium"></a></p>
<p>A well-timed pass over the defense for Torres to chase. Chelsea wouldn't have been able to break as quickly as they did here if the initially failed break-away with Ramires that forced Torres further up the field. And, of course, Zorres finished it with superb skill and confidence:</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1550907/tumblr_ml3pbjBFhA1sn7k9qo1_500.gif"><img src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1550907/tumblr_ml3pbjBFhA1sn7k9qo1_500_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Tumblr_ml3pbjbfha1sn7k9qo1_500_medium"></a></p>
<p>(via <a href="http://basedfootballgifs.tumblr.com/post/47710294709">basedfootball</a>)</p>
<p>#FormIsTemporaryClassIsPermanent #Respect #Legend #Zorres #LOL</p>
<p><b>The Moses Goal</b></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2464263/2nd_goal.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2464263/2nd_goal_medium.png" class="photo" alt="2nd_goal_medium"></a></p>
<p>Unlike the first goal, this one was built on good pressing job from the Chelsea attackers in Rubin Kazan's half. A long ball out from defense (<span>David Luiz</span>) started us off. Chelsea lost out the first and the second ball but closed down the opposition pretty quickly. With one defender out of the frame next to Torres, it was a 5 v 5 situation with both Ramires and Lampard in advance positions, anticipating a forward pass to the two Rubin Kazan players closest to them. Of the two immediate passing options, the last defender picked the central route as <span>Yossi Benayoun</span> stepped up. This was wrong choice because Ramires would do this to the recipient of that pass:</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2464351/lunapic_136578856818087_9.gif"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2464351/lunapic_136578856818087_9_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Lunapic_136578856818087_9_medium"></a></p>
<p>I honestly don't think we would have won the ball back here if the last defender passed to the guy to his left, i.e. the player closest to Lampard. The England midfielder wouldn't have been able to press as quickly as Ramries did and win the challenge. This was totally in the Ramires territory, and the Brazilian did what he does best. Now, the stage is set.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2464399/lunapic_136578856818087_11.gif"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2464399/lunapic_136578856818087_11_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Lunapic_136578856818087_11_medium"></a></p>
<p>It looks complicated, but this goal is actually quite simple. It is a series of one-two's stacked together -- Lampard-to-Moses, Moses-to-Ramires and Ramires-to-Moses -- as the Blues penetrates the defense. Of course, there was that first-time outside-of-the-boot assist from Ramires which took the buildup to another level: something we expect from the likes of Hazard, Mata and Oscar, but wonderfully surprised that Ramires pulled it off.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">* * *</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Kudos to everyone involved but central to these two goals are the contributions from the two box-to-box midfielders, each according to their strengths: Lampard with the vision and the long range passing for the first goal and Ramires with the pace and ability to win the ball via tackles for the second.</p>
https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/4/12/4217462/analyzing-the-two-goals-against-rubin-kazan-torres-lampard-ramires-mosesLamin Oo2013-03-27T19:49:01+00:002013-03-27T19:49:01+00:00A great goal we almost scored
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<img alt="We almost scored a really awesome goal, guys! Weeeeeeeee!!!" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tqxWs7KUcmLI6KeE7vQYdu0aecM=/50x0:950x600/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/10406019/144085960.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>We almost scored a really awesome goal, guys! Weeeeeeeee!!! | Clive Brunskill</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>"Pleasure disappoint, possibility never." -- Soren Kierkegaard</p> <p>We all hate international breaks. We do. We hate them! Like teenagers without reliable internet access, our lives are empty and meaningless when club football is not around. (Hang tight tough. It will soon be over.) But one thing that we gain from these FIFA-sponsored <i>Tests from the Lord... </i>is time.</p>
<p>Time to step back from the fixture congestion and squad management; time to digest what had taken place during the trials and triumphs of the highly talented but inconsistent band of attacking trio; time to chew on old problems in the midfield; time to dream (<i>Oh Jose, you are such a tease! *giggles*</i>); time to take a breather from the <i>Rafalution</i> that suffocates Stamford Bridge like hot air on a humid day; and, in my case*, time to reminisce what could have been the one of the best <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chelsea</a> goals of the season...</p>
<p><i>* Which is now your case too since I wrote it and you are reading it.</i></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">* * *</span></p>
<p>It was a tough game for Chelsea U18. Derby County are a energetic, hard-working, physical team (<i><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city" class="sbn-auto-link">Stoke City</a>-esque if you ask me.</i>) that had <i>rammed</i> (<i>*Ahem*</i>) their way into the Sixth Round Proper of this season's FA Youth Cup, <i>and</i> Pride Park was the venue. Despite being the current holder, Baby Blues have had an eventful season thus far, the comeback from 2-0 down against Charlton in Round 4 a prime example. It wasn't going to be a walk in the <i>park </i>(<i>#SorryNotSorry)</i> is all I'm saying here.</p>
<p>Turns out it was an entertaining affair, especially compared to how the senior team did in Romania 24 hours prior. Baby Blues played open, attacking football while the Rams pressed hard and defended strongly. Chelsea were definitely the better side and took a deserved lead when Lewis Baker converted from the spot with only a quarter of an hour gone. Derby understandably started to gain momentum after that and pushed for an equalizer. This was when <i>it </i>came about.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2387737/boga.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2387737/boga_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Boga_medium"></a></p>
<p><i>It </i>had a humble beginning. A simple, but patient, buildup from the back. Ruben Loftus-Cheek picked up the ball from the defense before pushing it forward to Jeremy Boga (aka <a href="http://carefreechronicles.tumblr.com/post/46285866657/jeremy-bogas-goal-vs-barcelona-in-the-nextgen">He Who Schooled Those Amateurs From La Masia Factory</a>). Boga, by simply being Boga, drew the attention of two Derby players right away. The youngster would hold off using his magical power for the time being and dribble across the halfway line.</p>
<p>He could probably have advanced the ball to the right flank but the opportunity passed quickly as he hung on to the ball a tad too long, which we will be able to forgive in just a sec. With his options shut down, Boga had to make a back pass to the right. The buildup seemed to have suffered a minor set-back. But wait...</p>
<p>[<b>Hover mouse pointer over or tap GIFs to view.</b>]</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2387825/lunapic_136425091546978_10.gif"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2387825/lunapic_136425091546978_10_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Lunapic_136425091546978_10_medium"></a></p>
<p>But with the pressure from Derby players off of him for a split second, Boga dropped back quickly to get the return pass. As his marker stepped up, Boga turned swiftly and never looked back. If he did he would have seen his marker chasing him like a little lost puppy. No step-over; no nutmegs; no elaborate trickery of the feet. Just a simple, effective turn, executed precisely with speed and vision.</p>
<p>Boga would cut through the Derby midfield and <i>BAM! </i>we were in the attacking third, unfazed by the two players closing him down from left and right. It was time to crank this up a notch. Over to Baker: Lewis Baker.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2387897/lunapic_136425091546978_14.gif"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2387897/lunapic_136425091546978_14_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Lunapic_136425091546978_14_medium"></a></p>
<p>YES! THAT WAS ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENED!</p>
<p>I don't even know if I could describe what Baker did to the ball there. All I know is that it involved a ballerina-esque swivel, a back-heel/pull, a no-look, well-timed, defense-splitting through-ball, and poetry.</p>
<p>If I can close my eyes quick enough after seeing that pass, which I've nick-named <i>OUTRAGEOUSNESS*</i>, I can imagine the on rushing Alex Kiwomya blast the ball into the upper 90 with power, or pass it low into the corner with composure, or, if I may be greedy, chip it Ramires-at-Camp-Nou style with finesse.</p>
<p><i></i>* <i>Please, feel free to suggest your own in the comments.</i></p>
<p>It doesn't even have to be any of those options. The ball can get rebound off the keeper and land in the net for all I care and it would have been a great goal. One of the best goals Chelsea would have scored this season across youth and first team. But it was not to be. Kiwomya's shot was straight at the keeper who, to his credit, was positioned well and made himself big.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">* * *</span></p>
<p>Sorry, kids. This story doesn't have a happy ending (which, of course, I have already given away in the title). But it doesn't stop me from thinking about this chance and <i>what it could have been</i>. Also the fact that this particular instance came from Chelsea youngsters adds another layer to the imagination--<i>of what it can be in the future</i>.</p>
<p>If I try hard enough, I can forget we are Chelsea and that youth players have a tough time making it into the first team here, and picture a future where the talents of Baker, Boga, Kiwomya and other youth players get to reach the full potential at Stamford Bridge. <i>That </i>would be quite magical.</p>
https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/3/27/4146448/a-great-goal-we-almost-scoredLamin Oo2013-03-15T16:53:23+00:002013-03-15T16:53:23+00:00Three goals vs Bucharest analyzed
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<img alt="Defender's face reads: "Oh crap. I've made a terrible judgement."" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oTCLcgd40JJplhYEjWW86Fuo4W4=/3x0:3996x2662/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/9788707/163688253.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Defender's face reads: "Oh crap. I've made a terrible judgement." | Laurence Griffiths</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The needed goals were scored, but how?</p> <p>Chelsea are through to the quarterfinals of the Europa "Red-headed Cousin of the Big Eared One" League (<a href="http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/2013/3/15/4107514/chelsea-fc-europa-league-quarterfinal-draw-results-rubin-kazan">to face Rubin Kazan</a>) thanks to the three goals from <span>Juan Mata</span>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110210/john-terry" class="sbn-auto-link">John Terry</a> and... <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110873/fernando-torres" class="sbn-auto-link">Fernando Torres</a> (*rubs eyes* <i>Really?</i> *pinches self* <i>Oh, it actually did happen. Wow.</i>) It wasn't an easy game for the Blues who scored first but then remembered they were Chelsea and allowed Bucharest to score before the half time whistle. Additional two goals were needed in order to advance, and the goals did come as the result of an impressive second half performance. Let's take a closer look at the three goals Chelsea scored in this game.</p>
<p><b>Juan Mata Goal</b></p>
<p>The first 30 minutes of this game followed the same pattern as any recent games in which Chelsea played against a weaker side who were determined to stay compact defensively and attack on the break. You can't really blame Steaua Bucharest for their approach because (a) they are in the lead with their home goal and (b) playing on the counter tends to work well against the Blues. We have talked a lot about that second point through out this season. <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chelsea's</a> <i>radically hobbitized</i> front line can be stopped with a disciplined defense and the team lacks a midfield creator from a deeper position (see <i>Modric, Luka </i>#TheOneThatGotAway) who can unlock such tight defenses.</p>
<p>Thus, it is perfectly logical that we have a portion of the game in which Chelsea dominates possession* but fails to create meaningful chances** while the opposition, solid in defense, comes closest to scoring despite not seeing the ball much. The away team pressed and defended with purpose and the Blues were unable to penetrate.</p>
<p>* <i>Successful passes head-to-head in the first 30 minutes: Chelsea, 175 vs. Bucharest, 114.</i></p>
<p>** <i>Shots hit head-to-head in the first 30 minutes: Chelsea, 4 (all from outside the box; three by <span>John Obi Mikel</span>) vs. Bucharest, 3 (two from inside the box; one needed a strong save from <span>Petr Cech</span>).</i></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2323691/Mata_Goal_1.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2323691/Mata_Goal_1_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Mata_goal_1_medium"></a></p>
<p>So it kind of makes sense that the break through goal came from a rare Chelsea counter attack. Here you see Bucharest in possession on their left around the half way line. Chelsea were pressing hard with <span>Cesar Azpilicueta</span>, David Luiz and Mikel very close to their marks. Oscar would track back and make an important tackle to win the ball back. David Luiz stepped up to the loose ball and found, with his first touch, Juan Mata in the opposition's half.</p>
<p>These were important interventions from the two Brazilians since it allowed Chelsea to now attack at an unorganized Bucharest defense. You should also note <span>David Luiz's</span> ability to intercept here. There have been times when it didn't work, leaving the defense exposed, (it's a high risk, high reward game) but the Brazilian was on his game this time around, winning three interceptions (second only to the Interceptor Bunny, Ramires).</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2323859/Mata_Goal_2.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2323859/Mata_Goal_2_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Mata_goal_2_medium"></a></p>
<p>When Juan Mata dodged the initial tackle that flown in, the away side's defensive lines that stayed compact in the early stages were stretched. With Torres pushing the last line (defenders 1, 2, 3 and 4) back, three Chelsea play-makers had a ton of space to exploit (as midfielders 5, 6 and 7 tired to catch up). Plus, Ramires had also sprinted forward centrally. Hazard moved left, Oscar overlapped on the right and Mata dribbled centrally. Further ahead, Torres made some confusing runs: he angled toward the right first, then decided to come back into the center. But credit to the <i>Cursed One</i> for staying out of the way as Mata and Ramries one-two-ed their way forward, and Mata put Chelsea ahead after displaying ballet dancer-esque balance in the box.</p>
<p><b>John Terry Goal</b></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2323971/lunapic_136335785885629_1.gif"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2323971/lunapic_136335785885629_1_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Lunapic_136335785885629_1_medium"></a></p>
<p>It's been awhile since we've scored a quality set-piece header goal. <i>Heck!</i> It's been awhile since we are able to deliver quality set-piece crosses! So this goal gives me more satisfaction than it normally would have. No doubt there were some poor defending from the opposition in this particular set-piece: Terry's marker was easily blocked by a routine set-piece tactics; another didn't have the sense or awareness to pick up the unmarked Chelsea center back dashing across the box.</p>
<p>But it was a goal in which everything went according to plan: David Luiz and Torres held of Terry's marker; Mikel's near post run cleared Terry's path; the delivery was inch perfect; Terry's header, straight out of the textbook (<b>Chapter Four: Attacking Set-Pieces Crosses Like A Legend</b>)<i>.</i></p>
<p><b>Fernando Torres Goal</b></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2324003/Torres_Goal_1.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2324003/Torres_Goal_1_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Torres_goal_1_medium"></a></p>
<p>There were also defensive lapses in the buildup to the all-important third goal scored around the 70th minute; heavy pressing in the first half probably took a toll on the Bucharest defenders. Mata received a simple throw-in on the right flank and was able to dribble across the pitch untroubled. (Maybe the players in red just got tired of kicking him from the back. Seriously. Some acted like complete [ducks] in this game!)</p>
<p>There were three Chelsea players in the box: Oscar, running to the right; Torres, unmoved at the center; Hazard, unseen in the frame to the left.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2324131/Torres_Goal_2.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2324131/Torres_Goal_2_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Torres_goal_2_medium"></a></p>
<p>Bucharest had numbers in defense but the organization was flawed. As Mata looked to pass into the box, there were two players in red who could/should have blocked the passing lane but didn't. Here the movement from <span>Eden Hazard</span> was crucial. As Torres stood firm by the penalty spot, Hazard anticipated well and cut across to the center to receive Mata's pass.</p>
<p>In the process, the Belgian also dragged (zoomed in frame now) one defender, <i>No. 1</i>, with him and occupied another's attention <i>No. 2</i>. This meant Torres, who had made minimal movement in the box, found himself unmarked when Hazard cast magic on the ball with the slightest of touches, guiding it toward his goal-starved teammate. Torres took two touches before finishing coolly with his left foot. <i>Curse broken!</i> <i>World poverty eradicated! Middle East reconciled! Impossible is nothing!</i> (Well, at least until the penalty miss... #FormIsTemporaryCurseIsPermanent)</p>
https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/3/15/4108000/goal-analysis-torres-mata-terry-steaua-bucharestLamin Oo2013-02-24T15:27:55+00:002013-02-24T15:27:55+00:00Poor Chelsea Loses Poorly
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zlqw0oKS9fgQdzvjmoedFO8CX8Y=/5x0:2815x1873/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8641077/162507282.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Alex Livesey</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Chelsea suffered a deserved 2-0 loss at the hands of Manchester City. It was a poor performance and a poor result. And not much else to say. The first half was awful. Yuck! Ewww! Chelsea team were set up to play on the counter, which is fine as long as we can keep it tight defensively (we didn't), break effectively on counter (far from it!) and take advantage of any set-piece opportunities (*sigh*). Petr Cech kept the team in the game and Chelsea were lucky to have went into halftime with a clean sheet.</p>
<p>I don't think I am allowed to use the kind of words I would like to use in order to describe second half. So I will just keep quiet. Some notes:</p>
<ul>
<li>I can totally understand why Benitez went with a counter-attacking game plan. Manchester City aren't playing that well at this moment but they are still a good team playing at home. But Chelsea left so much space between the lines defensively and lost the ball way too cheaply on the break. Poor.</li>
<li>Remember when we used to take quality corners and free-kicks? Those were the good days...</li>
<li>Was there a lonelier man in the world than Demba Ba in the opening 20 minutes of this game? I bet he wished he had somehow sneaked his phone in and play Fruit Ninja or something. </li>
<li>I watched the game on Fox Soccer Channel and got a taste of Gus Johnson commentary. Understandably poor at the moment but I'm sure he will improve; by "I'm sure," I meant "I really really hope."</li>
<li>Lampard's penalty was disappointing but Ba showed his pace and strength in winning the foul, great center forward play.</li>
<li>Mancini makes the first move in the second half, bringing on Carlos Tevez for Jack Rodwell. City took the lead soon after. I don't even want to talk about Benitez's substitution; you go ahead and rant in the comments (like you needed my encouragement anyway).</li>
<li>Thoroughly rafaluted by the rafalution.</li>
</ul>
<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1X8DVFulqZAFoqtEbQfrdbNZUA0TTvIDSuZsNmvr2yjM/viewform?embedded=true" width="100%" height="500" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading...</iframe>
https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/2/24/4023946/manchester-city-1-chelsea-1-initial-reaction-and-community-rating-formLamin Oo2013-02-22T18:15:08+00:002013-02-22T18:15:08+00:00Scouting Man City
<figure>
<img alt="From Serbia with Love." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EtdZQoJCra3Tms-VGef5rMhpv84=/452x400:3999x2765/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/8511865/150204532.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>From Serbia with Love. | Laurence Griffiths</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It’s an Olympic medal ceremony. Three exceptional athletes stand on the podium wearing the achievement of their hard work, dedication and natural talent around their necks. The national anthem of the country represented by the gold medalist has been played and now it’s the time to take a picture of the athletes with their medals. The television camera goes for a close up, panning from right to left: the bronze medalist, glowing with joy as he raised his medal up; the gold medalist, beaming with pride, eyes glistening with a hint of tears; then the silver medalist… staring into the cameras with an empty expression as if his soul has left his body, lips tense in an attempt to hide the disappointment.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Of course there are some exceptions but the above description is generally true of Olympians’ reactions to the place they earned on the podium (e.g. <a href="http://www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Michael+Phelps+Laszlo+Cseh+Olympics+Day+7+OC0Yk1C4ygYl.jpg">Exhibit A</a>, <a href="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/08/02/silver_wide-27f75e52df07530be72c309445cb4b2bc975fd78-s40.jpg">Exhibit B</a>, and <a href="http://mckaylaisnotimpressed.tumblr.com/">Exhibit C</a>). So much so that psychologists went ahead and <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/psp/69/4/603/">study this phenomenon</a>, and later, as they often do in academia, gave it important sounding name: "counterfactual thinking." These studies find that bronze medalists are by and large are happier than silver medalists in post-competition interviews and during medal presentations. Their theory is pretty intuitive: the third place finisher compares himself to the rest that didn’t make it to the podium (<i>Hey, I least I won a medal! *smiley face*</i>) while the runner up compares himself to the winner and feels he came up short (<i>Man, if only I touched the wall about 0.004 second faster… *frowny face*</i>).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This, to a certain degree, applies to the Premier League as well. When <span>Sergio Aguero</span> drove home that stoppage-time winner at the Etihad Stadium to crown Manchester City the champion of England last season, the mood in the third place <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> camp, what’s with the automatic qualification to the Champions League*, was probably way livelier than the mood in the red side of Manchester.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>*Perhaps ‘getting on the podium’ metaphor captures the CL qualification by league position better than ‘winning a trophy,’ huh Mr. Wenger sir?</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are still 12 games left to play this season, yet one inevitably feels that Manchester "We Love Grinding Out Results More Than Anything Else" United, with 12 points clear at the top, has already have the trophy wrapped up. So when <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> travel to Etihad Stadium this Sunday to battle Manchester City with only 4 points separating the two, the league title is not as much at stake in the game as the tragedy of the runner up and the triumph of the third place finisher. In a world where there is only one spot at the top, such are the narratives… of losers.</p>
<p><b> The Approach </b></p>
<p><a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Manchester City's</a> default formation is a 4-4-2. You can fancy it up and call it a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-2-3-1, but the bottom line is that City plays with two strikers up front with wide men in support and defends with two banks of four (i.e. Walks like duck, quacks like a duck etc...). They like to, if they could, have the ball and create chances through buildup play with <span>David Silva</span> pulling the strings while roaming freely across the attacking third, but you already knew that, didn't you? Their fullbacks often join the attack. From the double pivot, <span>Yaya Toure</span> will most definitely venture forward <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110218/frank-lampard" class="sbn-auto-link">Frank Lampard</a> style while <span>Gareth Barry</span>/Javi Garcia stays back with defensive duties. Again, these are things you probably already know. But there are some interesting things happening within this City system in the micro level that we can talk about that won't render this scout report superfluous. So let's talk about overloading the flanks.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2217307/City_goal_vs_Liverpool.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2217307/City_goal_vs_Liverpool_medium.png" class="photo" alt="City_goal_vs_liverpool_medium"></a></p>
<p><span>Roberto Mancini's</span> men have been quite successful at breaking down defenses by overloading one side of the wing with the wide man from the opposite flank crossing over to join the action. (This is not new to us, of course, we have seen <a href="http://www.carefreechronicles.com/2013/01/chelsea-overload-left-to-score-vs-saints.html">Chelsea do that as well</a>.) Often it is the nomad playmaker Silva who would drift, from his initial left wing position, across the attacking third to create overloads but there can be exceptions.</p>
<p>The screen cap above shows the buildup to City's first goal against <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Liverpool</a> a few weeks ago. Here, it was right winger <span>James Milner</span> who had joined the left wing overload. A little bit of tiki-taka from Sergio Aguero and David Silva would set Milner free down the right flank, with <span>Edin Dzeko</span> making a run toward the six-yard box to tap in the cross. It was not even that Liverpool were out-numbered in that left wing but the vision and passing of Silva combined with the movement of Milner helped create this goal. I guess that just shows you how dangerous they can be from these overloads.</p>
<p>Another thing to note from that screen cap is the movements and positioning of City's forwards. In this case, Aguero moved out wide while Dzeko stayed central to spearhead the attack. It is not unusual for one of these forwards to drift wide or drop slightly back into midfield when space opens up while the other one stay central as the main striker. This is when City's 4-4-2 wanders into 4-2-3-1 territory.</p>
<p><b>Plan B</b></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2217477/Man_City_s_352.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2217477/Man_City_s_352_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Man_city_s_352_medium"></a></p>
<p>While Rafa Benitez resorts to furious note taking and later making like-for-like substitutions* when the game's not going his way, Mancini would actually make meaningful substitutions and tactical changes. (Wow. So refreshing, I know.) He had played around with 3-5-2 at the beginning of the season with mix results, but now, the Italian is using it as a Plan B.</p>
<p><i>*Must. Resist. Pulling. My. Hair. Out. Must. Resist...</i></p>
<p>Aleksander Kolarov and Maicon were brought on in the second half against Liverpool as City switch to 3-5-2. The above picture neatly captures City's 3-5-2: wing-backs advance down the flanks and Milner joins his two strikers from central midfield. While this switch didn't turn the game around completely, it allowed City to have more numbers in the center of the pitch and have better control of the game.</p>
<p>Secondly, the above screen cap shows the intelligent movement of Aguero who slipped behind the Liverpool defense to get on Barry's long pass before scoring the equalizer from an impossible angle. Having seen the likes of <span>Adam Le Fondre</span> and <span>Shaun Maloney</span> <a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2144145/Wigan_goal_like_reading_medium.png">exploit Chelsea's defense with similar diagonal runs</a>, Chelsea fans can only hope that the Argentinian has a bad game on Sunday.</p>
<p><b>The Gap</b></p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2217645/City_s_gaps_between_the_lines.png" target="_blank"><img alt="City_s_gaps_between_the_lines_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2217645/City_s_gaps_between_the_lines_medium.png"></a></p>
<p>In <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/feb/03/luis-suarez-daniel-sturridge-manchester-city">his analysis of the City 2-2 Liverpool game</a>, Michael Cox points out that City's defensive problems were down to the open space between their lines where the likes of <span>Luis Suarez</span> and <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> could cause damage. "The problem," Cox explains, "originated from the lack of pressing high up the pitch -- aside from a quick burst at the start of the match -- Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko contributed little in the defensive phase of the play." This meant that Garcia and Barry had to push high up against Liverpool central midfielders, leaving open space behind them.</p>
<p>That was also the case in their 2-3 home defeat to Manchester United back in December. For the majority of this game, United played on the counter and they were very effective. Above is the screen cap of the buildup to <span>Wayne Rooney's</span> second goal. The Red Devils broke quickly down the right flank while Rooney dashed toward the 'D' of the City box unmarked. The England striker had the time and space to bury the ball into the net with Rafael providing the cross. Let's hope Mancini's men haven't learned their lessons and <span>Juan Mata</span> can punish them for it. (Please let this come true. Please!)</p>
<p><b>The Player</b></p>
<p>One way to judge a player's worth to the team is to watch how the team performs with that player on the pitch. Another is to see how the team does without him. Well, we have been able to make observations from both of these angles (Thanks, ACN!) and have come to find out how crucial of a role Yaya Toure plays in this Manchester City team. There are more flashy players in the squad but the team just doesn't perform as well without him. He can't create from a deep midfield position like <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110858/xabi-alonso">Xabi Alonso</a>, but his physicality, energy and finishing make him a threat. He has a little bit of Ramires (i.e. pace and stamina) and a little bit of Lampard (intelligent movement and shooting skills) in his game. When he makes a marauding run forward, it's like Treebread charging at Isengard*, only with a lot more speed in the Ivorian's case.</p>
<p><i>*Obligatory LOTR reference: Check!</i></p>
<p><b>The Tragedy and Triumph of Losers</b></p>
<p>Football can be complicated sometimes, but there isn't anything complex about winning and losing. In the league, there can only be one champion, and either you are or you aren't. Simple. Here's a quote I really like from Roberto Mancini: "If you win you are the best, if you lose you are not." As far as I am concern, the title is pretty much United's at this point. This Sunday, City and Chelsea will fight for scraps, to be the better loser of the two.</p>
https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/2/22/4015396/opposition-scout-report-manchester-city-preview-tactics-analysisLamin Oo2013-02-10T19:55:31+00:002013-02-10T19:55:31+00:00Chelsea beats Wigan with counter-attacks
<figure>
<img alt="R-A-M-B-O! R-A-M-B-O! R-A-M-B-O! And Rambo was his name-o!" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YFcix7LliqFIKPJGmkmHSJLsDug=/0x243:4000x2910/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7936549/161130501.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>R-A-M-B-O! R-A-M-B-O! R-A-M-B-O! And Rambo was his name-o! | Laurence Griffiths</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Their attacking adventures on the left wings left Wigan exposed to lethal Chelsea counter-attacks down that side with Ramires and Azpilicueta running the show.</p> <p>Chelsea’s 4-2-3-1: <span>Petr Cech</span> (1); <span>Ashley Cole</span> (3), Gary Cahill (24), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110687/branislav-ivanovic">Branislav Ivanovic</a> (2), <span>Cesar Azpilicueta</span> (28); <span>David Luiz</span> (4), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110218/frank-lampard">Frank Lampard</a> (8); <span>Eden Hazard</span> (17), Oscar (11), Ramires (7); <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110873/fernando-torres">Fernando Torres</a> (9).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wigan’s 3-5-2: <span>Ali Al Habsi</span> (26); <span>Maynor Figueroa</span> (31), <span>Gary Caldwell</span> (5), Paul Schaner (33); <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110168/jean-beausejour">Jean Beausejour</a> (22), <span>Roger Espinoza</span> (18), <span>James McCarthy</span> (4), <span>James McArthur</span> (16), <span>Ronnie Stam</span> (23); <span>Shaun Maloney</span> (10), Franco Di Santo (9).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2144025/Formations.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Formations_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2144025/Formations_medium.png"></a> <br id="1360515739334"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chelsea made four changes to the team that lost against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/">Newcastle</a>, with David Luiz and Eden Hazard returning from injury and suspension respectively. The Brazilian defender paired up with Lampard in central midfield while Ramires moved out to the right wing alongside Oscar and Hazard in the attacking third. Ramires’ presence on the right wing played a crucial role in this victory but it is not certain whether it happened by chance or by design.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One would assume that the Brazilian long-distant sprinter, who had never started on the wing* in the previous 13 league games under Rafa Benitez, was used in the three-pronged offense behind Torres only because virus-stricken <span>Juan Mata</span> needed to take a breather on the bench. But the interim manager implied in his post match comments that Ramires-as-right-winger was part of his tactical plan: "… we moved Ramires to the right. That was crucial for us as we knew they would play with three at the back so we knew he would be an important player." And so it was: Ramires started on the right to make a big impact in this game.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">*<i>The Brazilian did play on the right wing in the 2-1 away victory over <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> but he started as the right-sided midfielder in a 4-3-3 which was short-lived.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2144033/Wigan_s_attacking_pattern.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Wigan_s_attacking_pattern_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2144033/Wigan_s_attacking_pattern_medium.png"></a> <br id="1360515839858"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Having Ramires on Chelsea’s right flank came in handy because Wigan’s 3-5-2 attack is left heavy. Both wing-back Beausejour and midfielder Espinoza operated on the left while Maloney drifted to that same flank from the advance position. Their five-man midfield dominated possession from the kick-off and built majority of their attack coming down their left wing. You can see this same pattern of play by <span>Roberto Martinez</span>’s men in their last two league games against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/">Southampton</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> as well (see above chart). The very first Wigan attempt on goal came when Maloney, Espinoza and Figueroa combined on their left before crossing for Di Santo whose shot Cech had to block with his feet.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This set up for a busy day for our right-sided players: Ramires, David Luiz and Azpilicueta. And all three put in a strong defensive display: tracking back, winning tackles, intercepting, closing down the space and preventing crosses into the box. Despite seeing more of the ball in the early stages of the game, Wigan didn’t threaten Cech and his broken finger as the Blues defended compactly. Compared to Chelsea’s left side, where Hazard, Lampard and Cole roamed, their right was defensively stronger, and Wigan fans must wonder whether their team was attacking the wrong side of the opposition.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2144105/first_2_chelsea_goals.png" target="_blank"><img alt="First_2_chelsea_goals_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2144105/first_2_chelsea_goals_medium.png"></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The consequence of Wigan overloading their attack on the left also meant that they are vulnerable on the break on that very same side. With Espinoza and Beausejour further up the field, Chelsea could exploit the space on that flank with the pace of Ramires on counter attack. This was exactly how Chelsea scored the first goal: David Luiz glided past Espinoza in midfield before finding Torres who unleashed a pass right into the path of the Brazilian roadrunner. Ramires exploded past Figueroa and scored with a decisive finish. (<i>Beep! Beep!</i>)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Individual brilliance from Azpilicueta would set up Hazard for the second Chelsea goal, but the buildup fit the overall pattern of Chelsea taking advantage of attacking ambitions on Wigan's left. <span>Gary Cahill's</span> quickly taken free-kick flew over everyone and landed into the big hole in Wigan's left for Azpilicueta to dash into. The recovering wing-back Beausejour was easy to beat for the Chelsea right-back who laid a low cross which Hazard put away convincingly.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2144145/Wigan_goal_like_reading.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Wigan_goal_like_reading_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2144145/Wigan_goal_like_reading_medium.png"></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Staying true to their recent form, Benitez's men would allow the opposition back into the game, in this case, pretty much right away. After a Chelsea attack broke down on their left, Wigan midfielder McArthur picked out a diagonal run by Maloney with a ball over the defense. Having sneaked past the two Chelsea central defenders, Maloney then went around advancing Cech to score from a tight angle. It was a simple attacking maneuver, one which had hurt the Blues before. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/reading">Reading</a> scored the same kind of goal against Chelsea in their comeback led by <span>Adam Le Fondre</span> at the Madejski stadium, <span>Hope Akpan</span> picking out Le Fondre's diagonal run behind Cahill.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In both of these goals, one of the Chelsea central defender is focused on the opposition's main striker (Cahill on Di Santo and Ivanovic on <span>Pavel Pogrebnyak</span>) while the other strike partner slips in behind the defense to receive a pass from midfield. These are simple 2 v 2 situations. Yet, the Cahill and Ivanovic were fooled by the movements of the attackers in very similar fashion. This is something they would need to improve as a center-back pairing.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Latics would get the momentum from this goal and put more pressure on Chelsea. Espinoza made way for Arouna Kone as Wigan changed to a 3-4-3 shape in their search for an equalizer. Benitez, rather curiously, appeared to be lining a Cahill-to-Mata switch as if Chelsea were chasing the game (David Luiz to drop back to defense and Ramires to be in central midfield probably) but Oscar's cramp pushed the manager to make a more straight forward substitution as the Mata came on for the Brazilian attacking midfielder. The intended substitution would probably have crippled <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea's</a> strong defense on the right side.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2144237/3rd_goal.png" target="_blank"><img alt="3rd_goal_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2144237/3rd_goal_medium.png"></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But Chelsea would put the game away with another long ball catching Wigan on the break. This time, it was a hopeful ball forward from Cech towards Chelsea's left wing. Fernando Torres, who was having one of his better games, drifted wide to win the header against Gary Caldwell and nodded the ball to Mata. In fact, the blond Spanish GOAL/SEX MACHINE won 4 of his 7 aerial battles in this game, almost scoring twice with headed efforts, which is a great improvement from his performance against Reading in which he won only 2 of the 10 aerial battles.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This was a really important header to have won: (a) it released the pressure on Chelsea defense with only 5 minutes of regular time left on the clock and (b) it also set up a good attacking opportunity as Ramires, Hazard, Mata and Torres attacked the struggling Wigan defense. From here on, Hazard would do what he does, Mata would do what he does, and Lampard would do what he does. One. Nine. Eight.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Conclusions</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">More than a month ago, Chelsea lost 1-0 at home to a relegation-threatened <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/queens-park-rangers">Queens Park Rangers</a>. Now they have beaten Wigan who are second to last in the league. Does this indicate an improvement in Benitez's team? Not quite.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">"I had to stretch the game, open up and leave ourselves exposed and on the counter-attack Chelsea took advantage of that," explained Wigan manager Roberto Martinez after the game. He is right. The Blues' goals, and ultimately the victory, came because of Wigan's willingness to attack and take risk. Between that QPR game and yesterday's encounter with Wigan, Chelsea have had problems breaking down defensive teams and they tended to get caught out on counter-attacks. There is no sign that these issues have been sorted out, at least not in this particular game, in which Chelsea played a reactive game to secure the three points.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you are of the group that likes to say "A win is a win is a win is a win is a win!" you are probably celebrating. But if you are of the persuasion that has the audacity to believe a richly assembled team of talented players should be able to dominate a team from the bottom of the table at your home ground, playing beautiful football while pushing the opposition against the wall and tearing them down with continuous assaults, then you might be hiding your disappointed eyes behind a pair of blue frame sunglasses, stroking your salt-and-pepper beard as you stare out into the horizon from your billion dollar yacht, planning your next move.</p>
https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/2/10/3973478/chelsea-vs-wigan-match-analysis-tacticsLamin Oo2013-01-29T18:01:17+00:002013-01-29T18:01:17+00:00Scouting the Royals
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<img alt="And they call this "the beautiful game."" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wbwZOnbKnrgDSpzB-ux6Q28X0OA=/0x452:2993x2447/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7260833/150586074.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>And they call this "the beautiful game." | Mark Thompson</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A blindfolded female figure sits atop a gloomy globe. In her arms, she is embracing a battered harp, all its strings snapped except for one. As she plugs away tentatively at this remaining string, she leans her head right up against the instrument as if to catch every single faint note it sings.</p>
<p>This is <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Assistants_and_George_Frederic_Watts_-_Hope_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/475px-Assistants_and_George_Frederic_Watts_-_Hope_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg">the image</a> that Victorian artist George Frederic Watts has beautifully put on canvas. It definitely has a mysterious and arresting quality. Yet it would have just been another ordinary painting if not for its title: <i>Hope</i>. The picture, reputedly painted at a moment of anguish (when Watts's adopted daughter died), is hardly comforting. In fact, G.K. Chesterton, a British author, and an all round smart-arse, once quipped that '<i>Despair</i>' might have been a more accurate title.</p>
<p>But of course Watts was getting at something very profound by calling it <i>Hope</i>. That an intense form of hope is birthed in moments of despair. That hope is vital in the darkest of days because despair is not a state in which one can exist for long*. Out of courage or of folly (the line between the two is blurry), we hope, we grasp at that single strand to keep us going. And like a dimmed background, desperation sets up for hope to shine.</p>
<p><i>*Unless, of course, you are a Tottenham fan. BANTZ!!!</i></p>
<p>So we hope. Despite the sacking of a lovable club legend who tamed the Big-Eared One, despite being kicked off of the competition we just championed, despite <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110873/fernando-torres" class="sbn-auto-link">Fernando Torres</a>, despite the hiring of a hated figure, despite his "<a href="http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/2013/1/25/3913218/rafa-out">management</a>," despite his <a href="http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/2013/1/26/3919542/shut-up-rafa">excuses</a>, despite being schooled by minnows time and again, despite not winning the "easy" cups, despite not being one of the Thoroughbreds in the annual "two-horse race," despite not having a reliable midfield, despite the home form, we hope. We grip that raggedy harp tight with one hand while picking its solitary string with the other, one note at a time. The last two notes, Swansea and Brentford, almost broke the string, which is still vibrating as we prepare to strike the next: <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/reading" class="sbn-auto-link">Reading</a> FC.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">* * *</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Approach</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Brian McDermott’s Reading usually plays in an orthodox 4-4-2, two strikers upfront, two wingers bombing down the flanks and so on. But a string of poor results in December forced McDermott to consider a change in formation. Prioritizing defensive solidarity, he has made a switch to a 4-5-1 in recent weeks with striker <span>Pavel Pogrebnyak</span> aka The Perfect Villain in Every American Cold War Movie leading the attack.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The advantage of having a five-man midfield is that it can be the initial protective shield for the defense. A crowded midfield makes it hard for opposition to penetrate. When executed well, a defensive 4-5-1 can withstand the continuous assault from THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD (EVER) over two legs and get you to a major cup final*.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>*We know what we are…</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But ironically, the Royals have not been any good defensively despite the change of shape. This is mainly due to their poor defensive organization. Both West Brom and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/">Newcastle</a>, Reading’s most recent league opponents, were able to dominate the game and create chance after chance. Here’s an example from Reading’s home game against West Brom.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2088061/Reading_Defense_Open.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Reading_defense_open_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2088061/Reading_Defense_Open_medium.png"></a> <br id="1359475729386"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is the buildup to <span>Romelu Lukaku</span>’s first goal. Instead of covering the central midfield zone alongside <span>Daniel Carrico</span> and Danny Guthrie, <span>Jem Karacan</span> moved out of his position to press high on the right. As often is the case, pressing is not a problem here but disorganized pressing is. Carrico was not able to fill in the spot left by Karacan on the inside right, allowing West Brom a direct route to Lukaku with a simple forward pass. From his attacking midfield position, <span>James Morrison</span> would support Lukaku in attack; two passes later, the ball ended up in the back of Reading’s net. This, perhaps, highlights the importance of organization in defense no matter what the formation is.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The 4-5-1 has also not been great for the Royals’ attack. Pogrebnyak is often too isolated like a strayed Russian tank. Their attacks and counter-attacks look disjointed. And their every forward adventure leaves them vulnerable on the breaks.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They started with a 4-5-1 against West Brom and Newcastle, played poorly, and fell behind. But, and this is quite a big ‘BUT’, Reading came out victorious in both occasions after making second-half substitutions and changing the shape to 4-4-2. In comes <span>Adam Le Fondre</span>—the connoisseur of "being at the right place at the right time", Mr. Poaching-Is-My-Business-And-Business-Is-Good—in place of a midfielder to pair up with The Pog up top. The team began to attack purposefully down the flanks with targets to cross to in the box. The impact of the change was more instant against Newcastle but it didn’t fail to get Reading out of trouble in both games.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are other factors in play in these come-backs of course. The opposition tends of take their foot of the gas when they are ahead, especially in the later stages of the game. There were also the element of luck and the overwhelming force of momentum to consider. But it seems reasonable to suggest that Reading plays better as a team in a 4-4-2. It is now up to Brian McDermott whether to stick with the current "winning" strategy, start with a 4-5-1 and make a second-half switch, or send his team out in a happier 4-4-2 from the kick off. My guess is that they will persist with 4-5-1 against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> and make changes only if they fall behind.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p><b>The Player</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pogrebnyak and Le Fondre have scored a total of 6 goals (three each) in the last 4 league games, but it is the right winger <span>Jimmy Kebe</span> who is in the spot light in this preview for two reasons. First, Reading's attack depends on the movement down the flanks and good delivery into the box; Kebe provides both. Second, Chelsea, when playing without a defensive winger, suck at defending in the wide areas against pacey wingers (<i>see under</i> Walcott, Theodore).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2088205/Kebe_right_wing_attack.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Kebe_right_wing_attack_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2088205/Kebe_right_wing_attack_medium.png"></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This was a traditional wing play from Reading against Newcastle in the buildup to the equalizer. Kebe positioned wide on the right, looking for a long pass in behind the defense, which <span>Mikele Leigertwood</span> was happy to supply. The Mali international beat the fullback with speed and slipped a low, inviting cross into the box; Le Fondre would <i>le flounder</i> onto the ball and scored. Simple and effective.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2088253/Attacking_the_wing_and_pog.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Attacking_the_wing_and_pog_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2088253/Attacking_the_wing_and_pog_medium.png"></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kebe is a relatively big fella as well and can be a dangerous presence in the box when the attack comes down the other flank. Here's what happened against West Brom. Again, the ball was sprayed to the wide area from central midfield, the Top Pog drifting wide to pick it up this time. When Garath McCleary whipped in a cross, Le Fondre attacked centrally, <i>le feinting</i> the ball through his legs, while Kebe arrived at the back post to nod it into the goal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There is nothing complicated about these attacks, but they can, and will, punish a defense that is not on top of its game.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Of music or beautiful things</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To quote G.K. Chesterson, an essayist and an all round Mr. Know It All, "Life exists for the love of music or beautiful things." Sometimes the songs aren't all that cheerful. Sometimes that harp in your arms is shoddy and has only one string left. But you keep playing. You keep playing because there is nothing else to do. You keep playing because it keeps you alive. You keep playing for the love of music and the possibility, however slim, of beautiful things.</p>
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https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/1/29/3926276/scout-report-reading-fc-tactics-previewLamin Oo2013-01-21T16:42:30+00:002013-01-21T16:42:30+00:00How Chelsea beat Arsenal
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YAgoU6IUUemF19fMHSvfEyGohq4=/205x273:3980x2790/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6858801/159765007.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Laurence Griffiths</figcaption>
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<p>Chelsea dominated the game in the first half, passing quickly and moving purposefully. Arsenal improved drastically after the break, but the home side hung on to take all three points with a narrow 2-1 win.</p> <p><a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chelsea</a>’s 4-2-3-1: <span>Petr Cech</span> (1); <span>Cesar Azpilicueta</span> (28), <span>Gary Cahill</span> (24), <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110687/branislav-ivanovic" class="sbn-auto-link">Branislav Ivanovic</a> (2), <span>Ashley Cole</span> (3); Ramires (7), <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110218/frank-lampard" class="sbn-auto-link">Frank Lampard</a> (8), <span>Juan Mata</span> (10), Oscar (11), <span>Eden Hazard</span> (17); <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110873/fernando-torres" class="sbn-auto-link">Fernando Torres</a> (9).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arsenal</a>’s 4-2-3-1: <span>Wojciech Szczesny</span> (1); <span>Bacary Sagna</span> (3), <span>Per Mertesacker</span> (4), <span>Thomas Vermaelen</span> (5), <span>Kieran Gibbs</span> (28); <span>Jack Wilshere</span> (10), <span>Theo Walcott</span> (14), <span>Santi Cazorla</span> (19), <span>Francis Coquelin</span> (22), <span>Abou Diaby</span> (2); Oliver Giroud (12).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044717/Formations.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044717/Formations_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Formations_medium"></a> <br id="1358780452317"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With <span>David Luiz</span> enjoying life just a little less due to injury, Rafa Benitez had other choice but to use Lampard and Ramires in the double pivot. I’m not sure if Ramires would have been picked otherwise, but the Brazilian made the difference in this game. His energy, pace and aggressiveness unsettled Arsenal’s midfield.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Further forward, the trio of Oscar, Mata and Hazard buzzed around the attacking third behind Torres (OMFG!! HIS HAIRRR!!!). The same three attacking midfielders started against <a href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Southampton</a>, but this time with a little twist: Oscar, who usually plays on the right, now operated mostly on the left, and Hazard swapped to the right flank. The three creative players often switched positions, but interestingly, the player in the middle tended to drift to the right while the one on the left stayed wide (more on this later).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Arsene Wenger</span> trusted the same team that started against Swansea in the FA Cup: Cazorla switched to the left, Wilshere put in the hole, and Coquelin partnered Diaby in central midfield. <span>Mikel Arteta</span> was not available for this game (possibly still dealing with post traumatic stress disorder instigated by Oscar’s relentless hounding in the reverse fixture) and Arsenal will miss the Spaniard’s calm passing and positional discipline. Cazorla and Walcott pushed up high and were of very little help to their fullbacks when Chelsea attacked in the first half. But Walcott’s diagonal runs from his wide position posed problems to the Chelsea defense in both sides of the break.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From the kick-off, Chelsea stormed out with an intensity of a bull determined of buck off the rider on its back*. They pressed and chased the opposition down fiercely, and moved the ball quickly from defense/midfield to attack with great efficiency.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>*This, y’all, is probably the most American/Southern metaphor I’ve ever come up with. Yeehaw! </i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044733/Build_on_right__switch_to_left.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044733/Build_on_right__switch_to_left_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Build_on_right__switch_to_left_medium"></a> <br id="1358780597119"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chelsea had a clear pattern of attack in the first half and it is neatly illustrated by the passing charts of the influential Juan Mata. During the first 45 minutes, Mata received short passes frequently on the right flank as he worked together with Hazard and Azpilicueta, but he would then switch the ball to the left with diagonal passes. Buildup on the right, change point of attack quickly to the left. With Arsenal right-back Sagna pushing forward and the right-sided center-back Mertesacker moving at the pace of a depressed tortoise, Chelsea wide players on the left had the time and space to collect the long passes and attack the Arsenal goal.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Another key point from the first half is the role of Ramires as the play-breaker in midfield. The Brazilian is not a great passer but his pace and energy makes him a perfect off-the-ball midfielder. He can press, chase and tackle with seemly endless vigor, shifting between the "running" gear and the "running really fast" gear. He is not suited for the double pivot role when Chelsea needs to control possession (*ahem* foreshadowing *cough*) but he is ideal player to torment a newly assembled Arsenal midfield, untested by counter-attacking Swansea side in midweek. Ramires was the top tackler at half-time (3 successful/6 attempts) and at full-time (5/9).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044741/First_goal.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044741/First_goal_medium.png" class="photo" alt="First_goal_medium"></a> <br id="1358780636625"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This attacking pattern of switching quickly from right to left and hard-tackling from Ramires combined to create Chelsea’s first goal. Ramires plowed through Coquelin to win possession for Chelsea at the center circle. Azpilicueta picked up the loose ball and countered quickly. Torres, who was marked by Vermaelen, started to drift to the right wing. Meanwhile Oscar advanced forward from the center in a slight angle toward the right, drawing the attention of Mertesacker. With Sagna out of position on Chelsea’s left, Mata had the leisure of floating into the big gap between Mertesacker and Sagna. Azpilicueta’s delivery was great, Mata’s first touch and finish were even better. Just like that, the home side were 1-0 up.</p>
<p>Chelsea continued to boss the game until the break; another strong challenge from Ramires in midfield would set up the second goal for the Blues.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044813/Passing_timeline_chelsea_2-1_arsenal.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044813/Passing_timeline_chelsea_2-1_arsenal_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Passing_timeline_chelsea_2-1_arsenal_medium"></a></p>
<p>Day and night. Jekyll and Hyde. Scotty Parker and Mario Balotelli. Pick your favorite metaphor! The second half was the complete opposite of the first. There wasn't any tactical change from either side, but Arsenal came out of the break with more determination and their overall game improved. They passed better, moved more purposefully and won 50-50 challenges. This turn of tide is captured accurately by the passing timeline above. Chelsea's passing line dropping off after half-time and crossing Arsenal's like an 'X'. The Blues had 9 goal attempts before the break and 5 after; the Gunners 2 before and 10 after.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044885/Walcott_goal.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2044885/Walcott_goal_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Walcott_goal_medium"></a></p>
<p>As highlighted in <a href="http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/2013/1/18/3890212/scouting-arsenal-tactics-preview-analysis">the scout report by one handsome (and very smart) gentleman</a>, Walcott was the main attack threat during this Arsenal ascendancy. The winger, bravely fighting off a serious case of <i>Sturridgitis</i>, was handful on Chelsea's left. He often starts his run from the wide position and attempts to get behind the Chelsea line with diagonal runs. The home side's offside traps eliminated this threat in the first half, but the timing of his run was got better.</p>
<p>The first warning shot came around 48th minute. Wilshere, quiet in the first half, picked up the ball in a deep position and lobbed the ball over the Chelsea defense. Walcott, positioned between Cole and Ivanovic, slipped behind the line. His shot from a tight angle was saved comfortably by Cech. Almost exactly the same kind of move would split the Chelsea defense 10 minutes later. This time Cazorla was the provider, threading a delightful pass between four Chelsea players. Walcott again glided in between Cole and Ivanovic to collect the pass and smashed the equalizer* into the net.</p>
<p><i>*Intentional mistake to see if you are paying attention. Nah. Just kidding. I was just stupid. This is a correction or whatever.</i></p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1401589/0gH7V.png"><img src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1401589/0gH7V_medium.png" class="photo" alt="0gh7v_medium"></a></p>
<p>In a big match like this, it is not unusual (or problematic) to be pinned back in your own half for part of the game, especially if you are already 2-0 up. But in order to come out as the winner, you must be able to defend well and (a) slow down the game through precise passing when you have the ball or (b) break quickly and punish the opposition on the counter. Lampard and Ramires were unable to do (a), the two combined completed 17 passes in the second half. This is because Chelsea had relied on Mata to help out the ball movement from the midfield. Usually, the players in the double pivot finish the game as top passers but this time, Mata topped the chart both at half-time and full-time. A calm presence of a <span>John Obi Mikel</span> in central midfield would have done Chelsea some good in the second half.</p>
<p>Upfront, Torres was also not a reliable outlet for counter attacks. He couldn't get onto the direct deliveries from the back (see chart above) and lost the ball constantly--the Walcott goal came when he was dispossessed in midfield. The sight of <span>Demba Ba</span> warming up on the touchlines spurred Torres on to make some outstanding runs but his end product, much like his haircut, was disappointing.</p>
<p>It was pretty obvious that changes needed to be made, but the interim manager would wait very long to make them. <span>Ryan Bertrand</span> came on for tiring Oscar at 72nd minute and Ba for Torres at 81st minute. The defensive winger helped out Cole on the left and the Senegalese striker offered a viable direct passing option in Chelsea's attack. On a different day, Chelsea could have suffered a setback because of this delay in substitution.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">* * *</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Roman Abramovich's team scrapped by with a narrow win. Aside from the tremendous energy in the first half and the positioning of the three creative players, there wasn't anything particularly new Chelsea: Juan Mata is still the main man (although both Hazard and Oscar were brilliant in the first half); the midfield still can't control the tempo of the game when needed; Torres is toast. In this fine competition called "Who's Worse at Playing Football for 45 Minutes," Chelsea lost out to Arsenal by a small margin. But THREE POINTS!!!</p>
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https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/1/21/3897640/chelsea-vs-arsenal-match-analysis-tacticsLamin Oo2013-01-18T20:22:49+00:002013-01-18T20:22:49+00:00Chelsea vs. Arsenal: Opposition Scouting Report
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<img alt="Just an awesome picture. That is all." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/brQQP6he2q4go3iL9Lutq5W6YMY=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6747335/153023551.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Just an awesome picture. That is all. | Richard Heathcote</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In my youth, I used to play this tactical first-person shooter game called Counter-Strike. In a tournament set-up, it's a five versus five game, terrorists against counter-terrorists. Basically, you win by killing all your opponents and/or completing your mission, which involves detonating/defusing a bomb . I did it semi-professionally: I had a team; we competed in competitions; we won some; we lost some.</p>
<p>My team was not the most talented bunch but we made up for it with complicated strategies. We came up with specific tactics for each map; we had our Plan A, Plan B, Plan C and Plan D. This gave us an edge over most teams, but not all.</p>
<p>There was this one team (DAMN YOU TO HELL, STAR CLAN!!!) that was made up of all the best players in town, guys who can kill you with a head-shot before you even thought of pulling the trigger. They didn't have complicated strategies like my team, but they didn't need it: they were good at shooting; they improvised and problem-solved as they went. Long story short, my team always came out second best against them.</p>
<p>The morale of this story from my misspent youth is that tactics can only go so far if you don't have good players*. Both Arsenal and Chelsea have struggled this season, and there may be some tactical reasons for this. But these two London neighbors would certainly have done much better if they had a quality striker leading their attack. A player who can turn the game with a deft touch, with an intelligent run, with an unstoppable finish. A player who is good at what he is supposed to be good at. Arsenal sold their best striker and Chelsea kept their worst as the main man.</p>
<p><i>*You probably know this already, and my story certainly made this intro much longer than it should be, but what the heck!</i></p>
<p>And here we are, fighting for scraps as the two teams from Manchester keep on marching ahead of the pack. Whoever the manager is and whatever his tactics are, if you don't have good players, you are just going to have to fight for scraps. And after awhile, you will rationalize (because we always do). And finishing fourth will start to feel like winning a trophy.</p>
<p>Downplaying tactics is an unusual way to ease readers into a tactical piece, but whatever. Let's take a look at Arsenal, our fierce rival in this hunt for an imaginary silverware.</p>
<p><b>Tactics and stuff...</b></p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2036087/Arsenal_shapes.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Arsenal_shapes_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2036087/Arsenal_shapes_medium.png"></a></p>
<p>Shape/formation/tactic-wise, Gunners aren't that different from Chelsea. They too defend with two banks of four, use a free-moving attacking midfielder as a connector between attack and midfield, and allow their fullback to bomb forward and join the attack. They like to control possession and attack through clever movement and passing.</p>
<p>But in order for this system to work, Arsenal needs <span>Mikel Arteta</span> running the show in central midfield. <a href="http://www.weaintgotnohistory.com/2012/9/30/3432062/match-analysis-arsenal-chelsea-Oscar-Torres-Cazorla">Oscar's diligent marking, pressing and tracking of Arteta</a> earlier in the season played a crucial role in the Blues' 2-1 victory. This time around, the Spaniard will be absent through injury. This is good news for Chelsea. Wenger's team is worse off, both in defense and in attack, without Arteta.</p>
<p>Against Manchester City last Sunday, <span>Jack Wilshere</span> and <span>Abou Diaby</span> partnered in midfield, but their natural tendency to press hard against Javi Garcia and <span>Gareth Barry</span> left a gap between the Arsenal lines. <span>David Silva</span>,<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/jan/13/david-silva-service-gift-wrapped"> as Michael Cox points out</a>, exploited that space in front of the Arsenal defense effectively. This should make <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea's</a> free-floating attacking midfielders like <span>Eden Hazard</span>, <span>Juan Mata</span> and Oscar jump with joys like starving hobbits who have just been invited to a free buffet with endless supply of ale. (Lord of the Rings reference. <i>Check!</i>)</p>
<p>Against Swansea in midweek, Wenger changed it up: <span>Francis Coquelin</span> and Diaby played in the double pivot, Wilshere pushed forward into the hole, and <span>Santi Cazorla</span> stepped aside to the left wing. Did it work better? Yes. Kind of. But they were also playing against a Swansea team who were happy to sit back and play on the counter, just as they did against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup. So, add salt to taste.</p>
<p>Another weakness in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal's</a> armor (not to be confused with <a href="http://cadfael.tv/image/src/1356803575108.gif">the zipper on Wenger's winter coat</a>) is their defense on flanks. <span>Bacary Sagna</span> and <span>Kieran Gibbs</span> often get little defensive cover from their wingers, especially in quick transition. And these fullbacks like to go forward themselves, often getting caught out when the team loses possession. (Hmmm... I swear God I know a team that has this very same problem. They may or may not know what they are and they may or may not be Champions of Europe. Their name is escaping me right now. Will get back ya.)</p>
<p><b>Player to Watch</b></p>
<p>Remember how I highlighted Jonathan "Ronald McDonald" Walters in this section of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> scout report? That worked out well, didn't it? I'm expecting big things from <span>Theo Walcott</span> this time around. Now that the t's have been crossed and the i's... um there are no i's in his name to dot, unless he put "striker" in parentheses next to his signature, on the shiny new contract, Walcott can go back to being an inconsistent player that he was before. But in case the contract-form Walcott sticks around for this coming game, here's a couple of points on the Arsenal man.</p>
<p>After his team were knocked out of the Capital One Cup by Bradford City, <span>Arsene Wenger</span> said 'why the heck not!' and allowed Theo Walcott, who's suffering a rare disease known as <i>Sturridgitis</i>, to start as the central striker. The experiment looked to have worked as the striker-turned-winger-now-back-to-being-a-striker scored a hat trick against a very poor <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/">Newcastle</a> United. But as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/">Southampton</a> had shown in their 1-1 draw, an organized defense can isolate Walcott up front and not even care about crosses coming in from the wings. So now, the French international striker, and part-time porn star, <span>Olivier Giroud</span> is back leading the attack with Walcott pushed back to the right wing.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2036635/Arsenal_Counter.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2036635/Arsenal_Counter_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Arsenal_counter_medium"></a></p>
<p>Walcott's pace has caused problems to the Chelsea defense in the past, and it likely to be the case again come Sunday. In the last game, we saw Southampton did damage against Chelsea down the flanks; the wingers failed to help out the fullbacks who were also culpable in both goals from the Saints. Walcott will be especially dangerous on the break, just as he was against Swansea in their midweek 1-0 victory.</p>
<p>Here you see Arsenal defending with two lines. When Swansea made a mistake, Diaby was quick to release Walcott down the right. The striker-wanna-be-but-settling-as-a-winger-again breezed past the last defender and was one-on-one with the keeper in no time. He missed. But the point is that he gets into positions like these and will be a threat. Will he also score two own goals and then miss a penalty? Well, let me just say that legends like Jonathan "Kicks Ball into His Own Face" Walters don't with every generation. But one can hope.</p>
<p><b>Into nothingness</b></p>
<p>Baseball's Gabe Paul once said, "There is no such thing as a second place. Either you're first or you're nothing." An inspirational quote that demands winning mentality from a team; a quote, sadly for both sets of fans, out of place in this fixture. For Chelsea and Arsenal, even finishing second doesn't seem doable at this moment as they dwell in nothingness and fight for an non-existent trophy that is finishing fourth.</p>
https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2013/1/18/3890212/scouting-arsenal-tactics-preview-analysisLamin Oo