Jesse Marsch's passing principle is admirable but there's a right time and place - Mail 8/5/22
Jesse Marsch's passing principle is admirable but there's a right time and place... it was irresponsible of the Leeds boss to implement that style against a relentless Arsenal frontline
Jesse Marsch's philosophy is admirable but this isn't the
time to experiment
The passing tactic was not the right one against a
relentless Arsenal frontline
Leeds don't have the right players for that plan and Marsch
was irresponsible
By SAMI MOKBEL
It was almost like Jesse Marsch was oblivious to what was
happening.
In many ways, you have to admire the Leeds manager’s
devotion to his passing principles. But there’s a time and place.
With Leeds staring down the barrel of relegation, this isn’t
the time.
The Emirates Stadium, against an Arsenal front three
relentless in their efforts to put opposing defenders under pressure, wasn’t
the place.
But, perhaps most pertinently of all, do Leeds have the
players to play the sort of football Marsch is trying to implement? Not on this
evidence.
So to do so, with Premier League survival at stake, is plain
irresponsible.
Particularly in the first-half, Leeds showed little or no
aptitude for passing their way out of trouble. Arsenal sensed blood and went
for the kill - successfully.
Make no mistake, it’s compelling watching - though not
necessarily for the reasons Marsch would have intended.
When Leeds managed to score, it didn’t come from a
free-flowing move akin to prime Barcelona.
It arrived via a set piece, Junior Firpo flicking on Jack
Harrison’s corner before Diego Llorente leathered home at the back post.
When Rodrigo missed Leeds’ glorious opportunity to equalise
right at the death, it came from Kalvin Phillips' launched free-kick into the
area and another Firpo aerial flick.
Football can be uncomplicated, too. When you’re in a
relegation scrap, it probably needs to be as uncomplicated as possible.
What’s for sure is Leeds’ defenders certainly didn’t appear
to show that they are as comfortable with playing out from the defence as their
manager may believe they are.
Illan Meslier should have leathered Luke Ayling’s tame back
pass as far as his right boot could have mustered in the fifth minute, but
instead he mis-controlled before Eddie Nketiah hunted him down as the keeper
gifted Arsenal the lead.
It wasn't the only time a Leeds player's lack of conviction
in possession got them into trouble; time and again their commitment to style
over substance had supporters covering their eyes.
Leeds weren’t helped by their captain Luke Ayling’s
unforgivable challenge on Gabriel Martinelli in the 27th minute that saw the
away side reduced to 10 men. No wonder Ayling he to his team-mates at
half-time.
But they were 2-0 down by the time Ayling was sent off.
In time, if he is afforded it of course, Marsch may well
have success in implementing the sort of style he wants to.
But this isn’t the time to be experimenting. Leeds find
themselves in the relegation zone after this loss; a game that sounds tighter
than it actually was.
Arsenal should have had this game dead and buried by
half-time; many of their opportunities arriving from Leeds' apparent inability
to pass their way out of danger.
Speaking after the game Marsch hinted that he could be
prepared to alter his approach for the final three games. The fact his side
looked far more capable of getting a result against Arsenal when they were down
to 10 men and scrapping for their lives may have given Marsch food for thought.
And while it seems unlikely now that Marsch will completely
drop his passing fundamentals, there’s surely room for a plan B.
