Coombs I think that happens more frequently than you're making out. The problem has been what our forwards are doing on the ball, not in getting it to them. They seem to focus on retaining possession up against packed defenses and don't take loads of risks.
I agree that we're tactically more conservative this season, but I always thought it was in the forward line in the attacking phase, not so much in the buildup.
I guess we just see things differently tbh. I've felt watching us this season that we end up facing packed defences more often than not because of the length of time we take getting thr ball up front. Usually its from CBs to either the fullbacks or the DM. Then the DM to the fullbacks and eventually to the wide players by which time the defence is set.
We rarely get the ball from the CBs to the DMs then to the AMs in such a direct manner and in fact Odegaard himself is sitting almost at the DM level most of the time in that early phase leaving only Havertz up from midfield early on and even then sometimes he's also pretty deep. Just feels we've sacrificed our ability to really hit teams in transition by being super careful with the ball.
Agreed that our forwards seem to be holding the ball for possession more lately, and constantly passing it infield but for me it feels like it's because they are being double teamed and that there are just so many defenders there between them and the goal.
