@Hannibal
This leads to the biggest concern about Garcia’s ability as a coach. He doesn’t seem to have a Plan B at times. On too many occasions when the opposition found a game plan to frustrate Lille, the free-flowing football disappeared. Keeping the attack in front of the defence often led to a lack of creativity and players like Dimitri Payet resorting to shots from distance. Usually within the first 20 minutes it was possible to tell if Lille were going to score from open play or not. Sometimes a set-piece or defensive mistake would save them, but it rarely came from Garcia’s tactical changes.
Rarely do his subs change the game in a huge way; you are more likely to see like-for-like changes, than a change in formation or tactics. A number of times this season you could hear the confusion in the stands as Garcia signalled for a change, but the player going off or coming on had the Lille fans scratching their heads. He is not afraid to make a change, often (near 99% of the time) using all three substitutes, it’s just the changes being made that leave you wondering.
One advantage that Roma will have over Lille is the role that Garcia has been given. At Lille he was one of the rare coaches in Ligue 1 that had so much say over matters off the pitch. Questions over some of his signings and contract decisions are what caused the rift between the coach and the boardroom. Neglecting youth and favouring experienced players with less quality marred his last season at Lille. It wasn’t until he began to trust the likes of Idrissa Gueye and Ronny Rodelin that Lille looked much more vibrant in the second half of the season.
There is no doubt that Garcia will play an attacking style when he gets his hands on the Roma squad for the new season. When it works it is beautiful to watch and Roma fans will be dazzled by the quick passing and intelligent movement that he likes to install. The problem will come when teams learn his style and find a way to break it down. This is where you hope Garcia has developed his game during his five years at Lille.