Saw some interesting situations arise in some of the pre-season friendlies so far. 1 from the City-Celtic game saw Pep add yet another player to the center of the field...
Often in the past the GK would join a line of 3 to make a line of 4 to build from. There would be two pivots behind the strikers, and the 9 would help overload behind the opponent midfielders in a similar way to create 5 players centrally.
Now the GK takes the central position of a true back 3 in the first line of build-up.
The fullbacks come extremely narrow to have 3(!) players behind the opponent strikers.
The 9 still drops to create 3 players behind the opponent midfielders while the wingers pin.
The fullbacks come extremely narrow to have 3(!) players behind the opponent strikers.
The 9 still drops to create 3 players behind the opponent midfielders while the wingers pin.
Still, it wasn't totally consistent and successful, especially with some of the younger players in those roles.
Nevertheless an interesting idea to maintain a similar front 5 but use the GK even more to potentially allow '3 pivots' to attack behind the press of strikers.
Nevertheless an interesting idea to maintain a similar front 5 but use the GK even more to potentially allow '3 pivots' to attack behind the press of strikers.
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