Tactical issues and corrections vs Leicester (1 Viewer)

Esoterica · Jan 17, 2026

Repeating some of what I said in the match thread but the midfield was very dysfunctional first half and was the root cause of most of our issues.

EMC and Esse very high and wide.
Grimes operating like a quarterback (in the blue box).
Rudoni playing with freedom in the 10 role and popping up anywhere (the yellow box)
Torp was left to cover a huge space (red circle)

There were times when Rudoni was left or right wing, and Grimes stood between our CBs. Leicester were able to over run Torp very easily.

Esoterica · Jan 17, 2026

Credit to Lampard, he tightened it up significantly 2nd half.

Grimes started higher (blue box) and played much closer to Torp.
Rudoni's operating area was reduced (yellow box) and he wasn't getting quite so wide, so often

But most significantly, the wingers started deeper and were tucked inside out of possession, which totally changed the midfield dynamic.
Torp (Red Box) had a much smaller area to cover as a result of the above tweaks and we regained control of the match.

More bodies central, shorter passing options not only in the middle of the park but between full backs and wingers.

Cally Fedora · Jan 17, 2026

Yes. We suffer when we empty the midfield. Don’t know why we play so high - we can easily damage teams without doing that

Hullinho87 · Jan 17, 2026

I think the midfield tightened organically second half because we clearly went man for man, particularly in their half & off the ball work was light and day second half to that of the first half.

It felt like a clear case of do your job and the dirty work to earn your momentum and dominance. We haven’t done that since Southampton away.

Liquid Gold · Jan 17, 2026

Lampard is tactically excellent and often makes changes before you see the problem.

mmttww · Jan 17, 2026

Good posts. You are smart. Like your work.

lord_garrincha · Jan 17, 2026

I actually spoke to a recently qualified UEFA Pro Licence holder, who was at the game, post match... they had a differing view that has been proposed here...

They wanted it more 1st half.

We wanted it more 2nd half.

Brighton Sky Blue · Jan 17, 2026

One of my top 3 favourite footie posters on here comes up with the goods again. Enjoyed that

Hobo · Jan 17, 2026

lord_garrincha said:
I actually spoke to a recently qualified UEFA Pro Licence holder, who was at the game, post match... they had a differing view that has been proposed here...

They wanted it more 1st half.

We wanted it more 2nd half.

Yeah but Frank admitted we were wrong tactically in the first half and had to make some tweaks at half time especially to our midfield because Dasilva was being isolated and bypassed by Leicester (but the problem was other players not Dasilva.).

He didn't say the players needed a kick up the arse and needed to get in their faces more ?

Sky Blue Pete · Jan 17, 2026

mmttww said:
Good posts. You are smart. Like your work.

He understands football for sure

Ccfcisparks · Jan 17, 2026

Esoterica said:
Repeating some of what I said in the match thread but the midfield was very dysfunctional first half and was the root cause of most of our issues.

EMC and Esse very high and wide.
Grimes operating like a quarterback (in the blue box).
Rudoni playing with freedom in the 10 role and popping up anywhere (the yellow box)
Torp was left to cover a huge space (red circle)

There were times when Rudoni was left or right wing, and Grimes stood between our CBs. Leicester were able to over run Torp very easily.

View attachment 48399

Don't think Torp has the legs to get round the pitch in that system we played first half, Onyeka potentially could.

Gibbo · Jan 17, 2026

This has been the problem for a while. Ipswich over ran us in midfield.

Does it come with having a player like Grimes?

wingy · Jan 17, 2026

Esoterica said:
Repeating some of what I said in the match thread but the midfield was very dysfunctional first half and was the root cause of most of our issues.

EMC and Esse very high and wide.
Grimes operating like a quarterback (in the blue box).
Rudoni playing with freedom in the 10 role and popping up anywhere (the yellow box)
Torp was left to cover a huge space (red circle)

There were times when Rudoni was left or right wing, and Grimes stood between our CBs. Leicester were able to over run Torp very easily.

View attachment 48399

Itt was more they were using the aerial route for me and it wasn't just him I didn't think?

Perennial Lurker · Jan 17, 2026

Gibbo said:
This has been the problem for a while. Ipswich over ran us in midfield.

Does it come with having a player like Grimes?

No it comes with the distance between the midfielders as the opening post suggests .
Basically Grimes was too deep first half and allowed a lot of space for Leicester to play in
When Liverpool won the league last season Mac Allister , Soboszlai and Gravenberch played very close to each other in a pivot .

blunted · Jan 17, 2026

Liquid Gold said:
Lampard is tactically excellent and often makes changes before you see the problem.

Yep along with Edwards.

marrrkjay_ccfc · Jan 17, 2026

In the match thread, I called it the donut formation exactly as you have displayed it OP. Grimes, Torp and Rudoni all play in a single line so they can't find each other, and when we lose possession, teams counter us quick through the middle and there's Grimes left on his own.

Torp is a CM so shouldn't always be so far forward, and Rudoni should be an AM but virtually plays as a striker even when we don't have the ball.

Out of possession, we should go to a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1, and the wingers should drop back and Rudoni drops back into the middle.

Currently we seem to be playing a 4-1-1-1-3 formation which leaves us badly exposed, especially on the counter.

robbiekeane · Jan 17, 2026

Esoterica said:
Torp (Red Box)

That’s a circle you idiot

robbiekeane · Jan 17, 2026

Joking you’re obviously very smart and love your work x

Esoterica · Jan 17, 2026

Brighton Sky Blue said:
One of my top 3 favourite footie posters on here comes up with the goods again. Enjoyed that

You meant me right?

Sky Blue Pete · Jan 17, 2026

Esoterica said:
You meant me right?

Nope me

Brighton Sky Blue · Jan 18, 2026

Esoterica said:
You meant me right?

@Esoterica
@Evo1883
@Frostie

In no particular order, the three best football posters on here imo.

Esoterica · Jan 18, 2026

Ccfcisparks said:
Don't think Torp has the legs to get round the pitch in that system we played first half, Onyeka potentially could.

I feel like we’re already all about Grimes. And love how good he is at what he does. But should we be sure placing so much on him? There’s a balance to be had, and I feel we got a bit too complacent in recent weeks.

Esoterica · Jan 18, 2026

Brighton Sky Blue said:
@Esoterica
@Evo1883
@Frostie

In no particular order, the three best football posters on here imo.

Ffs man. @Frostie is a total c**t. Can’t stand that charade of a poster.

Esoterica · Jan 18, 2026

robbiekeane said:
That’s a circle you idiot

I’ll give you a red box you little minx.

Brighton Sky Blue · Jan 18, 2026

Esoterica said:
Ffs man. @Frostie is a total c**t. Can’t stand that charade of a poster.

He can be pretty cold in his responses, I've noticed. Gives me the shivers just thinking about it.

Esoterica · Jan 18, 2026

Brighton Sky Blue said:
He can be pretty cold in his responses, I've noticed. Gives me the shivers just thinking about it.

We had a football nerd meet up last year. Most of us were sharing our thoughts on xG but he’d painted a couple of fingers sky blue and was finger blasting anything that moved. Gained and lost so much respect for him that day. But mostly lost. My own xG

Esoterica · Jan 18, 2026

Liquid Gold said:
Lampard is tactically excellent and often makes changes before you see the problem.

I think he’s learning like an intelligent manager. If he was excellent already he wouldn’t have sent out that shit show in the first half. An insane recovery though.

long way home · Jan 18, 2026

It turned into a perfect day for FL and his staff. Players responded to going behind, adapted well taking instruction and played as a squad.

3 pts walk away onto the next and go into tuesday with certain squad members rested enough to start on Tuesday.

Wright, Tatsu, Eccles, Minny and Wolfie could all potentially start of needed.

CovveeBreak · Jan 18, 2026

Hey @Esoterica - can you please explain this post office queue that led to their first goal?

Deity · Jan 18, 2026

Esoterica said:
Credit to Lampard, he tightened it up significantly 2nd half.

Grimes started higher (blue box) and played much closer to Torp.
Rudoni's operating area was reduced (yellow box) and he wasn't getting quite so wide, so often

But most significantly, the wingers started deeper and were tucked inside out of possession, which totally changed the midfield dynamic.
Torp (Red Box) had a much smaller area to cover as a result of the above tweaks and we regained control of the match.

More bodies central, shorter passing options not only in the middle of the park but between full backs and wingers.

View attachment 48400

Agree with much of this …. It’s been clear for a while. Just as it’s been clear that teams know that our full backs push high and leave space in the channels to exploit.

The challenge Frank has is that neither Thomas nor Kitch are good enough on the ball to start our attacks so Grimes has to drop deeper. I suspect this is why we targeted Charlie Hughes in the summer to give us at least one central defender who has a better passing range.

Until we solve this problem I fear we will always be exposed in the midfield.

One final note the other issue yesterday for us was that leicester inverted their right back so that when in possession he tucked into their midfield. This also gave them a natural over load.

Frostie · Jan 18, 2026

Esoterica said:
Ffs man. @Frostie is a total c**t. Can’t stand that charade of a poster.

Sky Blue Pete · Jan 18, 2026

In fairness one of @Esoterica first coaches was me and I’m pretty sure I taught him all I know

Brighton Sky Blue · Jan 18, 2026

Sky Blue Pete said:
In fairness one of @Esoterica first coaches was me and I’m pretty sure I taught him all I know

I heard it was your idea to cram our own 6 yard box at corners Pete?

skyblu3sk · Jan 18, 2026

They pretty much went 2 up on Grimes and his passing intensity and speed couldn't match in the first half with him wanting too much time so dropping back. 2nd half he played a lot more one touch fast passes stepping up away from the defence. Although gave the ball away more than he normally would it broke through the high press and pushed them back.

Sky Blue Pete · Jan 18, 2026

Brighton Sky Blue said:
I heard it was your idea to cram our own 6 yard box at corners Pete?

Lol
Was whining about not leaving mve and or Dasilva on the half way line yesterday when defending corners
My favourite tactic was after esoterica talked a mate who used to play at a good level in goal to play for us. He could belt a goal kick two pitch lengths and no one knew the offside rule including some refs
So I’d speak to the ref confirm they knew you couldn’t be offside from a goal kick and get esoterica to stand mid way through their half worked every time
Defenders shouting for offside some club officials giving it but obviously it was onside
My one clever tactic

Tactical issues and corrections vs Leicester (1 Viewer)

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