Josh Key's Footballing Masterclass

[mrploppy]

I specially watched Key yesterday and without fail he drifted into centre midfield all the time. This really only starting happening when Ronald and Key was on the wing together a few months ago and they started to get in each other's way. Then they built a relationship and then Bale comments and Key was clearly told to go more central. The issue you have then, not only is the right back but left back is exposed. Tymon has been leaving gaps for months and every team exploits it. Just see first goal yesterday. The team strategy is so predictable even someone as amateur as me can work out how to exploit Swansea.

Norwich's first goal is interesting. It starts with Key (sorry) in a very advanced right wing position crossing the ball straight to their keeper. Key ends up flat on his back and Ronald ends up at RB as Norwich counter. I'll leave this snapshot of Norwich's counter. Tymon is struggling to recover - bottom of picture - but you'd think we have enough cover. Norwich shouldn't be scoring from here.

 

[Swans Jack]

Norwich's first goal is interesting. It starts with Key (sorry) in a very advanced right wing position crossing the ball straight to their keeper. Key ends up flat on his back and Ronald ends up at RB as Norwich counter. I'll leave this snapshot of Norwich's counter. Tymon is struggling to recover - bottom of picture - but you'd think we have enough cover. Norwich shouldn't be scoring from here.

View attachment 5079

Great insight. Tymon looks like he is watching on casually. From that pic we should not be giving anything away. But on the flip, why do we have 3 players going for the same spot. That in itself shows me it's all over the place. Again I don't class my self as tactically minded, but that's a great screen shot of all the problems right there.

 

[jack_lord]

Very good observation, Mr Ploppy.

I didn’t see the Cullen signal in real time.

I think Cullen was saying "see Grimesy by there, don't give it to him cos he's going to pass it to to our keeper or Fulton who is still in the bench mun"

 

[Swanjaxs]

Lets cut Josh Key some slack.
Bigger fish to fry...

 

[mrploppy]

OK. Here's my last snapshot. This is Norwich's third goal. Key intercepts the ball. He dithers for a second (familiar?), Dobbin robs him, runs through and scores.

 

[Swansea93]

OK. Here's my last snapshot. This is Norwich's third goal. Key intercepts the ball. He dithers for a second (familiar?), Dobbin robs him, runs through and scores.

View attachment 5080

Happening every game, Luke is probably telling him to carry the ball, I don’t think he’s doing this off his own back especially as it’s been happening for a while now.

 

[Swans Jack]

OK. Here's my last snapshot. This is Norwich's third goal. Key intercepts the ball. He dithers for a second (familiar?), Dobbin robs him, runs through and scores.

View attachment 5080

Spot on. If you add in his defensive skills. I would be targeting him.

 

[eteb]

How can people say Williams isn't instructing key to come inside? Lisa was the same

He does it every week at every opportunity ffs

 

[monmouth]

Just thought I'd post this little gem from yesterday's game. We've just equalised, so you'd think for the next few minutes we'd keep it tight and not do anything stupid - because the last thing you'd want is to concede immediately thereafter.

Josh Key intercepts the ball. He has options - Cullen's giving him a clue.

What happens next? It's an all too familiar story.

View attachment 5075

Isn’t the ball to the guy in the top left the obvious ball? but our players are conditioned to not even consider that. Grimes would have passed straight back to Vig. Hes already facing backwards.

Ah, hadn’t read the thread. Coops got there before me (he wouldn’t on the field )

 

[mrploppy]

How can people say Williams isn't instructing key to come inside? Lisa was the same

He does it every week at every opportunity ffs

I might be wrong but I don't think LW is telling Key to go on meandering runs down blind alleys into midfield. He does tell him to play an inverted full back sometimes but that's a different kettle of fish.

I think the problem is that Key's not sure what to do when he gets the ball and his default action is to run with it. Trouble is, if he doesn't run with it he often gets caught in possession (see Dobbin's goal). If he does run with it he tends to go infield into traffic and more often than not loses possession (see Sargent's second). Neither of these is good.

 

[A4Jack]

For me it's quite clear that Luke has been adopting this Pep approach of false full back with Key in particular.

Profit of the False Fullbacks in the Final Third｜Football Bunseki

This article gives the analysis of the false fullbacks which were introduced by Pep Guardiola. The profit of the false fullbacks in the final third attacking and defensive transition are mainly discussed.

footballbunsekicom.com

It's all about progressing through to the final third, drawing defenders out allowing space between the centre backs to pass to the winger or the marauding false back. Which in theory makes sense.

But that's where the sense ends. Because in this system it requires players to drop back in when the false full back does go on a run. This doesn't happen. But potentially explains why Statty sits so deep as protection. When he doesn't challenge for the ball and simply drops deeper and deeper it then creates a problem.

The other problem then is the choice of false full back in Key. The position is not designed for the player to run into opposition players but sides pretty much play a trap for us to play into. Allow the centre halves to pass or Key to go on a charge and then close down. It works pretty easily for them.

 

[mrploppy]

For me it's quite clear that Luke has been adopting this Pep approach of false full back with Key in particular.

Profit of the False Fullbacks in the Final Third｜Football Bunseki

This article gives the analysis of the false fullbacks which were introduced by Pep Guardiola. The profit of the false fullbacks in the final third attacking and defensive transition are mainly discussed.

footballbunsekicom.com

It's all about progressing through to the final third, drawing defenders out allowing space between the centre backs to pass to the winger or the marauding false back. Which in theory makes sense.

But that's where the sense ends. Because in this system it requires players to drop back in when the false full back does go on a run. This doesn't happen. But potentially explains why Statty sits so deep as protection. When he doesn't challenge for the ball and simply drops deeper and deeper it then creates a problem.

The other problem then is the choice of false full back in Key. The position is not designed for the player to run into opposition players but sides pretty much play a trap for us to play into. Allow the centre halves to pass or Key to go on a charge and then close down. It works pretty easily for them.

Good analysis. The only thing I'd say is that in the diagram, the RB runs into basically the number 10 position and gets the ball there. But as you say (I think) Key runs with the ball, more often than not starting in his own half and ending up somewhere around the centre circle.

 

[Manselton Jack]

Key just isn't suited to playing that role because he doesn't know when to pass unfortunately.
He makes space for himself & gets in good positions but then it's head down keep running until he loses the ball.
Rangel would have been perfect for that system but he was a far better footballer & so would Naughton from a few years ago.
Williams has got to play Key as a traditional full back.

 

[mrploppy]

Key just isn't suited to playing that role because he doesn't know when to pass unfortunately.
He makes space for himself & gets in good positions but then it's head down keep running until he loses the ball.
Rangel would have been perfect for that system but he was a far better footballer & so would Naughton from a few years ago.
Williams has got to play Key as a traditional full back.

It's a real pity because there's a good footballer in there somewhere. Some decent coaching could sort him out. In the meantime he needs to cut out these mistakes which are costing us dearly.

 

[Builthjack]

He is like a kid in a playground. Messi can beat 5 players. Key can’t.
He keeps trying though. Every game.