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https://footviser.com/analytical/4-2-3-1-formation-analysis/ https://footviser.com/analytical/4-2-3-1-formation-analysis/#respond Ratnadeep Mukherjee Sun, 11 Oct 2020 15:17:16 +0000 Analytical Formations Featured https://footviser.com/?p=5596 4-2-3-1 formation is most commonly used in modern-day football. It is considered as one of the best formations ever deployed in a football pitch. Because of its flexibility and compactness, it is the go-to system for 70% of football managers of the current generation. It suits most of the playing styles and can be transferred […]
4-2-3-1 formation is most commonly used in modern-day football. It is considered as one of the best formations ever deployed in a football pitch. Because of its flexibility and compactness, it is the go-to system for 70% of football managers of the current generation. It suits most of the playing styles and can be transferred into a 4-5-1 flat or 4-4-2 easily. Here is our detailed analysis of 4-2-3-1 formation and its implications.
It is a very simple formation and its player demand is also limited.
During the buildup, the box to box or regista is assigned with the role of carrying the ball. He receives the ball from the defenders or central defensive midfielder and supplies it to the wingers or attacking midfielder. The central defensive midfielders allow the backs to overlap. He covers the space left behind by the backs. Generally, the more attacking back overlaps. Other stays down to form a 4 man backline with the central defensive midfielders and 2 center backs supported by the central midfielders.
This helps to maintain defensive stability and prevents getting outnumbered during the counter. The central attacking midfielder mainly plays as a free player. He roams around the opponent third and provides line-breaking passes for the striker. He also supports the forward by creating passing combinations and receiving second balls. He also draws opponent defenders, opening up the space for the wingers or wide midfielders to make through runs. During the use of false 9, the wide players become inverted wingers and the shape becomes 4-4-2 diamond .
In most cases, teams playing 4-2-3-1 formation , defend in a narrow 4-4-2 diamond . Either one of the wingers or the attacking mid stays upfront along with the forward. They initiate the press by pressing opponent Center backs. The main motive becomes to stretch out opponents and outnumber them in wings. Immediately after winning possession, the ball is played towards the player upfront, and counterattacking starts. Two speedy wingers and fullbacks support the forwards during the counter. 4-2-3-1 formation covers the whole width of the pitch and opponents find it difficult to extract space while countering this system.
Now let’s discuss the pros and cons of this formation.
This formation covers the whole area of the pitch. It leaves no space uncovered.
If wide midfielders are used instead of wingers then wing play becomes slow and central mid becomes congested.
France under Didier Deschamps used this formation and got massive success in the 2018 World Cup . They used 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formation in most of the matches and came victorious. Deschamps used the same lineup in both semifinals and finals. He used Oliver Giroud as a target man while Griezmann played as a second striker. The two wings are comprised of Blaise Matuidi and Kylian Mbappe. Paul Pogba and And N Golo Kante played as two central midfielders. The four-man backline contained Rafael Varane, Samuel Umtiti while Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez as two fullbacks.
2013 UCL was a tournament of fairy tales. With Malaga and Shakhtar Donetsk reaching the knockout stages of UCL this tournament proved that none of the teams in current world football is weak enough to dominate. But Dortmund reaching the finals is the best of the lot. Jurgen Klopp used the 4-2-3-1 formation and blended with his gegenpressing system. He used Lewandoski as a striker with Gotze as the Second striker. Reus and Blaszczykowski/ Grobkreutz on the two things. Bender and Gundogan played as two central midfielders. The defense of Hummels, Subotic, Schmelzer , and Piszczek was pretty solid.
Another legendary team that played in this formation is Real Madrid in the 2011-12 La Liga season under Jose Mourinho . Mourinho is mainly known as a defensive manager but he played fantastic counter-attacking football in that season. Real Madrid under him scored 100+ goals which is still the highest goal scored by any club in a single season. He used Benzema or Higuain as the center-forward. Ronaldo and Di Maria operated in two wings while Mesut Ozil played as the Attacking Midfielder. Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira are the two central midfielders. The four-man backline consists of Sergio Ramos and Pepe as two center backs while Marcelo and Arbeloa are the two fullbacks.
Bayern dominated both UCL and Bundesliga in the previous season. Under Hansi Flick , they won the treble last time. Flick mainly used 4-2-3-1 formation for his team. He used Lewandoski as a target man with Muller playing behind him. Perisic, Coutinho , and Gnabry were used on two wings with rotation. The central midfield consists of Thiago Alacantara and Leon Goretzka . They used a solid defensive set up of David Alaba, Jerome Boateng, Alfanso Davis, and Joshua Kimmich.
4-2-3-1 formation is considered as the perfect formation in modern world football. It covers every aspect of football. Due to its 3 midfielders, it provides a lot of passing options while the wings are mobilized by the wingers/wide midfielders and fullbacks. It is the most popular formation in the world at present and managers will continue using it for a very long time.
Liked our analysis of the 4-2-3-1 formation? Read more of our in-depth formation analysis
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https://footviser.com/analytical/4-2-3-1-formation-analysis/feed/ 0https://footviser.com/editorial/how-will-reguilon-and-bale-fit-for-spurs/ https://footviser.com/editorial/how-will-reguilon-and-bale-fit-for-spurs/#respond Ratnadeep Mukherjee Thu, 08 Oct 2020 15:23:09 +0000 Analytical Editorial EPL Featured Tottenham https://footviser.com/?p=4966 Tottenham had been very active in this transfer window. They have been successful to pull off some deals which can prove crucial for Tottenham this in the Premier League 2020/21 season. Jose Mourinho is desperate to end their long drought of trophies this season along with UCL qualifications. He made his intentions clear by signing […]
Tottenham had been very active in this transfer window . They have been successful to pull off some deals which can prove crucial for Tottenham this in the Premier League 2020/21 season. Jose Mourinho is desperate to end their long drought of trophies this season along with UCL qualifications. He made his intentions clear by signing players like Pierre Emile Hojberg, Matt Doherty , Sergio Reguilon along with loaning in stars like Gareth Bale from Real Madrid . Spurs have got enough firepower in their arsenal to challenge for the top 4 this season. Here is a tactical analysis of how Spurs can lineup with Reguilon and Bale.
Mourinho likes to use a counterattacking system. He lines up in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system. Though his requirements are very limited he needs a specific type of player in each sector especially in attacking zones. He needs one of his fullback attacking who will overlap giving space for the winger in that wing to cut in. The other fullback will form the four-man defensive compartment with two center backs and the central defensive midfielder.
As Mourinho’s term doesn’t create many chances, so he needs his upfront players to be prolific goalscorers. His midfield needs to be more dynamic and press resistant and also compact. He doesn’t need any creative players in midfield as most of his attacks come through wings. So these two signings can be highly effective for him. Let’s start a detailed discussion of each of the two transfers.
First, in our tactical analysis of Reguilon and Bale, we would like to analyze Sergio Reguilon’s place in the Spurs lineup. Keeping the price and potential in mind this transfer can be called the best deal of the two even one of the best deals of the window. The 23 years old Left-Back joined the Spurs for a fee of around 27 million. He is the type of fullback Mourinho wants in his side.
His attacking capabilities are outstanding. He has a key pass rate of 1.43 per 90 which shows that he is capable of playing line-breaking passes. He also has great speed and positioning sense and he can contribute flawlessly in both attack and defence. He can connect with Hue Min Son on the left-wing. With his overlapping Son will get the space to cut inside and play as an inside forward where he can be more effective. But this transfer also disrupts the stability of the side.
As Tottenham already bought Matt Doherty on the right back so Reguilon is more like a luxury buy. Doherty also got the same attributes as Reguilon and it seems that he will be the first choice for Mourinho. So either Mourinho has to change his tactics to accommodate both of them which is very unlikely, or either one of them has to sit on the bench. This could hamper the growth of Reguilon.
But keeping all these in mind it can be said that if Reguilon gets ample game-time he has the potential to be the most dependable player on the pitch. Reguilon already started showing his class for Spurs. He played his first game for the Spurs and provided the assist for the leveling goal which was converted by Eric Lamela. He was one of the most crucial players for Tottenham that day. If he gets enough time on the pitch he can replicate his form for Sevilla with Tottenham.
Tottenham already got Matt Doherty in defense whose attacking attributes matches to that of Reguilon. Mourinho opts for only 1 attacking fullback so either one of them will get the chance in the first team. He tried Doherty for the first few matches but his performance was not up to the mark. So now Reguilon seemed to be settled in that position especially after his performance against Manchester United .
Next, in our tactical analysis of Reguilon and Bale, we would like to analyze Gareth Bale’s place in the Spurs lineup. Gareth Bale to Tottenham is one of the dream transfers that happened in this transfer window. The Welsh superstar is back to his dream club where he has taken his huge leap in his career. He is and will be one of the best players in Tottenham’s history. Now he is back to his youth club but under a new manager Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho likes speedy wingers like Garreth Bale. He likes his wingers to cut inside and score chances. And Bale can be the right choice in that case. But his two wingers Heung-Min Son and Lucas Moura seems to be pretty settled in the first eleven. So either he will sit on the bench or he will be used in a new position.
In that case, Mourinho needs to change his tactics to accommodate Bale. He can use the 4-2-3-1 system where Bale can play as a support striker behind Center forward Harry Kane . Mourinho’s side doesn’t need a creative attacking midfielder, so using a support striker will increase their chances of scoring goals.
Harry Kane will also get an extra man to make a run behind the defensive sine while he will try to lay off the long balls in their path. The inclusion of Bale will also increase their threat in counter-attacking. Bale has the past required to break opponents in counter. So the signing of Bale can be a very crucial one if Mourinho decides to tweak his tactics a little bit.
Tottenham’s side was already one of the strongest in the Premier League. Under Mourinho, they are prepared to win a silverware this season along with UCL qualification. The signing of Bale and Reguilon has bolstered both their attack and defense and they will be a serious threat to favorites like Liverpool and Manchester City . Last of all myth says that Mourinho’s second season is always special and it seems that this time he will end the trophy drought of Tottenham with excellent performances.
Liked our tactical analysis of how Reguilon and Bale can fit into the Tottenham squad? Read more of such tactical analysis based on the latest transfers to the Premier League below.
Can the Reguilon and Bale transfer rejuvenate Tottenham’s title hopes? Drop your opinions in the comment section below.
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https://footviser.com/editorial/how-will-reguilon-and-bale-fit-for-spurs/feed/ 0https://footviser.com/editorial/why-liverpool-signed-diogo-jota/ https://footviser.com/editorial/why-liverpool-signed-diogo-jota/#respond Soubhanik Saha Mon, 28 Sep 2020 14:41:57 +0000 Analytical Editorial EPL Featured Liverpool https://footviser.com/?p=4869 Liverpool made a quickfire signing of Diogo Jota from Wolverhampton, which was one of the biggest talking points of this transfer window. The £43 million pounds signing by Jurgen Klopp is expected to have an impact on his Premier League winning side. So here we are trying to decode why Liverpool bought the Portuguese forward. […]
Liverpool made a quickfire signing of Diogo Jota from Wolverhampton, which was one of the biggest talking points of this transfer window. The £43 million pounds signing by Jurgen Klopp is expected to have an impact on his Premier League winning side. So here we are trying to decode why Liverpool bought the Portuguese forward. Here are the top 5 Reasons why Liverpool signed Diogo Jota on a “long-term deal”.
The biggest factor that played behind the signing of Diogo Jota is his versatility in the final third of the pitch. He can play as a winger on both sides as well as he can play the role of supporting striker .
Thus he becomes backup for each and every member of the front 3 of the Liverpool lineup. His ability to switch in multiple roles will be essential to give the front 3 some much-needed rest in this strenuous upcoming season. His flexibility can also enable Klopp to make some tweak with the formation of the team, so he can shift from his 4-3-3 formation in deadlock situations. Moreover, his ability to play as a deep-lying forward will help Liverpool find their much needed Firmino backup, which the team lacked in the previous campaigns.
Liverpool’s main rival in their road to consecutive Premier League titles will be Manchester City . One department where City triumphs over the rampant Reds is the bench strength. Manchester City has arguably the best squad in the continent with a plethora of world-class stars on the bench who can change the tide of the game.
Liverpool this season has tried to mend those gaps by signing Tsimikas and also adding Thiago , giving him more options at his disposal in the time of needs. The latest signing of Diogo Jota adds to that effort. Signing Jota means the club has now a great 23-year-old attacking options upfront adding to the lethality and bench strength of the team. The forward line option of Salah, Mane, Firmino, Minamino, Jota, and Shaqiri along with Origi make one of the best attacking line ups in the league if not the best.
Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp can be described with the word “ ambitious “, though the Reds won the Premier League and Champions League being won in two consecutive years Liverpool are not ready to stop. The biggest problem for Liverpool in the last few years has been thin bench strength in the cup competitions resulting in them being knocked out from the competition.
This season Liverpool would want to fight for all the trophies they play. Diogo Jota can be the answer to Liverpool’s weakness . With Jota signed, Liverpool now possesses a very strong squad that can challenge any team in any competition. So the business done this summer by FSG can be called shrewd.
Signing a 23-year-old player with a ton of big-match experience up his shoulders along with European Football is very hard to get in today’s transfer market. It seems Liverpool has done the trick. Diogo Jota has the experience to feature in some of the biggest Premier League games.
His goal tally of last season is 17 and that is envious for many top-level players. Moreover, he also possesses a European Football experience. Adding to that is he has also scored a hat-trick in the last season in the Europa League . So him being new to the European football environment is not true. This makes him extremely crucial for Liverpool in this upcoming season, where they will try to conquer their 7th European Title.
FSG has a dream project in hand at Liverpool Football Club and signing Diogo Jota is a very essential part of that. Sounds puzzling? The fact is that FSG is not only looking at the present and trying to win as much trophy possible but has also shifted its focus in the club’s future.
Signing the 23-year-old Diogo Jota is another indication of that. Minamino, Tsimikas, Trent, Curtis , Neco, Gomez are the bearers of the club’s future . Jota adds in that list pretty well. Being of only 23 years of age, he can pretty soon become one of Liverpool’s regular forward after the Salah, Mane, and Firmino era in Liverpool. Diogo Jota’s signing also serves the purpose of strengthening the team’s future.
From the above points, it is very much evident that Jota proves to be a very crucial signing for the Reds. The benefits of the deal can turn out to be multidimensional. Jota signing for Liverpool is another example of the shrewd business model of Liverpool under the guidance of Michael Edwards. So now we leave it to time to see how Liverpool’s Jota transfer pans out in reality.
Liked our tactical analysis of how Diogo Jota can fit into the Liverpool squad? Read more of such tactical analysis based on the latest transfers to the Premier League below.
What is your opinion on this signing as Diogo Jota moves to Liverpool? Let us know in the comments section below!
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https://footviser.com/editorial/why-liverpool-signed-diogo-jota/feed/ 0https://footviser.com/editorial/how-will-thiago-fit-into-klopps-liverpool/ https://footviser.com/editorial/how-will-thiago-fit-into-klopps-liverpool/#respond Soubhanik Saha Mon, 21 Sep 2020 15:46:31 +0000 Analytical Editorial EPL Featured Liverpool https://footviser.com/?p=4690 Liverpool has finally sealed the much-awaited Thiago Alcantara for a 25 million Euros, on a 20 million upfront and 5 million add ons. As the Red fans are in frenzy, we have tried to analyze how Thiago will be able to fit into Klopp’s Liverpool side and what does he brings into the already settled […]
Liverpool has finally sealed the much-awaited Thiago Alcantara for a 25 million Euros , on a 20 million upfront and 5 million add ons. As the Red fans are in frenzy, we have tried to analyze how Thiago will be able to fit into Klopp’s Liverpool side and what does he brings into the already settled Liverpool squad.
In his debut game against Chelsea away, Thiago paraded around the Stamford Bridg e pitch, dictating the play from the midfield as though he had been playing in the league for the last ten years. Besides looking good and making an instant impact with his passing and awareness, he also instantly changed the way Liverpool played. These stats from OptaJoe clearly reflect his in-game performance after coming on as a half time substitute for club captain Jordan Henderson .
Thiago is one of the best midfielders in the world, one of the reasons for that is his versatility and dynamism. He can play as a creative midfielder and can also make his presence felt on the Deep lying playmaker role. He can fit right into Klopp’s favorite 4-3-3 formation , he might settle in the role of the creative central midfielder on the right side of the pitch. In that case, we might see a lot from the Salah, Trent, and Thiago trio .
That is indeed mouth-watering. On one hand, this means Salah will link up with Thiago and will be provided by some quality passes but on the other hand, it’s consequence will be Trent will have to curb his attacking nature a bit with Thiago instinctively more attacking Henderson. But with Thiago attacking transition of Liverpool will only get better. So 4-3-3 is a viable option .
We might see Klopp see into his once-favorite formation of 4-2-3-1 , he used extensively in his Dortmund days. In this formation, Thiago might slot well into the role of Deep Lying Playmake r alongside defensive midfielder Fabinho to form the double pivot . In that case, Salah and Mane act as the Wide players while Minamino may come into the team as the Attacking midfielder. In this case, as much as the formation is balanced a lot of players will have to tweak their playing style a bit. But this formation might see Liverpool returning to gegenpressing that has been downplayed a bit last few years. But at the same time, Thiago can provide the forwards with the chances as well as control the pace of the game. Making 4-2-3-1 another viable formation to accommodate Thiago.
Liverpool has been pretty much relied on their dynamic full-back duo of Robertson and Trent for providing creativity. But lately, teams are slowly are picking on that, and crowding the flanks to neutralize the danger from the flanks resulting in absence of creativity from the Reds. Liverpool midfield consists of some of the best midfielders in terms of their work rate and pressing, but creating chances has not been their strongest forte. Thiago strengthens the team’s creativity from the center of the pitch.
In this picture we see Thiago passing the ball to Lewandoski in a pin perfect manner, inside a crowded box which will eventually lead-in goal. This is the impact he has on the game.
He has a pass completion rate of 83.6% which is good given the date he has a long pass completion rate of 85.3% which is excellent and talks volume about his passing range, in case of playing against teams with the low block he can play the ball over the defense and try to catch the run of a Liverpool player. Again he has a medium pass completion rate of 93.5% which indicates his ability to play line-breaking passes that can help the team in breaking the opponent’s defense.
One question that arises in the mind of all, will Thiago be able to endure the
high-intensity game
playing style of Liverpool despite his injury-prone past. The answer is still Yes. In Liverpool, the system of rotation of players will give him enough rest and will result in less stress on him.
In this picture we see him dropping deep and starting the transition from the back, this is an indication of his
workload
which he takes per game.
On the other hand, he has done a combined total of 77 tackles and interceptions that is a prove of his defensive work rate, which makes him an ideal candidate in Klopp’s system. Again his pressing play has significantly improved in the last two years. This will make him a versatile guy and can make Klopp introduce him into the first 11 within weeks which is not a norm under Klopp’s regime at Liverpool.
His experience makes him another valuable asset, as he knows how to deal with extreme pressure, hi s press resistance nature will open another dimension in Liverpool’s midfield as he can act as the point of transition in Liverpool’s midfield.
With experience on his side along with technical prowess, he can dictate the pace of the game from the center according to the situation. Except for Milner, Liverpool lacks a player who can dictate the pace of the game, Klopp can use this ability of Thiago to enforce the desired pace on the match.
With excellent, GCA ratings he can any time increase the tempo of the game that may lead to shots or chances. With him, Klopp adds a natural midfielder who can lead the midfield and can guide the young players like Curtis Jones .
Liverpool’s Thiago deal may prove to be successful as the team lay their hands on one of the best midfielders in the world. It is now to be seen if Thiago can remain injury-free and continue his form from last season where he won the treble with Bayern . Now only time can tell how much Liverpool profited from this deal, as soon as now we can only tell Liverpool has a world-class player in their midfield in form of Thiago Alcantara.
Liked our tactical analysis of how Thiago can fit into the Liverpool squad? Read more of such tactical analysis based on the latest transfers to the Premier League below.
Can Thiago be the final key in Liverpool’s Midfield Puzzle? Please let us know in the comment section below.
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https://footviser.com/editorial/how-will-thiago-fit-into-klopps-liverpool/feed/ 0https://footviser.com/analytical/real-madrid-squad-preview/ https://footviser.com/analytical/real-madrid-squad-preview/#respond Ratnadeep Mukherjee Sun, 20 Sep 2020 17:18:38 +0000 Analytical Featured La Liga Real Madrid https://footviser.com/?p=3013 Zinedine Zidane is one of the most loved managers by Real Madrid supporters in the current era. The French legend took the club to the next level by his managerial skills. He created a humongous record of winning a trophy in every 19 games. He managed the star-studded dressing room of Los Blancos and led […]
Zinedine Zidane is one of the most loved managers by Real Madrid supporters in the current era. The French legend took the club to the next level by his managerial skills. He created a humongous record of winning a trophy in every 19 games . He managed the star-studded dressing room of Los Blancos and led them to the path of success. He had won 3 UEFA Champions League s , 2 La Liga, 2 Club World Cups, and 2 UEFA Super Cups . He left the club in a peak of success. But the situation changed drastically and he was forced to return after a bad spell of Julien Lopetegui and Santiago Solari .
Zidane is one of the best managers in recent times. His Madrid side has experienced immense success. His main USP is his fluidity in tactics and team selection. He is not rigid with his game style and can change it with the availability of players. But this season he might face challenges as the squad is aging and some of the players had been transferred or loaned out to other clubs. Today we will look at the Real Madrid squad preview and how can they lineup in this season and what are the best formations this season.
Real Madrid has some of the best players in each and every position. But along with that, they have some severe problems. Some positions are heavily overcrowded while others lack options. Positions like Central Defensive Midfielder and Right Back lack options. They also need a goal – scoring number 9 . Keeping these in mind we can say Madrid can face some challenges while choosing a team and formation. So up next in this Real Madrid squad preview, we will be looking at the formations which Zinedine Zidane is most likely to use in the upcoming season.
This is the most used formation by Zinadine Zidane in the previous season. This formation allows using both Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. It also allows Madrid to control the midfield and gives a distinct advantage against high pressing sides. Both Modric and Kroos can absorb the press and open up opponent defense easily. Fede Valverde and Martin Odegaard can also be as options and that will open a whole new playstyle for Madrid. Zidane can use the energy of Fede to carry the ball from defense while Odegaard will play as a hook to connect the attack.
This formation also provides defensive stability as Casemiro can drop in front of the two center-backs. Ramos and Varane will form the Center back pair while Mendy and Carvajal will form the two fullbacks. They will overlap and will provide width on either flank. The forward line will comprise of Benzema, Hazard, and Asensio. Benzema can drop to create space while Hazard and Asensio will drift inside. But this system has got some issues. As there is no goalscoring forward upfront so most of the chances created by the midfield are wasted. Secondly, in absence of Ramos, there is no other ball-playing defender on the side so the connection between defense and midfield and switch of flanks from the defense is interrupted. But still, it is expected that Real Madrid will line up mostly in this formation under their French gaffer.
With the inclusion of Martin Odegaard in the side, Zidane has now got the option of using some new style of play. 4-2-3-1 i s one of them. This formation can come very handy against low block sides as this includes either Isco or Odegaard as number 10 . Isco can also rejuvenate his form with this formation as this gives him the license to operate in the zone 14 areas . With Kroos and Casemiro in the central mid , this system also protects the number 10 against the high press. Kroos can provide his exceptional long balls for the forwards or attacking mids.
Using an attacking mid will also help both Hazard and Asensio as they can now use the pockets of space created in opponent defense to make a run. But this system also includes the same problem as before. As Benzema will also drop in the midfield and neither Hazard nor Asensio can play as an inverted forward so there will be a lack of men upfront. Defensively this formation is also stable as neither Kroos nor Casemiro will be needed to move up-front and they can support the defense.
Zinedine Zidane’s side is like a box of surprises. Though in this Real Madrid squad preview, we have discussed the lineups most frequently used by Zidane, it is very hard to predict how he can lineup before every matchday. His fluidity in tactics gives his side an extra edge over his opponents. The above-mentioned formations are the two best systems for his side considering the type of players he got. But it is possible that he uses neither of these two this season. After all, it is all inside his head and no one can guess it perfectly for the whole season. We are blessed to watch this tactical genius in his growing phase. He has the potential to finish as one of the most successful managers of Real Madrid, a legendary figure who will be in the hearts of every Madridista.
Liked our tactical analysis of how the Real Madrid squad can lineup for the 2020/21 season? Read more of such tactical analysis based on the latest transfers to the new season below
What’s your opinion on this Real Madrid squad preview? Let us know in the comment section below.
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https://footviser.com/analytical/real-madrid-squad-preview/feed/ 0https://footviser.com/analytical/chelsea-squad-preview-chelsea-lineup/ https://footviser.com/analytical/chelsea-squad-preview-chelsea-lineup/#respond Archak Mukherjee Sun, 13 Sep 2020 16:13:04 +0000 Analytical Chelsea EPL Featured https://footviser.com/?p=4221 Frank Lampard, the former Chelsea legendary midfielder had a decent first season as manager in his boyhood club after being appointed for the job at the beginning of season 2019/20. As Chelsea faced a transfer ban before the beginning of last season, Lampard had to rely upon the existing players in the Chelsea squad and […]
Frank Lampard , the former Chelsea legendary midfielder had a decent first season as manager in his boyhood club after being appointed for the job at the beginning of season 2019/20. As Chelsea faced a transfer ban before the beginning of last season, Lampard had to rely upon the existing players in the Chelsea squad and their only new signing Christian Pulisic . Nonetheless, Chelsea had to sell their key player Eden Hazard to Real Madrid as the player himself wished for the transfer. To recuperate with the loss suffered due to the transfer ban, Lampard opted to give chance to a number of their youth players from the academy for assembling the Chelsea lineup.
However, with the transfer ban lifted this season Chelsea jumped right into the transfer market to strengthen their squad. They had a busy transfer market and it looks like Frank Lampard has already made all the signings he needed. With the upcoming players like Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, or Kai Havertz and the academy graduates like Mason Moun t or Callum Hudson-Odoi , Chelsea has formed a strong team who are capable of challenging for the English Premier League title.
While Chelsea clearly displayed on the transfer market that their goal is to build a stronger squad this season that could challenge all the trophies that they will fight for this season, they also kept the focus on preparing a squad for long term business and building a strong reserve bench. As a result, they have signed a number of players who are currently aged below 25 and have displayed remarkable performances in previous seasons. Those players are Malang Sarr (21 years), Ben Chilwell (23 years), Kai Havertz (23 years), and Timo Werner (24 years). Other than that the Blues signed Hakim Ziyech (27 years) and Thiago Silva (35 years) to add more depth to the Chelsea squad.
It is true that the signing of Thiago Silva may seem a little odd, but Thiago Silva was a free transfer and the veteran Brazilian defender adds a lot of experience in Chelsea’s defense for at least the next two seasons. In addition to that, they already have Christian Pulisic, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Reece James, Fikayo Tomori, Callum Hudson-Odoi – all of them are just in their early twenties and has shown great promises already.
With signing potential young players, Lampard’s Chelsea also let go players like
Willian
and
Pedro
who were aged and Frank Lampard decided that they are not at all part of his plans. In fact, Chelsea currently has only
four players in their 36 men squad who are aged above 30
. Those players are
César Azpilicueta, Willy Caballero, Oliver Giroud,
and
Thiago Silva
. Frank Lampard also has
Mateo Kovačić, N’Golo Kanté
and
Jorginho
in the midfield who are in their late twenties and has experience as well.
The average age of Chelsea’s current squad is 26.3 years which is a good combination of youth and experience and it is evident that they are building a squad for the future who can demonstrate the game in all competitions with Frank Lampard in their charge.
With the new signings, Chelsea has more than one player for almost each and every position who can be a starter. Also, they have players who are eligible to play in different positions effectively. For example – Mason Mount or Hakim Ziyech both can play as a winger or attacking midfielder, or Kai Havertz can play as an attacking midfielder or central midfielder. Also, Frank Lampard prefers to use a 4-3-3 formation or sometimes a variant of 4-2-3-1 formation , where the midfielders differ based on the opponent’s strength and weakness.
The playing style Lampard prefers, allows his team to keep a lot of possession and he likes to hold on to the ball and dominate the game by going on offense continuously. From the stats of last season, Chelsea had the third-highest average possession in the Premier League (57.4 % ) and second-highest shots per game (16.6) after Manchester City . Ziyech, Havertz, Pulisic, or Werner are well suited to this style as they have good speed, dribbling skills, and finishing ability. With the new signings and the current players, Chelsea’s regular starting line up could look like this.
Although the performance of their regular goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was not up to the mark which led Chelsea to concede a lot of goals. So it would be better if they could sign a backup goalkeeper who could challenge Kepa for the starting position. However, currently, the only backup goalkeeper Chelsea currently has is 38 years old Willy Caballero , which means Kepa is the undisputed starter in his position in the Chelsea squad. Recently there have been rumours of Chelsea poised to sign goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (28 years old) from Rennes for 30 million euros. Mendy will join Willy Caballero as competitors for Kepa’s position, while Lampard oversees the development of highly-rated academy graduate Nathan Baxter , (21 years old), who spent last season on loan at Ross County. With goalkeeping being the only position where Chelsea lacking depth and quality, Lampard is looking to fix this issue as well.
After last season transfer ban, the way Chelsea has built their team, Frank Lampard surely is looking to challenge for trophies this season. If the Chelsea squad can perform as per their reputations and the newly arrived players can adjust with the playing style of English football, Chelsea fans will surely celebrate one or two trophies at the end of the season.
Liked our tactical analysis of how the Chelsea squad can lineup for the 2020/21 season? Read more of such tactical analysis based on the latest transfers to the new season below
What do you think about the Chelsea squad lineup for the 2020/21 PL Season? Please let us know in the comment section below.
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https://footviser.com/analytical/chelsea-squad-preview-chelsea-lineup/feed/ 0https://footviser.com/editorial/james-rodriguez-answer-to-everton-midfield/ https://footviser.com/editorial/james-rodriguez-answer-to-everton-midfield/#respond Soubhanik Saha Sat, 12 Sep 2020 15:41:02 +0000 Analytical Editorial EPL Everton Featured https://footviser.com/?p=4310 Everton pulled off a big coup in the transfer market by signing James Rodriguez with a fee of 25 million pounds from the Spanish giants Real Madrid. It’s no secret that Carlo Ancelotti is a big admirer of James Rodriguez from his tenure at Real Madrid. But will the signing of James change the scene […]
Everton pulled off a big coup in the transfer market by signing James Rodriguez with a fee of 25 million pounds from the Spanish giants Real Madrid . It’s no secret that Carlo Ancelotti is a big admirer of James Rodriguez from his tenure at Real Madrid. But will the signing of James change the scene at Goodison Park as the serial underachiever Everton are looking to again make their presence felt in the European circuit? Here we are trying to chalk out how James can make an impact at the blue half of the Merseyside.
Under Carlo Ancelotti, Everton has mostly played in a compact 4-4-2 formation . It has so far proved quite effective as the tendency of conceding goals has been stopped to a great extent. But one of the biggest drawbacks of this formation is the lack of creativity. In the latter half of the season, we had seen Everton starving for some creativity at the final third. So with James’s inclusion in the squad, a formational tweak might be in Ancelotti’s mind.
The 4-4-2 formation can still be used at Everton but with a subtle change from 4-4-2 flat to 4-4-2 diamond might take place. James Rodriguez can be the tip of the diamond as the central attacking midfielder . This might resemble the 4-4-2 diamond Ancelotti played at Real Madrid with James as the key man in the lineup. By using this formation James’s creativity can be fully used. As he can become the creative hub of Everton’s midfield, Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin will be fed the ball by the Colombian superstar.
Another formation that will be on the card is 4-2-3-1 . The 4-2-3-1 is a stable formation with equal importance to both offense and defense. In this case, James can play at his natural no.10 position. It gives him the opportunity to be the creator in chief for the Toffees. In this formation, he can be protected by Allan and Doucoure. In this regard, he can make it a lot easy for Calvert Lewin upfront by playing the ball upfront which can be controlled by Calvert Lewin by making swift runs behind from the defenders.
James Rodriguez is just the player whom Everton missed for the last few years in the final third who can produce sparks upfront. Everton often looked bland in front of the goal with a lack of creativity up front. A lot of attacking midfielders came but none of them proved to be much successful for the Toffees. With James Rodriguez, they get a proven creative player who proved his mettle for the biggest clubs in Europe in the highest stage. In his 231 total appearances for the clubs he had played for, he has registered 69 assists which is a testament to his creative ability.
He is always present in the schemes of the game. He is not that kind of the player who just stays at his position and plays the game. He can move freely in the midfield area to receive the ball and start the forward progression. His dribbling skills and pace make him one of the most dangerous men in the case of transition from attack to defense.
He has an enviable record of registering 2.3 key passes per game throughout his career which is a signal indicating his prowess to find the right player and right spaces in the attacking front. He has a successful pass completion rate of 85.7% which is rare for a player of his position. All these sheds light on James’s need in this Everton side. Ancelotti is a shrewd manager in the transfer market, this can prove to be one of his shrewd businesses.
James Rodriguez is an excellent set-piece taker, it needs no describing. Though Gylfi Sigurdsson is also an excellent set-piece taker present at Everton, lately he has spent most of his time on the bench. So Everton missed a proper set-piece taker in the field. With James Rodriguez in the squad now, that worry may end.
James is an excellent free-kick taker. Out of all the goals he scored in his career 20 goals came from set-piece situations, giving proof of his excellent set-piece taking skills. He was the designated set-piece takers for Porto, Monaco, Colombia, and Bayern. So by bringing James Rodriguez to Everton, the blue half of the Merseyside gets a natural threat from the dead-ball situations.
In a match where the opponents are proving to be too tough to break defensively, a player who can connect the long rangers become invaluable to the squad. James Rodriguez will provide just that to the Everton. What makes James so special is his all-round goal-scoring ability from all around the pitch.
He takes
2.35 shots per 90 minutes
of which
1.22 shots are on target
. This means more than half of his shots end up goal bound posing a serious threat for the opponent defense. One can’t forget his wonder goal in the 2014 World Cup in Brasil in the Pre-Quarterfinals against Uruguay. He has
0.35 goals on a shot per target
which mean out of 3 shots in target one invariably finds the back of the net, that’s some record, to be honest.
In the Premier League, teams of the lower middle table often pose a threat of playing with low blocks resulting in very little space in between the lines to play with. In this condition, the ability to hit a long ranger becomes so crucial for the team.
James Rodriguez has xG90 of 0.20 and xA90 of 0.40 , this signifies his goal-scoring ability is overtaken by his goal assisting ability. This can prove to be a real asset for his team in the coming seasons. He has 0.93 Goals+Assist per 90 minutes which is absolutely brilliant. It means he will almost be involved in a goal-scoring sequence per match. He has 0.71 goal scoring actions per match that are brilliant from his team’s perspective. Making him a man to watch out for in the coming seasons.
There is no denying in the saying that James Rodriguez signing at Everton can prove to be a game-changer with a World Class Star in the dressing room. Young players like Gordon, Holgate and Calvert-Lewin will get to learn a lot about playing at the highest stage helping them a lot in their future. So, now only time will tell if he turns out to be a successful deal at Everton under Carlo Ancelotti or the deal may go down as a flop. As for us, it will be an interesting outcome indeed.
Can James Rodriguez be the answer to Everton’s Midfield Woes? Please let us know in the comment section below.
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https://footviser.com/editorial/van-de-beek-final-key-in-uniteds-midfield/ https://footviser.com/editorial/van-de-beek-final-key-in-uniteds-midfield/#respond Soubhanik Saha Mon, 07 Sep 2020 16:29:12 +0000 Analytical Editorial EPL Featured Manchester United https://footviser.com/?p=4148 Donny Van De Beek’s transfer has rejuvenated the morale of Manchester United‘s fan. Many pundits are marking this as a sign of intent from the United board ahead of the 2020/21 Premier League season. But is Van De Beek the final key in United’s midfield puzzle? We have tactically looked up how he can settle […]
Donny Van De Beek’s transfer has rejuvenated the morale of Manchester United ‘s fan. Many pundits are marking this as a sign of intent from the United board ahead of the 2020/21 Premier League season. But is Van De Beek the final key in United’s midfield puzzle? We have tactically looked up how he can settle in this Manchester United setup in the upcoming days.
A question that is in the mind of each and every United fan is how will Ole Gunner Solskjaer accommodate Van De Beek in the starting line up of Manchester United. Naturally, Van De Beek has mainly played into two roles, as a number 10 in the 4-2-3-1 set up or as a creative number 8 in the 4-3-3 formation. On the other hand, after De Jong ‘s departure from the Ajax side, Van De Beek shifted to a midfielder in the double pivot of the 4-2-3-1 . Thus Van De Beek is quite a versatile option in the midfield to possess. With Van De Beek in the team lineup, Ole can easily implement the “plan B” which he failed to implement the last season due to a lack of options in the midfield position.
In the case of 4-2-3-1 , Ole can play Van De Beek in the two-man midfield pivot along with Paul Pogba . By playing him in the deeper regions, the progression of the ball from the defense with the help of Van de Beek can become a lot’s easy. With the technicality and passing range, Van De Beek can become the just the player who will maintain the dynamic nature of United’s midfield.
He can also play as the no.10 in the absence of Bruno Fernandes . In a season where fixture pile-up is unreal, Van De Beek is just the player Ole needs. With a player as prolific as Van De Beek, Ole can give Bruno some much-needed rest in some ties. With an excellent record as an attacking midfielder, Van De Beek gives Ole an option to rely on in situations where Bruno’s brilliance is neutralized by the opponent’s defense.
Van De Beek’s record is nothing short of incredible in the attacking section. With a tally of 28 goals and 21 assists in 91 Dutch League appearances over the last 3 seasons. His xG record of 0.30 and xA record of 0.23 proves that he is a player to watch out for in the offensive transition. He may not be an excellent passer like De Bruyne but his technicality and positioning makes up for that. His ability to find small pockets of space in the tightest of areas makes him a dangerous guy.
His shot on target per match of 0.71 signifies him of being a clinical shooter though he has as much as only 0.94 shots per match which proves that his accuracy is staggering. His ability to finding the space makes it easier for him to take an accurate shot. His ability to quickly pass the ball in a single touch will help the United cause as the Red Devils looked lackluster against teams who play with a low block against them. With quick between the line passing from Van De Beek it might become easier to break the seal of a low block.
In the image, we can see how Van De Beek finds a small pocket of space in a box crowded by Chelsea defenders. This is an example of his skill in finding out space in the tightest of areas.
With his ability to utilize the half-spaces and finding the teammates in an advantageous position, things might get interesting in a team boasting of players like Martial, Rashford, and Daniel James all of them being the quick and good controller of the ball with a keen sense of positioning.
Van De Beek’s overall defensive quality is underrated to be precise, his stats of 3.3 ball recoveries per 90,2.7 tackles per match gives testament of his defensive stability. His ability to resist the pressure makes United’s plan of playing out from the back a whole lot easier. His 4.3 duels won per game just proves his solidity and physical strength to compete vigorously for the ball.
In this image, we can see him not shying away from dropping deep and rescue the ball from the clutches of opposition and begin the transition with his ball progression upfront. This is one of his greatest traits.
It is safe to say in a team like Manchester United, he can easily slot in the double pivot alongside a dynamic Paul Pogba and his defensive skills will also ensure that the defensive duties are not neglected. His ball progression skills will also come handy for Ole’s boys.
But with all the possibility there is also a fair share to worry. Coming and settling into a new country and a new league that too as physical and fast like Premier League takes time. So Van De Beek should be given his time to settle down. In Ajax, he has habituated to play in a team where the wingers and fullbacks stretch their opponents, as a result, a lot of space being created in the midfield where he operated with his majestic presence.
But in the United, things are a bit different. United’s wingers are more like inside forwards and also Wan Bissaka being more of a defensive full-back it might prove tough for United to stretch their opposition out. As a result, Van De Beek may not get the space he used to get in Ajax. Getting a fair share of game time looks tough for Van De Beek. With a settled line up he must have to fight for his place in the team. Failure can bring in more time on the bench. United are not in their best so constant pressure and scrutiny will also be upon him. It will be interesting to see how he copes with the pressure.
Signing Van De Beek amid interest from Barcelona and other top clubs is surely a coup from United’s point of view. This surely shows their intent but the bridge may still prove too long to close with the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City . The signing of Van De Beek is a nice start but more signings are needed at Old Trafford. But as for Van De Beek, it surely looks a good signing. Now time will tell how he will fare at the Red half of Manchester. It will be an interesting journey indeed.
Can Van De Beek be the final key in United’s Midfield Puzzle? Please let us know in the comment section below.
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https://footviser.com/editorial/van-de-beek-final-key-in-uniteds-midfield/feed/ 0https://footviser.com/editorial/lampard-at-the-stamford-bridge/ https://footviser.com/editorial/lampard-at-the-stamford-bridge/#respond Sayan Banerjee Thu, 03 Sep 2020 15:28:01 +0000 Analytical Editorial Chelsea EPL Featured https://footviser.com/?p=3884 Lampard started his managerial career with the Championship side Derby County on 31st May 2018 on a three-year contract. In his first season, he led Derby to the finals of Play-offs beating Bielsa’s Leeds in the semi-final in an overall aggregate of 4-3 but lost the final to Aston Villa by 2-1. Derby finished the […]
Lampard started his managerial career with the Championship side Derby County on 31st May 2018 on a three-year contract. In his first season, he led Derby to the finals of Play-offs beating Bielsa’s Leeds in the semi-final in an overall aggregate of 4-3 but lost the final to Aston Villa by 2-1. Derby finished the season at 6th place in the league table. On 25th June Derby allowed Lampard to look over the offers from Chelsea and on 5th July 2019 Lampard officially became the head manager of Chelsea FC. So here is our detailed analysis of the first managerial season of Lampard at the Stamford Bridge.
His first season at Stamford Bridge can be termed as a successful one considering the conditions he had to face initially. But according to many the decision of making him the head coach of a club like Chelsea was nothing but a gamble as he lacked the experience of managing in top tier football. And in these situations, things should be thought more with practicality than emotionally.
After the first three matches as Chelsea manager Lampard was yet to register a win for Blues when pundits like Ian Halloway said, “The problem is the exciting young lads I wanted to see at Chelsea, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi – they’re injured,” Holloway said on talkSPORT.
“Frank has nailed his intentions to the mast [about giving youth a chance] and what’s very difficult is you need a blend of senior and young and inexperienced players. “You need the enthusiasm of fearless legs running around everywhere, and we saw that at the start against Leicester , but you always need that game management.”
Lampard could only finalize the loan deal to the permanent deal of Mateo Kovacic and Cristian Pulisic joined the side last season as the deal was finalized before the transfer ban. So he had to introduce youngsters from the academy which seemed to be a forced move. But this year he is set for a strong rebuild of the team to get back to their glory days. They have already signed a few of the heavyweights and promising youngsters in their squad. Lampard’s first signing of the season was Timo Werner from Rb Leipzig with a transfer fee of around 53m . This was followed by the signing of Hakim Ziyech from Ajax with a signing fee of 40m.
This month had been a busy time for the Chelsea management as they roped Ben Chilwell(50m) , Malang Sarr(free transfer) , and the veteran centre-back Thiago Silva(free transfer) . These signings will rise their summer spending to 220 million but Lampard is still hoping to bring a new goalkeeper into the side leaving Kepa ‘s future in danger. The signings are quite impressive and would make the Blues league contenders for next season. The transfer of Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen is almost done but yet to be announced. This would boost up their striking line up alongside the academy graduates like Abraham and Mason Mount . The likes of Silva will bolster their defensive strength which collapsed last season most of the time.
On the other hand, the two wingers Willian and Pedro have left the Stamford Bridge and joined Arsenal and AS Roma respectively. The future of players like N’Golo Kante , Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marcus Alonso is not certain at the Bridge and may have to look elsewhere.
After the defeat in FA Cup Final 2020, former England international Darren Bent claimed that people are guarding Lampard with many excuses. Although Lampard faced a transfer ban, departure of their star player Eden Hazard and still managed to finish in the top four with the inclusion of many young talents like from the academy Bent still believes that all the praise he got was not justified.
“That’s going to be pressure in itself because the people in authority will be like hold on, you were forced to do it last season, where are the youngsters this season?
“A lot of people have lauded Frank Lampard for the job he’s done this season. He’s brought through the youngsters… but he was forced to do this.”
Bent said on talkSPORT
“It’s an open cheque book, they can sign whoever they want. Are these players still going to get the opportunities?”
But former Blues defender Melchiot has asked Lampard to ignore the critics and progress with his project. Melchiot has asked Lampard not to worry about the critics and look forward to the next season.
“It’s been a great season,”
he told the talkSPORT Breakfast .
“But if you look back, Frank started by taking over a club that had a [transfer] ban, and he had two young boys coming into the team, you have to understand that they didn’t have that much time to readjust.” “He’s got the team to the final of the FA Cup and also made sure they qualify for the Champions League.” “Those kinds of things are crucial and I have to compliment them on that.”
Lampard finished fourth in the league in his first season at Stamford Bridge just behind Manchester United by goal difference. Chelsea reached the Final of FA Cup 2020 where they lost to Arteta’s Arsenal by 2-1. Lampard’s first official game in charge was against Liverpool in the Uefa Super Cup where the Blues lost the match on penalties 5-4 after the match ended in a 2-2 (Extra Time) draw. Lampard registered his victory as the head manager of Chelsea against vs Norwich City in a 2-3 away match. His first season can be considered a successful one, considering the conditions he had to face, but that doesn’t support the tactical flaws he made in some of the matches of the season.
Finishing third assured Blues, the Champions League spot, and that’s a quite success for a manager like Lampard. His first season’s stats record an average of 1.73 points per match(PPM) with 29 W , 8 L , 18 D out of 55 matches. The Blues scored 106 times this season but conceded 84 times, which is a matter of concern, and that’s the reason the likes of Silva have been introduced into the side to bolster their defensive strength. Lampard won the Premier League Manager Of The Month for October as Chelsea recorded a 100% win in the league. He was the third man to achieve this feat after Gareth Southgate and Stuart Pearce .
In his first season, he finished 4th in Premier League and qualified for the Champions League which is itself an achievement for a rookie manager like Lampard. He reached the finals of FA Cup 2020 but lost to Arsenal by 2-1. Reached the round of 16 in the Carabao Cup but lost to Manchester United by 2-1. Lost the Uefa Super Cup Final 2019/20 to Liverpool in penalties 5-4(P). Lampard’s men reached the quarter-finals of UCL but lost to the eventual champions Bayern Munich in an aggregate of 7-1. But still, his work and progress in the Blues squad have been quite impressive, and can bring back the glory days of Chelsea very soon.
Do you like Lampard as Chelsea Manager? What is your opinion about the 1st season of Lampard at the Stamford Bridge Let us know in the comment section below
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https://footviser.com/editorial/lampard-at-the-stamford-bridge/feed/ 0https://footviser.com/analytical/4-5-1-formation-analysis/ https://footviser.com/analytical/4-5-1-formation-analysis/#respond Soubhanik Saha Wed, 26 Aug 2020 12:18:04 +0000 Analytical Formations Featured https://footviser.com/?p=3913 The greatest challenge for a manager is to find tactics suitable to the players for his team, the types of players, their technical abilities and if those tactics can wield results or not. Today we will discuss one of the most defensively stable and popular formations, the 4-5-1 formation. We will discuss the different aspect […]
The greatest challenge for a manager is to find tactics suitable to the players for his team, the types of players, their technical abilities and if those tactics can wield results or not. Today we will discuss one of the most defensively stable and popular formations, the 4-5-1 formation. We will discuss the different aspect of the 4-5-1 formation and how to execute it. So let us dive into the facts.
The 4-5-1 formation requires a particular set of footballers specialized in certain qualities. The two centre backs are defensively solid with great game reading and anticipation quality. The Left and Right full-backs need to be defensively very much apt in much of the cases they have to sit back along with the centre backs and participate in the defensive work. They may possess overlapping skills which may be used as an attacking variation. The midfield consists of a variety of midfielders, There is a central defensive midfielder whose main job will be to break the opponent’s play and pass the ball to the passing options to initiate the attacking transition. Then there are two technically brilliant and balanced central midfielders who can actively participate in both attacking and defensive duty. The two wide midfielders or the wingers need to be pacy this is one of the most essential components for the execution of this formation’s attacking transition. The lone forward must be hardworking and needs to be hardworking and has to be able to put double shift of holding up the play to give the time for his teammates to come and join the attacking play and also needs to show the skill of making most of the chances he gets during the game.
The 4-5-1 is mostly a defensive pressure oriented formation. This formation is pretty much suitable for the teams who want to play a defence-oriented counter-attacking game. The main principle of this formation is to outnumber the opposition in midfield with 5 midfielders at the centre of the park resulting in the controlling the midfield and with a good central defensive midfielder try to win back the ball in the middle with help of numerical superiority and begin the swift counter-attacking process.
But due to 5 midfielders present in the centre in case of a 4-5-1 flat formation, there is no opportunity for the team to press the defensive players of the opponent. Due to the tightly-packed wide and central areas and with virtually 9 men protecting the ball there is very little or no chance for the opponent to build up any play in the team’s half with no space in between the lines to act upon. Another important aspect of this formation is to determine where to start the press, with the help of two wingers and the forward follows the principle where the line of confrontation begins at the top of the centre circle and in some cases some team follows the centre line as the line of confrontation or pressing. Due to such a compact and tight-knit formation, the opponents don’t have many options other than playing the long balls and try to cross the defensive line with the forwards and wingers making the line breaking run, so most of the times the centre backs clear the dangers but the goalkeeper must also remain alert and try to sweep the areas behind the goalkeeper and fullbacks.
The centre backs and the fullbacks have to be positionally aware and also needs to anticipate the angles in which the balls can be played by the opponent. In the attacking phase of the 4-5-1 formation, the team can easily make passing triangles in the midfield areas which is the best way of playing the passing game and try to play the way out against the opponent’s midfield press. The central 3 of the midfield including the two central midfielders and the defensive midfielder is very important for the sustainability of this system.
The no.6 that is the central defensive midfielder playing in between the lines is much like the key of the midfield. The no.6 may have to shift to the fullback’s position if he participates in the attacking play with his overlapping run, he will also have to win the ball in the midfield region and be the initiator of the passing sequence leading to the attacking play, he is the player to whom there is a large number of passing options in the midfield is available he has to pick the most advantageously placed player. He also has the important duty of controlling the pace of the game according to his team’s need, As the no.9 is alone up top the wide midfielders or wingers joins him in the attacking play to give support, also in some cases the wide midfielders do not leave their position but the two central midfielders join the attacking play with the no.9. Sometimes a single full-back also moves up to give another extra option in the attacking play. Role of Controller and Mezzala in 4-5-1 formation Mezzala’s will have a very important role to play in this formation if the team possesses on in case of this formation.
The case is the mezzala will according to the need of the team in the attacking phase will either drift to the sides to give the attacking support while in the transition phase. In an alternative way in case of the teams which does not allow their wide players to progress further will make the mezzala playing in the central midfield position to use the half-spaces in the opponent’s half to provide the slight amount of creativity in the attack. In that case, the deeper central midfielder will cover the position left by the mezzala who is moving forward to the half-spaces.In case of the controllers which are rarely seen in a 4-5-1 flat formation.
He can act as an asset for the team, with the ability to control the game he can turn the result of the match upside down to initiate the passing sequence in the midfield. In case if there is no passing option in the midfield he will protect the ball until he doesn’t get the opportunity to pass it, he will remain close to the ball in the small packets of spaces, as a result, there is a constant passing option in the midfield with a spare man who has the creative ability to launch the quick counter-attack. He will also possess the basic defending skills to participate in the defensive blockade if needed. Variations of the 4-5-1 Formation. Apart from the flat 4-5-1 formation, there are different variations that arose with time, according to the needs of the team the tweaking of the formation took place.
In this shape there are two midfielders in the deep central region, one is a central defensive midfielder another is a deep-lying playmaker. There is pretty much no place in the zone.14 for the opponents to play with, there is a midfield 3 consisting of the central attacking midfielder and two wingers on both sides, this is the most stable formation. One of the most popular formations of our times, teams try to follow this formation to maintain the perfect balance between the attack and defence. For more details please visit the previous article on this topic from our page.
This shape is more of a defensive-oriented shape, Tony Pulis used this formation to perfection, in this formation, there are two blocks of 4 midfielders and defenders like the 4-4-2 formation, in between them lies the defensive midfielder. The two central midfielders, in this case, are balanced of sort and the no.6 provides the man advantage in the midfield. In this formation, the attacking triangle formation can be easily formed in these formations. The team can easily pass their way into the wider regions. This is mostly used by the lower mid-table clubs to give them the edge in midfield against the technically superior upper league tables team.
This is another defensive formation, Sean Dyche uses this formation quite regularly at Burnley making them a team difficult to score against. With the flat 4 in the midfield and the strong defence, one can easily shut down all the passing lanes for the opposition. The long ball method targeting the physically strong forward is widely used in this case, there is an attacking midfielder to assist the no.9 in the attacking play. The wide mids also joins the play to give more attacking options.
4-5-1 formations are generally preferred by teams with pacy wide players and in transition takes the shape of 4-3-3 Formation . This formation gives strong defensive security to play counter-attacking football with the motive of controlling the play in the centre of the pitch.4-5-1 is a good formation to play against the widely used 4-3-3 formation which is widely used in today’s football. With the man advantage in midfield, one tries to win the ball against the 4-3-3 formations and try to hit them on the counters with aggressive and pacy counter-attacks.
This is the best formation to counter the 4-3-3 formation.2. In case of the matches which needs high defensive stability or deals with holding onto a lead, it is the best formation to go with. With 9 men behind the ball breaking this formation might prove to be a tough nut to crack for a lot of teams.3. Against a technically superior opponent, this formation is perfect, as there is very little space to create play and on the other hand the formation deals with mostly spirited defending which might cover for the technicality deficiency of the lower table clubs against strong opponents.
The passing options become very predictable in the midfield and opponents can build upon that as they can put a heavy pressing mechanism in the midfield. Though this formation provides defensive stability the attacking threat of the team gets neutralized for a large extent. The midfielders and the forward have to be on the top of his game throughout the 90 minutes which is almost impossible to maintain such a high level of intensity throughout the game. This is not particularly a good formation when the team is trailing as the attacking threat is low for this formation.
Thus we can say that the 4-5-1 formation is a very good formation for a team who wants to build their game on the strength of their defence. But it’s on the manager to choose what formation he will want to play in. But nevertheless, the 4-5-1 formation has been a time tested jewel among the formations.
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