premise: He had the task of man-marking playmaker Juan Riquelme and revealed the game proved a steep learning curve.
  "It was difficult for me," he said. "They have got players who like to drop into the hole and at times I found it hard.
  "Riquelme is a top-class player and there were times he drifted out wide, dragged me out - and left spaces for other players to move into.
  "It is a learning process. I don't play there often so every game is a learning curve and it is a good lesson being up against some of the best."
   What was the effect brought on by players that like to drop into the hole?
hypothesis: left spaces for other players to move into