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.
This was new coach Rankovic’s first match at home while Brunei DPMM was coming off an admirable result, drawing against Albirex. LCS set up in their expected lineup, with the only surprise being debutant Bailey Wright replacing Hariss Harun rather than Lionel. DPMM on the other hand brought in Helmi Zambin for Azizi Ali. Everyone thought that this match would be a foregone conclusion, but wow did it knock our socks off.
First Half
LCS Tactical Set-Up
LCS interestingly chose to ditch the 3-2-4-1 shape (left), which was used against Hougang and Tanjong Pagar for a more standard 4-3-3 (right). They did use a well-defined 4-3-3 against YL but I thought it was a one-off game – using a simpler formation to be more direct and wear the Young Lions out through the intensity and pace of the game.
In theory, a 4-3-3 against DPMM’s 5-2-1-2 shape gave time and space to the LCS fullbacks. However, after the fullbacks received the ball, they were often left without options ahead due to DPMM’s approach which I will now go on to.
DPMM Tactical Set-Up
Adrian Pennock’s side was set up to deny passing options to the ball carrier, even if there was no direct pressure on the ball carrier himself.
At goal kicks, DPMM pressed high, with the striker on the ball side (Voronkov) pressing the ball-side centreback (Lionel) while the ball-side wingback (Helmi Zambin) would get tight to LCS’s ball-side fullback (Hafiz Nor). This made it very difficult to progress the ball. Zharfan could have possibly come closer to offer a difficult but possible option to break the DPMM press (blue).
The ball is with Lionel (purple) – all his options ahead are being marked, and DPMM have also a 4 vs 3 at the back, making it very difficult to progress the ball. As a result, Lionel was forced to send the ball long resulting in a turnover.
In open play, the midfielders and forwards of the 5-2-1-2 shape DPMM denied LCS space centrally, forcing them to play down the wing and making it hard to progress play.
Defensive Mistakes Cost LCS
LCS were poor on transitions too. Here, Nur Adam (red) engages the opponents cautiously as there are DPMM players near him. Bailey, the left centreback pushes up to squeeze the space. However, Lionel is not in sync with Bailey. He stays deep and does not shuffle across, remaining a few metres behind Bailey. This results in a big gap, with Azwan Ali running through this exact gap to score the opener.
While I can understand this is a new-look backline and they need time to gel, this is a defensive mistake that should not happen at the professional level.
As a whole, LCS struggled to create chances (on their own) due to DPMM’s compact shape and press, which made it especially hard given that they did not have a good reliable structure in possession this game. That said, however, LCS did have two huge chances that they spurned, a lucky turnover that led to Diego’s shot being stopped heroically by a covering defender and the penalty that Maxime missed. It was really a case of Murphy’s Law for LCS on the day. Two huge missed chances and Bailey Wright was sent off on his debut after he was put in a very difficult position.
This left LCS 2 goals and a man down right at the break.
Second Half
LCS lined up in a free flowing 4-2-3 shape, intent to get back into the game. They started at an extremely high intensity and pinned DPMM back with a goal early on. They also created numerous other chances (like the Shawal header) which they did not take advantage of. However, with the attack being so free-flowing, it often led to players being out of position and they sorely lacked a player offering width on either side, making the LCS attack extremely narrow.
Also, another factor to consider was Lestienne, the usual talisman of LCS. It was even discussed during the match by the commentator that he should be in the all time SPL/S-League team but this game he was far from his best. Haunted by the penalty miss in the first half, Lestienne was trying too much to win the game by himself in the second half, often forcing passes that were not on and playing meaningless crosses with no hope of his teammates getting onto the end of such crosses. LCS hence lost the ball way too often and ran out of steam midway into the second half.
[Editor’s note: Of course, SailorFanTalk recognizes that Maxime has saved us on numerous occasions this season, and if anyone is entitled to have a bad game, it would be him.]
Weathering the Storm
With his team fast tiring with cramp especially, Pennock made an important set of changes at around the 75th min.
Pennock moved DPMM into a 4-4-2. This allowed DPMM to double team the LCS wingers, reducing their qualitative disadvantage in 1 vs 1 situations. Also with a set of fresh legs in the form of Azizi upfront, this allowed DPMM to press and harry LCS defenders into mistakes and take pressure off the rest of the team. This was enough to see the game out, with LCS also bringing on some fringe players having seen the game was lost.
Conclusion
This was an extremely costly result for LCS. Currently they are 2 points off Tampines and 2 points off Albirex having played a game more. Also with new signing Bailey Wright suspended, Abdul Rasaq possibly out and Richairo Zivkovic not match fit, it does not bode well for Albirex on Sunday. Lose and their title hopes would realistically be gone. Their ACL hopes also hang in the balance in the face of a resurgent Tampines. Coach Rankovic needs to steady the ship fast.
On the other hand, DPMM must be delighted to get 4 points from 2 difficult games while not playing in Brunei. Play like that for the rest of the season, and they might just be able to usurp Hougang or Geylang for 5th spot in the league.
Written by Zach Wu
Edited by Eddy Hirono
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