In this thread, we will dissect a sequence that leads to a dangerous chance, from Pep #Guardiola’s Manchester City. Please be sure to be read up on the terminology for best understanding. (Link at bottom of thread.)👇👇👇 
(1/2) The ball begins with Mendy, in the outer corridor.
- Sterling, initally positioned in the inner corridor, moves towards the ball and into the outer corridor. (This brings a defender further from the objective space.)
- Aguero (the link player) is positioned between CB’s
- Sterling, initally positioned in the inner corridor, moves towards the ball and into the outer corridor. (This brings a defender further from the objective space.)
- Aguero (the link player) is positioned between CB’s
(2/2) Gundogan (objective player) is deeper in midfield, in inner corridor.
- Gundogan’s run will intially bring a CB towards him which creates space for Aguero.
- Mendy has identified the objective player & space. Ball directly to Gundogan is risky, so he will use a link player.
- Gundogan’s run will intially bring a CB towards him which creates space for Aguero.
- Mendy has identified the objective player & space. Ball directly to Gundogan is risky, so he will use a link player.
- The ball from Mendy to link player Aguero is mid-flight. Notice the space Aguero has, since the CB initially moved towards Gundogan.
- Notice the effect of Sterlings movement, which has lured a defender with him.
- Gundogan (objective player) is seizing the objective space.
- Notice the effect of Sterlings movement, which has lured a defender with him.
- Gundogan (objective player) is seizing the objective space.
- Via the link player (Aguero), the ball has now gone into the objective space, with the objective player (Gundogan) running onto it.
- Gundogan has run from deeper in midfield, thanks to momentum is postionally superior to defenders who have had to turn and accelerate.
- Gundogan has run from deeper in midfield, thanks to momentum is postionally superior to defenders who have had to turn and accelerate.
Gundogan now has the ball in the “assist zone”. In this situation he elects to shoot, based upon the lack of alternatives in the “Golden Zone”. Aguero is becoming a cutback option. Ideally, opp. midfielder D. Silva or opp. winger B. Silva will have established in Golden Zone.
Terminology: corrdiors of play, assist zone, golden zone etc.
Terminology & concept: objective space+player, link player etc.
