The problem with 10

[The Nomad]

Do we have a problem against 10 men? I know they say it ruins games, but we seem to struggle breaking down teams after they've gone to 10 men.

This season:

Chelsea - Scored from resulting penalty - no goals after that despite having a full half

Leeds - Goal deep into stoppage time after 30 minutes of 10 men (albeit I can understand the concern for Elliott here)

A. Madrid away - Penalty goal only after Griezmann sent off in the 52nd Minute

United - no goals after the Pogba red card in the 60th minute

A. Madrid home - no goals after the red card in the 36th minute.

It's becoming a pattern for me.

 

[Fabio]

Is it solely down to our style of play thrives on open spaces, and 10 men tend to condense to keep themselves safe?

 

[Halmeister]

Nah. In the United, Leeds and the game last night it was clear that we took our foot off the gas and saw out the win after the red card/injuries.

The Chelsea game was different. Chelsea defended magnificently. Atletico in Madrid is always gonna be tough, whether it's against 10 or 11.

 

[StevieM]

I think it’s more to do with struggling against teams that go compact, sit deep and play on the counter - which most teams will do if they’re down a man.

We’re at our most devastating with quick balks against a high line - when teams go deep we tend to pfaff around a lot and play slow - but we don’t quite have the craft in midfield to play like that.

We also seem to want to kill games early by controlling them - rather than going for the kill.

I dunno whether it’s a “squad protection” dont over exert yourself thing or not.

 

[Hansern]

Controlling the game and not risking anything defensively isnt the same as struggling against 10 men.
The only game I've gotten that impression was against Chelsea. But they deserve credit for how they performed defensively after the red card. But that was the game were we really should have done much better.

 

[Alan Hardaker]

Depends on the state of the match. Wasn't important last night. If it was in the balance then teams just pack the nine at the back and soak up pressure. It's not easy for any team to break down a wall of 5 & 4. Don't really think we are any worse than most top teams at breaking down packed defences. Teams with 11 on do it and we beat them on a regular basis. Not a huge problem IMO.

 

[Whaddapie]

Controlling the game and not risking anything defensively isnt the same as struggling against 10 men.
The only game I've gotten that impression was against Chelsea. But they deserve credit for how they performed defensively after the red card. But that was the game were we really should have done much better.

This.

In fairness, we didn't need nor try to do any more scoring in three of the matches listed above, and though we did struggle against the chavs and Madrid away, they might be the two toughest teams to do anything against when a man up in all of Europe. And we did end up beating Madrid anyway... The only frustrating match of the 5 you listed for me was chelsea.

 

[Alan Hardaker]

Been doing well in recent times regarding Red Cards. Refs, as a rule, normally try to screw us over....very strange...the man in the middle on our side...very weird.

 

[Dreambeliever]

Na in most of those games we took our foot off the gas.
Chelsea are a great side so that game was different.