Leeds United Chat • Re: MarschBall

Was getting a bit concerned that we seemed to be going a bit to direct and were slowly turning into Burnley.

Jesse Marsch isn't a possession based coach in the same way Pep Guardiola is or even Marcelo Bielsa. That was actually the problem he had at RB Leipzig, the squad had gotten used to playing Julian Nagelsmann's methodical possession based style, they couldn't adapt to Marsch's more high intensity gegenpressing style.

Marsch likes his teams to have possession but he isn't quite so focused on how they get it forward just so long as they do.

So it does mean a long ball is encouraged.

However from memory whilst a lot of passing through the thirds did happen under MB i seemed to remember a long ball or two wasnt out of the question either, so i decided to have a quick look.

So these are the stats for the 20/21 season under Bielsa, in brackets are the Premier League rank.
80.8% pass accuracy (12th)
55% possession (4th)
Long balls per game 58 (8th)
Short passes 442. (8th)

So as you can see, we ranked very high for possession, we also ranked fairly high for both long and short passes (but not top 4 like with possession).

I havent marked it but the missing stats are through balls and crosses.

We were high on the list for crossed per game.

So i looked at the 4 games under Hesse Marsch next

Average Marsch
458.5 passes
57.25 long passes
379.5 short passes
78.5% pass accuracy
51.5 possession 

So the possession stats are slightly down from 55% under Bielsa last season to 51% now.

So that will impact passing stats clearly, will make less passes.

Interestingly though the long passes per game are ever so slightly down on BielsaBall.

57.25 under Marsh to 58 under MB. That being said the percentage of long passes has increased because we are having less possession under Marsch and therefore making less passes

Passing accuracy is slightly down as well, from 80.8% under Bielsa to 78.5% under Marsch. That makes sense given we make less passes per game but only a tiny bit less long passes, accuracy is bound to be impacted.

However last season was unique and possibly the circumstances impacted these stats, so i looked at our season average now (which will be slightly impacted by Marsch but not massively given he has only managed 4 games).

21/22
54% possession
79.2 pass accuracy.
55 long passes
393 short passes

And actually you can see a change.

Possession is down, pass accuracy is down etc and actually if you compare the fixtures under Bielsa to the ones Marsch has had (same teams) you can see it more clearly.

Marsch is on the left and the stats under Bielsa are in brackets.

If you are really clever you can work out the comparison in your head, if like me you cant i have put it down the bottom of the list.

Wolves. (Bielsa)
471 passes (521 passes)
51 long passes (47 long passes)
397 short passes (451 short passes)
80% pass accuracy (81%)
53% possession.   (63%)

Norwich  (Bielsa)
448 passes (363 passes)
67 long passes (56 long passes)
353 short passes (296 short passes)
75% pass accuracy (73%)
53% possession  (52%)

Villa (Bielsa)
443 passes (492 passes)
68 long passes (42 long passes)
368 short passes (423 short passes)
79% pass accuracy (83%)
51% possession. (60.5%)

Leicester (Bielsa)
472 passes (470 passes)
43 long passes (52 long passes)
400 short passes (386 short passes )
49% possession (55.8%)
80% pass accuracy (77%)

Average
458.5 passes (461 passes).
57.25 long passes (49.25)
379.5 short passes (389)
78.5% pass accuracy (78.5%)
51.5 possession  (57%)

So total passes are very similar and pass accuracy is identical.

Despite this Bielsa had far more possession so what i assume is the crossing stats under Bielsa would be through the roof, these are the missing numbers.

But in terms of short passes and passing through the thirds the short passes suggest it isn't much different at all.

The pass accuracy reflects that as does the short pass total which isnt hugely different.

We are more direct under Marsch, or at least because we have less possession the long to short pass ratio is higher under Marsch because we make less passes overall.

However it isnt aimless hoofs because if that was the case the pass accuracy stats under the more possession based Bielsa style would be far higher, but it isn't and the short passing stats arent that different either.

Furthermore whilst the season average stats will be very slightly impacted by Marsch's 4 games they wont be much impacted, you are maybe talking. 1% at best something like that

And those stats show our possession stats are slightly down this season, our pass accuracy is down and we were going long under Bielsa a bit more ratio wise and so the difference between Marsch and Bielsa this season is pretty minimal.

I think what makes it seem more is because we have got used to having far more possession under Bielsa overall (not necessarily this season) but in general over the years we are used to seeing a lower long pass ratio and so MarschBall seems quite direct.

But actually this season in particular under Bielsa is has been a slightly more direct style in general and not to dissimilar to Marsch.

We arent turning into Burnley under Marsch but just perhaps adapting to a slightly less possession based style.

His style is more high intensity, win it back and get it forward.

He doesnt put as much focus on possession as Bielsa so if we win it back middle of our half and a long ball over the top to Dan James is the most effective way to get on the front foot then it is encouraged whereas maybe Bielsa had a slightly different view.

Anyway this thread is far to long but hey ho