The Tactics Thread

[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 4,287]

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 1,126]

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..

[LDN Blue 7,903]

http://youtu.be/IHRmXwLrpBI

This completes your story about Barcelona..

The most important element there, is a DMF than can keep up with the pace of the game, read the game & start an attacking incentive. = Oriol Romeu.

[BlueDutchy 63]

The most important element there, is a DMF than can keep up with the pace of the game, read the game & start an attacking incentive. = Oriol Romeu.

Agree..

Like the top comment says; Busquets is very important in that system. He is always the first one to press and barely makes any mistakes. I think Romeu is even more important and he could fill in the same roll as Busquets does. But when you try to cpoy a tactic like that, you have to do it right. The 'six-second rule' is very important for Barcelona and one of the ways it's working for Barcelona. However we aren't doing this. At Chelsea, there is always just one player pressing instead of a whole bunch of players. This way teams like Arsenal can easily 'football their way out'

[CHOULO19 24,332]

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.

I'm not a fan of high line defending, but I have to say it had nothing to do with any of the goals we conceded yesterday:

1: No covering from Iva allowing gervinho to drift behind him

2: Bossingwa should be executed for this one. I saw the goal 4 times and I still can't see where he was. Sturridge shares the blame as well since it was the LB who scored.

3: Unacceptable defending from everyone involved in the play. Especially embarrassing for JT and Iva.

4: A combination of dreadful back pass from Malouda and an unlucky slip from JT.

5: Counter attack from Arsenal when we had everyone in attack in the added time, can't really blame anyone. (Though I still think Petr should've done better)

I'm not saying that high line defense is the best way for us, I just think that maybe the Arsenal game should not be the match upon which we base our judgment on high-line defending because our defenders were having such an awful day.