American Soccer Now’s resident tactician tackles three extra reader-submitted questions in regards to the interior workings of the attractive sport. Plus: We now have GIFs!
BY
Liviu Chook
Posted
December 16, 2013
3:52 PM
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IT WAS SO MUCH FUN the primary time, we’re again for a second spherical. In case you missed Half 1 of the #AskASN Q&A, the premise is easy: you ask a tactical query within the feedback part or on social media, and we reply. Let’s get to it.
One Change to Perfect Beginning XI
In that first Q&A, I named my very best United States beginning lineup for the 2014 World Cup, and a number of readers rightfully identified one flaw: I left Geoff Cameron out. Contemplating league kind and nationwide staff favor, he slots in properly at proper again as a substitute of Timmy Chandler.
Within the feedback part, Doug Aguililla requested: “No love for Geoff Cameron at RB who by all accounts is playing very well in the EPL?”
You’re proper, Doug. Mea culpa. Cameron has performed properly, and he’s proven that he can play within the center (in protection or midfield) or at proper again, regardless of head coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s fixed insistence that he sees Cameron principally as a central participant.
Different questions on my lineup centered on John Brooks beginning within the center as a substitute of Omar Gonzalez or Clarence Goodson (soccerjohn and Tom offered two of a number of questions). Brooks has a a lot increased ceiling than each Gonzalez and Goodson, making him the higher selection.
Gonzalez’s ft are suspect, and he’s susceptible to bonehead moments within the again that Brooks hasn’t had anyplace close to as often regardless of being simply 20 years outdated. Goodson’s profession clock is ticking, and he nonetheless has to regain some kind since transferring to the San Jose Earthquakes.
Taking a look at Brooks, Gonzalez, and Goodson’s statistics on Squawka offers some numerical information to help the concept that Brooks has an edge on his older counterparts. (In fact, all numbers are subjective, however Squawka has among the best monitor data of distilling Opta information into usable metrics for participant analysis.)
Regardless of the disparity in information factors, Brooks appears higher than the opposite two when it comes to his passing accuracy. Gonzalez made a few defensive errors based mostly on Squawka’s calculations, whereas the Brooks and Goodson have clear slates.
Brooks has a decrease share of duels gained than the opposite two, however he nonetheless has not been at fault for any objectives in opposition to Hertha. In an odd quirk of the Squawka system, he will get docked factors for having suffered extra fouls than he has dedicated, whereas he has been 5 of seven on tackles, eight of 15 in headed duels, and two for 2 on the dribble.
His youth is what ideas the dimensions. He reveals essentially the most promise of any middle again within the participant pool transferring ahead, and he must be given an opportunity to develop. Twenty could also be younger by American requirements, however by world requirements, he must be enjoying as quickly as potential.
Beating Bayern Munich
Dynamic groups are a staple of the trendy sport. 2014 MLS All-Star Recreation participant Bayern Munich is a high-pressure, counterattacking staff that may additionally possess with the perfect of them. So whereas Russell Watland’s query wasn’t particularly in regards to the Bavarians, on the event of them enjoying the All-Stars, we’ll deal with it as such:
— Russell Watland (@wallyrussito) December 11, 2013
The most recent tactical craze sweeping Europe got here from Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund final season, and it’s meant to immediately counter FC Barcelona’s tiki-taka fashion. It’s referred to as gegenpressing in German, or counter-pressing.
The thought is that groups attempting to play from the again can solely string so many one-touch passes collectively earlier than they make a mistake. Counter-pressing pounces on these alternatives in opposition to tiki-taka groups, makes groups that may’t play look foolish, and forces most groups to dump a number of 50-50 balls up the sphere all through the sport.
It could have come from Dortmund, however Pep Guardiola’s Bayern has perfected the high-pressure system and strangled a number of groups with it this season, together with Dortmund. Every participant has a task in stopping play out of the again and successful the ball as excessive up the sphere as potential:
• D1: The middle ahead applies fast strain on the ball and cuts off sq. choices alongside the again line. The nearside winger and nearest central midfielder reduce off huge and central choices, respectively.
• D2: The center block is crowded out, leaving no simple passing lanes.
• D3: The lengthy choice is often the one engaging one, however by the point the ball will get there, 4 gamers can converge.
It’s a system that makes use of the attacking precept of width to the defensive staff’s benefit, creating numbers-down conditions for the assault that makes it inconceivable to carry the ball. The way in which to work by it’s to maintain the ball transferring at a excessive tempo and, on the proper moments, search for an extended ball.
To get out of a high-pressure state of affairs, a staff has to make the most of the house that it’s given, nevertheless small it might be. Even essentially the most organized urgent groups will often depart areas between its traces of gamers.
Checking runs off defenders into these areas permit a participant to obtain the ball at his ft. As soon as the preliminary line of strain is damaged, a brief ball into unfavourable house can open choices up the sphere.
It could appear counterintuitive to primarily play the ball backward towards the mass of high-pressing gamers, however it works so long as the receiver doesn’t attempt to maintain the ball too lengthy or flip again into strain.
Ball motion between the upper traces of strain often attracts extra defenders ahead, leaving house in behind. (Each motion creates a countering motion by the opposing staff, opening areas on the sphere. Tactically deliberate soccer is chess, not checkers.)
A well-timed and well-placed lengthy ball exploits the house and favorable numbers in behind. Nonetheless, if groups go straight to the lengthy ball and simply loft them up all sport, the probabilities of gaining possession are slim. The choice to go lengthy relies on recognition of visible cues after engaging one too many defenders to step excessive.
Most groups at any stage can have hassle getting past a high-pressure system, making it probably the simplest protection in soccer. It’s no coincidence lots of the greatest groups make use of some type of excessive strain.
Extra Tactical Reads and Twitter Follows
Lastly, we’ll finish on a query from loyal reader Kirun, who needs to know the place he can discover extra tactical discussions and breakdowns:
— Kirun (@bad80smusic) December 2, 2013
Sadly for these of you who’re averse to Twitter, that platform is absolutely the easiest way to get tactical info. I’ve restricted this checklist to only 5 individuals who tweet in English, however it’s place to begin:
Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) is essentially the most well-known individual you’ll discover on this checklist, and he’s maybe the best-known tactician on this planet, with over 100,000 Twitter followers. He runs his Zonal Marking weblog, in addition to contributing largely tactics-based tales to ESPN, The Guardian, and FourFourTwo.
Kieran Smith (@KieranSmith1) is a UEFA A-licensed coach based mostly in Madrid. A few of his stuff is in Spanish, however the overwhelming majority if not all of his tactical breakdowns, utilizing screenshots just like these you see on ASN, are in English.
Louis Lancaster (@LouisLancs) additionally makes use of screenshots to interrupt down ways on Twitter. He’s additionally a coach with a UEFA A License, and he usually tweets concepts for coaching periods and workout routines. He’s comply with to achieve some perspective on that facet of the sport.
Adin Osmanbasic (@AdinOsmanbasic) runs his personal weblog and tweets annotated screenshots, primarily centered on main European leagues and groups. He additionally does some nice work in video kind, corresponding to this take a look at Bayern Munich’s preseason win over FC Barcelona, the place you possibly can see gegenpressing at work:
Gary Kleiban (@3four3) isn’t a lot for tweeting tactical evaluation, however he’s a extremely opinionated, extremely revered coach who is aware of high quality soccer when he sees it. He and his brother, Brian, run the 3four3 Teaching Faculty and weblog and the Whole Futbol Academy within the Los Angeles space. (Brian can be the Chivas USA U14 coach.) Be ready to be stimulated and fairly in all probability offended — Gary gained’t pull any punches.
Have a tactical query you desire to answered within the subsequent #AskASN tactical Q&A? Depart it within the feedback part beneath, or tweet it to us utilizing the hashtag. Keep tuned for Half 3 of this sequence.
Liviu Chook is ASN’s resident tactical skilled. He additionally writes for SoccerWire.com and might be offering World Cup protection from an American perspective for The London Telegraph. Observe him on Twitter.
