Tactically… Bruges beat Zulte Waregem, four goals to two, and according to VoetbalPrimeur it was practically settled before the break. I went through Brandon Mechele’s analysis on DAZN in my car, in the clubhouse bar car park, phone wedged against the steering wheel.
He says Bruges had total control in the first half. That the goal they conceded came in an unlucky way, and that Bruges scored quickly afterwards. That’s a group reaction. I run that on Tuesday. When we’ve got eleven, that is.
The passage that interests me is the low block. According to Mechele, Bruges played more easily against Zulte Waregem’s low block, calmer on the ball. Zulte were waiting for the counter-attack and for mistakes, and didn’t get much out of it. The low block, I know it. I’ve played against three this season. Our problem is that the low block sits at the top of the slope. But the principle is the same: you move the ball, you stay calm, you wait. A flat pitch away, mind you.
And then there’s the defender’s line. He said, according to VoetbalPrimeur: “As a defender I do care about those clean sheets, because that’s what we’re here for.” Third match without a clean sheet for Bruges. They win 4-2 and he’s thinking about his two goals. That’s a defender.
I opened my team folder at Sunday’s page. We won too. I won’t say how many we conceded, but there was a line in biro where I’d written “defence: to review”. Mechele, I understand him to the letter.
A defender who regrets after a win. So there are still some. I’m not criticising. I’m comparing.
He finds the second half more controlled, with more chances, but no more goals. My Tuesday team talk is ready. It fits on one line: win, yes, but clean.
It’s true, we checked: VoetbalPrimeur.be.
