I'm watching the game now. Bit busy yesterday. It's first real opportunity to see pattern of play Motta has in mind, with more first team players on. Especially 2nd half. Most noticeable:
- Conditional high press on opponents half
- Cambiaso was half back/half CM and not LB
- RB becoming CB alot and moving into mid
- Thuram holding DM and not 8/offense CM?
- Locatelli was high press AM? Not Fagioli
- We barely use wings but attack on right side way too much? Weah inept but got loads of space due us overloading on left central mid.
Not sure if the last part is tactical choice, maybe is, or just Mbangula too raw/confused at left, and Yildiz just started his pre season so is lagging in effort and fitness. But it felt deliberate, left CB, LB and winger or one CM overloading on left for short passes, then acres of space to switch to right.
Also Thuram who was super shaky this game, not sure if a dictating holding mid role will suit him, which he had more 2nd half after Fagioli went out.
He had few awkward possession losses and bad passes. Maybe Motta just experimenting? Because Thuram is technical and instinctive dribbler and runner so prolly suits the role of running into offensive channels. Locatelli is a more naturals passer, but years of failing in regista role, maybe Motta figures wanna use him b2b to his athletic frame to move into channels and press.
It may also he as simple as Motta sees Thuram as the most defensively capable for tackles/closing down space. So wanna try him holding role, even if he is more awkward then the others at passing from static position.
Tho maybe easier to adapt for him, since seems like a role to just play simple short passes (he mainly struggled when he was pressed while turned back), while the CMs infront of him Loca or Fagioli/ Luiz were the ones trying to do the longer passes or wide passes to open wing.
Offensively it's hard to notice real pattern what they wanna do, except some controlled possession play from back to midfield. Most interesting to follow will be how Motta plans to use wingers, since this was the first real test, so far barely feels like an area of focus. But also because we actually need to sign starting wingers to see more of that (and Yildiz not be days into his pre season).
The biggiest difference to notice in a very stated system play, was defensively, the instinctive high press as group to force Brest to play long alot, and get ball back. Also ofcourse in negative way, when CBs/Fullbacks change position, it feels confused this early on, who will fill in where if we lose possession. As kinda happend with Brest first goal.
Buy on AliExpress.com
