Some great stuff in here, as well as an excellent opening post.
I'm hungover as fuck and with the transfer forum making my headache worse, I thought I'd pop in here and post a snipped and edited version from my Systems chapter in my portfolio. It does also contain development information and drills to help implement these systems long term, but I've had to cut that out because I can't seem to generate the images from the software I use onto here; I'm a drip at that sort of thing. Anyway, hope someone might enjoy it, although I think PoP and others may have covered a fair bit of it without rambling anywhere near as much in the process
Systems of Play
IntroductionHere I am going to look at a range of different playing styles and system that we see used throughout the world of football. Because football is such a free flowing sport, with tiny differences in circumstances leading to often drastic alternatives in outcome, it is important to understand what system it is that you want to implement as a focus point for your team, although a certain flexibility is needed for most successful sides in order to address the different strengths and weaknesses of any given opponent. One the one hand, you have the short sharp passing of Barcelona and Spain, who are very progressive in the speed that they move forward but the ball is in a constant cycle of movement which makes it difficult for the opposition to rest off the ball because the players will drift into pockets of space created by their team mates moving the ball between them at such velocity. It is why these two sides are each so good at both club and international level. Imperative qualities in the players needed to execute this are exceptional first touch and close control, intelligent movement into space and to create it, and of course a composure on the ball which allows these technically gifted players to lift their heads and find their team mates regularly without panic. Both the club and national development coaches over the last 10-15 years must take great pleasure and credit in pioneering and developing this effective method of football into their young players. It is very impressive.
Of course however, this is only one example of how the game can be approached. It must be acknowledged that environment has played a key part in differing styles in different parts of the world. The hotter and dryer the environment, the more contained the football is. Players break into sprints less often, as the movement of players is slower and more considered than in colder climates. Because of the added heat, the firmer ground and the speed of which players can dehydrate or fatigue, the ball is required to do more of the work and the physical aspects of any individual player or team are less relevant than here in England. The ball goes from back to front slower, counter attacks are less common, and the game itself is less physical and intense. These may sound like draw backs, but it does in fact force players to be more technical and intelligent as physical qualities such as pace and strength are less utilized and less effective.
However, here in England things are of course different. Extended winters and wet seasons see as many games at a lower level played on mud as grass. Due to reduced temperatures and humidity in England the pace of the game is usually a lot more intense, and the physical players have far more influence on games as referees are more lenient, and the sport is considered a more robust, physical battle mixed with technical qualities such as shooting from distance, crossing, heading and tackling. This makes the game more open, with counter attacking football being a solid provider in goals.
There is a discipline to be upheld however, as certain players in certain roles must refrain from bombarding forward, aware that they may themselves be caught on the counter. It is something we see more of in England, Belgium, and some of the Scandinavian nations, as well as other cooler climates such as Serbia or Russia. Due to these alternatives in environment and climate, we see different qualities appear in players that come through the youth ranks and into European competition. Often better physically equipped than the Mediterranean countries, they are habitually quicker, stronger, and more aggressive. Look at Germany for a happy medium between technical, physical and mental qualities in Europe.
Looking further afield to Brazil and South America, the three clear technical qualities we see are ball skills, dribbling and close control. Players are flamboyant, unpredictable, usually very skilful and quick as well. There are of course some brutes that usually end up in goal or at centre half, but a majority of the players are of moderate to slender build full of pace and energy. Individually and collectively, Brazilian players are often marvellous to watch, the way they seems to have the ball on a string at times and their quality should be respected all the more when you consider the poor quality of life for children growing up in Brazil, but it seems their football education is embedded in their environment. The streets, the beaches, the poverty, the heat, colourful nature and culture of Brazil and its neighbouring nations all play a part in a player’s development without the intervention of coaches and facilities of a high level. Historically, the most naturally gifted youngsters come from the South Americas, and only the climate and environment can be the direct influence of this when you consider the lack of funds and facilities available to a majority of these players whilst in key periods of their development stage. Playing with smaller and harder footballs on hot beaches allows players to gain a unique control of the ball and fleet footedness. On the streets they toughen up, kick balls against walls and between themselves for hours upon hours due to a poor academic education system. The harsh reality of their lives growing up seems to strengthen them mentally and unfortunately, being a footballer is one of a very few aspirations a young person can realistically dream of and achieve. The players may be a gift to football, but footballer is a bigger gift to them, as it can provide hope in a place where it otherwise mightn’t exist.
Barcelona and Spain ‘Tiki-Taka’ – Winning beautifullyThe fundamentals of each system vary in form and function. We can begin by looking at the most artistic and beautiful form of the game, in the way we have seen Barcelona perform over the last 5 years or so. It is a system that has been in place at the Barcelona set up since the turn of the century where ‘tiki taka’ was formed. It’s also very similar to the one Arsene Wenger had set up at Arsenal during that period, and is my personal preference as a base system. The foundation of the system is of course possession. The ball is often kept ticking over along the line of the back four and a pivoting player ahead of it. Full backs are hardworking, technically sound and usually very quick. The midfielders are usually within a very close proximity and they knock the ball between them in triangles at great speed with limited outlay in energy. The ball is often played first time and over a short distance whilst the players rotate, circle, and bend round each other with their movement through the middle. The full backs move directly towards the byline to provide a good wide outlet not only to stretch the play, but due to their directness of running, often penetrate it. The tradition centre forward is replaced with the false #9, who drops off from the oppositions centre halves and plays creator almost in a #10 role, with the wide forwards providing the movement in between full back and centre half to stretch the pitch lengthways and also provide penetration. Arse Wengers set up was slightly different, but was based around similar styles in terms of playing keep ball to draw opponents out then strike quickly, accurately and clinically.
The development of the young players at Barcelona was very technical and mentality based. First touch, movement, passing ability and dribbling skills were the primary abilities in the coaching vicinity, as well as well drilled pressing exercises. Mini games were a common occurrence, used to hone these skills in tight areas where good control and quick decision making abilities are enhanced allowing the game to be the teacher within certain perimeters set by the coach to discourage other methods of play becoming part of the session such as long passing, distant shooting, crosses, heading and playing the ball into a large area of space. Because of the style of the game, some key attributes can be worked on successfully without direct instructions stopping the play regularly; these make these qualities part of the subconscious of football for the developing players, and allows them to work on them in a free flowing, game basis and without the fun of football being lost in the education process.
Another key aspect in perfecting the tiki taka system is players playing the way they are facing. Watch any Barcelona match and you will see that whenever a player receives the ball, he has a team mate give him an instant option to play a short pass the way he is facing. The movement and passing they use make it fundamental that the player with the ball can play a ball straight ahead of him and find a team mate. Because the Barcelona players rarely turn on the ball unless it is a necessity, the transition in passing is at a high tempo which makes it difficult for the defending team to adjust to the movement of the ball and the players because of the speed and simplicity that it takes place. Barcelona and Spain have used this tactic to draw defenders out of position, and create space for their talented forwards, becoming possibly the most potent attacking threat in the world. This is an aspect of their game that is more difficult to acknowledge and grasp for young players, and needs to be educated more directly than the mini games.
Direct attacking football - Winning ‘ugly’A more acquainted sight here in England is end to end football. The pace of the game is considerably quicker, players work harder to support the player with the ball and get back behind it when it’s lost rapidly. Wide players stretch the play more and deliver more into the penalty area where you regularly find powerful centre forwards and defenders. Physical qualities are far more influential and common, and the ball is moved more directly and is less progressive. It can be accomplished in a couple of different ways. If you were to look at Stoke City or a Sam Allardyce West Ham United, you see evidence of what is known as ‘ugly’ football. It’s not exactly the term I’d use, because a goal is a goal and how it is scored is of little to no consequence, and sometimes it can be this ‘ugly’ system that scores you the most important goals, and it is certainly a valuable often effective tool that must be recognised and operated.
It is usually consisted from back to front in almost a set of three. The centre halves are big, strong, physically imposing with astute aerial prowess, and defend deep in and on the egde of their 18 yard box, soaking up pressure and blocking out the most dangerous areas of the attacking third with a bank of four and 5. The midfield will consist of energetic players, particularly the wingers whose job it is to get in front of their full backs early when out of possession and provide good pressing ahead of them, and also be pro-active pushing forward to support and provide a good outlet for a forward who may have received the ball directly. The central midfielders will be full of stamina in order to press the opposition and the passing lines quickly, as well as being physically capable of bullying opposition midfielders. In an attacking sense, these players should have good long passing skills and at least one (who will usually play behind the forward or maybe on one flank) must be able to anticipate and work off knock downs to support his forward and get into goal scoring areas on a regular basis. A powerful, pacey centre forward can usually utilise the direct ball to best effect and this can (to a degree) be at the expense of technical ability, although at least one clear technical quality (heading, finishing, maybe chest control) should also be found within this player at higher levels for any reasonable success with the system.
It is not a possession based system of play. In fact it thrives off of being out of possession because it draws its opposition out and if the organisation and pressing of the side can be well coached and executed it can actually achieve a degree of control without the ball. Gerard Houllier near enough perfected the direct containing game and won a bunch of trophies in 2001 and once seriously challenged a league title. The system had been exasperated however, and we became predictable, our major weakness being that we couldn’t break teams down. The Heskey/Owen partnership was crumbling, muck like their bodies and mentality; being unable to get into goal scoring positions when teams sat deep. The trouble with this system is that if it is deployed as a regularity, it’s because a team lacks technical and intellectual qualities and are often trying to hang onto games and hit sides with a sucker punch. This is what the struggling teams do out of necessity, and better sides sometimes utilise but do not rely on it.
Top level counter attacking football – Winning consistentlyA perverse personal favourite of mine, this is a system that has performed consistently to the highest level for 20 years or more here in England is the one we have seen Manchester United deploy under Mr Ferguson. It is somewhat of a hybrid, in that there is a way United are able to apply a degree of different systems and approaches together in accordance with the in game situation and circumstance, the opponent, and even indeed the games importance or relevance. Let me get this straight, I don’t actually believe United are the masters of this system, because Ferguson has entrenched a mentality in the club from grass level up that will not lose. Many of the best managers in the world often speak of mentality and its massive importance and Ferguson has been a master of this as well as good transfer market nous. He has turned over almost 3 generations of footballers with differing abilities and qualities to the same consequence, knowing that mentality is a key aspect, but I digress…
The system itself is a simple one that relies on players knowing their roles and responsibilities and when required taking that responsibility themselves. It is loose in places but that gives it the flexibility required to adapt and implores a trust in its players to make the correct decisions and have enough quality to execute them. In Manchester United’s case the system is actually 4th in the pecking order of significance because mentality and quality come first and foremost, which Ferguson has been very good at in finding, installing a winning mentality, and then motivating. These are his habits, and though they are winning ones once again I am missing the point of this chapter…
What this system is about being good during transitions in play, accurate passing, quality into the box from wide and focused on creating lots different chances for very clinical strikers; there is direct swiftness in the passing from back to front and through the midfield. To set this system up appropriately there must be a monster centre half; aggressive, strong, excellent in the air, partnered with a player who reads the game well, can play out from the back, with decent mobility or some sort of combinations of those qualities. Full backs are usually progressive and get up and down regularly but not necessarily rapidly. One holding midfielder will be combined with a good box to box passer and the wingers will stay wide and offer width and quality into the box supported by their full backs. Both forwards will have slightly alternating qualities but most importantly will be excellent finishers or poachers.
In terms of how the system is deployed, it encourages a pass and move game, where when the ball is lost it is pressed and covered quickly and without hesitation. Due to the quality of players needed to execute this system it is in the main a possession based set up but importantly the idea is to get the ball quickly and accurately to the wide areas of the pitch on a regular basis and put good quality into the box from there. United have had wingers like Beckham, Giggs, and Ronaldo over the years who have always been supplemented with other good wide men like Valencia, Nani, and Park, as well as full backs like Rafael, Evra, and Neville, all of whom able to deliver excellent quality into the penalty area. Good wingers are key to the way United have played as well as ruthless forwards. The United midfield has been as poor as it’s ever been this season (though it must be said Michael Carrick has performed to a high level consistently all year) and yet United reign Champions again. ‘Mentality, mentality, mentality’. But the point is they can still rely on creating chances from wide for finishers of the quality of Van Persie, Hernandez, Rooney, Welbeck as well as solid defending to win the league. Again. The ball and players in this system can move quickly, slowly, progressively or directly but it will always get to a player in the final third on a regular basis where the final pass will inevitably be a good one and the forward will regularly test the goalkeeper throughout the match and score goals. It sounds too simplistic to have seen such remarkable results and be successful for such an age of time, and is very much about winning a game in the law of averages, but this is only part of it.
The transitions are where United really prevail. If the ball is lost, they have an effective method of winning the ball back quickly or efficiently. Should the ball be conceded high up the pitch the defenders will often stick, while the wingers twist and press the ball tenaciously (along with the forwards) whilst the centre midfield duo/trio will work quickly to prevent a counter attack through the middle by dropping off as well as win the second ball if the ball is initially hit long over the top of them. The defensive players will work hard to hold up the pace of the counter attack whilst the attacking players track back and regain some shape. From here, United are fairly confident containing the play on the edge of their own box, knowing that their centre halves and goalkeeper will take a majority of what is thrown at the aerially.
Offensively, when the play transpires back into United possession, they can be devastating on the counter attack, again attempting to get the ball wide early and play from there. If the winger picks up the ball just in his own half he will inevitably be able to either hit a progressive diagonal pass over the top or take the ball on himself and run towards the final third. The forwards work hard to match him every step of the way whilst the box to box midfielder will back up the play in order to pick up second balls or arrive late into the penalty area. Because of the nature of the counter attack, the main priority is to get the ball into the box at the first opportunity, should it end up not presenting itself, then the full backs will also quickly step up and support the wingers to provide an easy outlet should the move slow. From here United are again happy to just try and get quality into the penalty area, knowing their rewards will come.
Being Brazil – Winning World CupsAs I mentioned before, the environment and climate in which young players grow up in in Brazil constitutes outstanding individual talents. I’ll take this opportunity to mention a very similar Argentina side and the individual qualities their players’ possess. You needn’t say more than Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. Focusing on Brazil however, they have come to several world cups hosting different formations and slightly different styles of play. Even a Brazil team can contain too many individual players but usually they use each other well always offering outlets, finding passes that simply didn’t look there, and hitting teams at pace on the break. Two big centre halves will usually operate at the back, although one will be an excellent ball player. Two full backs full of pace, energy, and technical qualities and a holding ‘volante’, whose job it is to sweep up infront of and occasionally behind the two centre backs and dictate the play from there; the Dunga role. Ahead of him will be one box to box player, and then a combination of attackers. To the Brazilians shape is only subjective and there must be fluidity in position and movement between the attacking 5 players supported by a steady centre back partnership and volante. To put it simply, Brazil don’t rely on an attacking system at all and just make sure they get the ball to their attacking talents and go from there. They are unpredictable, sophisticated and intense. Once in the lead they will keep the ball for extensive periods with short pass and move until the need or opportunity arrives to score again. If you score 4 goals, Brazil will score 5. It may be a cliché, but it’s literally the intent players go out with, and they have an unerring belief that they will do that.
