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@EBL2017

Feb 20

Positional play and "Juego de Posicion" is something that football fans fawn over, and rightly so, but the intricacies within the system that enable beautiful football centre around defensive principles. Xavi, Arteta, & Pep implement the 4-3-3 to an elite standard.

MEGA-THREAD.

Positional play is associated with the 4-3-3 because of the positions the players occupy on the pitch (both half spaces, wings and the centre with the #6, CF and two CB's).

Any coach can line their players up in that shape, but implementing it successfully is the tough part.

The 4-4-2 was a staple of the game for years because it naturally created compactness in midfield with 2 CM's and combinations out wide for target men in the box - not in the 4-3-3, though. The players become further apart centrally and close together on the two flanks.

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@EBL2017

Feb 19

The title run in is a close one. It's quite even despite City having the points advantage. Liverpool are far more likely to pull games back from behind, but City are more likely to control games and be involved in less chaotic games. However, Liverpool still largely control too.

Both Liverpool & City are favourites in each of their games apart from when they face each other. Liverpool have Spurs and Arsenal to play, so that's tough, particularly away at the Emirates if Arsenal are on form. They both also play United but I don't expect that to be an issue

I think that L. Díaz makes a big difference for Liverpool. A guy like that coming into the club lifts everyone - he is so intense, so fresh, so eager, so damn good. He's the type of player that lifts everyone's standards & keeps things fresh, like Fergie did with signings at Utd.

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EBL

@EBL2017

Feb 19

Imagine the goals a top centre forward would score in that Arsenal team - someone who's a physical threat in the box & a reliable ball-striker. Laca can't run across a defender in the box let alone win a duel. And that's without considering having a transitional threat at CF.

Everyone in the entire team's output will increase with a top striker at Arsenal - the likes of Saka can cut inside and use his top ball-striking to whip balls into the box and the forward will challenge for the ball! The inverted Tomiyasu has the quality to whip balls too.

Lacazette has technical quality, but he can't physically impose himself on games. His technical level is virtually useless because he can't prevent defenders from dragging him to the ground, thus he rarely combines. Even someone for Ø to combine with, Tierney to cross to, etc.

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@EBL2017

Feb 19

Partey is superb but he lacks the necessary calmness and maturity in possession reliably play as a single pivot when compared to a Fabinho or a Rodri. These guys virtually never give the ball away. Partey has all the quality but that type of pass is careless, and common from him.

Partey is one of the few midfielders in football who's good enough to play in a single pivot. He has the profile, the braveness, the technique, and the physicality. It's such a demanding role. However, it also requires mass patience. Most of his work is superb, but not all of it.

Partey typically has the temperament to circulate play efficiently & to play out of presses but on relatively regular occasions he carelessly gives the ball away. It's better to pump it long & counterpress than to play blind passes like the one above.

It costs Arsenal control.

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@EBL2017

Feb 18

Brentford are a complete tactical side and a difficult test for any opposing team, but so are Arteta's Arsenal. It's a tough game for Arsenal for a number of reasons that are discussed below, but Arsenal's superior quality *SHOULD* see them prevail with 3 points.

THREAD!

Brentford set up in a 5-3-2 shape where a lot of emphasis on their game centres around physicality. They are similar to Burnley in the sense that they are known for being difficult to break down but they press high to a high quality tactical standard as well.

For Brentford to successfully press Arsenal they have to be highly aggressive with their wingbacks and match up 3v3 in defence. As seen below, the outside centre backs will have to shift across to deal with Saka and Martinelli. The wingbacks then push on & press the fullbacks.

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EBL

@EBL2017

Feb 17

Barca haven't got the result but the sustained pressure Xavi's structure has enabled this team to exert showcases what a special project this is. As soon as higher quality came onto the pitch at right wing the team looked different. That's what Barca need - extra quality.

Xavi's idea of signing Traore makes absolute sense because it now means there's more than just O. Dembélé who can play that isolation role on the right wing. The structure is really obviously elite but imagine when Fati is back alongside Auba/Torres and O. Dembélé. Wowwweeee.

Obviously Dembélé's probable exit complicates things but Barca will have to replace him with a stellar right winger. Saka is the one that springs to mind if Arsenal miss out on the CL. Either way, the club need a star of that ilk, but it's comforting that the structure is elite.

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