It’s something I’m becoming more and more interested by, the more I read on here about people’s take on tactics.
I’m sure I’m not the only one, but when I’m watching a game - I have to admit that I don’t generally pick out all of the different tactical nuances of what are going on.
I’ll know all the players, and their general positions but I struggle to watch a game and go “oh looks like we’re trying a 3-5-2 with wing backs” or whatever.
Do you tend to watch the game and spend most of it putting together the tactics/formations/strategy, or do you tend to be a bit more relaxed in the analysis?
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I love to read @Tutt-Tutt's analysis and tactical views. He always seems to get it spot on and has me thinking "oh yeah - that's obvious really".
It will give you a good overview of how things have evolved over the years, and also help with some of the terminology. There are, of course, a million other books.
I love the tactical side of the game, and have explored 'revolutionary' approaches at the amateur level. Although I'm told that there is limited room for innovation in the modern game, I don't believe that ... although I do agree that there are certain basic principles that cannot be ignored.
Good luck with it. It will definitely add to your enjoyment
proper tactical or opposition analysis is pretty exhausting and not massively enjoyable because you’ll usually be concentrating on one team and noting as much as you can down.
And while we're at it, where have all the inside/outside centres gone?
False number 9 and number 10 playing in the hole - what a load of old bollocks.
Football tactics are simple and have worked for years. They need to uncomplicated, effective and easily understood by players at all levels and put across in a straightforward manner so everyone understands their role.
I really believe this has become more acute in recent seasons. Watching the Big Match Revisited on ITV 4. I am sure that most teams played the 4 4 2 formation.
I think having three from seven subs has meant that there can be more variation.
To pick a system look for the defensive line. If the Right Centre Back has one other Centre Back to his left, it's a flat back four. If he has two to his left, it's a three man central defence. When out of possession, the two full backs drop in a line alongside the centre backs. In the 5-3-2 to 3-5-2 system they will push forward quickly as Wing Backs.
The characteristic of each system is governed by the style and ability of each individual in that system That will also determine whether a club uses a different system, like 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 which are more constant. So look to see if there are 2 Central Midfielders in front of the Centre Backs or just the one. Then decide whether there is one Centre forward, two strikers, or a Centre Forward with a number 10 playing just in behind him.
Every team should have a pattern of play that fits the system. For example, a short passing game through midfield, or an "up, back and through" style of play, into the Centre Forward to set up.the through ball.
When out of possession, most teams will either drop off to defend the 18 yard line, in a compact formation or push up as a team to defend high up the pitch and press the ball to suffocate the opposition and win the ball high up the pitch.
There are plenty of websites on systems, covering the 4-4-2 Diamond, 4-3-3, 4-4-1-1, 4-1-4-1, 3-4-3, Just put the system into google.
Enjoy reading your analysis
You then need a midfield "general" to identify the problem and "reset" the team as they play.
The best we had a CAFC.... Mark Kinsella,by a country mile.Also Graham Stuart, could dictate the way and the pace the game was played.
I watched a girls match on Sunday morning and the Yellow team thrashed the Grey team but I noticed the overall ability levels were similar. It is just the yellow team were playing its better players in better positions. I am often tempted to have a word with the manager as an act of kindness but people don't like a smart alec! Some people like doing Jigsaw puzzles!
In the Premier days under Sir Alan he definitely understood the importance of bodies in the area of the pitch the ball spends most time, the middle and when we had Young and Powell pushing up to support the midfield and Euell dropping off we would swarm other teams at our level and it made us competitive against the bigger boys. Loved seeing that squeeze work and it did a lot
Essentially players understand a 442 but that can easily go into a 5 at the back out of possession or 5 in midfield
The pressing is what catches me out now, working out what part of the pitch usnir the opposition have been told to press at. Its fucking tough to do that with us at the moment as we seem to have gone for the tactical foul or last ditch lunge approach instead. Also the use of deep midfielders and what purpose they are there to serve, are they playing as a screen to the defence whereby in a midfield 5 they would drop to cover the extra defender moving into midfield such as a wingback or are they trying to do what Pirlo did as he got older and wiser and went where the space was and built things deeper and made the play further back.
Our promotion season under Powell was a good example of having all the elements combined to play a 442, Jacko on one flank who would come narrow but have the outlet of Wiggins with the fitness and athleticism to get up and down, on the other wing you had Solly and Wagstaff who would alternate and double up causing a real headache for opposition wingers and full backs and then the traditional engine room of 2 box to box midfielders and a player like Kermorgant who could be the target but also drop back and make up a looser 5
The key to being able to be flexible is generally the full backs and sometimes the centre halves, if they can play a bit and are fit that opens up a lot of channels and if you are playing a defensive 5 you need someone to break into midfield who is happy with the ball at his feet
Just watch it & enjoy the game. Tactics mean shit all. Just score more goals than your opponent. End of.
In my later teens and early 20's I did quite a lot of coaching including a certain Mr Parker aged 8/9 (he learnt nothing from me
It drives my daughters a bit mad as I tend to get a bit carried away in the stand with instructions as if they can hear me or as if they'd take any notice
Footballs changed a lot the last 30 years, back then almost every team would play 442 or a slight variation. However the fundamentals remain the same.
To an extent I'm a firm believer in playing a formation based on your opposition but more importantly based on the ability of your team squad. It's OK if you have world class players and a large squad, you can almost play any formation you like as you'll have those tools at your disposal.
IMHO thats been our downfall a lot of the time the past few years, trying to play a style/formation that we don't have the personnel to do. Whether that's ability or ageing legs.
If I go back to the time I knew the team inside out;
Bolder - you wouldn't have played him and asked him to play out from the back, he struggled to keep it in half the time hoofing it up the pitch to Leaburn! Neither would you have with Balmer and Webbo.
Pitcher (RIP) - you wouldn't have asked him to play wing back in a 5 (Minto however you could quite easily)
Bumstead in a midfield 3!?! Actually, his knowledge was phenomenal so maybe in his younger years (Nor Gritt, Curbishley, or Pardew)
Mendonca as a sole striker???.......
When I look at our squad it cries out for 442, we could comfortably play 451, but 433 is a stretch too far as the top 3 aren't likely to drop back successfully enough, often enough so if you fail with the high press the midfields out and the opposition is already on our defence and probably outnumbered.
I'm not convinced you can play any form of diamond either that includes Watson or Morgan. You probably could with JFC and Arter in there.
Part of management is getting the best from what you have, motivationally of course but also using the tools you have as best you can. We have too often try to bash square pegs into round holes.
Thats why if the owner does at some point remove Adkins I'd go with Jackson, his knowledge and understanding of the game is up there with the best of them. Add in his knowledge of the club, this league etc, he's a high chance of success with the right backing.
If you say, for example Clare, tucking in from the right and a more attacking winging, say Leko, on the left, then 2 up top, it's no different to a 433 is it?
Charlton have not regularly played a proper 442 since midway through the 98/99 season, apart from a brief spell under Luzon.
I have seen suggested that the 451 Curbs used is the solution, that had a "10" were Lee, Morgan and Washington have ment to have played at verious points. It also had 2 wingers, Rommedahl and Thomas. I don't see how, on paper, that's any different to what we play now. Apart from the obvious quality.
IMO what ever formation you throw at the wall the two is the problem. Especially when most teams play 3, Cheltenham actually played 4.
I can't see how 442 is the answer (4231 isn't either BTW).
Also if playing Washington please someone spot his runs and play the ball into the channel! He must get so frustrated.