The Only Way is Up…

 

It has been a brutal few weeks for me and for Real Betis. Who would have thought that when I decided to pin my flag on the Betis pole that things would turn out this way?

A unforgiving schedule that saw them take on Seville, Barca, Real Madrid & Villareal in succession have seen them rooted to the bottom of the table…

And if there is any consolation to be had, it is the fact that Betis haven’t really played all that badly. With luck and a striker that can actually put the ball into the net, we could be looking at a comfortable mid table position and deriving pleasure from draws against Barca, Real and a win over Villareal.

As usual, the media is already getting on the back of Paco Chaparro. Just the other day, Chaparro appeared in the papers pleading for patience and more time for the players to settle in. Especially the new faces as most had arrived at the club only towards the end of the summer transfer window. 

Depending on your perspective, his words seemed to have worked as he was granted more time but this was tempered with the fact that he has been given only until the end of this month or early Novemeber to turn things around. According to a Marca report, a board member was quoted as saying that, “If the team do not collect at least seven points from the next nine on offer, it will be deemed a failure.” Although those words were not uttered by the head honcho, Ruiz de Lopera, it is understood that everything that the board make public has to earn his approval beforehand. The pressure is now on…

If there is any consolation, it lies in the fact that players like Edu, Juanma and Sergio Garcia are all coming back into the team for the next match and plus the international weekend break, Chaparro should have the time to get his team together in time for this weekend.

At this juncture, I think it is a good time to assess the team and to try to pinpoint where the weaknesses lie. First, let us put to rest one falacy that has been put forward by almost all critics and pundits – Betis do not have a weak backline. To have conceded 8 goals in 6 matches and to have faced down the frontlines of Seville, Barca and Real is more than a resonable return. Afterall, Atletico Madrid who has been the relevation of this La Liga season according to some, shipped 6 themselves in a single game!

The Betis backline suffers from a lack of organisation more than anything else. It seems that the combination play between centre-backs and full-backs and between Aurelio and the backline still has not been developed properly. What has happened is that at times, the full-backs have not been able to get back in time from their forays upfield, leaving the team susceptible to crosses from the flanks.

Also because Aurelio still has not integrated into the team properly, it seems that he is often out-numbered in midfield – due to Gonzalez and Capi not retreating into the defensive positions in time. This creates unnecessary pressure on the players at the back.

Personally, I feel that the entire issue has been one of tactics than of ability. Chaparro’s preference for the 4-3-3 is well documented but it seems the team does not really have the players to suit the system.

To take an example, this system calls for the defence to maintain a high line up the field in an effort to squeeze the space, thus allowing for the players to keep within close distance from each other. However this means that your centre-backs are vulnerable to long balls played behind them so they need to have the speed to recover lost ground. Yet Juanito and Arzu are not your fastest of players.

The other thing is the tactical nuances that Chaparro employs. There are 2 schools of the 4-3-3: the Mourinho school and the Ajax school. The Mourinho school calls for the one anchor man sweeping in front of the defence plus two dynamic midfielders who can attack and defend with equal ease. Also the two flank players upfront are auxiliary wingers, capable of breaking upfield at speed and to chip in with goalscoring duties. More than that, they are to retreat into midfield once the team loses the ball, making it a 4-5-1 that is hard to break down.

The Ajax school on the other hand, now employs two strikers that play in the wingers position and they are tucked further infield. They are mobile enough to cut inside the fullback to create danger and to support the main central striker. In midfield, they usually have a playmaker who directs play and is usually supported by a centre-back who will bring the ball out from defence. Thus it changes to a 3-4-3 at times, maintaining again strength in numbers in midfield.

In both systems, you need a centre forward who is physically strong, mobile, able to link up with his teammates and most importantly is a proven goal scorer. Names like Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar guarantees 15-20 goals a season.

Now look at Betis, and the problems become apparent. First the wingers. Betis only has Gonzalez as  a pure winger with speed but he isn’t a reliable goal scorer while Chaparro is still looking for a right-sided solution. Jose Mari may have the physical built but he is not a regular goal threat. In midfield, Capi is a skilful but one-dimensional player who is not built like a Gerrard or a Neved. Thus it seems Betis is stuck with a hybrid of both systems and the overall play suffers as a result.

If it were up to me, I would instead switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation that better suits the players. Aurelio will team up with Juande to form the defensive platform from which attacks can be launched. Edu will form a striking partnership with Sergio Garcia but will drop back into the hole to direct play. After all Edu’s best season came in a partnership with Ricardo Olivera and both Olivera and Garcia have similar qualities. Gonzalez will still man the left flank and provide an outlet while Emana will tuck in further infield on the right, allowing Nelson to move up in support opposite from Gonzales. Because of the two defensive midfielders, there will be at least 4 players back covering should Nelson get stranded further upfield.

I believe a Betis team organised in this manner is definitely a team that is not relegation-material. Time will prove if Chaparro’s belief and philosophy will work… I sincerely hope so. 

 

Category: Real Betis Team News

Tags: Real Betis Team News

Subscribe   The Offside RSS Feeds

Print

Share