Tagged
Playing styles · Analysis
The offside rule in plain words: when a player is offside under Law 11, when it is an offence, and how defences step up together to use it. History and risks.
Playing styles · Analysis
Counter-attacking football wins the ball and attacks at once, before the opponent recovers. How it works, who plays it, what the data shows, how to stop it.
Playing styles · Analysis
Positional play puts players in planned zones to create numerical, qualitative and positional superiority. The rules, the free man, Cruyff to Guardiola.
Formations and roles · Analysis
The 5-4-1 plays five defenders, four midfielders and a lone striker. How the back five defends deep, where it counters, and how to break it down.
Formations and roles · Analysis
The 5-3-2 plays three centre-backs, two deep wing-backs, three central midfielders and two strikers. How it defends, counters, and how to break it down.
Formations and roles · Analysis
The 3-4-2-1 uses three centre-backs, two wing-backs, a double pivot and two tens behind one striker. How it attacks, defends and differs from a 3-4-3.
Formations and roles · Analysis
The 3-4-3 plays three centre-backs, two wing-backs, a double pivot and a front three. How it attacks, how it presses, who made it famous and how to beat it.
Formations and roles · Analysis
The 4-1-4-1 plays a back four, one holding midfielder, a line of four and a lone striker. How it attacks, defends, and turns into a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1.
Playing styles · Analysis
Tiki-taka is a style of short passing, constant movement and keeping the ball. Where the name came from, how Spain and Barcelona played it, its critics.
Formations and roles · Analysis
A striker, the number 9, is the most advanced player and main goalscorer. Target man, poacher, complete forward, false nine, second striker, and what xG says.
Playing styles · Analysis
Catenaccio is Italy's door-bolt defence: man-markers with a free sweeper behind them. Its origins, Rocco and Herrera's Inter, why it faded and what remains.
Formations and roles · Analysis
A winger attacks from the flank: beats the full-back, crosses or cuts inside to shoot. Classic and inverted wingers, the inside forward and famous examples.
