Sharing some footage from one of our recent games (the 1–1 draw at home against IFK Norrköping, approximately two weeks ago). For me, this sequence captures some of the principles that I value a lot in attacking football. Attracting the pressure. Identifying the free man. Following the press. 3rd man combinations. Playing against the opponent’s press direction. Diagonality. Feet towards the goal. In the video, we begin by inviting the press, creating a free man. We then follow the press and link the play, allowing us to use a 3rd man combination to find the free man and bypass the first press. From there, we enter the wide channel. The opponent tries to force us out – but by breaking their press direction with a diagonal pass inside, we open up the pitch again. Playing against the opponent’s press direction like this (against the opponent’s collective momentum), is something that I see as one of the most important principles for thriving attacking football. Since many teams try to squeeze you over the sideline once you’re out in the wide areas, it becomes absolutely crucial to develop this type of diagonal play (i.e. going inside again after being out in those wide areas). Finally, the situation in the video develops into one of my favourite attacking scenarios. We have now moved further up the pitch, and we can see that the ball holder can choose to either play the ball directly down deep into the path of the curved half space run - or connect diagonally inside, potentially for a subsequent 3rd man combination. Notice the detail of how our player running in the half space swiftly adjusts his body positioning as soon as the ball holder selects the inside pass into the central corridor, making sure he's ready for the potential 3rd man combination with his feet pointing towards the opponent’s goal. That creates the right type of conditions for a dangerous through ball on the blind side of the defender (once he shifts his focus to the new ball holder centrally). It’s all in the details. No fixed patterns, everything relies on principles. With principles to guide them, players can adapt and find different solutions depending on which space the opponent leaves open. --- What are your principles for attacking football?
Känner igen och relaterar till dina principer. En central anfallsprincip för mig är spel på tredje-man men även att bryta motståndarnas presslinje i ett tidigt skede. Att aktivera spel på en halvvänd tredje-man vid mottagning av boll när vi brytit motståndarnas första presslinje gör att vi snabbt kan avancera framåt rättvända med boll. Kan vi komma rättvända med boll kan nästa viktiga anfallsprincip för mig aktiveras, nämligen tomma löp. Kan vi använda oss utav tomma löp för att dra isär motståndarnas försvar kommer attraktiva ytor uppstå där vi kan sätta våra yttrar/anfallare i situationer som de är bra på, nämligen utmana med fart 1vs1. Vi kan även understödja 1vs1-situationerna för att skapa 2vs1 men även för att kunna aktivera spel på tredje-man längre fram i banan. Exempelvis vänsterytter utmanar där vänster 8:a understödjer för en 2vs1 och ytter passar till vänster 8 som hittar i djup på 9a/ högerytter.
Looking for senior frontend, backend & frontend devs to join Walley in Gothenburg. If you thrive in autonomous teams, I’d love to chat!
1moThe only principle is to always have Totte Nyman in your team.🙃