Vincent Kompany is about to become the manager of the biggest club in the world, Bayern Munich.
Xavi, Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso, and now Vincent Kompany.
Another young, modern Guardiola disciple is about to manage one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Expectations, signings, and a tactical insight into the future of Bayern Munich.
THREAD
Let me just preface - I am not sayin ganything to please anyone.
You can go through my past tweets, anything I say in this Tweet is not to simply "appeal" to Bayern Munich fans.
I have always rated Vincent Kompany very, very highly, as I do with almost every single Guardiola disciple. It is just impossible to directly learn under the best manager of all time and be a poor manager. It just is.
Vincent Kompany's relegation is definitely nothing to be embarassed about. The squad he had, absolutely shocking. The decision making is so consistently horrendous, how they even broke the 100 point barrier in The Championship is a myth to me.
Again, I have been vocal about this since last year. Burnley's quality is shocking, and you cannot coach good decision making.
But that raises my only concern about Kompany, and I will get this out of the way.
Burnley did indeed spend a lot in the summer relatively. And the squad they ended up was with quite shocking. Spending a record amount in transfer fees, and that is the squad you end up with?
It does make you question the scope of Kompany's Talent ID. You know, I do not want to label it as necessarily poor, because you can clearly see the appeal of some of these players, and they are clearly talented (Luca Koleosho, Lyle Foster, Zeki Amdouni).
But my word, they are the least intelligent crop of players I have seen. And if Kompany oversaw some of these transfers, it becomes more questionable.
But there are some good transfers Kompany has made, no doubt, the likes of Sander Berge have been good.
But I do not want to label this as a major concern. Burnley and not just Bayern Munich, but any top club, are completely different environments when it comes to signings.
1) Access to more data to ensure and validate good signings. 2) Better scouts to ensure and validate good signings. 3) Potential to delegate, less weight on your shoulders. 5) A much more more cooperative process. 6) A winning environment of Bayern Munich compared to Burnley may raise the floor of "poor" signings. 7) Of course, more funds means an access to a wider range of players, not having to consistently look for "hidden gems"
Now let's talk tactics. How would I describe Kompany?
I made a brief profile overview earlier of Kompany, but in simpler terms:
1. I would say his tactical style in the attacking phases is quite reminscient of centurions Manchester City. 2. His shape is reminscient of Mikel Arteta, in how fluid he likes to be, particularly with his fullbacks/midfielders. 3. In the defensive phases, it is quite reminscient of Mauricio Pochettino, in how intensive and similar pressing patterns are.
You combine all of these elements, and you get Vincent Kompany. A coach that can adapt his shape well,
Attacking Style:
Vincent Kompany likes to spread his attackers out of across the pitch, but primarily looks to focus majority of the build up play down the central areas.
Similar to how Guardiola's centurions lined up, with Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling playing very wide, and then David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne looking to take up those half spaces in between the wingers and the 9.
And this often meant we saw a 5 man attack, with a 3-2-5 shape Of course, this balance was achieved by Fabian Delph inverting, and Kyle Walker forming a 3rd centre back.
Vincent Kompany often looks to achieve a similar shape.
Recently, Kompany has began favouring a 4-4-2 shape (which I will touch more on later.), with a double pivot, this means that achieving this 3-2-5 shape is not as simple as the 2 advanced 8s attack the half spaces.
In Kompany's case, he achieves this by using asymmetrical fullbacks.
1. Sander Berge and Josh Cullen sit in midfield, with Sander Berge usually dropping deeper to form a Back 2. One of the fullbacks keeps width, essentially playing as a wing back. 3. The other fullback tucks inside to partner Josh Cullen. 4. Half spaces then occupied by one of inverted wingers and one of the 2 forwards. 5. Both forwards play quite deep to achieve a box midfield. 6. A 3-2-5 shape is achieved.
You see the parallels to the shape Manchester City had, it is just achieved differently.
Guardiola got his width from the wingers, like you would traditionally expect, but didn't opt for a double pivot, thus used his more forward lying midfielders to attack the half spaces.
Kompany gets his width from one of the full backs and a winger, with the other winger acting like an inside forward to attack the half space. The other half space is attacked by one of the 9s.
And the reality is, this is very, very surface level. The way this shape is achieved can be much more fluid, but this is the one Kompany favours.
(It is quite tricky for me to use player names, because Kompany has chopped and changed a lot, and there aren't many consistent starters. But keep an eye on the general shape more than anything)
*Burnley do not have a consistent Right Wing starter.
Kompany puts a big, big emphasis on fluidity. He likes to stretch the pitch, but focuses play and creates overloads centrally, this enables a way create space for his wider players and thus have an open way to find the runs into the box of the several central players.
Kompany is not a fan of out and out 9s. He likes both his 9s to act as almost False 9s in the build-up. Able to drop deep and essentially be the ones to form that box midfield, with the main forward threat actually being the inside forward.
Essentially gives Kompany a way to have an advantage in midfield (4 vs. 3), whilst also having players that are competent enough to attack when the opportunity arises. Plays a very, very highline as a result, and is good at pushing oppositions back further into their own 3rd.
Pressing:
So why does Kompany opt for a 4-4-2? It may soun like there are some limitations that arise in the attacking phase, and as a result, you have to be overly complicated in how to achieve overloads.
You are correct, there are limitations in the attacking phase, but out of possession, it is absolutely golden.
What pressing in a 4-4-2 accomplishes is being able to pressure central areas not only in possession, but also out of possession with greater intensity.
Kompany wants play to be spread out to wider areas, and this is exactly what this accomplishes. You have 4 central bodies pressuring around the midfield area, as opposed to 3.
Take the ball away from goal, and you will create panic.
Ultimately, it compromises attacking versatility for devastating pressing patterns. Look at Pochettino teams, there is a reason they were so deadly out of possession.
How does this translate to Bayern Munich?
He has 5 players that are absolutely perfect for the way he wants to play.
Mathys Tel, Leroy Sane, Harry Kane, Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala.
These are players that will make or break the Kompany project. And hopefully you can see why, based on what I've said.
I touched on the dynamic about achieving that 3-2-5 shape, having fluidity, and having 9s that are comfortable with dropping deep to help build up.
These players are the players that fit those descriptions perfectly, and will be a crucial part of what Kompany is trying to build.
Joshua Kimmich is the most versatile full back in the world, he's able to play a role that either generates that width on the right hand side, whilst also being one of the best at having the ability to tuck in. This is the epitome of a Kompany full back.
And the same applies for Harry Kane and Mathys Tel as the 9s. The best False 9 in the planet, and one of the best pressing forwards in the world. They compliment each other very, very nicely, with Kane the one being able to stay consistently deep, and Tel the one who is ready to attack.
Then Musiala, wow. There is no player as good as him as being able to attack/occupy the half spaces around that Final 3rd, whilst Davies takes up the width. Has very good interchanging potential with Tel, if he wants to opt centrally as well.
Then Leroy Sane, I will not even get to. He was a cog in the team that Kompany seemed to have gotten a lot of his inspiration from.
The one player I want to touch on about is Alphonso Davies. He is an interesting case.
And if you look at the role Ian Maatsen played at Burnley, Alphonso Davies has absolutely all the potential to be able to accomplish the same. He is an absolutely blistering threat going forward, whilst there are questions about how he is defensively, the 4-4-2 shape Kompany can opt for will minimsie that.
The question for me is his versatility as a fullback, something Kompany loves. Admittedly, I would had the same concerns about Maatsen, but he proved me wrong, showing that he can indeed play in the central areas as well during his tenure under Kompany.
On paper, Davies has the potential to be a central player that can progress/carry the ball, similar to John Stones when he inverts (with more dynamism), but severely lacks the passing range Stones has, so is quite a one trick pony.
Is his ability as a wide fullback in this system enough to mask this deficiency? Can he be improved? That is for Kompany to decide.
And this is the general 4-4-2 I begin fleshing out, when I think about Vincent Kompany at Bayern Munich.
If you recall, Eric Dier played as a 6 under Pochettino. It is the position where he arguably saw the best form of his career, and I think we could see a resonance of that if he does play that role again.
What made him so good as a 6 is simply his passing range. And I think for similar reasons, and his physical profile, Pavlovic will also be able to play such a role. Able to spread play, and dictate from deep.
It will take time to get used to, but I think he can make that conversion under Kompany - a 6 out of possessino, that can form a Back 3 in possession. Dier already has plenty, plenty of experience in such a role, I think he will be great.
But the profile Bayern Munich significantly, significantly lack is a strong, dominant ball carrier for that midfield role. A physically capable, ball winner - someone who can compliment Pavlovic/Dier very well.
And that is why the first signing I will recommend for the Kompany era is Amadou Onana. Someone who has a lot of respect for the manager, who is a legend of his country.
Tall, physically capable, agile, and brilliant at stopping transitions, Amadou Onana is the profile Bayern Munich is missing, and a profile that will transform Kompany's Bayern.
Onana-Pavlovic/Dier compliments each other nicely, and in possession, either one of the midfielders are able to drop back into the Back 3, depending on the needs.
If Kimmich opts to invert, then it would make sense for Dier/Pavlovic to occupy the deeper spaces, because it is nice to have an elite ball carrier compliment an elite orchestrator.
Similarly, if Davies opts to invert, then it would make sense for Onana to occupy the deeper spaces.
Now, you look at the squad, and it begins to piece itself together. But there is a severe lack of quality in 2 areas:
A) A starting centre back.
B) Depth.
Players like Goretzka and Laimer are not necessarily a terrible stylistic fit for Kompany, and I think they are good options coming off of the bench depending on game state, they do not provide balance to the squad due to their relatively poor on the ball ability compared to other midfield options.
I would keep Laimer, but I would sell Goretzka due to how quickly he can become a dressing room poison. He doesn't have enough quality to risk keeping him around for this project.
As for players like Thomas Muller, I actually think he can be very, very benefical for Kompany. Of course, doesn't have the energy and physicality he did years ago, but he can do it if he doesn't play every single game.
Plays that False 9 / Second Striker role Kompany likes his forwards to very, very well, and in big games, he can be important next to Kane.
Kingsley Coman is a great player, but he cannot stay fit. Serge Gnabry is a player I have never been too high on, I think he is quite average, but he cannot stay fit either. I would not be opposed to Bayern Munich selling both of these to fund new signings, especially since the whole system is very, very reliant on pressing and is high physical demand.
Dayot Upamecano, again, I think on ability, is Bayern's best centre back by far - but I said this in my first post, you cannot coach composure. He lacks it, and is a liability as a result.
As a result, my outgoings: Leon Goretzka, Kinglsey Coman, Serge Gnabry, Dayot Upamecano.
Now how do you replace these players? These depth pieces.
Firstly, let me talk about the centre back - I think this centre back needs to be a starting quality one. A centre back that can come in instantly and make an impact. I think both De Ligt and Min Jae will improve under Kompany - but I don't think either are starting quality right now, though one of them will obviously have to start.
Castello Lukeba. In my opinion, one of the best talents to come out France. I have been following him since Lyon, and has been phenomenal at Leipzig.
Can easily come in and make an immediate impact, despite his age, his profile compliments De Ligt and Kim perfectly, and would get the best out of their aggressive defending, their strengths. Gives them license to go for their duels, whilst his physical profile and intelligence allows him to mop up any sour duels.
On the ball he is an able carrier, but more importantly, he is able to spread the pitch which his passing rage. This is crucial for a Kompany centre back - again, you are trying to constantly look to find these openings and create this space.
Bayern desparately need a left footer as well. Araujo and Tah links makes no sense to me, for that reason.
The rest of the puzzle is figuring out depth pieces. There is obviously a big, big glaring hole on the right without Sane.
Again, no left footers. A big glaring gap in the Bayern squad - and if Sane gets injured, it also leaves a big gap in Kompany being able to achieve his total football.
And for that reason, Bernardo Silva should absolutely be a priority signing. A left footer.
Is it unrealistic? Not at all. He has quite vocally want to leave Manchester City for a while for a change of scenery, and has a release clause.
I said it yesterday, but Spanish and Italian clubs cannot afford it. It is realistically either he stays at Manchester City (for the 3rd year in a row after attempting to leave), goes to Bayern Munich, or PSG.
Very, very versatile player. Ability to play in midfield, and on the wing. Would enable Kompany to shift to the 4-2-3-1 he played during his Championship days.
Has the work rate and familiarity of playing in such a shape, under Guardiola. Of course, the connection with Kompany as well in the past. Should be a priority, in my opinion.
Embodies what is necessary in the wing position quite well, able to get to the byline, or attack the half spaces (though lacks goal threat, would mean Kane needs to play more advanced than usual).
If Kimmich opts to advance, Bernardo can complete the box midfield if Kane decides to advance for goal threat. If Kimmich opts to tuck inside, he is very self succient at playing that wider role.
What if Sane is healthy? Bernardo Silva can play the pivot, or as the 10 over Matyhs Tel, or straight over Musiala. It all depends - but he is a very, very versatile player that slots in anywhere.
Finally, another no brainer signing - Joshua Zirkzee.
20 Million for a forward that not only has experience playing under Kompany, but would also slot perfectly into his system. Able to play in those deeper pockets, good instinct to attack the space when necessary, able to receive from deep and carry the ball, whilst also very effective in the Final 3rd.
Adds one thing Bayern Munich have been missing - goal threat.
I think another signing would be a bit too much. I think Amadou Onana, Bernardo Silva, Castello Lukeba, and Joshua Zirkzee all bring in the much needed quality required to boost Kompany's squad.
You do not want to undercommit signings for a new project, as you are setting him up to fail, but you do not want to overcommit, as you risk putting future managers in danger.
This is a good balance, 3 out of the 4 with some admiration/affiliation with Kompany in some way, and are more than able to play for the needs for his system. Bernardo Silva's versatility essentially counts as 2 signings.
Outgoings: Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka, Dayot Upamecano
As I am writing this, and looking at the depth chart, it is wise to keep Kingsley Coman for another year, he offers a proper winger option that otherwise the left would lack (I do not know enough about Bryan Zaragoza).
Midfield has a lot of balance. Onana-Pavlovic/Dier offers the maximum fluidity needed for a Kompany system, whilst Bernardo-Pavlovic offers maximum technicality. Profiles compliment each other beautifully. Laimer is able to act as a very able substitute in most games with his pressures.
Profiles here also allows Kompany to play with a 4-2-3-1 similar to what he did at Burnley, likely Musiala playing his favoured central role, Pavlovic and Onana in the pivot, and Bernardo Silva out towards the left.
Or a more attacking version, with Onana playing the sole pivot, Musiala and Bernardo playing centrally, Tel playing out wide.
Full backs cover every single profile. I have not forgotten Boey, but his name disappears off of the screen. Guerreiro-Kimmich would offer you the most versatility, whilst Davies-Kimmich would provide you the most attacking threat.
Guerreiro, I didn't touch on earlier, but brilliant as well by the way - exactly the versatile, technical profile that Kompany will love.
The attack very much speaks for itself. There may be a concern about "lack of scorers", especially if the Front 3 doesn't include Tel or Zirkzee, and instead opts for Bernardo, but the reality is, Kompany's tendency to spread the pitch creates a lot of chances, much more than Tuchel's would have, at the cost of some defensive security.
Goals will be spread out, do not worry.
Vincent Kompany very much has what it takes to succeed. Kompany maximises fluidity, and tactical variation, and plays in such a way to give players a lot of freedom, allowing them to perform multiple roles a game.
At Bayern Munich, all he is missing is a few depth pieces and a 6. 3-4 signings will be enough to let him achieve what he wants.
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Thomas Frank today has a monumental task. Not only a monumental task of keeping the league competitive, but also avenging Manchester City's injustice.
Today may be Tottenham's best chance of winning a NLD at The Emirates in years.
Here is how Frank should set up.
THREAD
Simply put, Thomas Frank has to give Mikel Arteta a taste of their own game. Arteta has struggled the most season when he gets a taste of their own game.
Opponents who sit in such a deep shape off the ball, opponents who constantly time waste, opponents who treat set pieces like a penalty. Manchester City at The Emirates, Sunderland.
That is how Thomas Frank has to come out. From defensive structure, to lack of intent to play football.
The other game they struggled, however, was the opening game of the season, against Amorim's United.
Completely dominated in possession, attacking chance creation, shooting volume, and got incredibly lucky to come out with a win.
This is the other part of the blueprint Thomas Frank has to take. And more particularly, Amorim's shape and utilisation of the shape.
Chelsea today, go in as underdogs. As they usually do. The whole world against them, and are ready to prove the doubters wrong.
Here is how Enzo Maresca should set up to maximise his chances of winning, and completing another underdog story.
THREAD
PSG are of course the best team in the world right now, nobody is naive enough to disagree. But to those thinking Chelsea will get humiliated, you are in for a BIG shock.
Chelsea defensively are the best teams in the world, they have one of the best midfields in the world, and love to circulate the ball. They are very, very hard to bypass.
It will not be more than 1 deficit loss, if anything.
But my main main worry in this game is PSG's press against Robert Sanchez. He is very error prone, and honestly, at times just a ticking time bomb.
That intense, front foot press by Dembele will give him a hard time, either by forcing an error, or forcing him to give PSG possession by kicking it out of bounds.
Ryan Mason has potential to become one of the greatest English coaches of all time.
He has the tactical foundations required to transform West Bromwich Albion into one of the best teams in The Championship, and have them back in The Premier League.
THREAD.
Ryan Mason has learned from Pochettino, Conte, Mourinho, and Postecoglou.
3 all time greats, and another brilliant manager.
This knowledge alone is what most players DREAM of. He's been exposed to multiple styles of football, both attacking (Pochettino, Postecoglou), and more defensive (Conte, Mourinho).
And both these styles are very apparent in what we have seen from him so far.
It is quite clear that Mason's biggest inspiration is not from Mourinho or Conte, but Pochettino. Right now, it is difficult to know how much Ange Postecoglou has inspired him, due to limited postmortem knowledge.
But he large giveaway his style reflects more of Pochettino is his pressing patterns, and more positive philosophy of football in general.
Thomas Frank is one of the best managers not only in The Premier League, but also the WORLD.
Here is how he can create a dynasty at Tottenham, and build off of the glory in Bilbao.
A tactical breakdown on Thomas Frank, and how his ideas will translate to Tottenham.
THREAD.
Thomas Frank much before any sort of Tottenham link is someone who I called a Top 5 manager in the league, and one of the best in the world.
So no, before you try insinuate that I am a Tottenham fan, I spoke of him highly much before Tottenham links.
It just happens that he is now employed by Tottenham. Perfect!
What Thomas Frank did was take a midtable Championship side into a Premier League side challenging for EUROPE.
All in just under 7 years. On a shoestring budget.
And do you know how a manager is TRULY great? They got it out of the mud. They didn't need any nepotism. Any handouts. The reason they're at the top is because of the brilliance of their tactical brain, nothing more.
Much like Postecoglou, Frank was not a recognised footballer with established connections in the industry. He had to work his way up.
Bayern Munich today face their biggest task yet. Their most difficult task yet.
Simone Inzaghi's Inter Milan.
A chance to get one step closer to The Champions League Final in Munchen. At home.
Here is a tactical insight into how they should lineup, and predictions.
THREAD
Simone Inzaghi is one of the best coaches in Europe. His combination of compact football, and emphasis on defensive structure, without being afraid to control tempo, and also push forward to attack is hard.
Especially in a European setting, this style and shape matches up incredibly well against "modern" teams.
However, his system fundamentally relies on the quality of the fullbacks to be able to stretch oppositions in attack.
The issue for Inzaghi? Both Denzel Dumfries and now, after writing this, Federico Dimarco are out.
Huge.
Inzaghi's system revolves around the wingbacks being able to stretch the pitch. Otherwise very fluid, with a lot of positional rotation amongst the central players, it at times can become very rigid and claustraphobic.
That is why the wingbacks are so, so crucial. Because even though these rotations can disrupt opposition central structure, that's not possible without the use of quality, dynamic wingbacks to stretch the pitch and discourage opponents from playing narrow and counteracting this.