SlowDownDerek
UTC Legend
The luck and the first goal gave the players a lift with belief and confidence and that can never be overstated in a players performance.
The same tactics with players that lack beliefs and confidence will see slow, turgid passing, no movement, no pressing, no creation and no risks.
With belief and confidence you get the players gaining a yard of pace, moving the ball quicker, movement off the ball, an organised press as the team “click”, players willing to take risks and chances.
If Stanislas doesn’t have the belief to cut inside and shoot and instead plays the easy five yard pass sideways, he doesn’t get the deflection and the third goal to seal the victory.
I agree, and I think I've said on this thread that the win was more about confidence than any tactical adjustments. Contrary to what Neil says we've played wingback before and we've even played creative number 10s before but with no confidence they play too conservatively and get pushed back. Howe said as much after the game - it was about mindset and we needed a massive stroke of luck to change that. Shame it didn't come against Palace.