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- Toninu
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10 years of FIF
Before any lunatics start complaining about people dissecting and/or criticising a big win, let me say GTFO because that is exactly what forums are for: in-depth discussion and critical analysis. If you want mindless cheerleading, stick to posting black and blue heart emojis in instagram/youtube comments.
So, Conte has obviously made a tactical adjustment to have the team sit deeper in recent matches than we did at the start of the season. This has coincided with him abandoning the 3412 nonsense and reverting to the tried and tested 352 flat with Brozovic at DM - both good moves that I've been begging for. Seems that when we sit back like we did against Verona or Spezia, we can contain the game comfortably and concede very little chances (while also exerting very little attacking energy).
Naturally I'm happy with the win today but that defending for the opening 15 minutes was utterly ludicrous. Seems that if we bring our overall shape even a few steps forward, we start getting pulled all over the place and completely lose our compactness. That needs to be addressed. We can't exist on these two extremes of the scale: forward and exposed vs sitting deep and doing nothing. We need balance and we need to be able to transition effectively.
Also, while I was satisfied with the attacking plays, especially coming off a break, we really need to rotate more. We played our strongest XI in the two easiest fixtures of the entire season, at home against the two Serie B teams (still conceding 3 goals btw..) That simply shouldn't be necessary and as I mentioned last time, if not in these games, then when? These are literally the easiest fucking games of the entire 40-something games in the season. If your system requires your best players even against the worst 2 teams in the league (and you still concede shit goals), then your system clearly has some issues.
I give Conte credit for the subs today which were timely and proactive. Like Lukaku demolishing a Serie B side though, I want to see this kind of performance against the top teams for once. We need more tactical guile than simply bulldozing shit teams with brute force and a sheer gulf in quality of players.
I think you're overrating how good we are defending deep, that Napoli game was awful.
I still agree with you, we literally threw the Scudetto away last season when Conte started experimenting with the 3412 only to shift back to 352 which led to our good end of season run and our Europa League run.