Kees van Hemmen
@hemmenkees.bsky.social
Co-host of the @devilsitdpod.bsky.social podcast |
semi-retired football analytics take-haver | Mostly Boston sports on this account nowadays
https://hawk-walrus-es8j.squarespace.com/
semi-retired football analytics take-haver | Mostly Boston sports on this account nowadays
https://hawk-walrus-es8j.squarespace.com/
I think, also, in a lot of cases where it's '442' it's not actually 442 – it's just the 532 working flexibly how it's supposed to. Which is just another sign of tactical progress
October 7, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I think, also, in a lot of cases where it's '442' it's not actually 442 – it's just the 532 working flexibly how it's supposed to. Which is just another sign of tactical progress
tbh I think it's largely opposition dependent, which is another one of the tweaks that I think Amorim has made that the broader analytical space has ignored for the sake of narrative
October 7, 2025 at 4:58 PM
tbh I think it's largely opposition dependent, which is another one of the tweaks that I think Amorim has made that the broader analytical space has ignored for the sake of narrative
That's my point though – I think he does do that stuff. I think we just don't have impact players on the bench so ultimately there's not that much he can do beyond instruction. Instruction is useful but it's not nearly as impactful as quality fresh legs in the right part of the pitch w instruction
September 15, 2025 at 7:44 PM
That's my point though – I think he does do that stuff. I think we just don't have impact players on the bench so ultimately there's not that much he can do beyond instruction. Instruction is useful but it's not nearly as impactful as quality fresh legs in the right part of the pitch w instruction
If the answer is just 'bring off a centreback and bring on someone else' – I don't need to see him to do that. I don't believe it helps you win matches as much as others do
September 15, 2025 at 4:35 PM
If the answer is just 'bring off a centreback and bring on someone else' – I don't need to see him to do that. I don't believe it helps you win matches as much as others do
What are you looking for? I think that criterion is basically 'he won't switch to a back 4 midgame' which I don't actually think is a good criterion. He brings on Zirkzee as a 10 or as a CF, he moves Amad to wingback and pushes Bruno higher, he brings on Mainoo. What is he meant to do?
September 15, 2025 at 4:33 PM
What are you looking for? I think that criterion is basically 'he won't switch to a back 4 midgame' which I don't actually think is a good criterion. He brings on Zirkzee as a 10 or as a CF, he moves Amad to wingback and pushes Bruno higher, he brings on Mainoo. What is he meant to do?
yea I fundamentally disagree with that tweet. I posted on x about this. We are not conceding the same goals every week.
September 15, 2025 at 4:29 PM
yea I fundamentally disagree with that tweet. I posted on x about this. We are not conceding the same goals every week.
Garnacho was a complicated situation that I'm not sure had anything to do with the system. Mainoo I think is very far from a permanent departure. I just don't think this is a good stick to beat Amorim with right now.
September 15, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Garnacho was a complicated situation that I'm not sure had anything to do with the system. Mainoo I think is very far from a permanent departure. I just don't think this is a good stick to beat Amorim with right now.
I don't think it would be a challenge to convince the right players to come play as a wingback
September 15, 2025 at 3:43 PM
I don't think it would be a challenge to convince the right players to come play as a wingback
But that's not really what I said to be fair – we don't need wingbacks specifically for this system. We need players who can win 1v1 in wide areas, period. In this system that means playing those players at wingback
September 15, 2025 at 3:43 PM
But that's not really what I said to be fair – we don't need wingbacks specifically for this system. We need players who can win 1v1 in wide areas, period. In this system that means playing those players at wingback
i think you can simply play bruno as a 10 in this system and that does as much if not more good. Also, yes, I don't think the 343 makes Mainoo's ground coverage issues worse
September 15, 2025 at 3:42 PM
i think you can simply play bruno as a 10 in this system and that does as much if not more good. Also, yes, I don't think the 343 makes Mainoo's ground coverage issues worse
Might it cause a short term lift in results? Perhaps to an extent, but I don't see what the point in that is. We're either building for the long term or we aren't.
September 15, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Might it cause a short term lift in results? Perhaps to an extent, but I don't see what the point in that is. We're either building for the long term or we aren't.
we'd still have to field 2 midfielders behind these players from a crop of 3 (Ugarte, Casemiro, Mainoo). It doesn't solve anything, it just reorders the problem. On the left hand side, Cunha would play narrow anyway and leave the LB high and wide to win 1v1...
September 15, 2025 at 2:21 PM
we'd still have to field 2 midfielders behind these players from a crop of 3 (Ugarte, Casemiro, Mainoo). It doesn't solve anything, it just reorders the problem. On the left hand side, Cunha would play narrow anyway and leave the LB high and wide to win 1v1...
I don't think a change in formation solves these issues. We have too many inside forward/#10 profiles who want to play in central areas. Changing formations only makes that worse. We have one, maybe two, players who are effective 1v1 in wide areas and they both would be RW in a 433 variant...
September 15, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I don't think a change in formation solves these issues. We have too many inside forward/#10 profiles who want to play in central areas. Changing formations only makes that worse. We have one, maybe two, players who are effective 1v1 in wide areas and they both would be RW in a 433 variant...
Refsnyder wasn't even in the lineup for last night's game? So then what you said makes even less sense. Lowe has a .750 OPS on the season against righties and that is 150 points higher since he joined the Sox. Nothing you've said holds water
September 15, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Refsnyder wasn't even in the lineup for last night's game? So then what you said makes even less sense. Lowe has a .750 OPS on the season against righties and that is 150 points higher since he joined the Sox. Nothing you've said holds water
no doubt it's true that the red sox offense is pretty mediocre without anthony... but your angle being 'sox offense is bad because they play a guy with a .1000 OPS against lefties in the cleanup spot against a lefty' is not as smart a take as you think it is. Sox have the # 1 offense against LHP
September 14, 2025 at 7:07 PM
no doubt it's true that the red sox offense is pretty mediocre without anthony... but your angle being 'sox offense is bad because they play a guy with a .1000 OPS against lefties in the cleanup spot against a lefty' is not as smart a take as you think it is. Sox have the # 1 offense against LHP
projects. City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea have all bought huge numbers of exceptionally young, exceptionally talented young players. Arsenal didn't do so enough in advanced areas, which is part of why they're light there. The trend is there to see.
September 2, 2025 at 2:13 PM
projects. City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea have all bought huge numbers of exceptionally young, exceptionally talented young players. Arsenal didn't do so enough in advanced areas, which is part of why they're light there. The trend is there to see.
particularly as an attacking player, with the ball. Of the players you named, Sesko and Mainoo are the only ones in that camp. Which, yea, we are saying is simply not enough. Look around at our competitors. They have far more players like that, and that was even more true when they began their...
September 2, 2025 at 2:11 PM
particularly as an attacking player, with the ball. Of the players you named, Sesko and Mainoo are the only ones in that camp. Which, yea, we are saying is simply not enough. Look around at our competitors. They have far more players like that, and that was even more true when they began their...
In reverse order:
- Aaron recorded that the day before the deadline, before Antony or Sancho were shifted. It didn't look like either move would happen at the time. Have some grace.
- Young players are not the only variable – it's being young + having potentially elite impact...
- Aaron recorded that the day before the deadline, before Antony or Sancho were shifted. It didn't look like either move would happen at the time. Have some grace.
- Young players are not the only variable – it's being young + having potentially elite impact...
September 2, 2025 at 2:10 PM
In reverse order:
- Aaron recorded that the day before the deadline, before Antony or Sancho were shifted. It didn't look like either move would happen at the time. Have some grace.
- Young players are not the only variable – it's being young + having potentially elite impact...
- Aaron recorded that the day before the deadline, before Antony or Sancho were shifted. It didn't look like either move would happen at the time. Have some grace.
- Young players are not the only variable – it's being young + having potentially elite impact...
with still greater influence on match control than under EtH (i.e. more conservative go long vs. go backwards dynamics after ball wins)
August 26, 2025 at 9:39 PM
with still greater influence on match control than under EtH (i.e. more conservative go long vs. go backwards dynamics after ball wins)
thanks man. Can you elaborate on 'what our "plan" is'? I guess you must mean how we're approaching these matches. Assuming I'm right – I think the hope is to pin opposition early and get a goal in the first 15. If that fails, it's to then drop deeper and play faster into the channels
August 26, 2025 at 9:38 PM
thanks man. Can you elaborate on 'what our "plan" is'? I guess you must mean how we're approaching these matches. Assuming I'm right – I think the hope is to pin opposition early and get a goal in the first 15. If that fails, it's to then drop deeper and play faster into the channels
Dropping Bruno isn't going to make this team better
August 24, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Dropping Bruno isn't going to make this team better
Yea it's basically a question of whether he can do basic ball retention. I still do think he can play far better than he did on Sunday (imo he had a 2-3 month stretch last year december-february where he was quite good) but if he gives it away like that yea it's joever
August 18, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Yea it's basically a question of whether he can do basic ball retention. I still do think he can play far better than he did on Sunday (imo he had a 2-3 month stretch last year december-february where he was quite good) but if he gives it away like that yea it's joever
thanks for the heads up. We already have gambling ads blocked, we'll have to add political ads on top of that to avoid this.
June 19, 2025 at 2:17 PM
thanks for the heads up. We already have gambling ads blocked, we'll have to add political ads on top of that to avoid this.
just me or is this by far the best Bello has looked in more than a year
June 15, 2025 at 7:20 PM
just me or is this by far the best Bello has looked in more than a year