When interpreting possession stats, two parameters cast a shadow of doubt on their relevance:
-Measurement approaches
-Tactical plan of the manager
Consequently, possession statistics can be misleading.
Category: Tactical Notes
Is the WM Formation What Made Arsenal a Big Club?
Before Arsène Wenger and his invincible side, there was Herbert Chapman and his innovative WM. Granting Arsenal its first trophies and putting it on a stand.
What is the WM formation? How does it work?
Federico Valverde: Zidane’s Man
Zidane couldn’t get Pogba. But now he has Valverde. Maybe for the better…
What makes Valverde so special? What are his offensive and defensive roles in the team?
Eriksen and Conte: A Tactical Upgrade (3-4-1-2)
While media kept doubting Christian Eriksen, Conte spent his quarantine time “tailoring” his tactics for the Danish.
Here is how Conte made Inter ready for Eriksen.
The Art of Counterattacking
Counterattacking football is the tactic that revolutionized football the most.
What is a counterattack? How can you perfectly perform one?
Why is Douglas Costa struggling under Sarri?
Sub-par performances have led many Serie A fans to wonder what went wrong with Douglas Costa.
A tactical analysis of Costa’s failure to adapt to Sarriball.
Breaking Defensive Lines With 1 Pass
We’ve all seen midfielders break tough defensive lines with one pass.
How do they do it?
Are they simply gifted? Or is it a team effort?
Why Are Formations So Important In Football Tactics?
Creating tactics can be very challenging. Picking the right formation is often the hardest part. How do managers chose their formations exactly?
Defensive Blocks: How do they work?
Facing a strong defender or defensive midfielder is hard but still doable.
However, facing a compact defensive block is the hardest part.
What are defensive blocks?
How does it work?
Jose Bordalas: Getafe’s mastermind
Getafe, Madrid’s silent heroes. Guided by Jose Bordalas, here is how he managed to break through and achieve great results.
Motta’s 2-7-2: How does that work?
Thiago Motta surprised the world a couple of years ago with his innovative tactics. We broke it down for you.
Is Tiki-Taka dead?
Tiki-Taka was introduced to the world of football by Johan Cruyff during the last 80s of the 20th century. Pep Guardiola was named head coach of FC Barcelona back in 2008. He moved from being […]
Is playing at home really an advantage?
A team that plays at home is always the favourite no matter who they’re playing against. What makes playing away from home so difficult?
Penalty kicks, are they all about luck?
Penalty kicks have always been crucial in football. What does it take to score/save a penalty?
Cruyff’s 3-4-3 diamond
Johan Cruyff, a symbol of European football, lived his glory days as a coach playing in a 3-4-3. At a time where most football teams would play using a 4-4-2 formation, Johan Cruyff stepped in […]
Modern goalkeeping: Sweeper Keeper
Goalkeeping, just like football has evolved a lot lately. Come find out how!
The False 9 break down
We break down the False 9 role and explain how to properly operate in the team’s benefit while leading the front of attack.
The Midfield Maestro Receipe
This Tactical Note is an attempt to determine what it takes for a midfielder to orchestrate his team’s display when retaining possession. We will call a player successfully able to do so a Maestro. What’s […]
Defending: Covering space VS Man-marking
Van Dijk doesn’t tackle, he just runs away.” Not completely wrong but still pretty much wrong enough. A common mistake among football fans is considering dropping back as a shameful way to defend. FLASH NEWS: […]
The Inverted Wingback Role
Occupying the wide defensive positions of a back four is the initial job of a fullback. Recent development in the football tactics has given the known as “2” and “3” a more offensive duty. They […]
