The following tactical analysis is from Zach Wu, who’s not a Sailors fan, but we just thought it would be good for someone without rose-tinted glasses to analyse the tactics of our games. We hope to make this a regular column so that we can better appreciate what is going on in our games from a tactical perspective.
It was a potential title decider just 2 weeks into the new season. However, both teams were far from being in title-challenging form, be it LCS’s new-look side settling in or DPMM playing in a far less competitive league of late.
First Half
LCS set up in their customary 4231, being relatively unchanged, bar Anu starting at centre back. Nur Adam, however, was replaced relatively early with a dislocated shoulder, so Van Huizen moved over to left back while Bill Mamadou filled in at right back.
DPMM interestingly started in a 352/532 system not too dissimilar to the formation employed in their title-winning campaign in 2019 (image below). They were without one of their foreigners in Josip Balic, and Coach Adrian Pennock highlighted him as a key miss.
Finding the free players
Naturally, the free players for the 4231 team against a 532 team are the fullbacks because it is a 2v1 on the wings (winger and fullback (4231) vs one wingback (532)). However, just playing the ball to the fullbacks alone would make the team one-dimensional and the buildup flank-orientated (i.e. the ball only sticks to the wings).
Here, seconds later from the previous image where the ball was on the left, LCS are able to find the far-sided fullback Bill Mamadou (pink) while the DPMM block is shifting over, allowing him time and space to drive the ball forward.
After running with the ball a few meters, the DPMM midfield is slow to move across while the defence is too deep, creating a big space (red) in the centre. Unfortunately, Diego is too deep (pink). If LCS had been able to work the ball to Diego in this red area, he could do significant damage with the ball, given his ability.
DPMM not up to speed
Generally, DPMM seemed to be adapting to the game especially in the first half, even if they were moving slowly across and not compact – but the lead-up to the opening goal really summed up their lethargic approach.
Here, LCS win a throw-in and take it quickly having seen DPMM’s right wingback caught out of position. Diego (red) spots this and makes a dart into the space. The covering centre-back is slow to respond and this leads to the cutback which Lestienne finishes. This is a routine error, with no one stopping LCS taking the quick throw in. In fact, even the seasoned #8 Hendra Azam is there but not even looking at the ball when the throw is taken. If DPMM want to go for the title again, such routine mistakes must not be repeated.
While Coach Adrian Pennock told Eddy in a post-match interview that the players had thought the throw-in should have been awarded to them, it is still no excuse as players are taught to always play to the referee’s calls and be alert to what is going on around them.
Second Half
Luxury Players Switching Off
Lestienne and Diego Lopes have been lauded for their plaudits with the ball, but off the ball, their contribution at times have been questionable especially later on in games. Here, LCS has just given the ball away. There are two pictures above and if you look at the first, what is happening there is the ball is attempted to be played into the box by the DPMM player. Lestienne sees four LCS players converging onto it, and gambles, by starting to angle his body forward and slowly jog forward in anticipation of a counter-attack if the ball can break kindly for an LCS player. This is either clever play, or coach’s instructions to gamble in such situations.
However, when it becomes clear that there is some defending to be done, you will see that Tanaka and Lestienne have in fact continued advancing forward (observe the differences in their positions, and how they are now closer to the centre-circle), and make no attempt to close down space or put themselves closer to the action. Lopes is also watching the action instead of tucking in to be in a position to react to a potential loose ball.
With Tanaka also upfront, this leaves LCS with just 7 outfielders to defend. This forces Lionel to step out to close the man down – far out from his preferred central defensive position (see below). He is not able to intercept, and the ball is swung to DPMM’s right. It eventually reaches Voronkov who forces a good save out of Zharfan. On another day, this could have been a goal. Akin to the Neymar-Mbappe-Messi situation at PSG, Vidakovic has to find a solution to ensure their marquee players do not cost the team defensively.
Lack of control (and options)
As the half wore on, both sides were starting to tire but with both sides pushing forward for a goal (be it Sailors for the third and DPMM for an equalizer), it remained a very open game. With Hariss the only defensive minded midfielder protecting the backline, and Hami naturally more attack-minded, the midfield was quite empty at times. Unfortunately given the centre-back situation, Anu had to be played in defense and there was no natural defensive midfielder on the bench. Perhaps Rusyaidi Salime could have come on to help plug the gap in midfield? While he isn’t a pure defensive midfielder, he posted pretty high defensive stats last season, and could have done a job in midfield.
Conclusion
As a whole, LCS generally played well, creating 2.1 xG against 1.27 of DPMM, especially factoring in the mistake by Zharfan. This was an improvement compared to the TPU game where they let in 1.78 xG against a weaker opponent (albeit slightly boosted by the award of the penalty kick which was missed by Sugic).
That said, LCS could have possibly trusted their players in build-up more and committed more forward to occupy the spaces either side of the DPMM midfield when they had possession with the ball. Often, with the midfield 3 deep with the back 4, this often left the ball-carrier with just the front 3 to aim at for a forward pass.
All considered, Vidakovic must be pleased with this solid start and a win against potential title rivals. They were relatively untroubled by DPMM bar the Zharfan error. This should put the squad in good spirits, especially with a big match coming up against a fearsome Albirex team in a few days’ time.
Written by Zach Wu with contributions from Eddy Hirono
Edited by Eddy Hirono
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