Thread by @HancockAnalysis

John Mousinho: Tactical analysis, the mega-thread

This is without a shadow of a doubt my most ambitious and in-depth work on here to date, it took a hell of a lot of time to put together so I really hope you enjoy it!

All shares and feedback are appreciated! #Pompey #EFL

𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱
Despite being a relatively inexperienced coach, Mousinho’s positive impact has been clear to see in Portsmouth

Holding a UEFA pro license (if anyone has his thesis please send it to me) John is a very promising young coach who mixes pragmatism with bravery

𝟮-𝟱-𝟯 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲
At the start of his tenure, Mousinho lined us up with a 4-3-3 that became a 2-5-3 in-possession

We were crying out for this at the time, with Cowley rigidly sticking to a 2-man midfield which made us far more one-dimensional in-possession and easier to defend

𝟮-𝟱-𝟯 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲
Whether it’s the 2-5-3 or 2-4-4, Mousinho is very good at implementing different tactical and stylistic ideas which makes us very fluid when moving between different shapes and phases

We always look to cover all 5 vertical channels and utilise wide overloads

𝟮-𝟱-𝟯 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲
In terms of the positives of the 2-5-3, it allows us to cover all 5 vertical channels, which is key to positional superiority and aids our wide overloads

The use of our 8s making late runs into the box also makes us far more multi-dimensional with the ball

𝟮-𝟱-𝟯 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲
In terms of downsides however, using a centre-back partnership of Sean Raggett and Ryley Towler makes us vulnerable in defensive transition, as they are often left 2 v 2 at the back which can leave them exposed at times due to their respective skill-sets

𝟮-𝟰-𝟰 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲
A big gripe of mine after the loss to Plymouth was our failure to cover all five vertical channels, which meant we were extremely narrow and easier to defend against

Against Burton however Mousinho made a decisive change, and moved us to a 2-4-4 with the ball

𝟮-𝟰-𝟰 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲
A key difference of the 2-4-4 opposed to the 2-5-3 is the complexion of our midfield - with the former we moved to a double pivot (normally Tunnicliffe x Morrell) and a front 4 of Jacobs, Dale, Lane and Bishop

Consistent themes are zone coverage and overloads

𝟮-𝟰-𝟰 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲
Since the move to the 2-4-4 we have seen far more consistent vertical channel coverage, than with the 2-5-3 and retains our goal-threat going forward

A downside though is that at times our midfield can be vulnerable due to the lack of a natural 6 with no Pack

𝗦𝗲𝘁-𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀
Mousinho’s coaching work at Oxford involved him working on set-pieces, and during his Portsmouth tenure we’ve seen an increase in our set-piece output

However, the credit is down to GK coach Joe Prodomo who has been given the responsibility of set-pieces

𝗦𝗲𝘁-𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀
Since Prodomo has been put in-charge of set-pieces, we’ve seen the introduction of regular short & fast set-pieces

Tunnicliffe has been very important with the fast set-pieces as he’s always aimed to take quick restarts and increase the tempo of the game

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲𝘀
During Mousinho’s tenure we’ve seen a range of pressing patterns, which is in-line with his pragmatism and adaptability

Against the better sides however its common to see a 4-4-2 high-press and a mixture of man-to-man, zonal and hybrid pressing

𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
Something about Mousinho that has impressed me has been his tactical adaptability, and his willingness to be pragmatic depending on the opposition

We’ve seen a mixture of shapes including:

Nominal
4-3-3
4-2-3-1
4-4-2

In-possession
3-3-4
2-5-3
2-4-4

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹
Tunnicliffe - Crucial regardless of the shape or system we run with from game-to-game due to his technical quality

Macey - Superb shot-stopper and distributor

Rafferty - So much quality and intelligence

Morrell - metronomic presence in midfield

𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲
One common theme regardless of the opposition is that we line-up with a 4-2-3-1 mid-block following the breakdown of our press, or from long balls from deep within opposition territory

Morrell is key to this due to his immense ground-coverage

𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗼’𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
One day I may stop banging the drum about this, but in my very humble opinion the biggest winner of Mousinho’s appointment has been Tunnicliffe

From almost being shipped to Australia to starting every game. Superb.

𝗟𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗼’𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
Due to Mousinho consistently playing a back four, Hume has arguably been most negatively effected by the appointment as he clearly isn’t good enough defensively to play fullback in League One

Could he play on the wing?

𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘁-𝘂𝗽
One possible tactical shift next season could be a move to a 3-5-2

This allows a balance of the 3-man midfield and a two-man strike partnership

Robinson played a 3-5-2 at times when Mousinho was on the Oxford coaching staff

𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘁-𝘂𝗽
The 3-5-2 would also be able to get the best out of certain players such as Bishop, Swanson, Ogilvie and Hume

It may also allow us to be more expansive in-possession with technical quality being all over the lineup

𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘁-𝘂𝗽
Another option however could be to revert back to the 4-3-3 (2-5-3) we saw at the beginning of Mousinho’s tenure, although he may have more quality at his disposal depending on how the summer transfer window turns out…

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
First off, if you’ve got this far I just want to thank you, this has been one hell of a thread and I’m currently wired on caffeine whilst writing it a 3am - I wish I was joking, I am absolutely knackered and desperately need sleep.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
Although not perfect, I have been incredibly impressed by Mousinho’s Fratton Park tenure so far

If we can improve our performances away from home, and our results against top sides, we have a real chance of success next season - I’m very excited

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
I view John Mousinho as one of the most interesting young EFL coaching prospects, due to his ability to mix pragmatism whilst also utilising certain modern-footballing trends such as defenders taking goal kicks to disrupt a high-press

Up the blues! 💙

Something I forgot to note

Statistics were found on @OptaAnalyst

Average positions by @WhoScored