St Johnstone boss hails troops for adapting to rivals' tactical tweaks
Simo Valakari's side take on strugglers Airdrie tomorrow in the Championship - hoping to build on their thumping win over Morton last time out.
BY FRASER MACKIE
Simo Valakari has hailed St Johnstone for adapting to the stifling tactics of Championship opponents.
They found a fix at Cappielow to the recent shift to man-to-man marking by league rivals during a three-game form dip.
Saints had scored just one goal in draws with Ayr and Ross County and the defeat to Arbroath.
But Valakari’s side got straight back on the goal trail in a 4-0 win over Morton.
Struggling Airdrie visit Perth on Saturday and Valakari noted: “Opponents have changed the way they play against us.
“They are very much man-orientated and are following our players.
“They know we like to play with players in the pockets and things like that, finding a free pass.
“With man-marking done well, there is no free pass.
“But it does mean that someone is free on the ball somewhere.
“If they have left one of our centre-backs free, that player needs to have a cool head and travel with the ball if there’s no pass on.
“At some point, an opposition player will have to jump out of marking somebody else - and then it’s a matter of finding this free player.
“That has been the biggest change. Before, teams would face us and play their own game.
“That’s why it can look like we are just passing side to side – because there is no obvious free pass.
“With man-to-man marking, the opposition want you to play a pass that isn’t on.
“You can then lose the ball and become vulnerable with the transition.
“You solve it by being more dynamic and having more rotations.
“Taking a right-back all the way to their left side, for example.
“Ask the question – ‘how far will you follow me?’
“And, when the pass is not on, we prepare ourselves to play over the press and then have players arriving for the second ball to give us an overload in that moment.
“We can draw players in that way. That’s a tactical tweak we have been working on.”
Valakari’s men won the ball high up the pitch against Morton and took swift advantage to score against a team not in man-marking mode.
Valakari added: “Teams have adapted to our way of doing things; they’ve tried to find the tools to stop us.
“You would expect it in this league. It’s not sustainable for a season but, in a one-off game it is possible, which has happened.
“So we need to adapt our way of playing and the boys did that very well at Morton.
“The first goal was a set piece, very important.
“But the other three goals - transition. The opponent is playing, we win the ball and we go vertically behind them when there is the space.
“I’m very happy to add this danger to our game.”
Saints owner Adam Webb will be in town this week.
Valakari expects to discuss plans for the January transfer window.
“When one window closes, you only get about a week when you don’t have to think about bringing players in,” he said.
“Then it starts again - time moves fast. Two months before the window opens is not a long time.
“We keep in contact weekly and, of course, it will be good to talk face-to-face when Adam comes over.
“Firstly, it will be good to see him as a person.
“All the owners bring energy to the stadium when they come here.
“We have our plans – for new players and contract discussions – but we will keep them inside, as always.”
Meanwhile, Saints landed a Scottish Cup third round home draw against Cove Rangers.
The tie will be played over the weekend of November 29 and 30.