Jesse Marsch

[Bongo1874]

Was getting a bit concerned that we seemed to be going a bit to direct and were slowly turning into Burnley.

Jesse Marsch isn't a possession based coach in the same way Pep Guardiola is or even Marcelo Bielsa. That was actually the problem he had at RB Leipzig, the squad had gotten used to playing Julian Nagelsmann's methodical possession based style, they couldn't adapt to Marsch's more high intensity gegenpressing style.

Marsch likes his teams to have possession but he isn't quite so focused on how they get it forward just so long as they do.

So it does mean a long ball is encouraged.

However from memory whilst a lot of passing through the thirds did happen under MB i seemed to remember a long ball or two wasnt out of the question either, so i decided to have a quick look.

So these are the stats for the 20/21 season under Bielsa, in brackets are the Premier League rank.
80.8% pass accuracy (12th)
55% possession (4th)
Long balls per game 58 (8th)
Short passes 442. (8th)

So as you can see, we ranked very high for possession, we also ranked fairly high for both long and short passes (but not top 4 like with possession).

I havent marked it but the missing stats are through balls and crosses.

We were high on the list for crossed per game.

So i looked at the 4 games under Hesse Marsch next

Average Marsch
458.5 passes
57.25 long passes
379.5 short passes
78.5% pass accuracy
51.5 possession 

So the possession stats are slightly down from 55% under Bielsa last season to 51% now.

So that will impact passing stats clearly, will make less passes.

Interestingly though the long passes per game are ever so slightly down on BielsaBall.

57.25 under Marsh to 58 under MB. That being said the percentage of long passes has increased because we are having less possession under Marsch and therefore making less passes

Passing accuracy is slightly down as well, from 80.8% under Bielsa to 78.5% under Marsch. That makes sense given we make less passes per game but only a tiny bit less long passes, accuracy is bound to be impacted.

However last season was unique and possibly the circumstances impacted these stats, so i looked at our season average now (which will be slightly impacted by Marsch but not massively given he has only managed 4 games).

21/22
54% possession
79.2 pass accuracy.
55 long passes
393 short passes

And actually you can see a change.

Possession is down, pass accuracy is down etc and actually if you compare the fixtures under Bielsa to the ones Marsch has had (same teams) you can see it more clearly.

Marsch is on the left and the stats under Bielsa are in brackets.

If you are really clever you can work out the comparison in your head, if like me you cant i have put it down the bottom of the list.

Wolves. (Bielsa)
471 passes (521 passes)
51 long passes (47 long passes)
397 short passes (451 short passes)
80% pass accuracy (81%)
53% possession.   (63%)

Norwich  (Bielsa)
448 passes (363 passes)
67 long passes (56 long passes)
353 short passes (296 short passes)
75% pass accuracy (73%)
53% possession  (52%)

Villa (Bielsa)
443 passes (492 passes)
68 long passes (42 long passes)
368 short passes (423 short passes)
79% pass accuracy (83%)
51% possession. (60.5%)

Leicester (Bielsa)
472 passes (470 passes)
43 long passes (52 long passes)
400 short passes (386 short passes )
49% possession (55.8%)
80% pass accuracy (77%)

Average
458.5 passes (461 passes).
57.25 long passes (49.25)
379.5 short passes (389)
78.5% pass accuracy (78.5%)
51.5 possession  (57%)

So total passes are very similar and pass accuracy is identical.

Despite this Bielsa had far more possession so what i assume is the crossing stats under Bielsa would be through the roof, these are the missing numbers.

But in terms of short passes and passing through the thirds the short passes suggest it isn't much different at all.

The pass accuracy reflects that as does the short pass total which isnt hugely different.

We are more direct under Marsch, or at least because we have less possession the long to short pass ratio is higher under Marsch because we make less passes overall.

However it isnt aimless hoofs because if that was the case the pass accuracy stats under the more possession based Bielsa style would be far higher, but it isn't and the short passing stats arent that different either.

Furthermore whilst the season average stats will be very slightly impacted by Marsch's 4 games they wont be much impacted, you are maybe talking. 1% at best something like that

And those stats show our possession stats are slightly down this season, our pass accuracy is down and we were going long under Bielsa a bit more ratio wise and so the difference between Marsch and Bielsa this season is pretty minimal.

I think what makes it seem more is because we have got used to having far more possession under Bielsa overall (not necessarily this season) but in general over the years we are used to seeing a lower long pass ratio and so MarschBall seems quite direct.

But actually this season in particular under Bielsa is has been a slightly more direct style in general and not to dissimilar to Marsch.

We arent turning into Burnley under Marsch but just perhaps adapting to a slightly less possession based style.

His style is more high intensity, win it back and get it forward.

He doesnt put as much focus on possession as Bielsa so if we win it back middle of our half and a long ball over the top to Dan James is the most effective way to get on the front foot then it is encouraged whereas maybe Bielsa had a slightly different view.

Anyway this thread is far to long but hey ho

doing a good job ,must say i do think Marcelo, could of achieved similar .

but he deserves credit .

you guys will be able to tell me if he's more long term etc , tbf it was going to be difficult with any new guy coming in to replace Marcelo.

i don't think Marsch or Marcelo was or is the problem i think both are very demanding managers , but are those same demands matched by the board ?only time will tell .

[Cjay]

People wanted answers

Here are some answers.

Full transcript

Jesse, you've got to be pleased with the way things are going?

Yes, I think it has got to do with the character of men we have in our team. From day one, they have accepted me and they have tried to learn the new style of football I want them to play. The work ethic every day is at a very high level and it is a lot of fun to work with them.


Did you feel any more pressure replacing Marcelo Bielsa?

No, I have done this a lot where I have come after good managers and popular managers and I know it is just about the work. You've [Ally McCoist] been a player and you know what it is like, this is our world, if you succumb to pressure you are in the wrong business. So, you just have to wake up every morning, go to work, do the best you can, do the best every day, then find ways to be intelligent, find ways to improve, find ways to be innovative, and then be clear with the way you communicate and the way you work with the group of players. We've managed to have a relatively quiet work day every day. That has led to us focusing on the things that can make a difference in us fighting for points
.

How hard was it to pick the players' confidence up off the floor?

I could see, just from watching games from afar and even talking to people at the club, that the stress levels were really high. The first days I just spoke about trying to stay calm. We had 12 games to go - that's almost a third of a season and there was a lot to play for. There was a lot of opportunities for us to do what we needed to do to control our destiny. So, day-by-day I just tried to explain what playing philosophy I want us to play like. The guys again who are here, have already operated at a high level, they will run and fight for each-other and the fit has been good. Victor Orta reached out to me a couple of years ago and just talked about what it would be like to be here and it was an intelligent thing as I am thankful to be here as well. It has been really fun for me to find a place where I am appreciated, where the things I appreciate fit with the ethos of the city, the club and the fans, so there is still so much to do, but it has been a lot of fun in these first few weeks

How appreciated do you feel at Leeds now you've had a few games?

There is even dialogue now comparing myself and Marcelo, which I find ridiculous. But appreciation doesn't matter as much as I think connection, energies and what it feels like to work on the inside of a team. So, if you haven't done it before and you've only been a fan, commentator or a pundit, you don't really know what it is like to work on the inside of a team. Everyone has a right to have their opinion, but the only option that matters is the one inside here at Thorp Arch. That is what we've tried to focus on is our relationships, our communications and the way we push every day.

How near are you to have a full squad to pick from?

The injury issues had a lot to do with the training methodologies, the players were over-trained. That led them to being physically, mentally, psychologically and emotionally in a difficult place to recover from week-to-week and game-to-game. I have a very specific methodology in the way I work and I've had a reputation for having high running data in the way we play, but also having healthy, fit and strong players so we can meet the demands we want. So, we tried to put that into place to help the players, I think that has helped a lot. The one with Patrick I felt terrible about because the responsibility of a coach to take care of players and to make sure you're not injuring them and putting them in harms way In the end, it didn't go the way I wanted with Patrick and I always feel like it is my responsibility to get that right. But for the most part, we are getting healthy and strong with almost the entire group. The other part of that is the playing style. Marcelo had such strong man-to-man demands and trying to rip apart three-and-a-half years of work structured exactly to do that, to now transitioning into what I want to do moving forward has been challenging for the players to adapt to. They have worked really hard at it but they still fall into old habits, especially when they are fatigued on the pitch. It's normal, right? I'm going to tell them a story today that I was watching a video on the bus ride back and I was frustrated about some of the things that were still not right. But then when I got off the bus, I went to go and get in my car and I got in the wrong side because I am still used to driving on the right hand side of the road.


Did you feel any physical or mental drainage when you came in?

Absolutely. From afar, you could see it on their faces and you could see in the 15th minute of some of those games that they were already at the maximum, and that shouldn't be the case. I know there were a lot of games where the guys had to play over and over again because of injuries, but I find that in this sport, you have to have a fit team. But the more your team is fit, healthy and performing at a high level, that is how you create success. Again, I have worked very carefully through methodologies of how we train, how we play, how everything fits together to make sure that we have a healthy group that is at top fitness and form so we can compete for as many points as possible.


What are the major differences, if any, between the top tier in England and in Germany?

For sure, the talent level is massive. There is good tactical levels on the pitch, but Germany is a coaches league. Every team has a very distinct, tactical plan that is put to place, and listen, the Germans often think of players as chess pieces, not as people. I loved that I learned a lot of the tactical philosophies in Germany and the details in which they think about the game. I think that is starting to spill over to England more and more. And coaches are coming here with a German background and this idea of having a tactical model. But one of the things you have in England here is an incredible mentality and fight to run for 90-plus minutes. I try to do both as well, I want to have a manager that has a distinct plan and a tactical model on the pitch, but I also want a team that goes out, fights for everything, believes in each-other, runs for each-other, and wants to do everything to get the result on the day. What's nice is that this playing philosophy that I have created or at least learned and built upon, fits really well with that mentality, so that's what I want to do.


How important is it to have the core group still together?

It works both ways, the positives are that they have worked so hard to get here, they know how much it means, they understand both the city, the club, the fanbase and they understand what it means to be a part of Leeds. They are also incredible young men, they come every day and work so hard, like honestly our professional team has less egos than our Under 23s team. We're still working through our 23s team to make sure they are doing things correctly. They're a still a good group, but it is just a big reflection of where the professionals are in the club. It also has meant that they've felt the pressure of staying and making the fans proud. They've harboured the stress on the fans back and I have felt that, I could see that early on and how we could perform at our optimal every day in training, but most importantly in game day


How have you settled into life in Yorkshire?

It is a stark contrast to Germany. In Germany, I came from a place that is pretty cold and people aren't so open, we liked being there as well. But here, people are so open and warm, and Elland Road is incredibly special. But I talk about the everyday life of living on the street, I like it more when people don't know who I am. And then I go into places and see how friendly they are. No matter who you are the way they interact with each-other, I think there is a genuineness to the region that really resonates with me and then the fans have been nothing but positive with me when they do recognise me. They appreciate that the team has played so hard and has found a way to get more points and have been very gracious with me as the new coach. So, I am really thankful to be here, it is a really good fit and I have spoken positively at almost every corner because of the experience and it has been incredible. I just want to keep working hard to help our team to improve and honour what this team and club is.

[William]

Talksport.

Jesse is a bit gobby for my liking.

I fear what happens when he starts criticising the players publicly

[Cjay]

It's maybe a bit erm I don't know.

Should he be giving interviews like this that will only cause criticism of a predecessor? Maybe maybe not.

That being said, the content of the interview is by no means a surprise regarding injuries and what not

Honestly MB overtraining players is a surprise to nobody (although many of our fans will get the hump).

And overtraining causes injuries.

Not a shock at all.

[1964white]

Talksport.

Jesse is a bit gobby for my liking.

I fear what happens when he starts criticising the players publicly

Oh, dear William.

I believe Jesse is honest & genuine.

And he hasn't criticised anyone yet no matter how much your read into his comments.

[1964white]

It's maybe a bit erm I don't know.

Should he be giving interviews like this that will only cause criticism of a predecessor? Maybe maybe not.

That being said, the content of the interview is by no means a surprise regarding injuries and what not

Honestly MB overtraining players is a surprise to nobody (although many of our fans will get the hump).

And overtraining causes injuries.

Not a shock at all.

There is nothing wrong with saying "players are over-trained" we all know it is true.

[The Subhuman]

Talksport.

Jesse is a bit gobby for my liking.

I fear what happens when he starts criticising the players publicly

Agreed .... comparing himself to Marcelo while "ripping apart" his system is a bit much.... He'd need two great years to even come close

[Changnoy]

Agreed .... comparing himself to Marcelo while "ripping apart" his system is a bit much.... He'd need two great years to even come close

I do believe he says its ridiculous that he is being compared to MB.
And even with MB at other clubs..and then with us back in the Championship..there has always been a question of overtraining and burnout.
And i for one 100% agree with that assessment.

[William]

Oh, dear William.

I believe Jesse is honest & genuine.

And he hasn't criticised anyone yet no matter how much your read into his comments.

Not claiming he is being dishonest.
I just think he talks too much and also it seems will talk to anyone.
Let's see how the dressing room takes it when he goes full Lampard and blames everyone but himself.

[SG90]

Agreed .... comparing himself to Marcelo while "ripping apart" his system is a bit much.... He'd need two great years to even come close

1 year really. Hopefully Marsch won't be managing us in the Championship!

[SG90]

Not claiming he is being dishonest.
I just think he talks too much and also it seems will talk to anyone.
Let's see how the dressing room takes it when he goes full Lampard and blames everyone but himself.

Did he do that after the Villa game?

[William]

I do believe he says its ridiculous that he is being compared to MB.
And even with MB at other clubs..and then with us back in the Championship..there has always been a question of overtraining and burnout.
And i for one 100% agree with that assessment.

He is the one who references Bielsa all the time. No need. He has the gig.

[William]

Did he do that after the Villa game?

Give him time.

[YorkshireSquare]

Dont see an issue with what he said. Fans wanted answers to the injury issues, he gave an answer and now they arent happy!

[White Riot]

Great interview with Jesse.

He comes across as an honest and open person. I'm pleased that he confirmed what we suspected in terms of the detrimental effect of over training our players.

He's provided a professional analysis of what has been occurring at the club and has managed to quickly turn things round.

I like his approach and his directness and sense of responsibility.

He's clearly able to motivate a group of players, that looked a spent force under Bielsa, to produce effective performances and positive results.

We have an exciting time ahead with Jesse as our manager.

[YorkshireSquare]

I fear what happens when he starts criticising the players publicly

Nothing to suggest he would do this, he has been very supportive so far and taken the blame when things have not gone well.

[weasel]

It is good that JM is so open, whether that will prove so popular if we're on a losing run remains to be seen.

The training/over training thing will never go away. Without the level of training there is no way that any of the players MB inherited would have become premier league players. Also worth noting that the over training saw us finish strongly at the end of season 2 and season 3 after stuttering at the end of season 1 which would suggest increased fitness made us better as a team and stronger - a bit like a marathon runner having a sprint finish whilst others are running out of gas at the end. Whilst some will say we finished strongly in season 2 due to the covid break I would strongly refute that as it wasn't like it was a break with a specific return to work date set wherein the players could have a break then work towards fitness like they would in a normal pre-season. They would have been having to train at full intensity at the start of the break so they were ready if the league suddenly re-started. As such I doubt they even got a couple of weeks to rest.

I still feel that the main reasons for injuries is simply down to having had 2 summers with shortened breaks. The amount of hamstring injuries accross the league is at a record high and it isn't like Bielsa was training every club.

JM's management career is a little bit different so far to what he has here. At Salzburg he had a top of the table team that would likely win even if the players played at 70%. At Leipzig they weren't the big fish in the small pond and they struggled under JM - no idea if it was fitness related or if the players weren't fit enough to play how JM wanted them to play. Whatever the reason for the failure at Leipzig hopefully JM has learnt from it. Hard to know if his success managing NY Red Bulls was due to having a better team than others as I know nothing about the strength of USA football.

In some ways JM comes accross a bit like Paul Heckingbottom in that he comes in and sees what the fans are saying and then basically says stuff to agree with them by and as such lays the blame for things at the previous manager's doorstep. PH blamed the lack of fitness which went down well with a lot of fans, whereas JM says we were overtrained which has gone down well with a lot of fans. Hopefully though JM has a lot more about him than PH. I am certainly a lot warmer to JM than I was to PH who I was worrried about from day 1 and he did nothing to prove me wrong. I see some good things from JM but still have some concerns.

[VinnysTattoo]

I think he gave honest answers to questions asked. No new manager slags off the previous guy, no matter how much they want to, but it seems to me Marsch is saying how it is. The only question in my mind is why the club feels he needs to be on Talk Sport in the first place.

[Byebyegeegee]

“Gobby” “talks too much”! Blimey it’s an interview what do you expect him to do?

Comes across well, answers the questions put to him with honesty, integrity and not a little diplomacy too. I’ve seen nothing so far to suggest that he will quickly, or ever resort to blaming his players.

And the reason he mentioned Bielsa was because one of the questions put to him was “do you feel any more pressure replacing Marcelo Bielsa”.

Ffs give the man a break!

[Jaydog]

He just has a different style to MB who didn’t do interviews like that. Can’t see a problem, he’s very confident and I get the feeling even with the “kisses & cuddles” he won’t take any s**t. We’ll see, keep us up and next season will be the acid test. So far so good.