Vesper

Cox and Worville: How Timo Werner has evolved into one of Europe’s best forwards https://theathletic.com/1613834/2020/02/19/cox-and-worville-how-timo-werner-has-evolved-into-one-of-europes-best-forwards/ Things were all-square at the top of the standings as Timo Werner travelled to Bayern Munich with his RB Leipzig team-mates last weekend. In Leipzig’s biggest match of the season so far, Werner produced his most prolific game, racking up four more to put himself into outright first place. No, we’re not talking about the goalscoring charts — we’re talking about offsides. Nobody in Europe’s five major leagues has been caught offside as often as Werner, whose tally of 32 puts him just ahead of Lille striker Victor Osimhen. It’s a telling reflection of Werner’s style: consistently running in behind the opposition defence. Being caught offside is of course not, in itself, a particular virtue, but Werner makes it work. Just as the players who have had the most off-target shots or conceded possession the most are generally those who also contribute the most in a positive sense, it’s a calculated gamble. Only Lazio’s Ciro Immobile (26) and Robert Lewandowski of Bayern (23) have scored more goals this season in Europe’s top leagues, with Immobile’s tally vastly inflated by 10 penalties. A sizeable proportion of Werner’s goals follow a a single pattern — running in behind from an inside-left position before finishing a one-on-one confidently, often by rounding the goalkeeper. “I like to knock the ball three or four metres ahead of me when I’m on the counter or have space in front of me,” he explained at the Confederations Cup three years ago, where he finished as joint-top scorer. “That way, I can increase the distance between a defender and myself.” The key, of course, is Werner’s sensational acceleration. Some players’ speed only becomes obvious over the space of 30 or 40 yards but Werner is immediately quick, taking him clear of the defence seemingly without much effort. As with many quick players, Werner was originally deployed as a winger in his formative years, using his speed on the right flank to go down the outside. His crossing was never particularly consistent, however, and it was no surprise when, as with so many modern forwards, he found his true home on the opposite flank, cutting inside and shooting, before gradually being deployed more as an onrushing forward. Werner’s relationship up front with Yussuf Poulsen is easy to understand — Werner is 5ft 11in, Poulsen is 6ft 4in. While Werner has been caught offside 32 times this season, Poulsen hasn’t been even once. Werner has won four aerial battles all season, Poulsen 28. Werner wears No 11, the number of a quick wide player, Poulsen wears No 9, the classic penalty-box striker. Together, they combine well, in exactly the manner you would expect from these statistics. The intriguing thing about Werner’s positioning, however, is that Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann has attempted to move him deeper this season, more as an inside-left than a pure on-the-shoulder striker. This, Nagelsmann believes, is the optimum way to use Werner’s speed. “We’ve started him a bit deeper. We don’t want him right on the last line because he needs a bit of a head start, a bit of tempo, in order to really show his pace on the pitch,” he explained in an interview with the Bundesliga’s website last month. “When he’s on the last line, he often finds himself static when he needs to get going but with a bit of room in front of him, he can hit top speed. And from this deeper position, he’s much more involved in our build-up play and combinations. “In the last few years, all his moments have come in transition, whereas now, he has his moments in combination play too. He’s having many more touches of the ball than in previous years and this new position has done his development good, playing in between the lines against teams who sit deep.” It’s no surprise to learn that Nagelsmann is up to speed on Werner’s statistics and the frequency of his touches, and his slightly different role is reflected in the numbers for the latter… Werner is now markedly more involved in his sides’ attacking moves under Nagelsmann than he was under Ralf Rangnick and Ralph Hasenhuttl. The reason for that being that Leipzig have more of an interest in using possession this season. They have had more sequences of ten or more passes already this season after 22 games (256) than they had last season (200) and the season before (248). It seems likely Werner will be forced to work more in deeper positions as their two-legged Champions League last-16 tie against Tottenham Hotspur begins on Wednesday night because Spurs head coach Jose Mourinho will surely be terrified of his speed and order his defence to take up an even deeper defensive line than usual, even in this home leg. That’s why Mourinho will be particularly disappointed to be without his own equivalent of Werner, Son Heung-min. Son’s winner at the weekend in the 3-2 victory over Aston Villa was the type of goal Werner has scored so many times this season — exploiting a mistake by an opposition defender playing in a high line, running through in that inside-left position and finishing calmly from a tight angle. Another statistical metric can be used to demonstrate their similarity. Here’s a ranking of players who have taken shots at goal having carried the ball for at least five metres before the shot, from Europe’s five major leagues. Werner leads the way with 30, ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with Son in the chasing pack just behind. In a game that could be about knocking the ball in behind the opposition defence, Son’s absence is a major blow for Spurs. At the other end, Werner’s speed could be the tie’s decisive factor.

absolutely superb writing

I am so fucking jelly of that stadium and that crowd

Simeone outfoxed Klopp as Liverpool lost their heads in the din https://theathletic.com/1611537/2020/02/19/liverpool-atletico-simeone-klopp-saul-anfield-champions-league/ “We started winning the game at the roundabout when we arrived on the bus. We saw so many people with so much ambition, with no fear. In my eight years here, we have never had a reception like that.” — Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone At the scene of the club’s finest hour under Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool juggernaut was halted. The nine-mile journey from the Wanda Metropolitano back to the Eurostars Madrid Tower was decidedly quieter on their team coach this time. Where last June the champagne flowed, the music blared and the party went on past 5am, this time around the only ice requested at their plush five-star hotel was for treating weary limbs. It was a bruising night for Liverpool in the Spanish capital and the post-match mood in their camp was described by one member of the backroom staff as “frustration mixed with defiance”. For a team which hadn’t experienced defeat since September, Tuesday night was a bitter pill to swallow. The dark arts of Atletico Madrid — the time wasting, the play acting and the haranguing of the officials — had enraged players and manager alike. So too had the erratic display of Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, who, Liverpool felt, fell for every trick in the book after Saul Niguez’s early goal gave Atletico a precious lead to cling on to. There was concern for captain Jordan Henderson, who limped towards his room after being forced off with a hamstring problem late on and will now undergo a scan to determine the extent of the damage. Another topic of discussion as the European champions dissected the evening’s events was Atletico’s wild celebrations that followed the 1-0 win in the first leg of a Champions League last 16 encounter. “It was like they had won the tie,” says left-back Andy Robertson. “Let’s see what happens at Anfield.” You can guarantee those scenes will be used by Klopp as added motivation in the team meeting before the second leg. The memory of overcoming a 3-0 deficit against Barcelona in last season’s semi-finals is still fresh in their minds, so the challenge facing Liverpool on March 11 can hardly be described as daunting. However, it’s difficult to envisage Atletico wilting in an Anfield cauldron in similar fashion. Liverpool’s proud record of having never lost a two-legged European tie during Klopp’s reign is on the line. Dogged Atletico, who clearly relished their underdogs tag after recent struggles domestically, will be a tough nut to crack. Klopp versus Diego Simeone the sequel promises to be compulsive viewing and the German certainly has work to do after coming off second best in their first competitive meeting. They are two of the most passionate, animated managers around and the intensity of this contest was testament to how they have both fashioned a team in their own image. Both have instilled a burning sense of loyalty in their players and a willingness to strain every sinew for the cause. “People say I’m emotional on the sideline, but if I’m level four then Diego is on level 12. I’m the kindergarten cop compared to him,” joked Klopp on the eve of the game. He wasn’t wrong. As Klopp stood with his hands deep in the pockets of his tracksuit, Simeone was hyperactive in (and out of) his technical area. He must have covered nearly as much ground as his impregnable backline. The Argentine was relentless — constantly on the move, barking orders, wildly gesticulating, applauding, protesting and organising. When Liverpool enjoyed spells of sustained pressure he turned and threw his arms in the air, demanding that the Atletico fans cranked up the noise. They duly obliged as the intimidating Wanda Metropolitano was whipped into a frenzy. Even before the game they did their bit, a sea of flares and clouds of smoke greeting the home team bus outside the ground. “We speak from time to time about the power of Anfield and the power a stadium can have, and tonight you saw that,” says Klopp. “They were going constantly to the petrol station and we drove with one tank [of fuel]. I’m not sure if Diego Simeone saw a lot of the game because he was continually animating the crowd.” Klopp is no stranger to taking on the role of conducting the fan orchestra himself and this was reminiscent of the memorable Anfield nights that he has inspired through his own force of personality. Klopp and Simeone have plenty in common when it comes to motivating and man-management. They are demanding but have a close bond with those they send into battle. “Nobody ever steps out of line here because there’s so much respect for him within the dressing room,” Atletico full-back Kieran Trippier told The Athletic earlier this season about Simeone. “You can see how passionate he is. He’s always pushing you on and encouraging the players. It gives you a lift.” Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino has talked about how “Jurgen motivates us in a different way every day”, while assistant Pep Lijnders says he “speaks from the heart and it goes directly into the hearts of the players… the character of the coach becomes the character of the team. That’s the power of Jurgen’s personality.” Yet that’s where the similarities between the two managers end. When it comes to playing style, the contrast could hardly be greater between Klopp’s commitment to attack and Simeone’s dogged defensive approach. One feels a duty to entertain, the other simply feels a duty to win at all costs. Klopp prides himself on the fact that Liverpool are not only runaway Premier League leaders but are also top of the Fair Play table again this season. Simeone has Atletico pushing the boundaries of fairness at every possible opportunity. “We gave them the best possible start to get their fans up and then they started falling over and trying to get under our skin but we handled it well. We are better than that,” adds Robertson. Klopp was furious with the referee for failing to clamp down on Atletico’s spoiling tactics. He felt he was influenced by the hostile atmosphere. The pair have previous. Klopp accused Marciniak of “not being prepared” and making Liverpool “look like butchers” after he booked six of them in a 2-1 defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain in November 2018. The Liverpool manager, who was shown a yellow card for his prolonged protests to fourth official Tomasz Musial late on, felt he had no option but to substitute Sadio Mane at the break because Atletico were doing their best to get him sent off. “I was afraid his opponent would go down even if Sadio just takes a deep breath,” says Klopp. Losing Mane hurt them but the general lack of creativity was Liverpool’s biggest issue. They had 73 per cent possession but did precious little with it. Trying to break down a team who had conceded just two goals in 12 previous Champions League knockout home games under Simeone was always going to be tricky. However, the visitors played into their hands by moving the ball too slowly. Their delivery from wide areas was wretched and there was little guile from midfield. They lost their heads in the din. It was far too easy for the hosts. It was only the second time in 251 games during Klopp’s time at the club that Liverpool failed to muster a single shot on target – the previous occasion being away to Napoli in 2018. Klopp has proved adept at making match-changing substitutions this season but this time his touch deserted him. He was outfoxed by Simeone’s ability to stifle and deny Liverpool space in the final third. Divock Origi struggled badly after replacing Mane and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain couldn’t make an impact after the ineffective Mohamed Salah was withdrawn. When James Milner was brought on for the injured Henderson it was a sign that Klopp was content to accept a narrow defeat rather than throw caution to the wind in search of an away goal. Naby Keita and Takumi Minamino had both been overlooked. Considering Liverpool’s record-breaking achievements, it’s a ridiculous statistic that they have lost six of their 10 away games in the Champions League since the start of last season. No club has lost more in that time. Once again they will have to rely on the power of Anfield to drag them through. “Our people will be ready. It isn’t over yet,” Klopp warned Atletico. Round one to Simeone and his gang of street fighters. It wasn’t pretty but it was effective. Klopp has three weeks to plot his response.

Why Chelsea Have to Finish in the Top Four 3 and a half weeks old, but still very relevant, maybe even more so now that we are in full crashout mode atm

I would make it body only no legs/feet or arms/hands can determine offsides

I think Bayern is crazy to not go for Julian Nagelsmann but that is just me, lolol I so so would love him here

tell that to Liverpool tonight, lololol the scouser scum fucksticks had ZERO shots on target a team finally manned up and beat on the uber fraud Henderson and he was pure dogshit I have to so laugh when (insert some marginal ex English EPL or first division player presenter who is a typical rah rah jingoistic bellend) says he is close to best CMF in the world close to the biggest twat, yes

IF we did go for Simeone then that radically changes our transfer needs as it is back to defensive counter attacking Diego will never accept not being backed for his type of players I will immediately back off the Kante sale demands and we then need to buy two strikers, both who can play with two up front Lautaro would be ideal for one and we would so need to up our back 4 he will never settle for AC and Zouma and would (a good thing) shit on Alonso and Emerson so would need to go for Gimenez or Skriniar or some other WC CB (and keeping Kante means zero chance at grabbing Raphaël Varane in some sort of swapperoo) plus maybe Rice as a CB/DMF swing player I do not see it all happening

wonder if they make a play for Poch he would seem to be a good fit

I don't rate him as a great manager at all, never have surprised PSG did not go for Massimiliano Allegri who I think would have been a better option dealing with all those egos

great post, thanks for sharing m8!!

I so hope every single English team but us crashes out of Europe this round especially the scouser scum and the cheats Shitty plus OGS and the Manurists they deserve to have all the miseries in the world visited upon them after that theft game versus us courtesy of a poster boy POGMOL thieving cunt in bellend Taylor

ZERO shots on target for the dipper cunts lolol

Giovanni Reyna, who assisted the last goal, just turned 17 several months ago and is an American like Pulisic

Håland is averaging a goal every 49 minutes with Dortmund he is the first player to score 10 goals in his first 7 CL games

I give you that about Verratti, BUT he has been insane all year otherwise superb player

down go the scouse vermin!!! goes to show how SHIT the EPL is they are getting battered outside it they barely beat a shit Flamengo side after even struggling in the first FWCC game against a pure shit team

the biggest blocks are 2 things 1. Norway doesn't want to share the oil revenues 2. all the rest of the nations and sub nations HATE our Swedish immigration policy towards refugees (so do I, if it went back to pre 2016 again it will be nationally suicide if some cunt like Trump spins up a Middle East wide war via going after Iran)

this is, unfortunately true as well I fear Mou was fucking poison for youngsters

I am working on it, as are thousands of others

this still kills me

Nordic power the world is lucky we do not all band together and form Nordica Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Åland Islands, Svalbard lights out in Nordic skiing, hockey, far far better football power, so many other sports, etc

he is going to be next global superstar striker unless you count Mbappe, who alreadys is a superstar but not really a pure number 9 target man it isn't even close bookmark this I have almost no fear of being embarrassed in the future

2 1 my god what a shot by Håland