The Tactics Thread

[Blue Armour 4,436]

I'll let you know after four more friendlies

But we did play two full matches you know.

[zolayes 14,489]

it will be interesting to see if AVB introduces more flexibilty into our tactics . Jose introduced the holding midfielder with Maka ..everyone followed suit.

it did make us defensively the strongest side in the PL ,,, Jose was also very pro active in the use of substitutions often changing the shape of the team.

One of my criticisms of Carlo was that subs were so predictable ,,,first after 60mins and usually like for like.

Sometimes when we are playing weaker sides who played with one up and parked the bus I failed to see the need for a holding midfielder .

These are two of the things i hope AVB might change

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Jose was also very pro active in the use of substitutions often changing the shape of the team.

One of my criticisms of Carlo was that subs were so predictable ,,,first after 60mins and usually like for like.

Jose used his subs way better than Carlo.There were games when we were down and Jose made Huth a CF. That was unexpected and confusing, but it worked. Carlo on he other hand, sometimes even ruined our gameplay with the subs(IE Stoke away last season).

We'll see how AVB reacts when the season starts.

[lionsden 4,689]

Jose used his subs way better than Carlo.There were games when we were down and Jose made Huth a CF. That was unexpected and confusing, but it worked. Carlo on he other hand, sometimes even ruined our gameplay with the subs(IE Stoke away last season).

We'll see how AVB reacts when the season starts.

Absolutely nothing can beat Carlo's Ferreira for Bosingwa substitution whenever we are short of ideas and desperately chasing a game.

[Blue Armour 4,436]

That's because when Carlo panics, he sees experience as the solution

[Styles 9,790]

I think our team is average for two reasons. The two reasons are:

we don't have midfielders who feel comfortable passing between lines i.e. if there is a gap then play the f*cking ball instead of going for the safer option.

none of our wide players/strikers can consistently drop into little pockets of space and recieve the ball on the half-turn which would give us momentum to go forward. Only Drogba does it sometimes and is capable of getting the ball and using his power to turn. Torres, Malouda, Kalou, Anelka cannot recieve the ball on the half turn quickly and move forward with the ball. We don't have a single player capable of dribbling with the ball in tight areas.

[Domino- 116]

Scheme with two wings and a typical ram should be continued.

It is clear that it have the greatest success.

Diamond did not us a taste.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

But we did play two full matches you know.

No we didn't. We saw 23 players in both games, featuring for 45 minutes, with three or four each half playing out of position, ie. Zhirkov cm, Yossi rw, Josh cdm, etc.

[Madmax 9,219]

Good piece on our pressing game this season on zonalmarking : http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/10/26/chelsea-villas-boas-pressing/

[Peace. 4,352]

After a night of reflexion, I came to the conclusion we are mistaking on the high defensive line. And we have failed to recognize where the real problem lies. Indeed, we put the fault on our defense - of course it is at fault - but the real problem lies down in our midfield.

To try to explain my theory, I'll start to make a little analyse of Barcelona FC, since they are the best club in the world, and they use this tactic perfectly.

I'll choose a non-conformal formation from the catalan side, on purpose to highlight the fact the midfielder play a crucial part in the good running of the high defensive line. Pep Guardiola decided to play with a 3-4-3 formation against Villareal (if my memory serves me right). The midfield was composed of Keita (as holding midfielder), Thiago Alcantara (as right midfielder), Iniesta (as left midfielder) and Fabregas (as n°10). The defense, was composed of Mascherano, Busquets and Dani Alves. This is a bit "shocking", two midfielders and a left back were composing the defense... Though, they didn't concede no goal, and weren't put in trouble at all. So, why ? Because these three players are world class defender ? No. Because Barça has an average of 75% of ball possession, and the midfielders barely give the ball away. Well then, let's ask ourselves why these midfielders don't give the ball away under any circumstance. This is because their passing games are among the best, they have a great skill, they know how to dribble two/three opponents and finaly, because they know to keep the ball under the pressure. Their players who fit this description are Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Thiago and Busquets.

Now, let's come back to Chelsea, and let's take a look to our squad. The only midfielder we have - at the moment (yes, Romeu could be mentionned, though too young yet) - who is similar to Barcelona's midfielders, is Mata. And the problem with him, is that he isn't played as a midfielder, but as a winger who cuts inside. The other players from the midfield just haven't the attributes to keep away the ball from the opponents.

Plus, our way of playing isn't right for the high defensive line, in the case where we do not have defenders suited for this style. Indeed, we don't play possession game, but a game on a high tempo, which means we will lose many more times the ball than if we were playing possession game. Thus, our defenders are more often facing situations where the other side will take profit of the space granted.

Hence, in my honest opinion, as long as we won't have skilful midfielders, this high defensive line won't work. Yes to play Luiz in the defence is a step forward to reach security while playing this tactic, but as long we won't have at least a midfielder able to keep the ball (Modric anyone ?), it will always be more or less catastrophic, to me eyes.

[Melanicus 5,208]

After a night of reflexion, I came to the conclusion we are mistaking on the high defensive line. And we have failed to recognize where the real problem lies. Indeed, we put the fault on our defense - of course it is at fault - but the real problem lies down in our midfield.

To try to explain my theory, I'll start to make a little analyse of Barcelona FC, since they are the best club in the world, and they use this tactic perfectly.

I'll choose a non-conformal formation from the catalan side, on purpose to highlight the fact the midfielder play a crucial part in the good running of the high defensive line. Pep Guardiola decided to play with a 3-4-3 formation against Villareal (if my memory serves me right). The midfield was composed of Keita (as holding midfielder), Thiago Alcantara (as right midfielder), Iniesta (as left midfielder) and Fabregas (as n°10). The defense, was composed of Mascherano, Busquets and Dani Alves. This is a bit "shocking", two midfielders and a left back were composing the defense... Though, they didn't concede no goal, and weren't put in trouble at all. So, why ? Because these three players are world class defender ? No. Because Barça has an average of 75% of ball possession, and the midfielders barely give the ball away. Well then, let's ask ourselves why these midfielders don't give the ball away under any circumstance. This is because their passing games are among the best, they have a great skill, they know how to dribble two/three opponents and finaly, because they know to keep the ball under the pressure. Their players who fit this description are Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Thiago and Busquets.

Now, let's come back to Chelsea, and let's take a look to our squad. The only midfielder we have - at the moment (yes, Romeu could be mentionned, though too young yet) - who is similar to Barcelona's midfielders, is Mata. And the problem with him, is that he isn't played as a midfielder, but as a winger who cuts inside. The other players from the midfield just haven't the attributes to keep away the ball from the opponents.

Plus, our way of playing isn't right for the high defensive line, in the case where we do not have defenders suited for this style. Indeed, we don't play possession game, but a game on a high tempo, which means we will lose many more times the ball than if we were playing possession game. Thus, our defenders are more often facing situations where the other side will take profit of the space granted.

Hence, in my honest opinion, as long as we won't have skilful midfielders, this high defensive line won't work. Yes to play Luiz in the defence is a step forward to reach security while playing this tactic, but as long we won't have at least a midfielder able to keep the ball (Modric anyone ?), it will always be more or less catastrophic, to me eyes.

Are you sure Barca's tactic will work in PL?

[Peace. 4,352]

Are you sure Barca's tactic will work in PL?

If you have players good enough, and players suited to this style, of course. Barça didn't destroy ManU in 2009 and 2011 ?

[Blue Armour 4,436]

Are you sure Barca's tactic will work in PL?

Its not the tactic by iself that's the problem...Its the ability of the team to retain possession in the middle of the park and protect the back four...Arsenal were allowed to play too many passes in the final third, and despite all our effort and emphasis on attacking football both teams also had roughly the same amount of possession by the end of the math..

[bluephoenix 1,131]

football is a passing game, we need to have a proper build up... we seem to be in a hurry to score goals thats not how we have to play ... we have to have a steady build up ... move slowly and steadily into the opposition's territory and then score when there is an opportunity to score... our players keep hammering the opposition's goal post from short and long range ...

[BlueDutchy 63]

http://youtu.be/IHRmXwLrpBI

This completes your story about Barcelona..