Luton Vs Norwich
- NCFC Analyst
- Dec 28, 2022
- 2 min read
Luton Vs Norwich: Dean Smith's last game.
Score: 2 - 1
Possession (%): 46 - 54
xG: 1.84 - 1.42
Change in formation, same problems in the build-up.
Luton's press.
Norwich's press.
How inverted full backs could've improved NCFC's build-up.
Base Formations:
• Both teams were set up in a 3-5-2.
• Gibbs was deeper than McLean and Sara.
• In the second half, Norwich changed to a 3-4-1-2 with Sargent dropping into a number 10 role behind Pukki and Idah.
• Norwich changed to a back 3 and matched up with Luton.
• Gibbs was the single pivot, but McLean would often drop to support the ball when the wing backs were high.
With Norwich in possession:
• Aarons and Giannoulis moved high and wide.
• McLean and Sara stayed high to keep Campbell (22) and Clark (18) away from Gibbs.
• Luton pressed man to man but created a 3v2 against Pukki and Sargent. This meant Gibbs became a free man.
• Instead of finding space behind and between the first line of Luton's press, Gibbs was often in the shadow of Adebayo.
• A key concept in the build-up is to move and receive behind and between the opponents' lines, thereby breaking the first line of the press.
• When Omabamidele or Gibson received the ball, the nearest Norwich wing back would drop to support the ball, Sara or McLean made counter runs into space.
• But Luton's press was designed to trap Norwich against the touchlines, leaving no short passing options.
• The 3v2 created by Luton's centre backs made it very difficult for Norwich to profit from long passes.
• Luton always had a wide centre back ready to run into the channels.
• Here is an example on Omabamidele's side:
• Just as they have on numerous occasions this season, Norwich often failed to break through the press.
• This makes it very difficult to play out from the back.
• Without creating passing options behind and between the opponents lines, possession lacks purpose.
• As explained in my piece below, concepts such as Juego de Posicion (known as Positional Play in England) use zones to create optimal passing angles in possession.
• Movement is a vital part of positional play; players rotate between zones to create free players.
With Luton in possession:
• Norwich pressed high. • Pukki and Sargent pressed from the inside of the wide CBs, McLean and Sara joined this press.
• Aarons and Giannoulis stayed tight to Luton's wing backs (Doughty and Bree).
• An example on Giannoulis' side:
• But Luton often found a way to break through the press,
• When they went long, they often won second balls in dangerous areas.
• Ultimately, the quality of a teams build-up determines their attacking potential.
• It is vital to support the ball and invite the press in the build-up.
• A team can then exploit the space created by the opponents press.
• Under Dean Smith, McLean and Sara stayed high to reduce the number of opponents pressing, but this - combined with wide full backs - results in a lack of passing options in the build-up.
• One possible solution is the use of inverted full backs, with wingers providing width instead of the full backs.
• This would allow McLean and Sara to stay high without reducing the number of passing options in the build-up.
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