On the most recent episode of the Huddle Breakdown podcast we had an excellent guest Dominic Wells. Dominic is a data analyst and supporter of Leicester City. He was highly knowledgeable and balanced about Brendan Rodgers time at the club.
Dominic revealed that in the last season under Rodgers in 2022-23, the manager had introduced inverted full backs for the first time in his reign. He explained that this was only seen in around a dozen matches because the full backs who were deemed most suitable to playing this way (James Justin and Ricardo Perreira) were injured (another recurring theme!). Consequently, Leicester reverted to a back three for much of the season.
It will be fascinating to see if Rodgers considers the current Celtic full backs up to this task. None are truly two footed in the way Dominic describes yet there is clear evidence of adaptability with Greg Taylor in particular.
Greg Taylor
Compare and contrast Taylor’s heat maps, courtesy of Sofascore, for SPFL matches over the last two seasons:
2021-22
2022-23
This shows a clear willingness to move more centrally and create overloads (and central cover) further up the pitch.
Taylor’s pack passing data (forward passes that take opponents out the game) has shown year on year improvement:
His ability to play passes through the inside of full backs onto e.g. Daizen Maeda became a real feature throughout the season.
Overall, though there is a trade off by playing the inverted role.
His expected assist rate has fallen year on year from 0.35 in 2020-21 to 0.18 lasty season. He is creating less chances – 1.39 versus 1.97 in 2020-21. And he is attempting less crosses – 2.46 to 5.39 under Neil Lennon.
None of the above is a criticism. It is to highlight the trade off involved by inverting your full backs. Let them bomb up the line and get more crosses and chances created.
Invert and get more penetration through the opposition and more central solidity against counter attacks.
A proponent of inverting full backs would argue better to have your forward players on the ball in wide areas than your full backs.
Summary
In many respects Taylor does not seem a Rodgers “power and pace” type player. He is certainly very different to the buccaneering Kieran Tierney of the managers first stint.
However, if Rodgers wishes to play with inverted full backs, like his predecessor, Taylor is an able and willing adapter.
I think he will twek it depends on oppistion oppsing coaches were parking the bus time waisting cause of celtic intensity our officails allowed blatant time waisting you see games on tv goalkeepers told to hurry up almost from the start and book if the persist not in spl it not good for veiwing maybe sky thinking putting adverts in at goal kicks refs arent doing there job look at replays of matches
I think he will tweek it depends on oppistion oppsing coaches were parking the bus time waisting cause of celtic intensity our officails allowed blatant time waisting you see games on tv goalkeepers told to hurry up almost from the start and book if they persist not in spl it not good for veiwing maybe sky thinking putting adverts in at goal kicks refs arent doing there job look at replays of matches or maybe they are doing the job they want stop celtic playing
In Rodgers first spell a friend of mine (who was in BR’s company) told me that Rodgers had remarked about Leigh Griffiths – “I’ve never come across someone so young, who was so un-coachable” Griffiths was 25yo when Rodgers first took over and he was coming off the back of a good season for him individually. It was all set up for him to reach new heights under Rodgers but he was very quickly playing second fiddle to Dembele and we all know how it panned out from there.
Griffiths is 32 now and he could easily still be playing at a good level but instead he’s playing semi-professional football in Australia!
Why do I bring this up? – Because I think someone like Greg Taylor is the epitome of “coachable” and he might just surprise us under Rodgers.
When Rodgers came in first time around he got the very best out of quite a few players who had looked finished/not good enough. Brown, Forrest, Rogic, Armstrong, McGregor and a few others all went up a level (or two!) under Rodgers.
It’ll be interesting to see if he can repeat the feat with this current squad and if Taylor will be one of them
Charlie – thanks for that
AP gave Griffiths v short shrift – i can’t tell you the exact words he used to him as this is a family site!
Rodgers made two fascinating comments yesterday in response to the fan question of “what needs changing”. 1. Power – been saying this on The Huddle Breakdown all year so tick. Taylor not enhancing this unfortunately and 2. flexibility – he means tactically and Taylor is excellent in this regard.
Be fascinating to see which young players Rodgers finds have the the desire to improve the most. I’d propose Bernabei, Turnbull and Abada. Think they can all be Rodgers type footballers.