Perth Glory fans often complain of east coast bias in the media, believing that their side is overlooked. But as the season passes the one-third mark, there is no ignoring Perth, who sit top of the A-League ladder on 22 points. After recruiting well in the off season, bringing in a number of experienced and proven players, manager Kenny Lowe hasn’t reinvented the wheel with his side.
Instead, he has been able to create a formula that gets the best out of his players – allowing them to shine and for their individual qualities to provide the difference in matches (and if the players have an off day, they can always look towards set pieces to break a side down). A prime example of playing to individuals’ strengths is the way in which Perth have defended high up the pitch in recent weeks, allowing striker Andy Keogh to provide an outlet in transition.
When the opposition is playing out from the back, Keogh positions himself between the two centre backs. Closing down the ball carrier is left to the nearest central midfielder, allowing Keogh to stay centrally and block off passes to the other centre back while also being in a position to pounce on errant back passes. By preventing the two centre backs from passing to each other, Keogh forces the opposition to play out down one side of the pitch. Perth then look to box the opponent in by going tight in central midfield and Perth’s nearest winger closes down the fullback. If the opposition plays with a player in between the lines, one of Perth’s centre backs will step forward to further close down passing options for the ball carrier.
Perth then look to force turnovers in the middle of the pitch, where space is at a premium due to their proactive positioning. This is where Keogh’s role is important.
As soon as possession is regained high up the pitch, Keogh is in a position to receive the ball immediately in transition. Because his positions himself between the two centre backs, he has space in front of goal. Perth look to pass to Keogh as soon as possession is won back, taking advantage of the fact the opposition centre backs will be scrambling back to prevent a goal scoring opportunity.
This pattern of play was evident when Perth pressed Brisbane Roar to good effect last week. With Keogh positioned between centre backs Jade North and Matt Smith, Perth tried to box Brisbane in and force them to play out down one side of the pitch.
In the first minute of the match, Perth boxed Brisbane in and regained possession when Daniel Bowles passed under pressure to Glory left back Scott Jamieson. Jamieson’s first touch found Nebojsa Marinkovic who turned and immediately fizzed a pass into the feet of Keogh who was in a goal scoring position. However the ball rolled under Keogh’s feet and through to goalkeeper Jamie Young.
But that was not all Perth created using that pattern in transition. In the 10th minute, Perth again forced a turnover in midfield when pressing, with Keogh immediately bursting free into the box to receive a quick pass in transition. On this occasion his shot on target was saved by Young but Perth always looked dangerous in transition when pressing.
With success against Brisbane, Perth continued this pressing system against Sydney FC and in the second minute forced a turnover. Centre back Matthew Jurman lost possession dangerously after being forced to play down one side of the pitch under pressure and winger Daniel De Silva passed
immediately to Keogh who was positioned in between the two centre backs. While Keogh was called back for offside, these chances demonstrate how Kenny Lowe is creating a system that plays to his players’ strengths.
Keogh has shown himself to be a quick striker and a good finisher and by allowing him to position himself in between the two centre backs when pressing, Perth make themselves a constant danger in transition. As soon as possession is regained, Perth have an option to immediately play the ball up to Keogh who, in space, can turn and shoot or lay the ball off to teammates on the edge of the box.
It also creates doubt in the centre back’s mind, knowing that if they lose possession they will have to immediately close down one of the league’s most deadly strikers.
