One Up Front podcast - Harrogate Review

[dannyboy]

This episode includes:

My thoughts on the significance of how Salford used three deeper forwards during the first half

Discussion of the true talent levels of Junior Luamba and Luke Garbutt

An overview of Ethan Ingram's time at the club

Analysis of Callum Hendry's vastly improved aerial ability

Fan contributions from Dave Farrar and Russell Wintle

As well as much, much more.......


Here’s the link:

open.spotify.com/episode/4Xrh5QwIUiVUeosaLavV6Z?si=DHQlNjN5RXqDLbDYOzPIuA

[je85]

Another good pod Danny – well done on getting through the whole year, it’s been rough at our place. I wasn’t at the game Saturday, felt it was one game too many for me in a season where I have struggled with what I have seen from the team, officials and at times fans on all sides. That said - like many games through the run in, Saturday sounded like a microcosm of the tactical issues and deficiencies across the season.
 
Your point on Harrogate targeting our right was very much about them doubling up with Daly and Odoh on Mariappa to win the ball high to slot in Muldoon and Thompson in my mind. From all accounts Ingram offered good protection in the right channel and looking at the average positions on SofaScore we routinely got into the 2-3 or 2-4 defensive shape of Mariappa, Tilt with Ingram, Watt, Garbutt and occasionally Watson covering the half space and passing lanes in front of our deepest defensive players. Being 6 vs 4 in our defensive third is probably why we made more passes through the back line than normal with an aim of working the ball to Garbutt for the diagonal – which I don’t mind and has been fruitful in the survivalist mode we have been in since Christmas. Where I do have an issue with this is less about the player or balance of the side, but more the predictability (e.g – We rarely tested Sims on the left) it creates and ultimately a lack of control and an inability to stretch the pitch.
 
That ability to open up the pitch and the opponents shape brings me onto a point where I do disagree with you, namely on Luamba’s role in the side this season and potentially going into next. My feeling is we need a player with his physical attributes and direct running to develop more variety in our play. I acknowledge he does need to improve his start position and first touch, but where I think he struggles is in part due to having to play onto a flick on 90% of the time which is more unpredictable than a through ball or cross field pass on the deck. With Smith and Watt’s departure being confirmed I would hope the recruitment team can build in more balance and speed into our forward line. To maximise this, I hope they are actively looking for a couple of number tens to support Luamba and an equivalent off the left.  One area of the pitch we have been poor throughout the season is the zone between halfway to the edge of the opponents 18yard box on either side – N’Mai, Chesters, Luke Bolton and Luamba arguably do/did their best work in these spaces and maximising these opportunities should be central to our attacking scheme going forward.
 
From a chance creation perspective Notts County in Jodi Jones and David Crowley have been the gold standard in these areas for getting on the ball creating, but also winning the ball back. Jones is an assist machine but in the right channel Crowley has been as effective, whether this be creating opportunities to get 1 vs 1 with a fullback himself, supplying the overlap, playing a through ball to Langstaff or simply getting a shot away. Where Luamba could do a comparable job is in making that outside to in run’s for a ball through, creating havoc in front or getting behind the opposition back line. From what I have seen of KRs teams and his affinity with wingers I think he will want us to be a more ‘up-back-and through’ team as we go into attack – a new pitch would also support this. Retaining Hendry for another year would chime with that as he is effective with his back to goal and coming off the front bringing a CB with him to open passing lanes to wide areas for the through ball. We don’t score enough at the back post or via a cut back to the penalty spot, despite having a few box crashers in the squad. In the Pep-era of football you increasingly see defensive shapes across the top four leagues that focus on managing the space across the width of the 18yard box. Majority of attacking midfielders don’t play straight balls through the middle, even a KDB or Bruno Fernandes types will want to push the balls into the wide channels for a forward or full back because its an easier gap to hit and higher percentage of success – it also makes carrying on their run easier to get up to the opposition box to support the attack. To me Luamba could be effective in the post-Smith attacking mindset we will need to not have a rotten season next time out.
 
Appreciate the Oldham-eye test wasn’t great, but the best sides in this league over the years have power all over the pitch and Luamba fits that mould.