Ben Lee: Tactical analysis of Sheffield United win
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0 Comments This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. The big test will be to turn fluency into a positive run of results. Ben Lee breaks down Norwich City's 3-1 Championship win at Sheffield United.
Ben is a City season ticket holder and author of the NCFC Analysis social media account, who unpicks games with an analytical report highlighting tactical strengths and weaknesses.
Ben gives his take on an uplifting awayday in South Yorkshire.
Sheffield Utd verus Norwich: A convincing win.
Possession (%): 46 – 54
xG: 0.79 – 3.04
· Escape to the left.
· Inverting to isolate.
· Rest defence analysis.
· Duels and counters.
Making the trip to Bramall Lane, Norwich lined up in their usual 4-2-3-1 shape, with Fisher, Chrisene, and Musaba returning to the XI, while Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United set up in a 4-4-2 formation.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
In Norwich’s deepest build-up phases, they typically played out to Chrisene (14) on the left. In response, Sheffield pressed from a 4-1-3-2, or a 4-4-2 diamond.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
Once City played across to the left, Sheffield’s right-winger jumped to press, and Mattsson (7) moved into the space behind him. This created a temporary 2v1 against the hosts’ defensive midfielder, with Slimane (20) in space between the lines.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
Slimane (20) was free until a United centre-back stepped into midfield when Riedewald (44) jumped to support the press out wide.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
Norwich often tried to access Musaba (49), but Wilder’s men were quick to press out wide, which occasionally stopped Chrisene (14) from playing out to the winger.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
But Clement had a clever solution to access Musaba (49) earlier in the build-up – before Sheffield had time to get tight against the touchline.
This saw Chrisene (14) invert, which pinned the hosts’ winger infield and opened a passing lane to Musaba (49) in a 1v1 against the right-back.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
In the build-up to Norwich’s first goal, however, this rotation wasn’t necessary, as Sheffield failed to get tight enough on that side, allowing Cordoba (33) to play straight through to Musaba (49) dropping to receive the ball.
Slimane (20) then moved over to support City’s escape before playing a one-two with the left-winger, who received the return pass in behind after outpacing Choudhury (8).
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
And this wasn’t the only time Norwich got in behind Sheffield’s right back. Indeed, later in the first half, Cordoba (33) advanced and found Musaba (49) far too easily.
Mattsson (7) then moved over to the touchline to receive the ball and play through to Musaba (49) running beyond the hosts' right-back once again.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
In these situations, Clement’s men often attacked in behind at pace through a fast front three of Musaba (49), Toure (21), and Brooks (11).
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
In more settled phases of possession, Norwich initially continued to play through their 4-2-3-1 base formation against Sheffield’s 4-1-3-2 mid-press.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
But McLean (23) often dropped between the centre-backs to create a back three and a 3v2 first-line overload, with Wilder’s men dropping into a 4-4-2 mid-block. This rotation allowed City to access Mattsson (7) as a single pivot between the centre-forwards.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
In these phases, the visitors occasionally moved into a 3-1-6 shape with the full-backs in the last line alongside the wingers.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
But once Norwich attacked down one side and advanced into the final third, the ball-side full-back overlapped or underlapped beyond the winger in the last line, while the far-side full-back moved infield to secure City’s rest defence.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
Indeed, Clement’s men often created a 2-3 rest defence when they moved into the final third. This was their protection against counter-attacks.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
Norwich dominated large spells of the game in these phases; but, as has become a theme since Clement’s arrival, The Canaries were a constant threat in transition.
Without the ball, City created a 4-4-2 with Slimane (20) and Toure (21) ready to press from the front. But given Sheffield often went long in build-up phases, there was a clear divide between these pressing players and those dropping to challenge for long balls.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
For much of Saturday’s game, Sheffield struggled to retain possession in these phases, often losing aerial duels – of which Clement’s men won 63pc – allowing the visitors to counter-attack at pace.
Indeed, this is exactly what happened in the build-up to Norwich’s second goal, with 17 seconds passing between Cooper (1) going long and the ball hitting the back of his net.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
Like Norwich, when Wilder’s men had possession in the middle third, they created a back three. One method of doing so saw Choudhury (8) shift infield from right-back while the left-back advanced.
In response, Norwich pressed from their 4-4-2 mid-block, with McLean (23) jumping to press Peck (42) when he dropped to support the ball carrier.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
Another of the hosts’ rotations saw Riedewald (44) drop between the centre-backs while both full-backs advanced out wide. The hosts then tried to access the last line with one pass into the feet of the wingers.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
Indeed, in the build-up to Sheffield’s second goal, with the right-back moving into a back three and the left-back advancing into the last line, The Blades’ left centre-back found Brereton-Diaz (22) out wide.
In this moment, Norwich failed to get tight to the players they were responsible for, giving the host’s left-winger time to find Campbell (23) in space infield. The forward then found Bamford (45), who shot and scored from the edge of the box.
Sheff United 1-3 Norwich City: Ben Lee tactical analysis (Image: Ben Lee)
But aside from this moment of passivity, Norwich were comfortably the better side on Saturday. Indeed, they found solutions in the build-up, attacked at pace, and created several chances in transition: generating over three times the xG of their opponent.
After a strong midweek performance against Stoke, without the result to match, Clement’s men responded at the very next opportunity.
It seems they’re finally rediscovering the fluency of last season. But the big test will be to turn that fluency into a positive run of results.
You can read all Ben's previous analysis of Norwich City games via his social media accounts.
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