Tagged: Football Tactics

Brendan Rodgers, the beauty of 3-4-2-1 and its potency as a tactical weapon | Jonathan Wilson | Football | The Guardian

Brendan Rodgers, the beauty of 3-4-2-1 and its potency as a tactical weapon | Jonathan Wilson | Football | The Guardian

Some tactical talk from two of my favorite tactical writers. I don’t think 3 at the back will ever become a regular thing in the Premier League but it is interesting that mostly big teams have used it in recent times. That will likely be the tactical trend of the year, in the Premier League at least, especially if Chelsea continue to have such success.

Chelsea’s three-man defence the most intriguing tactical decision of the year

Back to the future: how football’s tactical evolution has begun to invoke the past | Jonathan Wilson | Football | The Guardian

Back to the future: how football’s tactical evolution has begun to invoke the past | Jonathan Wilson | Football | The Guardian

Always some great stuff tactical stuff from Jonathan Wilson. Football tactics are definitely cyclical and we can see that with Atletico, Leicester City and others.

 

Atletico Madrid defence able to stop Barca and top teams – ESPN FC

Atletico Madrid defence able to stop Barca and top teams – ESPN FC

Nobody can do what Atletico does at such a high-level. The organization, intensity and intelligence in their defending is fantastic. Have to give credit where its due. Sometimes it’s annoying to see 10 men all bottled in and around the box but it’s up to the opposition to beat it and Atletico’s is tough to beat. I still think that they won’t go up a level without a consistent and elite attacking threat/more expansive play, as the PSV tie showed how much they can struggle. Still takes nothing away from the defense.

Soccermatics: Barcelona have found perfect footballing symmetry | FourFourTwo

Soccermatics: Barcelona have found perfect footballing symmetry | FourFourTwo

Interesting to see Barcelona’s tactics in this context. Sums things up pretty well and falls in line with the assertion that it’s not all about Messi, Neymar and Suarez. Things would be very different without that support.

And just to lump the article below in as well. Yeah, Barcelona weren’t really switched on for the Arsenal game but there was an element of, “Oh if Arsenal score we’ll just bang in a few and end the tie.” Which they did. This Barcelona team man. On the verge of history.

Barca can play badly and still win – and that’s what separates them from the rest

Leicester City and Tottenham thrive without the ball – ESPN FC

Leicester City and Tottenham thrive without the ball – ESPN FC

Intriguing analysis on both these teams. Tottenham is definitely better in possession and could become more comfortable with that as a primary approach if necessary.

Why are so few Premier League teams winning at home this season? | FourFourTwo

Why are so few Premier League teams winning at home this season? | FourFourTwo

Some great points here. Possession-based teams, and Chelsea,  are struggling a bit more to start and that idea about the lack of coherence early in the season makes sense. This isn’t to say that the “simpler” counter-attacking tactics are easy but they have definitely proven effective early on. Some things to keep an eye on even as the season progresses.

 

The Delightfully Different Shades of the 4-4-2 | Squawka News | Squawka Analysis

The Delightfully Different Shades of the 4-4-2 | Squawka News | Squawka Analysis

Some teams still use the traditional 4-4-2 which is just plain weird. Will the diamond start to become the trend? It’s popped up in places, like West Ham surprisingly last season, so maybe.