Subject: [MWC] Ireland - República Dominicana

Well...
incredible how many chances we missed!

There were several things that are to me not explainable:

- Sanabria played really great! I don't know how he could play so nice (compared to his skills), but anyway he did so and I liked it ;)
- the defense was bloody good, even excellent. The opponent didn't have a single real chance, really great!!!
- It's incredible, how many chances Keenan missed!!! @AnimalA: his striking skills is probably higher than the ones of your strikers at the moment. It's really unbelievable, as even his form is divine...


Imho a very nice game, if we had won 0:3 everything would have been perfect, but a 0:1 is really not good enough, but imho the tactic was very good and it was just badluck :(

A win is a win and they were set up to defend. You're never going to score many goals with 1-wing though, especially not with this squad where decent wingers are a problem. Most of the chances we got were headers or shots from outside the box and like it or not, the majority of goals in this game still come from getting the forwards in the penalty area with the ball at their feet, which is something we've not really done in any game this season.
I didnt really see the point in using the 1-wing against a team we could have rolled over. I've always felt that it's a counter-attack tactic better suited to when we're against teams better than ourselves. Might be useful next week

the majority of goals in this game still come from getting the forwards in the penalty area with the ball at their feet, which is something we've not really done in any game this season.

That's right. But the problem is, that in all the matches this season the opponent defenders were standing very defensive. I'd like to try a tactic with long passes through the defense, but I haven't been able to set such a tactic yet ...

And therefore, with the 1-winger tactic (not 2-winger because we don't really have good wingers ...) I'd like to achieve two things:
1st: To create chances within the box, mostly header of course, but as far as I know they're not less effective than "normal" shots.
2nd: The opponent may spread his 4-men defense or even has to use a 5-men defense.
And if I'd play with two wingers, I guess we'd be much more predictable ...


I've always felt that it's a counter-attack tactic better suited to when we're against teams better than ourselves.

You're right, I haven't been able to set a good tactic against weaker teams yet!
Not only here as Irish NT coach, also as Swiss NT coach and in my team I always have problems playing against weaker teams.
I just don't find a solution how to position the MIDs and ATTs so that they're playing these long passes through the defense ...


I didnt really see the point in using the 1-wing against a team we could have rolled over.

I don't agree with you in this point. There are almost no teams you can roll over anymore. The new created teams of course, but definitely not teams from countries that are in season 5 or higher.
It's enormously difficult - at least I think so - to create chances by passing through the defense or by simply the good strikers.
Most of the weaker teams are playing defensively very solid, I hope we'll see that when we're playing against better teams.



Nevertheless, I mostly agree with your post and I'd be glad if there are some suggestion how to get the striker in a good shooting position.
Edit: The question didn't only went to Nin but to all managers who're reading this thread! ;-)
(edited)

I'd just move the forwards up a bit more. There were occasions when the ball went wide and the forwards were stuck in the midfield instead of being up front waiting for a pass/cross. It's pretty impossible for forwards to run through the defence at international level so better to have them hold the line of the defence.

You're right!
But I'm always trying to put our strikers on the same line as the opponents defense!

For example today, Rep. Dominicana played in all their 3 group stage matches with the same defense. So I thought they'd use the same tactic again.
But they were playing deeper today, and therefore our strikers weren't optimal positioned.

The same thing happened against Ecuador last week, their defense played deeper than usual!


Well, shouldn't be an excuse, but sometimes it's very difficult to anticipate the opponents tactic ... and most NT coaches are changing them from week to week ...

If our strikers are offside all the time I'd have complaints about that aswell! ;-)


But in the end you're right, it's probably better to be offside a few times than to be positioned too defensive!

We have to play against Srbija next week, they won 4:2 against Perú!

We've a better chance of beating them than Peru.

1st: To create chances within the box, mostly header of course, but as far as I know they're not less effective than "normal" shots.

That is not quite true. The best chance to score a goal is a one on one of the striker with the goalie. I am pretty sure about that.

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That's true!
Probably I didn't write it the way I wanted to ...

I meant that it doesn't matter if it's a shot or header, both are same effective.

Of course a 1 on 1 situation is something different! ;-)
(edited)

I've just looked at the other results. With Austria and Peru gone this tournament is ours to win now.

I dont agree with the headers thing though. Headed goals are still rare in comparison to others as you've just said
(edited)

In current engine its hard to score one on one:(

You forgot Australia, they're better than Austria and Peru! ;-)

I'll take another look but i dont think so. Turkey are the biggest threat

Hmm i expected a better team from Turkey, they seem to have gone backwards.

Hmmm, Island seems to be the underdog... suits us perfect ;D