Brentford played with the most compact 4-4-2 low block you will see all season.

The problem with it against top teams is that there is no escape.

Want to play short passes to link before springing the counter attack? Arsenal will steal the ball back immediately. This was the case for the first goal.

Brentford can easily end up in a 7-3 or 8-2 formation when the 4-4-2 lines are so compact.

Amorim’s 3-4-3 was tested last night against a well-coached Newcastle side that dismantled the structure in the first 30 minutes of the game.

Tactical thread 🧵(Rated 18 for Man United fans)

Animations of the systems and the related performance problems. Amorim is a manager who wants his team to play on the front foot. We highlighted this during our analysis of Sporting Lisbon, which you find at the link below.

tactxcoach.com/programs/ruben…

Arne Slot's team are not afraid to go long.

If you want to press man-to-man, they will bypass the press. Low risk, high reward.

Tactically, the players recognise this. Here, Trent sees the opposite full-back, Spence, jump to press. There's an easy pass to the goalkeeper to retain possession, but Trent knows LIverpool have equal numbers on the Spurs defensive line as Spence has jumped.

It turns out they have a better scenario.

For all of the in-possession criticism of Russel Martin and Southampton, his out-of-possession tactics ultimately led to the result before his sacking.

Let's take a deeper look at Southampton's OOP tactics.

THREAD🧵 Southampton lined up with a 4-4-2 diamond.

With split strikers, Southampton looked to press high.

From the 1st minute, we see a problem.

Sulemana closes Forster down; the goalkeeper makes a simple link pass to get his centre back on the ball. Line one of the press is broke.

A tactical analysis of how to dominate against a 4-4-2 press.

A DETAILED THREAD on the current 4-4-2 pressing trend and the structure that Leeds used to exploit it. Let's look at the default shape of Leeds and Middlesbrough.

Leeds started in a 4-2-3-1, which would shift into a 3-3-1-3 when in possession.

Middlesbrough started in a 4-2-3-1 and shifting into a 4-4-2 out of possession.

The shifts allowed Leeds to dominate.

Man City switched to a 3-1-6 in possession shape as they looked to exploit the Palace 3-4-3 system.

In theory, and we have seen examples of it, the 3-4-3 system finds it difficult to deal with overload.

On the the other side, the transition problems for City were highlighted An animation of what this looks like.

Arsenal showed how to exploit the 3-4-3 last night in several ways.

A MINI-THREAD on the tactical scenarios Arteta created.

This man is key to it all. The manager on the pitch To gain any control in the game, the 3-4-3 relies on the outside centre-backs stepping out to mark.

If they don't step out, there's a 3v1 on the defensive line. Top teams will control games against any team that is set up like this.

As Liverpool sit at the top of the league, we look at the full-back role within Slot’s structure for the Liverpool build-up play.

With more teams pressing from a 4-4-2 structure, Slot has identified a way to build up with minimal risk and simple patterns to allow progress. The role of the full-back with different build-up patterns.

Bournemouth produced another innovative set play at the weekend.

Shaun Cooper (set-play coach) deserves a huge amount of credit.

Where did he get his inspiration for this one? A failed Ipswich routine.

Thread🧵 Through analysis of the Ipswich attacking corners (and others) we know that the front zonal marker of Brentford can be drawn out with a short corner.

The patient Liverpool build-up.

Provoking the press to find the overload.

Thread below 🧵 Liverpool build in a patient and progressive way while minimising the counter-attacking threat.

Slot knows where the press comes from, and against Villa, he knew they would press in a 4-4-2.

Villa try to keep their shape and avoid the provocation. Liverpool edge forward.

In part two of our analysis of the Ruben Amorim 3-4-3 system, we look at the in-possession system of play and the positions and patterns that Amorim applies to create his exciting attacking philosophy.

MEGA THREAD 🧵 Goalkeeper

Amorim keeps the game very simple, which is apparent with his goalkeeper.

He plays simple passes to his outside centre-backs or a centre-midfield player who drops down to create an overload.

Ruben Amorim is the new Manchester United Head Coach. As he prepares to take over on November 11th, we examine the system of play that impressed the United hierarchy.

In this MEGA THREAD, we look at the 3-4-3 out-of-possession set-up. Out of Possession Roles

Centre Forward + Wide Forwards

Amorim is aggressive with his approach to high-pressing, and his team will press with an intensity deep into the opponent’s half.

Against a back four, the role of his centre forward is to mark the single pivot while being ready to press the goalkeeper and shadow marking the pivot he then leaves.

Against a back three, the role is simplified, as the centre-forward marks the central centre-back while pressing the goalkeeper as the ball goes back. Amorim’s team ALWAYS press the goalkeeper.

Slot Sufficient or Maresca Masterclass?

A fascinating battle with tactical contrasts that made for a brilliant game. With his central build-up play, Maresca comes out with credit, but did Slot have him exactly where he wanted?

🧵Thread Chelsea built with a 3-2-2-3 formation as Gusto joined Palmer on the attacking midfield line.

The double pivot of Lavia and Caicedo looked to link play with the three defenders to progress.

Kulusevski and Maddison in attacking midfield roles together sounds exciting but West Ham exploited it in the first half yesterday.

Credit to Ange for making the bold decision to replace Maddison at half-time. Sarr's introduction gave Spurs more defensive structure. Van de Ven and Romero are comfortable defending wide areas BUT it leaves a huge hole in the box.

Early warning signs
- van de Ven engages Bowen
- Bissouma drops deeper to cover VDV position and protect front post
- huge hole for pull-back

Vincent Kompany has made an excellent early impression at Bayern Munich.

In this analysis, we studied his team set-up against their rivals, Bayer Leverkusen, and highlighted some tactical features of the new Bayern manager.

Full🧵below

Fluid In-Possession Tactical Shifts

Bayern moved between three formations when in possession.

- The default 1-4-2-3-1
- Kimmich moved onto the defensive line, and Musiala dropped deeper to create a 1-3-4-3
- Musiala playing higher to create a 1-3-3-1-3

Man City 2 -1 Brentford - Tactical Analysis

Thomas Frank set his team up with some of the following strategies. We have provided animations throughout this thread 🧵

- Shift in formation to build with a back four
- High man-to-man press
- Low 5-3-2 block Man City generally press the goalkeeper when out-of-possession, and Frank used this to his advantage in the first half of the game.

Collins was the free man to take advantage....

Trent Alexander-Arnold - The Next Level of Performance

Under new management for the first time in eight years, we observe Trent's tactical understanding matching his technical ability while enjoying the freedom provided by Liverpool and England.

Thread ⬇️ Trent Alexander-Arnold is a world-class talent. The question has always been how to involve him as much as possible in possession from a right-back position. It’s uncommon to give a right-back a ‘free role'.

Arsenal - Brighton

Tactical tweaks, late substitutions and defensive mistakes

Thread 🧵 Brighton initially set up a 4-2-4 build-up with a double pivot in central midfield.

This shape played into the Arsenal pressing patterns, with Odegaard jumping into a 4-4-2 press.

Man United's high-pressing problems 👇🏻

Attached in the thread is related practice to coach these performance problems.

On our website, we share United's four pressing patterns and their related performance problems. Technical practice for 3 players on dealing with wide rotations.

Predictions for the England 23 man squad for Euro 2024

Goalkeepers
Pickford, Ramsdale, Johnstone

There are slim pickings here. Pope was never in favour with Southgate due to his ability to use his feet, and his injury pretty much leaves the above. Defenders
Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Trent, Chilwell, Dunk, Gomez

A lot depends on Shaw's fitness. Chilwell has missed out in the past, with Trippier being able to cover at left-back. Above is presuming Shaw is not able to play seven games in a tournament. Trippier misses out to Gomez, who offers a fourth centre-back option and covers both full-back spaces. Trippier in if Shaw isn't fit.

Braithwaite could challenge Dunk for the reserve CB spot. Guehi made progress with England, but an injury may push him down the pecking order.

James, with his injury record and competition in his position, won't go.

Despite losing the game and the tie overall, Porto and Conceição gave a defensive masterclass over the two games.

Last night, Porto took away 3 major threats of Arsenal.
- Set pieces
- Right-side build-up play
- The high press

A thread on how Porto did it 🧵 Starting with the set pieces.

The majority of Aresnal's corners are simple. They involve great inswinging deliveries into the front zone, where any attacking touch will likely end in a goal.

Porto, unusually (although I'm led to believe they always do it), rehearsed this Arsenal routine in the warm-up

https://x.com/ClockEndH/status/1767635331392647433?s=20