| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis 17:08 - May 3 with 9498 views | Northernr |
How have we stopped conceding, and started winning, while giving up possession almost in its entirety?
And for those who think Gareth Ainsworth is inflexible, well he's already flexed quite a bit away from his usual approach...
All this and more in Dan Lambert's final column of the season...
https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/queensparkrangers/news/60181
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| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 17:42 - May 3 with 5858 views | robith |
These have been a brilliant addition to the site this season I must say |  | | |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 17:51 - May 3 with 5827 views | colinallcars |
Despite attending football matches since 1734 I can't read a game like that… |  | | |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 18:01 - May 3 with 5777 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
These are fascinating, but make me feel like a dinosaur.
Well done both. |  | | |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 18:26 - May 3 with 5680 views | BrianMcCarthy |
Excellent.
Have really enjoyed them all.
Thanks Dan, and thanks Clive. |  |
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| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 19:02 - May 3 with 5551 views | aston_hoop |
Echo the above, these articles have been an absolutely superb addition to the site |  |
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| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 19:19 - May 3 with 5511 views | Harbour |
That’s great Dan thanks I found those educational and entertaining to read and quite a lot to think about. |  | | |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 19:53 - May 3 with 5427 views | sprocket |
Excellent and thought provoking. Just a pity I couldn't understand large sections of it | | | |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 20:36 - May 3 with 5288 views | bosh67 |
Really excellently written and thought out.
The question is can Rangers win the league next season with 100% possession? Obviously divided up across the whole season! |  |
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| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 20:43 - May 3 with 5273 views | kensalriser |
Also loving these. |  |
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| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 20:47 - May 3 with 5260 views | Logman |
Very good article and stringing four across the midfield was a good move by Ainsworth.
Its actually a shame he didn't go for it earlier as I feel that it might have prevented the defeats against Preston and Coventry at home, of which my one abiding memory is of Sam Field being stranded in midfield while both teams went through us like a knife through butter and got the ball out wide to where our full backs were taking up unorthodox positions.
The corollary however, is that 4-4-2 can be very easy to defend against so we might struggle to score goals with it (albeit the 2 at Burnley and 1 at Stoke). I feel that a 4-4-2 out of possession and a more fluid formation going forward could be the answer. Eh ? | | | |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 21:11 - May 3 with 5179 views | nix |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 20:47 - May 3 by Logman |
Very good article and stringing four across the midfield was a good move by Ainsworth.
Its actually a shame he didn't go for it earlier as I feel that it might have prevented the defeats against Preston and Coventry at home, of which my one abiding memory is of Sam Field being stranded in midfield while both teams went through us like a knife through butter and got the ball out wide to where our full backs were taking up unorthodox positions.
The corollary however, is that 4-4-2 can be very easy to defend against so we might struggle to score goals with it (albeit the 2 at Burnley and 1 at Stoke). I feel that a 4-4-2 out of possession and a more fluid formation going forward could be the answer. Eh ? |
Yes, it does seem a possibility. Coventry did that with a back four when defending but a back three when they had the ball. |  | | |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 21:29 - May 3 with 5105 views | robith |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 20:47 - May 3 by Logman |
Very good article and stringing four across the midfield was a good move by Ainsworth.
Its actually a shame he didn't go for it earlier as I feel that it might have prevented the defeats against Preston and Coventry at home, of which my one abiding memory is of Sam Field being stranded in midfield while both teams went through us like a knife through butter and got the ball out wide to where our full backs were taking up unorthodox positions.
The corollary however, is that 4-4-2 can be very easy to defend against so we might struggle to score goals with it (albeit the 2 at Burnley and 1 at Stoke). I feel that a 4-4-2 out of possession and a more fluid formation going forward could be the answer. Eh ? |
I suspect Ainsworth's first signings will be some legs in midfield to move us to 433, 451 in defence | | | |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 21:33 - May 3 with 5101 views | BrianMcCarthy |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 20:47 - May 3 by Logman |
Very good article and stringing four across the midfield was a good move by Ainsworth.
Its actually a shame he didn't go for it earlier as I feel that it might have prevented the defeats against Preston and Coventry at home, of which my one abiding memory is of Sam Field being stranded in midfield while both teams went through us like a knife through butter and got the ball out wide to where our full backs were taking up unorthodox positions.
The corollary however, is that 4-4-2 can be very easy to defend against so we might struggle to score goals with it (albeit the 2 at Burnley and 1 at Stoke). I feel that a 4-4-2 out of possession and a more fluid formation going forward could be the answer. Eh ? |
Like this. | |
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| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 21:58 - May 3 with 5038 views | ibnumber10 |
Great analysis thanks, a 4 man midfield does need to be very fit, in some of the teams I managed we used to halve the pitch off out of possession as long as we could get pressure on the ball, which meant the wide midfield player on the opposite side to where the ball was would effectively come inside to about half the width of the pitch to allow the other 3 midfielders to either create an overload or match up to a 3 man midfield, you need to be very fit though as it meant your wide midfield players were covering inside a lot more rather than just going up and down the pitch.
If I was lucky enough to have wide midfielders who could operate as full backs they would swap over during the game to share the workload. | | | |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 01:30 - May 4 with 4694 views | Boston |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 17:51 - May 3 by colinallcars |
Despite attending football matches since 1734 I can't read a game like that… |
Probably teetotal. | |
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| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 06:02 - May 4 with 4579 views | Wilkinswatercarrier |
Great article, and fascinating to see the improvement in the spaces between the players. This was a big problem under Warburton as well, we were just to easy to play through.
Hopefully he sticks with zonal rather than man to man press, which is less risky.
Still my only concern is what we do with the ball when we have it. | |
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| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 06:53 - May 4 with 4537 views | dmm |
Can I add my thanks to the chorus of appreciation for Dan's excellent analysis? I really hope he continues to post these for us next season.
I think I may have mentioned this before but, I'd love to read a piece by Dan on how he watches a football game to make out the tactics being used. |  | | |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 08:11 - May 4 with 4436 views | Northernr |
Dan and myself both keen for these to continue next season, depending where he's working. | | | |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 08:29 - May 4 with 4392 views | qprd |
Bright future ahead of you, Dan, if you want to be a football writer
Keep it up and keep going! | | | |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 08:45 - May 4 with 4366 views | PlanetHonneywood |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 17:51 - May 3 by colinallcars |
Despite attending football matches since 1734 I can't read a game like that… |
Me too.
I don't doubt the brilliance evident here, itself surpassed by his ability to explain it as well as he does. However, - and I accept its me - I start reading these articles, and while I never cease to be impressed by them, I rarely get to halfway.
No doubt my undiagnosed ADD goes into overdrive and my mind goes wandering off, but I keep coming back to the same thought: is it possible for the author to simply watch a game and enjoy it? Because I'd go effing nuts if it were me having my brain churning like Alan Turing cracking the QPR 'enigma' every Saturday.
Fair play, he clearly knows his onions. |  |
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| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 09:19 - May 4 with 4270 views | TheChef |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 21:29 - May 3 by robith |
I suspect Ainsworth's first signings will be some legs in midfield to move us to 433, 451 in defence |
Well surely it has to be, given this season's midfield has basically consisted of Field and, er, that's about it.
More physically robust/fit players across the squad is an absolute must. That, or existing players' conditioning/treatment really needs to get better. |  |
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| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 09:24 - May 4 with 4254 views | BklynRanger |
First one I've read and found it really informative. Has he done any of these looking at the slumps?
Anything about what started to wrong under Warburton, Dickface, Critchley? Would be interested.
One thing I found interesting in what GA has said in recent times was about asking the players if they really were giving everything, even when they thought they probably were - there has to be some combination of effort, ability, set-up and game management that might explain it to some extent. |  | | |
| (No subject) (n/t) on 09:33 - May 4 with 4218 views | PlanetHonneywood |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 17:51 - May 3 by colinallcars |
Despite attending football matches since 1734 I can't read a game like that… |
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| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 09:45 - May 4 with 4173 views | joe90 |
Fascinating read, often over look how technical football actually is.
It seems Ainsworth has taken a pragmatic approach and been flexible within his system ie: changing from man to man press to zonal. Subtle, but significant differences, results don't lie.
Not embarrassed to say I wouldn't have spotted any of this on my own!
Big question is what does the mean for next season? Someone mentioned he played a 4-3-3 at Wycombe? If so, what does that mean in terms of style of play compared to what we've recently seen and is it an indication of what's to come? [Post edited 4 May 2023 9:46]
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| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 09:57 - May 4 with 4117 views | dmm |
| Out of possession evolution under Ainsworth — Analysis on 08:45 - May 4 by PlanetHonneywood |
Me too.
I don't doubt the brilliance evident here, itself surpassed by his ability to explain it as well as he does. However, - and I accept its me - I start reading these articles, and while I never cease to be impressed by them, I rarely get to halfway.
No doubt my undiagnosed ADD goes into overdrive and my mind goes wandering off, but I keep coming back to the same thought: is it possible for the author to simply watch a game and enjoy it? Because I'd go effing nuts if it were me having my brain churning like Alan Turing cracking the QPR 'enigma' every Saturday.
Fair play, he clearly knows his onions. |
John, you surprise me. Given your skills and training, I'd have thought you'd love detailed analysis. | | | |
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