How the Glory were defeated by Kisnorbo’s well-drilled City
It was pretty easygoing for Melbourne City as they enjoyed a comfortable 4–0 win over the struggling Perth Glory yesterday.
City were in control from the first minute of the game but theycouldn’t find that clinical pass to unlock the Glory’s defence during the first half.
Then the second half came and the floodgates opened.
As they breezed past the Glory, a brace for in-form striker Jamie Maclaren and goals from Marco Tilio and Matthew Leckie was enough for the home side to claim all three points.
Now the first thing to note, Melbourne City were outstanding.
There’s a reason why Perth Glory Head Coach, Ruben Zadkovich referred to City as the benchmark of the competition.
They moved the ball well, were patient, disciplined and took their moments.
When they were without the ball, they were just as impressive as they gave the Glory players very little time to think, as they came in waves to swarm the player on the ball to win back possession.
Statistically, their dominance was clear to see.
It was too easy, really.
So how did Melbourne City control the game so effortlessly and why were the Perth Glory so uncompetitive?
First of all, what was clear to see was that the Glory had changed their system from a 3–4–3 to a 4–2–3–1.
This was a move that I was fine with, to be honest, as I felt that players like Salim Khelifi and Ryan Williams would benefit more if they had the licence to attack more and not have to worry as much with their defensive responsibilities.
Surprisingly, Glory started the game reasonably well as they got the ball into their attacking third and caused Melbourne City multiple issues, as the home side resorted to fouls on a number of occasions, to stop attacks.
The tactical organisation defensively from the Glory was very similar to how they approached this exact fixture last season, as the attacking midfielder would stay very tight to City’s lone pivot.
Below, we can see Gio Colli marking Aiden O’Neill.
One issue I assume Ruben Zadkovich would look to rectify over this World Cup break would be fixing the cues when it comes to pressing.
An example could be seen here, as Ryan Williams was too slow to apply pressure on Jordan Bos. As night follows day, it was clear that Curtis Good was only going to pass to Bos.
Luke Bodnar was following his man and there were no other short options.
Williams should’ve been on Bos’ touch, as we then could’ve pounced and possibly caused a dangerous moment in our attacking third.
Now Bos in fairness did mis-hit his long ball up the line, but it’s these small details and mechanisms to something important, like a press, that is letting the Glory down.
What also is an issue for the Glory is their structure in possession. First of all, I think it’s fair to say that there are too many players that aren’t exactly comfortable on the ball.
What I mean by this, is they’re not technically suited for playing a possession-oriented system and on a more specific level playing out from the back.
Players like Liam Reddy, Mark Beevers, Jack Clisby or Mitchell Oxborrow.
The latter three aren’t exactly press resistant, nor do they show much composure or ability to drive with the ball and pick out a pass that would possibly unbalance the opposition’s organisation.
Our structure as well made it so easy for Melbourne City to win the ball back.
Take this example. Now, I like this player and I think he does have potential, but just look at the positioning of Zach Duncan.
Luke Bodnar, in my view, has positioned himself correctly. He’s not square to the ball and if he was to receive it, he could do so on the half-turn and look to play.
The issue with Duncan here is that he’s got Valon Berisha right on his tail, giving Mark Beevers no options on the ball. If he was to receive the ball in that situation, you could’ve put the house on Berisha winning the ball back and a possible goalscoring opportunity being the next action.
As a result, a few seconds later, we essentially caused the ball to be locked on our left-hand side. We gave up territory, as one Duncan was positioned poorly, two there was no outlet and three City’s press was very well-organised.
Then, the following action was a hopeful long ball from Beevers which unfortunately Gio Colli had no chance of winning that particular aerial duel against Nuno Reis.
The hesitancy from a few Glory players on the ball was concerning.
As an example, Joseph Forde, who is a very promising young player that like Duncan, has excellent potential, was either too slow or not confident enough in his ability to execute a ball in behind.
Now, this is his first game of the season and he is a young player, who will grow with experience.
Having said that, he should’ve executed a through ball to the advantage of Ryan Williams given there was space for the winger to attack in behind.
Instead, he took an extra (or perhaps a nervous) touch, realised Leckie was close by, Cruyff turned and passed the ball back to Lachman.
It’s a negative action, but I’m confident as Forde grows as a player, he will gain the confidence and ability to try those sorts of passes.
Melbourne City’s press is one of the best in the competition, there’s no question about it. But, it’s not perfect. There were ways the Glory could’ve exploited it.
Take this example here, as Mark Beevers has just received the ball.
Now, the Melbourne City players would’ve wanted Beevers to pass the ball back to the goalkeeper. He did that. But this just highlights what I spoke of earlier, about certain players not being overly comfortable when it comes to building up the play from the back.
Don’t get me wrong, as a defender, Beevers has been excellent and easily one of the most consistent performers over the first five games this season.
But, in the modern game, you need your centre-backs to be comfortable on the ball and able to make decisions under pressure. It’s the case for all players.
Bodnar was all by himself. There was no one in close proximity to him. We probably could’ve burst out and caught them on the break, as they had seven players (two were out of frame) committed in our half.
One immediate conclusion I drew from the game about 10 minutes in, was that Luke Bodnar deserves and has to start games from now on.
As a defensive midfielder, he has such a unique profile and qualities that aren’t overly common in a lot of players in his position in the competition.
He’s defensively sound, press-resistant, receives the ball well and he’s multi-functional, as he’s capable of playing as either a centre-back, sole pivot or in a midfield two.
The games against City and Adelaide United were enough evidence for me that he should be getting more gametime.
There was one situation early on in the game where he received the ball under pressure, on his back foot, immediately scanned his options, made sure his touch was away from the pressure and played the pass to Williams that started a quick attacking phase of play for the Glory.
As you can see, I rate him quite highly and I hope he continues to get more gametime in the following fixtures next month.
Back on the building out from the back predicament, Darryl Lachman is arguably one of the best ball-playing centre-backs in the competition. The stats over the last few seasons would back my claim here.
But just have a look at this frame here.
He’s essentially going where are my options. Maclaren is hot on his tail and yet there is no Glory player positioning themselves in the passing lane to receive. Colli eventually moves but it’s too late. So Lachman essentially switched on his teammates in that area.
If Ruben Zadkovich or anyone associated with Perth Glory reads this, please fix how we function as a team when we are in possession. There are competent players in this team that can absolutely function in a possession-oriented system, the likes of Lachman, Bodnar and Salim Khelifi come to mind.
In terms of how Melbourne City played in the first half, they played how they always do. Pass and move. Circulate until a lane opens up. Combine with players close or nearby. Switch the ball. Move the ball quickly. Break the lines.
They are the best team in the competition for a reason.
Now, fortunately for Glory and unfortunately for City, at the break, the scoreline was 0–0 but that wasn’t for City’s lack of trying.
They created a few chances but for their standards, their opportunities of high quality were few and far in between.
As for the Glory’s first-half efforts, well, I think they would’ve been happy that they didn’t concede. That was the general consensus amongst the fans at least.
We had one opportunity where we probably could’ve scored. Colli played an excellent ball to the advantage of Ben Azubel.
But the dream of getting a goal was short-lived, as Reis managed to recover and poke the ball from the Israeli striker.
So the second half came, and three or so minutes in City found the goal they were looking for.
Salim Khelifi was swarmed by about three City players — their counterpress is unbelievable by the way.
Berisha won the ball back, shifted his balance to send Duncan the wrong way and played Marco Tilio in with a perfectly weighted ball.
Tilio’s touch infield was a little heavy, but Jamie Maclaren being the prolific striker that he is, read the touch and smashed the ball home past Liam Reddy.
That goal was coming since the game began and it was the reward for City’s excellence off the ball. Their ability to apply the pressure is incredible, I’m sure their PPDA (Passes Per Defensive Action) must be one of the best in the A-League.
From that moment, City took control of the game, big time. Glory gifting the ball way through hopeless long balls to the advantage of no one was frustrating to watch.
I think the chemistry amongst the group on the pitch seems a bit off. As an example, Darryl Lachman took it upon himself at one point, bursting past two City players only to have no one making a run in behind or moving into a position where the play could advance.
Like, I know people could say, “shut up you so-called armchair expert”. But it’s so clear to see that we’re a team that doesn’t have an identity on the ball.
In a perfect world, Luke Ivanovic recognises the space behind the City backline, understands Lachman is excellent on the ball, makes the run in behind and we create a potential goalscoring opportunity. But instead, that run doesn’t happen, the ball goes backwards and the cycle of pointless circulation occurs again.
City allowed the Glory to keep the ball in that area as they knew there would be no answers by the time the ball was moved into their half.
Once they would win the ball back, City would then revert to a 4–3–3, keep possession and probe away looking for openings to exploit.
Glory somehow had their first touch inside the box in the 66th minute and it came as a result of good link-up play from a player who hadn’t had many opportunities to feature up until this point, in Stefan Colakovski.
Instead of a long ball into the box from a free kick in a deep area, Clisby played the ball short to Colakovski, where the two engaged in some good combination play that then allowed 22-year-old to get into a dangerous area.
Somehow, the winger found Salim Khelifi amongst all of those bodies but unfortunately for the Tunisian and the Glory, Khelifi missed his shot, placing it wide of the post. That was our best and final opportunity all game.
Ten minutes later and it was 2–0. It came from a silly error from Mitch Oxborrow, who had his hand well and truly away from his body as the ball bounced onto his hand.
VAR gave the penalty and Maclaren dispatched it, just. The milestone man Liam Reddy, playing his 150th game for the Glory, was very close to getting a hand to the penalty.
Seven minutes after the penalty and Marco Tilio made it 3–0 for the home side. A clever decoy run from Jordan Bos and then an attempted run from van der Venne in behind gave Tilio the space to attack on his weak foot.
Nobody stopped the shot, he was allowed to dribble in and he scored. The shot must’ve caught Reddy by surprise, as he did not move.
It was a well-constructed goal from City, as the surrounding players moved intelligently off the ball to create the space for the attacker to exploit. It’s this work ethic that the City players have, in and out of possession that makes them strong contenders every season for the championship.
Their fourth goal was just as expertly crafted as the third, if not better.
The move started with Curtis Good picking out Aiden O’Neill in between the lines, which took out three Glory players.
He then drove with the ball finding Tilio. Van der Venne again made a run in behind into the Glory’s box, which no one picked up. Tilio somehow slipped the ball to him.
This frame disappointed me the most. Two Glory players on Tilio, big gap behind them, no one following the midfielder making the run into the gap.
The Dutchman got on the end of the pass and struck a good shot across the goal.
City then got the rub of the green, as the shot deflected off the post straight to Matthew Leckie who smashed the ball home.
It was a professional performance from Melbourne City. They played some great football but also worked tirelessly as a team.
Now in terms of my general conclusions from the game, it’s pretty clear.
For Melbourne City, if they are more clinical with their opportunities on a consistent basis, I can’t see any team stopping them. If they also ensure their press continues to be well-organised and also coordinated well, they will continue to score more goals and reduce the likelihood for the opposition to hurt them.
As for the Perth Glory.
Defensively, I wouldn’t really panic. We did play against an excellent side that is renowned for their high-level attacking play. I would like to see us work on our pressing more, as there were multiple situations where we could’ve won the ball back high up the pitch and transitioned with speed.
Offensively though, there are a lot of things that need work. Our build-up play needs to be improved, and the decision making under pressure also. The movements on and off the ball must be fixed, whether this is solved through automatisms or refining the patterns of play, I don’t know the answer.
We also need more speed and unpredictability in the final third, and this could be helped if we’re braver on the ball. Resorting to hopeful long balls will never get you the win. Trying to play in between the lines, and being more intelligent with our positioning could go a long way.
This World Cup break could not have come at a better time for the Glory. Lots of things have to be improved, if we want any chance of progression and development, let alone make an attempt of playing in the finals.
