Football Tactics
Beating Barcelona: A Theoretical Guide With Pretty Pictures
So, everyone says that Barcelona are unbeatable, or are least the untouchables. Which is twaddle. Sure, they have lots of excellent players. (MessiXaviAlvesIniestaPiquePuyolBusquetsVillaSanchezPedroetc… say that five times fast) and they have the best player in the world, backed by a manager as ahead of the time as anyone as it stands and a style of…
What has turned Liverpool’s season around?
It is beyond doubt that Kenny Dalglish’s reintroduction to the Anfield faithful has provided the catalyst for a sparkling run of form that has seen Liverpool win six and lose just two of their last nine league games. But what has actually altered on the pitch for The Reds to now find themselves just four…
Why Sunderlands Goal Rush Against Wigan Was Not Such A Miracle
It was so amazing apparently, that Sunderland without any recognized strikers scored three goals in the closing minutes of a decisive game against fellow stragglers Wigan Athletic last weekend. What an achievement, to strike back against Wigan so fiercely as to cast them back into the bottom three, meaning a very nervous last few games…
Runs, Zones, and More Secrets of Great Playmakers
The first rule of play making is that team chemistry must be there. It is also the most important – a team doesn’t work then how is a play maker supposed to make dictate a game, spread the play, get the attacking players into advantageous positions or make game winning passes? It simply becomes harder…
Xavi, Alonso And The Secret Of Great Playmakers
Oh, how Liverpool miss Alonso. Before he left, Liverpool were looking champions elect for 09-10. Afterwards, Liverpool fell spectacularly from grace as they paid the price for blooding Lucas Levia into the squad in his place, when Aquilani was blighted by injury. Such is the way of a playmaker – he is a key foundation…
Why Smaller Teams Might Begin to Look to ‘Strikerless’ Formations
Fan’s are big lovers of at least having a striker on the pitch, funnily enough. Scotland’s defeat to the Czech Republic will possibly go down as Craig Levein’s defining moment if things don’t go so well, his 4-6-0 formation failing to keep the Czechs out and failing also to provide much attacking threat in return….
Corner Tactics: Arsenal’s Defensive Dilemma
Hansen was very old school in his analysis of the Arsenal West Brom game on Saturday’s Match of the Day. When swinging into his usual tactical musings, he explained that West Brom, more so then Arsenal were organised defensively, had leadership, organised themselves where Arsenal did not. Mostly this is fair enough. Hodgson may have had a bad time…
To track or not to track? A Milan demonstration on stopping Tottenham at home
Fun fact: Tracking was extremely important to the pivotal champions league knockout round second leg between Tottenham and AC Milan. The Rossoneri went into the game very much the underdogs having been deservedly beaten at the San Siro, which is fair enough considering the firepower Tottenham could have potentially deployed from the outset – Van Der Vaart, Crouch, Lennon, Bale,…
How To Play like Barcelona in Football Manager 2011
Everybody loves Barcelona, I know I do! Well, everybody except the Real Madrid fans I guess, but they might also be impressed by Barcelona’s sexy attacking football under the guidance of coach Pep Guardiola. I have always been an admirer of the club since the days of Johan Cruyff but I have to say that…
Football Algebra
Unless we’re watching an International friendly, the days of a football team donning the traditional 1 to 11 numbering system is long behind us. Since the Premier League switched to assigned squad numbering at the start of the 1993/94 season, you are just as likely to see a goalkeeper wearing the number 25 shirt as…
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