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.
Noor Ali had already beaten LCS twice last season, and with an impressive gameplan on the day, he took the fight to LCS.
Both teams made interesting changes – for LCS, it was Hariss back into defense while Anu started in midfield. For Geylang, Yushi Yamaya was used with Bezecourt in a strike partnership with Iqbal moved to the right.
Geylang = Tampines-lite?
Interestingly, Geylang adapted Tampines’ approach (as with many top European teams) with 2 differing shapes on and off the ball. While they were defending, it would be a 442 (here, Bezecourt is out of frame), sitting in 2 disciplined banks of 4.
Off the ball, it was a different case, and it was clearly intentional by Geylang. Fadli Kamis, the rightback would stay deep and join the other 2 centrebacks to form a temporary back 3 (yellow). For the opposite fullback, Ahmad Syahir(pink) would stay high and wide to occupy width. The midfield pivot (orange) of Tezuka and Huzaifah would stay close, lurking just behind the LCS front two of Diego and Bernie.
Geylang would look something like this with the ball, in a 3241 shape, akin to Tampines. A left footer holds the width down the left (Ahmad/Glenn), the left winger comes infield (Danish/Saifullah), there is a natural winger that holds the width on the right (Iqbal/Faris) while the rest of the team forms a back 3, a midfield pivot and with a lone striker upfront.
While on the ball, it made Geylang stable with possession and hard to press (just like how Tampines dealt with LCS). Also, off the ball, with the right back (Fadli Kamis) staying back, this would allow him to remain goalside of Lestienne, ensuring that Lestienne would not be able to break freely into space.
Poor ball progression from LCS
LCS struggled heavily in build-up as they were unable to progress the ball reliably up the pitch. The issue lay with both individuals and tactics. LCS use a 4-1 buildup, with a single holder ahead of the defense. Hence there is a huge onus on the holder to make himself available in buildup and find the free space.
Here, Hami Syahin (pink) has adopted a very poor body position. He is entirely facing his own goal, making it difficult for him to see what is behind him and play a forward pass. As a result, he is forced to go back.
Seconds later, as the ball is played back to the right centreback Hariss Harun comes another issue. Hariss is obviously trying to play the pass into Diego (yellow). However, the near side Geylang midfielder (Huzaifah in orange here) would screen off that pass by using his cover shadow (orange triangle) to block off the pass. Even on the opposite side, Geylang would do a similar movement to block the pass. (Editor: cover shadow is a term used to mean the area covered directly behind a defending player. Zach has drawn a triangle because by positioning himself there, Huzaifah has blocked off the angle for Diego to receive the pass)
LCS’s insistence of building up in a 4-1 shape (which already puts a huge emphasis on the holding midfielder), with the poor awareness of the players needed to play this holding midfielder role, made LCS cumbersome and ineffective in possession.
As a whole, it was a poor first half from LCS, not only being poor defensively but their attack was also not clicking; the only big chance they had was the scramble from a Van Huizen cross near the end of the first half.
Second Half
Geylang’s approach remained similar throughout, holding a 442 shape off the ball and a 3241 shape on the ball. LCS’s approach remained the same and still struggled to create clear cut chances themselves, only creating half chances from Geylang mistakes and the two free kicks which Maxime expertly converted.
Zulqarnaen MOTM
I have to really give a shoutout to Zulqareen who proved once again he is of the calibre of a national team player. He made 3 crucial defensive interventions (as captured by LCS Tiktok below) to keep LCS in the game, when the rest of the defence seemed to be all at sea.
@lioncitysailors Zulqarnaen says NO! 🚫 🛡️ What a performance from our fullback! #everybodylovesfootball #fyp
♬ NO – Meghan Trainor
Conclusion
Despite the positive result, the performance was dire for LCS. They barely threatened from open play and could not play past the Geylang block. Also, if your rightback is the man of the match with 3 (yes three!) goal saving tackles, it really shows how poor LCS were on the day.
Nathan was impressive, having lasted just under an hour. If he continues this rich vein of form, he will be a good squad player for the Sailors. On the other hand, new signing Bernie was anonymous. Yes, he barely got any service today but if this persists it could be the second coming of Mister Lamppost (Kim Shin Wook).
Geylang on the other hand should leave with their heads held high; if not for Maxime turning up with 2 brilliant freekicks to save the Sailors’ blushes today they would have walked away with points.
Written by Zach Wu
Edited by Eddy Hirono
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