we defend as a 5-4-1. sheridan, hughes and LKH are all defending well in that shape, but it's easier when you're playing in a compact manner like we do.
when we gain the ball, we're slow to transition out and we don't open the pitch quickly enough. therefore we cannot move the ball quickly and end up tapping the ball to each other for a while. armiento gets high and wide, but sheridan (understandably, as it's not the player he is) didn't do the same.
we're a jogging team. we need to develop a new habit of hitting the accelerator when required. like eze does.
another issue; occasionally eze gains a partner, but generally the 10s rotate back to the 6s. i don't understand this. we have 3 centre backs, one of the 6s drops in to the 3 to start the play. that makes 4 back. we even did this when auckland had 9 players. james is capable starting the play and the 6s could set a higher double screen, thus pushing the 10s higher. but we end up with a half back 6 and at least one 10 rotating back and the right side not stretched. this is not a valid attacking platform.
armiento needs quick ball. he's not a get in behind winger, hes a deliver guy. we need to play to his strengths and get the ball to him early. he should start high, peel off his marker, half turn and deliver, over and over again. we see it 2-3 times a game. if he's crossing, we need 10s getting high and at least one 6 joining them. the other wing back needs to be hitting the inside edge of the 18 yard box too. we need a plan of attack down the right for when tim paynes not there doing the same as armiento.
the high line, which i love in principle, would help with this approach. the key is where the wide guys are receiving the ball and them getting a first touch forward and the high line helps.
i think we need to look at our player's strengths, come up with a simple plan, with chance creation in mind (change to current mentality).
