Jake

Gonna start collating all my work and pinning it here, so it's all nicely accessible for anyone (new or not) who doesn't fancy scrolling far 🧵

Alisson has dropped off over the last few years but crucially has never become a liability in the air. Puts a target on your back, doubly-so in teams which give up very little (see: Ramsdale, Donnarumma, most Utd GKs)

Think I’m gonna have to crowbar time into my schedule to look into our set piece stuff bc, at 10 games in, there’s a lot going on and I fear - fellow sickos - none of its good.

Got a vile reminder of how public this site is hearing my set piece waffle read out to an expert on a pod on my drive to work. Only to be made even worse with the response being essentially “well yeah duh” Hot takes only now, only solution

Think I may be underestimating the importance of Saliba in our set-piece structures at both ends. Such a reliable fixed point to base around, which others aren't (at least not yet). Calming influence as much as Raya and Gabriel

Gyok summing up in one cameo why he was so nearly project-killing. Doesn’t provide us with the new edge we needed to take us forward in transition, and doesn’t fit with the old model of defensive and duelling domination. Arteta’s a miracle worker

Tzolis bad habit of bounce passes, 2 this game in really important moments/advantages

If Jurrien Timber was in Dallas that day, JFKs head would still be in one piece

Rice crossing to a box-crashing Bruno G. I’m really enjoying the fluidity lately (and think Noni’s presence will help the speed of our work over there)

In some ways this shows exactly what I've been harping on about wrt backpost corners. It's VERY difficult to effectively limit these areas bc of the 180 angle change needed, which leads to passive or over-active defending Eyes on ball is ~impossible if you don't wanna get dunked

Not a perfect analogue, but Utd's problems with undermarked and exposed far-posts have been here since GW1. Part of the issue is the players available, but structure needs another look

Great and unpredictable finish but that space is inexcusable. I appreciate not wanting to cede front post space but you can't be giving a free approach *onto* the cross - 4 Utd players on 1 at the front-post (who still would have a tap in if Rayan passed!)

Watch Gabriel and the disruption his positioning and oscillations cause. Hallmark of AFC set-pieces for years nitter.cf/Kruskal_Walisss/status…

Gabriel has always had this knack for rotating in opposition to the ball on 2nd phases. Part of the value is obviously that he'll drag CBs deep and far to give interplay opportunities. The other part is scoring goals like that when they don't spot him

Garbage quality but judging by the cluster at the time of the kick, and the almost impromptu spin-off from Gabriel, I'd say we were trying to go back to standard business (big boys slap bang in the middle)

Hilarious time for this to go out (although it makes a lot of good points re: front-post focus and 'worse' contacts)

All the time in the world for Nicolas Jackson (even if he's playing for Em*ry). Devastating a striker with this level of drive, interplay, and transition threat has moved in consecutive summers and we still employ Gyok instead