THE MOST DANGEROUS SPACE
I’ve written about this space on countless occasions but I'll keep banging on like a broken record for the simple reason that it’s the basis of all football strategy.
Let’s dive into why this space is so important and how teams attack it...🧵👇 x.com
I’ve written about this space on countless occasions but I'll keep banging on like a broken record for the simple reason that it’s the basis of all football strategy.
Let’s dive into why this space is so important and how teams attack it...🧵👇 x.com
Teams have found so many ways of the defending this ever-important space.
👥 Some defending teams will flood this space with 2 or sometimes 3 central midfielders
⏩ Some will task center backs to step up and defend that space
🪓 Some will task a specialist player to defend it
👥 Some defending teams will flood this space with 2 or sometimes 3 central midfielders
⏩ Some will task center backs to step up and defend that space
🪓 Some will task a specialist player to defend it
With each defensive approach brings an alternative attacking approach
💨 Some teams use wide, winger-like players, in central areas
👬 Some attacking teams overload that zone with all of their central midfielders
🔙 Some use their deepest center forwards to retreat in that zone
💨 Some teams use wide, winger-like players, in central areas
👬 Some attacking teams overload that zone with all of their central midfielders
🔙 Some use their deepest center forwards to retreat in that zone
What’s important to understand is that there is no tactic better than another to attack the space in front of the back line. Rather, it’s dependent on the qualities of the players.
The WHO dictates the HOW.
The WHO dictates the HOW.
📺 This means when we watch football on TV we’ll assume that we know which tactic would be best for the team but in reality we don’t have all of the information necessary to make that kind of decision.
🧠 The managers know their players better than we will ever know them.
🧠 The managers know their players better than we will ever know them.
Let’s get started with an example from Fabregas’ Como 1907.
Against a man marking system like Atalanta’s, Como’s center forward dropped into the midfield to lure out center back.
When Atalanta’s center back would drop very deep, Como would look to play in behind. x.com
Against a man marking system like Atalanta’s, Como’s center forward dropped into the midfield to lure out center back.
When Atalanta’s center back would drop very deep, Como would look to play in behind. x.com
In a match from a few couple of years ago against Arsenal, Kevin De Bruyne occupied this space perfectly throughout the game.
As you can see in these images, he was able to create a tough decision for Gabriel about whether to step to him or stay on the back line. x.com
As you can see in these images, he was able to create a tough decision for Gabriel about whether to step to him or stay on the back line. x.com
A few weeks ago, Liverpool employed this strategy against Bournemouth.
On multiple occasions Diaz was in front of the back line and Gakpo and Salah on either wing pinning the back line.
In one sequence, Diaz receives it and the other Gakpo receives behind the line. x.com
On multiple occasions Diaz was in front of the back line and Gakpo and Salah on either wing pinning the back line.
In one sequence, Diaz receives it and the other Gakpo receives behind the line. x.com
This example is from De Zerbi’s Brighton from a few years ago.
This team had a unique build up because they used lots of vertical diagonal passes through the midfield to get the ball to a player in front of the back line.
Sometimes the CF, sometimes the attacking midfielder. x.com
This team had a unique build up because they used lots of vertical diagonal passes through the midfield to get the ball to a player in front of the back line.
Sometimes the CF, sometimes the attacking midfielder. x.com
🎥 You can watch all of the clips visualized in this thread here: drive.google.com
📼 If you want to study the game further, check out the Game Situation Library. It's 100s of clips of top football from all over the world.
Get free access here 👉 eepurl.com x.com
📼 If you want to study the game further, check out the Game Situation Library. It's 100s of clips of top football from all over the world.
Get free access here 👉 eepurl.com x.com
These are all different methods to achieve a universal intention, get the ball behind the back line to create scoring chances.
👀 This is what I love most about football. Every team will approach a similar problem differently, and that’s what good observers of the game will look for.
👀 This is what I love most about football. Every team will approach a similar problem differently, and that’s what good observers of the game will look for.
If you want to become a better football observer, I created an online analysis course that will show you how to discover your own insights like the one in this thread.
It runs from March 4th-28th. Registration closes on February 28th.
Learn more here: itsjustasport.com x.com
It runs from March 4th-28th. Registration closes on February 28th.
Learn more here: itsjustasport.com x.com
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