Attackers who slip through the academy scouting net are always intriguing to follow, when they eventually earn their ticket into the train. It’s as much a challenge revolving around refining raw skills and ability, than it is one to maintain that different thinking and perspective that brought them here in the first place. Ra’ees Bangura-Williams has been featuring as a left winger at Bristol and vs Ipswich, but also as central midfielder against Swansea and again vs Watford in early 2024.
Credit: Millwall FC. vs Swansea (left), vs Ipswich (right)
Some notes on Ra’ees Bangura-Williams’ display against Watford, in chronological order.
Half volley, cat and mouse
Preferably staying dynamic to land the right foot besides the ball, get shoulders over the ball and hit the ball on the rebound slightly over the top to get a clean half volley
Detaching from the “flow” of the pass is the most important trait for central midfielder, in order to escape ther opponent’s field of vision and not crowd the carrier’s space
Similar feedback: staying whithi the field of vision doesn’t create an element of surprise when showing for it, with a genuine change of pace and broken run
Screening the pressing run is good gamemanship, strikers dislike it
Priority must indeed be to get behind the striker, with a broken separation run (a tad late)
Roller beyblade, cat and mouse
Back foot reception is good, albeit the pass is a bit slow
Second touch square is neither a good or bad idea, sitting on the fence. Option to shift to the right shoulder, see if #10 bites and split with a masked pass forward. Option to shift to the right shoulder to pass back to the CB, but screen required to block #8 to jump on Hutchinson. Possibility to draw a foul (John Obi Mikel) by setting the left leg and wait to be clipped, but risky
Separation movement a bit early, ideally to show up when the right back receives. Patience to stay on the midfielder’s blind side and pop up
Bit too early, squeezing on the carrier’s space with pressure from behind
Close down and deceleration
Game reading is spot on to track the marker, but deceleration is a bit early, with steps that are too large. See Raheem Sterling decelerating in a minimum of short steps
Stay dynamic to shuffle across, to make sure the back side leg (left) is the one who pushes, and the right foot opens up to keep up with the direction of the move
Matic or Carrick’s back foot
Encourage receiving harder passes, that reach quicker to take the first touch in the path
Two touches shift is good, heads up. Ideally executed even quicker
Position of the planted foot slightly ahead of the ball, prevents to go through it properly
Right knee bends a bit too much to compensate, and shoulders aren’t above the ball (or too far back, even to clip it). Arms open for balance will create a more repeatable output (see Cesc Fàbregas)
Square touch
First touch is good
Second touch square is neither a good or bad idea, to be avoided because the ball doesn’t move forward (but the opponent can)
Ideally, the second touch is diagonally backwards or forward, with the idea to split players who take the bait (backwards draws players to press and push up, touch towards players will also draw players to the ball)
More thinking about the pass before next. Square means backwards, which is 2 passes before the 3rd can be forward. Backwards (to a CB) means the 2nd pass can be forward, where the space is (where the winger is not). Winger shuts down inside the CB, fullback is free / winger shuts the fullback, CM can receive back inside
Broken line when carrying (and diagonally) will always change the picture more than a flat / square carry.
Sequence unfolds in a predictable U shape then clip first time.
Separation movement to open pockets
Ideally, try to push up to create your own space when dropping off just after
Change of pace for separation movement is well executed, would’ve been better from the blind side of the direct counterpart (to create the yard of space until he reacts)
Stopping here is very good to not squeeze in the ball carrier’s space, but have to stay dynamic on toes (skipping, feet not larger than shoulders)
In order to re-adjust (with a pass that reaches quicker…) to receive on the back foot
Pass possibly released too soon, couple more touches to draw #10 and discourage him to change direction and press someone else. Would also create a larger space for Lawson to pop into for a one touch pass diagonally from Walker
The second quick touch is excellent to set forward quickly
Following up the switch is good, for channel covering and second ball. Ideally, the run protects the goal then goes forward like that: ) as opposed to the ( run here
In order to facilitate setting up the footwork to close down forward (or stay dyamic on toes). Decelerate better, smaller steps, feet not larger than shoulders
Shuffling without squeezing the space
Good job to stay whithin technical reach, without squeezing the space too much. Allowing room for the pass to the CB to go through
Filing in for advancing fullback / winger is good reading of the situation as a CM
Exiting the field of vision
Got to escape #8’s field of vision, by delaying the movement, not going with the flow (if it means changing gear to find separation). Fàbregas or Tchouaméni play hide and seek expertly to always pop up in space
Have to create a problem for the striker (who sees you), does he close down the CB (you can find separation where he’s not) or stay there (and let Hutchinson play the pass to #5 or switch)
#9 isn’t bypassed, and ends up closing down (and get the ball back).
Expect strikers to not stop on purpose, therefore have arms ready to cushion him. Or be ready to yell to draw a foul, which top level referees will call.
Situational reading is good, going backwards to maintain technical distance
Excellent reading of the open space available in front. Midfielders must crash the space in front of them
Unlucky that the layoff doesn’t come through
Similar theme: stop the motion, try to take a step back to escape #8’s vision
Change of pace when #9 can’t see you is good, albeit slightly early
Square carry
Appreciating the ref shouldn’t be here (has to keep the ball sandwiched between him and the other AR)
Flat carry + square pass doesn’t disrupt the opposition enough. End game is to create space between the two lines, ideally with W passes so that you gamble on one player getting drawn out (but not getting back in position)
Decoy run to release a CB
Decoy run makes its effect to create indecision for #9 and give a little bit more time to #5
Clip over the top
Backlift is a good idea, a slightly more relaxed motion will get a better trajectory. Good idea to aim for the angle of the 6yx box (which is where good runs point towards)
Use the right arm to put the upper body off balance to nick the ball whilst tackling: see Youssouf Fofana below
Stay dynamic on toes, lower knees to keep the shoulders above the feet (and be stronger when getting stuck in)
Safety net
Movement off the ball is good, to stay between the ball and the goal at times.
Man said Nemanja?
Good job to hold off pressure, use the arm to keep the ball far away from the defending player. Ideally, grab the shirt on the chest and pull it away laterally (to put off balance), but not “off” him (that’d be called)
Lucas Gourna keeping his marker away, pulling the shirt away
Obviously an excellent pass, but worth disguising intent more with a shift towards the left shoulder to get a better angle
Very good idea for a pass
Ideally hit the ball a bit above the middle (than done here) so that it doesn’t lift off, but fizzes on the grass (before rolling to reach the receiver). Fizz straight, then the swerve gets into the path of Lawson
Pole dancing
Try to create a problem for 8 by getting in his blind side, there might be foom for #5 to shift and split if you do a double separation run to attack the acres of space avaiable
Long legs to snatch the ball
Excellent piece of skill to reach the ball, “chop” it to make it bounce
Ideally, the covering / closing down movement looks like that to protect the ball, then squeeze in forwards
Footwork is alright good, keep feet not larger than shoulders for more accuracy when shifting and changing direction
Get over the ball, draw a foul
Whoever lets the ball drop first loses the upper hand, ideally the ball is under control before it bounces (or killed on the half volley). Technical solutions are nice
There’s no compelling run to feed, so might not be worh volleying the ball down the line.
Boring, but maybe the Conor Gallagher, get the leg in front, wait for contact, fall over and draw a foul is the most effective way (for the team and the stats)
Double team!
Tracking back to do the double team is good and valuable
When changing direction, left leg pushes but right leg needs to end up pointing where you go next , not behind
Technical distance not quite maintained (too close), because “dwelling” for a second
The same situation Ugochukwu faced (article below). Kalimuendo retains and spins, take a few steps back to open an angle to receive and play
Lesley Ugochukwu article - hyperlink
Filling in for the fullback is good reading of the situation
Clip a cross at the far post
Good idea, unlucky to not find a runner. Goalkeepers hate it
(just to post Sha’mar Lawson’s separation movement)
Finding good angles forward
Possibly set yourself to receive back foot, but the two touch “Heung Ming Son” turn is good
Pass forward is good, good readaptation to reach the objective (no matter how it looks like). Good job covering and filling in for the fullback.
Transition and breakthrough
Good recovery, but might have to set the right leg closer (to have the shoulders closer to be above to the ball, to have a stronger set posture against a stronger player)
Probably worth using the arms to keep the opponent away, with the left hand
Final third entry
Stay dynamic on toes so that the left leg is closer, when pushing to get the secnd touch (feet larger than shoulders here)
Worth using the left arm to keep the defender at bay, whilst shifting it to the right shoulder
Same on that quality clip, left arm somewhere so that the defender can’t put off baalnce whilst the pass is played
Lucas Gourna Douath won’t get his lunch stolen anytime soon
Good movement to stay whithin technical range to be reached
Connecting with attackers
Shoulders over the ball makes it an excellent pass, in the path of Abdulmalik
TAKEAWAYS
Don’t be too obvious when showing for the ball inside your half. Cat and mouse creates indecision for the defending team, and some more space to show for the ball (with a turn of pace)
Coverage of defensive spaces is good, to anticipate possible turnovers
Some more gamemanship to retain under pressure and draw fouls, using the arms, same as for winning takles whilst standing up (put the upper body off balance)
Change of direction can do with improvement, with shorter, more accurate footwork to always push with the farthest leg (and point toes on the other feet where you want to go)
Angles forwards are interesting, more zipped passes (with better balance) will help them reach quicker the intended recipient
Performance worth building on, especially for the solution making to take the ball and attack space with carries when options are shut off. The potential looks worth pursuing there; coupled with a quality passing range and vision.
Out wide, possible to foresee a functional “Willian” type of ball retention / difference maker role with little risks taken; but that will require an even better appreciation of changes of pace, shoulder drops and gamemanship.
