📌 Pep Guardiola's Manchester City 2021/22 [Thread]:
Community Shield vs Leicester:
- First evidence of the 2-3 build-up system (shifting from the 3-2 last season)
- Focus on progressing through fullbacks and #8s
- Seven lateral zones
- Reaching wide players in movement, 1v1
The establishment of seven lateral zones:
Spurs vs City:
- City struggle vs Spurs' narrow and compact defensive block
- Inverted fullbacks often narrower than #8s
- Reliance on play through #8s to progress to final third
- Lack of dynamism and predictable to defend against
City vs Norwich:
- More elaborate rotations allows Cancelo to consistently access final third, combine with Grealish
- Walker offers progression from right half space
- Bernardo's movement allows City to bypass the midfield
- Jesus as right winger a dynamic threat in behind
Simplified, City create a repeatable chain of progression:
In defence, City are tight - they rarely concede possession and rarely concede chances - thanks to their counter-pressing and rest defence:
- Overload area where ball is, with players in close proximity to create territorial dominance
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📌 325/235: The Best Formation in Football? [Thread]
Most of the top teams utilise a variant of the 325/235 formation in possession. This thread will explore why teams use the 235/235 formation, and why it is optimal in the fast-paced, hyper-technical/physical modern game - where the margins are fine.
Simply broken down, the 235/325 is ideal in possession, because the team has occupation of all five lateral zones, which is conducive of good spacing and balance, while maintaining overloads and security in deep central areas.
Southampton look very potent exploiting the wide space surrounding Spurs’ compact block. The key would be getting the spare fullback to receive with an open crossing lane on their second touch. This is done by creating a wide three (near side) or a quick switch (far side).
Crucially, they’re showing no fear in build-up despite Spurs pushing high with a view to pressing. This allows Southampton to attack while the pitch is stretched, rather than exclusively when Spurs are in a comfortable block. Broja’s runs into depth are crucial in this regard.
Perhaps more crucially, Southampton aren’t forcing the issue prematurely. They aren’t just seeing the availability of players high/wide as a primary option, but rather with a view to get them to receive as a third man/with an advantageous/exploitable scenario.
I often wonder what heights Dembele could’ve reached if he played predominantly higher up the pitch (in his peak years). The ability to beat defenders and open room for low pin-point shots, off both feet, is such a threat.
This isn’t to say he didn’t reach a level close to his ceiling.
Given the landscape of Spurs’ squad from 2013-2019, a deeper role made more sense anyway - and despite being harder to quantify, I actually think Dembele could well have added more value from his deeper role anyway.
His core attributes to me, were:
- his ability to receive with high retention
- his awareness to receive on the half turn when given space to turn into, or roll his defender in either direction if pressured upon receiving
Both of which allowed him to get rhythm in central areas.
📌 Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City [Tactical Thread]:
How the Clarity of Player Roles Renders a Seemingly Complex Tactical Setup Simple and Efficient
As I presented back in October, City like to build in the 2-3 structure, progressing in an in to out manner. Whether this is by design, or because opposition prioritise defending central areas, ushering City out wide, City often created the staggered possession funnel.
The perfect example of this funnel was against Norwich, where Bernardo Silva (the #8) made an off the ball movement opening the lane for Walker to make the vertical pass through to Jesus. City progressed and created in this manner for much of the early season.
📌How Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City Broke Down Manchester United’s 532 Block [thread]:
City lined up in their usual formation, with Jesus and Foden high and wide, with Bernardo as a false #9 and Gundogan/KDB in the half spaces.
United lined up in a 532 (more like a 5311), with Greenwood tracking Rodri and Bruno, McTominay and Fred responsible for the left half space, central zone and right half space respectively.
📌 Manchester United's Foundations in Possession: West Ham vs Man Utd [THREAD]:
- Varane carrying centrally
- McTominay dropping in right half space
- Fred semi-dropping
- Midfield/Forward line rotations to receive
- United access between the lines consistently early on
United’s nominal formation is presented below:
1) Varane’s in build up:
When Varane had no vertical passing option, he often shuttled diagonally towards the centre of the pitch. This gave time for United’s Mid/Forwards to rotate and create an option, plus Varane’s carries prevented him from stagnating United’s possession.