Sparta is in trouble. This fact basically does not need to be mentioned, as everyone who has at least a little knowledge of Czech football can see it. But what should she change in the current situation? There are more options and Coach Priske should consider them.
Sparta has not won four league matches. But the worst thing for the whole club is that the previous opponents were among the weaker ones, and the end of the autumn season will definitely not be a walk in the park.
Sparta now has the last match of September ahead of it, followed by a national team break. Especially in that one, it will be necessary to train properly and change what is not working now. But what doesn’t work for Sparta?
According to the performances, it can be said that almost everything. But the biggest problems are in the speed of passing. It all starts with the stoppers, who prepare the ball for a long time in order to usually only move it to the other player or to the edge of the defense.
They rarely send a sharp cross forward to the winger, as Dávid Hancko used to do. By the time the ball reaches the sideline, the opponent’s defense is already formed and the element of surprise is gone. This happens especially in home games, where Sparta should dominate and create chance after chance.
Subsequently, few centers go into the box and when one does come, it is not always accurate. It is therefore clear that changes must come and when no one strengthens the team, they must look to their own reserves. And the options are there.
It could be interesting to play with three stoppers in a 3-5-2 formation, thanks to which Sparta would have one more player in the so far bad midfield. Filip Panák, who is good in passing, would move to the current stoppers, Daněk could return to the midfield.
However, if the coach does not prefer this line-up, he could move Jaroslav Zelený to the defensive reserve, thanks to which a place in the lineup would open up again for Panák, or even for Martin Vitík, who had a good spring, but is also not flawless in the second division reserve.
After all, Panák could also play defensive backup. In short, at any cost, it is important to get a player with a quality passing game, who does not delay the game and finds possible loopholes in the defense, into the starting line-up.
A return to one attacker is also possible. In that case, Tomáš Čvančara, who is in relatively good form, should play. If he had the support that Stanislav Tecl has in Slavia, he would definitely be better in terms of goals than he is now. After all, every other striker in the league.
Source: AC Sparta Prague
