Norwich Vs Blackburn
- NCFC Analyst
- Dec 19, 2022
- 3 min read
Norwich Vs Blackburn: Still ineffective in possession. (1/16)
Score: 0 - 2
Possession (%): 60 - 40
xG: 1.25 - 0.41
Why NCFC struggled in possession. (4-7)
How NCFC could improve in the build-up. (8-10)
Why the positioning of NCFC's full backs and midfielders should change. (11-13)
Blackburn's pressing strategy. (14)
Base Formations: (2/16)
• Norwich were in a 4-1-4-1 formation.
• Blackburn were in a 4-2-3-1, matching up with Norwich's back 4.
• Gallagher, Dolan and Dack were swapping positions throughout, Morton and Buckley were also rotating.
(3/16)
• With Norwich in possession, Blackburn pressed in a 4-4-2.
• Hayden would often become the free man after a one two between Gunn and a CB.
(4/16)
• Norwich's attacking 5 would all stay high, to reduce the number of opponents pressing in Norwich's half.
• In theory, this should make it easier to escape the press and it should create free players (Sara or McLean) when Morton (6) or Buckley (21) are forced to join the press.
(5/16)
• Forwards stay high, in the build-up, to create vertical depth and to make the pitch as big as possible.
• More vertical depth means there's more space to play into.
• But Norwich had too many players staying high, this created a big gap in midfield.
(6/16)
• The gap, between the Norwich players supporting the ball and those trying to create depth, was far too big.
• This shape does not create the progressive passing options needed to escape the press with short passes.
(7/16)
• One of Sinani, Sara or McLean would sometimes drop to provide a progressive passing option.
• But this did not happen often enough and more than one of them should have been dropping to support the ball.
(8/16)
• In order to escape the press, a team must attract their opponent to the ball.
• Despite attracting more opposing players to the ball, the shape below would create more progressive passing options (behind and between the opponents lines) for Norwich to escape the press.
(9/16)
• Not only do these movements help in supporting the ball, but they also create space for the forwards to drop into.
• This creates another passing option and more space for another forward to run into.
(10/16)
• NCFC could use a Spanish concept called Juego de Posicion (Positional Play) to improve in the build-up.
• This is a concept I explained in depth in my analysis piece during the world cup break.
(11/16)
• The positioning of Norwich's full backs didn't help NCFC's build-up.
• They were often far too high.
• This was meant to provide a passing option beyond Blackburn's press, but it created a numerical disadvantage as Blackburn created 4v3 situations.
(12/16)
• Instead, Aarons and McCallum should have dropped to support the ball.
• This would have provided Norwich with numerical superiority (a 5v4) in the build-up.
(13/16)
• If midfielders also dropped, Norwich would create more passing options via the creation of triangles.
• Midfielders dropping would also attract opposing players to the ball, this would make it easier to create free players through rotations.
(14/16)
• Blackburn made it difficult for Norwich to escape the press.
• Their pressing strategy involved blocking progressive passing options (by cover shadowing) and minimising Hayden's time on the ball.
• Once Hayden received the ball, he was surrounded.
• This pressing trap forced NCFC to play long.
Summary: (15/16)
• In the build-up Norwich are still struggling, this is due to a combination of factors, including:
1) Lack of confidence
2) Lack of movement
3) FBs starting too high
4) Midfielders not dropping to support the ball
(16/16)
• Out of possession Norwich are improving, with more organised and aggressive pressing.
• Against Blackburn they pressed high in a 4-1-4-1 formation.
• But Norwich's form will not improve if they fail to improve in possession
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