Topic: Grassie strategy, related article

[coloradoherd]

For those interested, Yesterday one of the commentators mentioned that our style of play is very similar to Brighton of the English Premier League. That got me curious so I googled a bit and found this very interesting article about the strategy of Brighton and their manager.

It?s amazing because it reads like they watched a Marshall game and wrote the article. Really sounds exactly like us. It goes a long way toward explaining some of the seemingly unusual aspects of our style. For example, if you have ever wondered whats the deal with all the dinky little passes close to our own goal, and why we persist in doing it even when we are pressured there, why we sometimes seem to dare the other team to come take the ball from us - well, according to this article, that?s the whole point. We want the pressure. The strategy is to lure the other team forward out of position to open up holes in their defense. This allows us to both possess the ball and mimic the circumstances of a counterattack (without actually allowing the other team to attack). According to the article, it?s a very cerebral and tactical approach that is loved by soccer purists. The article is very long but even if you just read the first few paragraphs, it?s very enlightening.

https://strikerless.com/2023/08/20/a-de-zerbi-fever-dream/

[Garbanjo]

Fortunately we have talented depth at CB

[elginherd]

Good catch, Colorado 😁

[jsbowen]

Great find!

I know it makes fans nervous to pass the ball so frequently around our own goal.  With talented Ds and MFs, this strategy works quite well.  In both the UK and WVU tournament matches, the opposing teams pressed forward, leaving our forwards open on the sides or a wide open MF/F at the center stripe.  If you connect on your longer passes, scoring opportunities are abundant.

If the opposing team plays back, then we are more deliberate in our short passes, slowly working up the field.  It makes for more difficult scoring, but we control the match almost entirely.

Pick your poison.  The more talented teams seem to choose pressure, hoping to force a passing error.  It worked for WVU and UK in the first matches.  We've adjusted and handle the pressure much better now.

[MicDrass1]

Sloppy fields very dangerous passing around own goal.  Grassie is Greatness!!

[pricherd]

Interesting article that does seem to mirror what Grassie is trying to do.

During the South Carolina game, their coaches yelled "Don't take the bait!" several times to their players.  They seemed to fully grasp the strategy, although it still didn't make much difference.