By Melbcityguy - 18 May 2024 8:57 AM
Kicks off today
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By Decentric 2 - 21 May 2024 1:12 AM
+x
Nix showing a couple of things:
- Take 10 fast players with some ball skills, make two of them tall CBs, make sure that one of them is Bin OId, back them up by a quality keeper, instil focus and commitment with a clear and effective plan, and you have a really good team.
I think Nix's pace over the turf was quite a worry for Vic.
Old and Paine seemed to burn Vic players for speed over the turf. A few times when both were Running With The Ball at their feet they were still too fast for Victory players chasing them without the ball!
Particularly playing away in Melb the Nix tended to rely on accelerated attacks, keeping the defensive compact in defence - with a Half Press in Ball Possession Opposition. For a few seconds they Gegenpressed in the attacking third, then quickly retreated to the safer Half Press in BPO. All done pretty effectively from the Kiwi team.
In the second fixture in Wellington, Vic played a deeper defensive line in BPO, more of a three quarter press. Popa did not want to be exposed to the speedy Wellington accelerated attacks. There was probably another fast Nix ball carrier, as well as Old and Paine. The deeper Vic defensive line forced Nix to build up more patiently, which they probably didn't want to do.
I surmise the shot count favoured Nix over the two legs in and outside the pen box. In the first leg, Vic struggled to get many shots from inside the pen box for most of the game.
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