I've just looked at the highlights of the first goal, and taken a screenshot immediately after he touched the ball first.
I didn't see the game, and haven't looked at the line ups, by judging where Ake is, they're either playing 3 at the back, or I assume he's left back.
Honestly, if I'm the coach there, I'm ****ed with my cb's for two reasons.
- firstly, the pass to Travers is slow: and goalkeepers are rightly wary of the ball in the central goal area, the most unpredictable surface on a pitch;
- secondly, the CB about to receive the ball (Cook?) is too central. It's bad positioning for two reasons:
a - he's too close to Travers to receive a pass that he can do something with, and also is reachable by Deeney
b - he's condensed the pitch for the Watford press. The ball is only going to go one place. It's reduced the variables. In his current position if a mistake is made, he's not going to prevent a goal, therefore he's commited to being of assistance as an out-ball for the keeper. If you've done that, then do it properly, give yourself the extra 5 yds. that way Ake can really hug the line, and it means there is more space for the Bmouth player in the middle of the press to be a viable receiving option.
That Watford press is exactly what you expect your offensive players to do as a coach. Bournemouth simply made their job easier.
travers mistake.jpg
The full red lines are where I think the Bmouth players should be; the staggered red is where I would expect the Watford players to be if that happened, and the blue lines are the options that are then available.
And yes, the first touch by Travers isn't great, but it wasn't horrific.
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