On June 15 2020 17:26 Bacillus wrote: How was Hazard? It feels like the Corona pause might be a bit of a crossroads for him and his individual training routines.
He was good considering it was the first match. The team was quite good with him (and terrible in the second half with Bale).
Yeah i watched 1st half more than the second and it seemed he was back to being more direct and involved. Was very selfless which he is known for with us with the tap in for Ramos, but what a counter that was, and Ramos in fairness deserved that goal, started the attack in his own half and ends up tapping it in at 7 yard line, beautiful.
On June 15 2020 18:14 Dingodile wrote: home advantage is gone without audience in Bundesliga! 11/54 were won by home team, 16/54 draws and 27/54 for away teams.
It’ll be interesting to see further analysis when we have more games without crowds. Especially when we get data from the other big European leagues.
I guess what I assume is that technically better sides will smack those beneath them even harder, as the crowd is not there to give that psychological boost for the underdog.
On the other hand, fitness levels are going to be a factor too so it’s quite interesting.
Take a Liverpool or Man City. Very effective but physically demanding, tactically disciplined coordination is their hallmark.
At 100% fitness yeah it breaks down anyone, if teams are operating at 85/90% of match sharpness how does that end up looking? Assuming those levels have indeed dipped I’d say it’s easier to play 10 men behind the ball at 85% than play how Liverpool or City would, to pick two examples.
So many variables! Excited to see what impact they might all have.
In terms of fitness, I would imagine the comparative differences will just make things the same, even if at 85%. Most teams play very defensively versus LFC. LFC has one of the best fitness levels in the league, if not the best, so when teams begin to tire, that is where LFC tend to capitalise with their relentlessness, if they aren't ahead already(on which they tend to game manage in this season, to economise with their own fitness). LFC may tire more quickly, than they would at 100%, but so would the opponents. Reports are that the players have kept fit, during the pandemic, and since it is much of their playstyle, they know what to focus on to stay ahead in this area comparatively to other teams.
The technical side will suffer, and we have seen this from LFC during the season, when they are fatigued. Both due to the intensity of the match, but also in terms of congested fixtures. And I suspect this is where they will suffer the most at upstart, rather than the comparative superiority in fitness being levelled. I wouldn't say that LFC is dependant on technical superiority as some other top sides, and I suspect it would hurt City more, just to pick the prime example. But it will hurt the bigger sides for sure, that their technical abilities are not sharp, also due to the high tempo that PL tends to play at, comparatively to say Bundesliga.
Don't think we can draw many parallels from the Bundesliga. The premises and playstyles are completely different. Home advantages will needless to say take a hit from no atmosphere. And teams that tend to be better on the road, will probably remain that way.
Good points there, I guess my point is more by way of a crude Starcraft analogy is Maru’s playstyle. It’s inherently intense, risky but if he’s 100% he’ll rip you apart. If he’s not he can get picked off, it’s a very high-risk, high-reward style.
Playing Klopp’s heavy metal football, or Guardiola’s style which also features intense coordinated pressing is quite like that IMO.
If you’re at peak form it is currently the ‘best’ way to play football, or certainly is considered so.
I’m talking purely physical condition here when I say 100%, of course teams don’t play their best every game in other areas.
As with Maru’s razor’s edge style in SC2, a small drop off in his shape in a game or his focus doesn’t just mean he’s 90% of his usual, sometimes it means the approach that is his strength simply stops working entirely.
I’m fascinated to see anyway, the gap between relentless pressing and winning the ball high up the pitch vs failing to do so and having half your team bypassed is, I feel quite a small margin.
On June 15 2020 18:14 Dingodile wrote: home advantage is gone without audience in Bundesliga! 11/54 were won by home team, 16/54 draws and 27/54 for away teams.
It’ll be interesting to see further analysis when we have more games without crowds. Especially when we get data from the other big European leagues.
I guess what I assume is that technically better sides will smack those beneath them even harder, as the crowd is not there to give that psychological boost for the underdog.
On the other hand, fitness levels are going to be a factor too so it’s quite interesting.
Take a Liverpool or Man City. Very effective but physically demanding, tactically disciplined coordination is their hallmark.
At 100% fitness yeah it breaks down anyone, if teams are operating at 85/90% of match sharpness how does that end up looking? Assuming those levels have indeed dipped I’d say it’s easier to play 10 men behind the ball at 85% than play how Liverpool or City would, to pick two examples.
So many variables! Excited to see what impact they might all have.
In terms of fitness, I would imagine the comparative differences will just make things the same, even if at 85%. Most teams play very defensively versus LFC. LFC has one of the best fitness levels in the league, if not the best, so when teams begin to tire, that is where LFC tend to capitalise with their relentlessness, if they aren't ahead already(on which they tend to game manage in this season, to economise with their own fitness). LFC may tire more quickly, than they would at 100%, but so would the opponents. Reports are that the players have kept fit, during the pandemic, and since it is much of their playstyle, they know what to focus on to stay ahead in this area comparatively to other teams.
The technical side will suffer, and we have seen this from LFC during the season, when they are fatigued. Both due to the intensity of the match, but also in terms of congested fixtures. And I suspect this is where they will suffer the most at upstart, rather than the comparative superiority in fitness being levelled. I wouldn't say that LFC is dependant on technical superiority as some other top sides, and I suspect it would hurt City more, just to pick the prime example. But it will hurt the bigger sides for sure, that their technical abilities are not sharp, also due to the high tempo that PL tends to play at, comparatively to say Bundesliga.
Don't think we can draw many parallels from the Bundesliga. The premises and playstyles are completely different. Home advantages will needless to say take a hit from no atmosphere. And teams that tend to be better on the road, will probably remain that way.
Good points there, I guess my point is more by way of a crude Starcraft analogy is Maru’s playstyle. It’s inherently intense, risky but if he’s 100% he’ll rip you apart. If he’s not he can get picked off, it’s a very high-risk, high-reward style.
Playing Klopp’s heavy metal football, or Guardiola’s style which also features intense coordinated pressing is quite like that IMO.
If you’re at peak form it is currently the ‘best’ way to play football, or certainly is considered so.
I’m talking purely physical condition here when I say 100%, of course teams don’t play their best every game in other areas.
As with Maru’s razor’s edge style in SC2, a small drop off in his shape in a game or his focus doesn’t just mean he’s 90% of his usual, sometimes it means the approach that is his strength simply stops working entirely.
I’m fascinated to see anyway, the gap between relentless pressing and winning the ball high up the pitch vs failing to do so and having half your team bypassed is, I feel quite a small margin.
You are no doubt correct, that it will not be at optimal levels. The physicality will be lower, thus the gains lower, but everyone are affected by lower levels, and while it of course hurts physical teams more that they can't impose their greatest strengths on others as well as they can at peak performance, the comparative levels will still make their differences apparent, I imagine.
LFC have made slight adjustments every season, and this season, their pressing is much less, but more economical. A couple of years ago, they led the charts on most metrics on the physical side(pressing, miles run etc), but this season they are like 5th or 6th. They have created a balance between pressing and control, and as such it isn't so much like heavy metal, like 2 years ago, where they would run at you relentlessly for much of 90 mins. Probably also factors in that it is very hard for them to be a counter attacking team, because most teams are aware of their speed, and will try to stop them, before it becomes a danger. Their game management is much more apparent, passing the ball around for long stretches. They pick their moments, both with and without the ball.
It will be the same for City, in terms of technical superiority. Their technical levels will suffer, and they probably can't impose themselves as well as when at peak performances, but in the same breath, opponents own technical areas will not be great either, so it sort of levels each other out - at least some of the way, because an incisive pass, perhaps would be interrupted quicker and with higher levels of technical prowess, but will now see its way through to the recipient, if this makes sense.
All this said, we have seen LFC drop vastly in terms of effectiveness in the past two years, when they are offered a vacation. Last season it was apparent, when they were offered 2 weeks, because of early exits from domestic cups, and this season with the forced "winter" break. Also their CL final that they won, it was apparent that two weeks off made them(and Spurs) suffer greatly.
Really excited for the Premier League's return. Even though there's no title race there is still so much to play for for most clubs. The relegation fight is going to be brutal.
I'm really happy that League One and two are going to play the play offs too. It's not just completely over.
Well goal line technology just failed in that villa vs sheff utd game, wtf? Its CLEARLY over the line and the goal line tech didn't vibrate his watch and goal not given but its clearly over the line on replays and looked pretty good live?
Yeah can't answer on why a police presence. Also yeah VAR i thought wasn't in use but it was too. No idea wtf going on, another farce of how technology should be used in the game.
Shame on both ends because that was literally Sheff Utd have created this game and Villa have been so much better and more impressive.
Yeah i like how delayed it is, a huge cheer as keeper saves it or it goes wide lol. Just dont xD i don't get why it isn't default off as i thought that was what sky was going to do. I would much prefer to listen to coaches shout on touchline.
EPT
