How To Beat a Low Block

How To Beat a Low Block
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Parking the bus, defending deep, a low block, these are all tactics aimed at frustrating the opposition and defending in numbers. Hard to beat, but not impossible to beat.
As Alex Stewart explains there are ways to beat a low block.
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Informative, illustrated football analysis. Home of WhiteboardFootball®.
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#LowBlock #ParkTheBus #FootballTactics

[@THEMattyBlackburn]

As a Burnley fan I demand you take this down immediately.

[@oscarcrampton2941]

Jose has seen

[@Harisankar-ce2vd]

A Burnley fan with the surname of _Blackburn_ ? Jeeeez...😬😅 That's pretty awkward.. isn't it ?

[@nytrex_yt7417]

As a Spurs Fan I won’t take this down for later 😂

[@norris6744]

😂😂

[@THEMattyBlackburn]

@Prajwol Joshi The word "Curse" has never been more appropriate

[@thecheapace793]

The 3 dislikes are pulis, Bruce and dyche

[@littyagain]

And Hodgson 😞

[@iwantgoals1566]

Underrated comment

[@ajmalaj4381]

Forgot the greatest of them all ? Big Sam

[@seandunne861]

Rodgers

[@vishnumahesh9935]

And arteta

[@christopherairiemiokhale7891]

Alternative title: Burnley & Newcastle exposed

[@sherifddin-9612]

Lmao

[@sherifddin-9612]

Crystal palace too

[@G17x]

@h screen Artetaball

[@G17x]

They're already exposed, just to get more exposed una😭

[@jmckendry84]

Burnley vs Newcastle, the immovable object versus the immovable object

[@robjones9696]

Every top club: WRITE THAT DOWN WRITE THAT DOWN

[@egregiouseel]

What a perfect timing to post this video after Arsenal Leicester game 👏👍

[@syahmietherattlehead]

💯

[@duothchuol5518]

Yep Tito is an Arsenal fan

[@duothchuol5518]

He’s reacting against our loss against Leicester

[@Arvynm]

He kinda put arsenal on the vid tho. North london red

[@taongaluo9937]

This video is for Arsenal 2:31 (North London Red)

[@fa7234]

Next episode, How to beat high pressing teams like Liverpool and Bayern Munich. Press Like so Tifo can see it.

[@Anonymous-hj7yv]

Low block😂

[@messismo1058]

It's very difficult lol

[@Ikan3103]

Ask Zidane

[@imanafdar]

better player

[@tamimhusain3376]

Real Madrid style

[@Bagster321]

Love all the small subtle visual gags and details in this video. Fantastic work Tifo.

[@rohannim3100]

The problem is that now teams have generally started to use low block with 5 at the back and 4 in the midfield and leaving just one at top for counters. There is no free space on the wings with two defenders marking the winger. Its difficult to switch because the 5 defenders also provide width.

[@ramihilwani1843]

They can resort to deep crosses.

[@ChrisMDi]

That is untill you face delle ali😂 He was one of the best player when facing a low block team but boii just wasted his talent

[@alexanderomucheyi1857]

The guy only analysed Guardiola's and Klopp's method of breaking the low block but ignored Mourinho's. The third and easiest way to break low blocks is through second balls. Just put bouncing balls in the box and wait for poor clearances or confusion or deflections or ricochets and shoot the loose balls from the melee that arises. This is what Steven Gerrard, Lampard, Kuyt, Ballack etc specialized in.

[@abhijithraj3047]

Tell this to Arsenal, they are strugling

[@EnglishforFOOTBALLFANS]

Arsenal remind me of Palace this season.

[@ondank]

I mean if you speak PES, then this video was quite clearly aimed at arsenal 2:26

[@finlaycraig1810]

Arsenal park the bus themselves

[@yousifalnasser3192]

They play a low block themselves

[@MohamedAhmed-ms9eu]

@@ondank only real ballers speak PES

[@jcxkzhgco3050]

Please send this to Simeone. Although atleti play with a low block often, they struggle against other teams that have low block.

[@danofthesouth]

They've been decent creatively this season

[@youtubeisnotajob4103]

Manchester United need this They can play through, but absolutely no width(that might change with telles)

[@kamogelodhlakama4945]

That might change with Telles, VDB and Cavani. VDB and Cavani's movements in the box will help a lot in such scenarios with a mixture of good crosses coming in from Telles. The thing that Man Utd is lacking to perfect such is lack of Football IQ and vision to create those passes. Only Bruno and Mata can manage that and that sucks for your team. As well as lack of movement from everyone that is going to make this a bit hard to execute in low block scenarios

[@youtubeisnotajob4103]

@@kamogelodhlakama4945 truly The squad is so young, we needed older players despite it being against the present philosophy Each of them good at something but not smart enough to cover up for their mistakes

[@dodge33cymru]

Note that Manchester United are currently using the low block themselves to great effect in some games, it's been part of their success when taking on big teams under Solskjaer - one of the most potent counter-attacking units in England at the moment when they're given the chance. You're right that they're struggling against this system though.

[@kamogelodhlakama4945]

@@youtubeisnotajob4103 exactly, we will definitely see what will happen as time goes. So far there is progress here and there as soon as the team starts integrating well and the coach improves the tactical awareness with different scenarios then Man Utd could actually be a better team then previous years

[@kamogelodhlakama4945]

@@dodge33cymru a really good point. It think it comes down to using good tactical awareness at different scenarios. Of which is something that's becoming evident as games go by. But I don't know that's just my opinion and perspective

[@DarthW11]

Low Block, what a fancy way to say Park The Bus method.

[@jayy3757]

Park the Bus is the fancy way to say Low Block Mr.FIFA

[@homosapien5156]

Low block is exactly what it's said. Parking the bus is a fancy way to say it

[@nabidc61]

Haven't heard that word since Chelsea in 2012.

[@jdjzr9343]

@@nabidc61 Suprisingly Chelsea did it against Real Madrid today

[@kolyxix]

Low block is chelsea's weaknesses. We have failed miserably when teams park the bus on us.

[@M4rioL]

File name in video is Passin Me By and name drop Pharcyde. I see what you did there Tifo. Classic hip hop song😉

[@passenger128]

3:24 'Activate Skynet' :D

[@charlesb5025]

great spot! 😂

[@mdma2078]

3:34 'add/remove racoons'

[@yahyakhan6753]

The subtle details in the videos make them hilarious as well as informative. The file extension .tifo, the camera, and North London Red in the question.

[@bilalahmedshariff5576]

Definitely, an extremely valuable video

[@IvanMasiyazi]

"NORTH LONDON RED" I'M CRYING 😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@trayano]

Always wanted to see such a vid as my team usually plays against low blocks and they simply can't score. Keep up the good work

[@tumbikani739]

City?

[@fikilesondach62]

@@tumbikani739 Yes, City is forever having this problem. Only Liverpool play against them a normal high-intensity game. Every other team just sits back and run the time out. If lucky they hit on the counter.

[@tumbikani739]

I know exactly how you feel. That’s exactly why I wanted to watch this video. I’m a city fan too and it’s so frustrating 😔

[@trayano]

@@tumbikani739 it's not City but it applies to every team which plays with intensity and the lower tier clubs can't outplay them

[@blackmanta2527]

@@tumbikani739 united

[@Raevgift]

Such a high quality video, in art detail and creativity. When it comes to the Athletic and your association with each other, I actually think they're the most fortunate.

[@BRNakamura]

At times, when I have nothing to do, I pick a random Tifo video, and I always end up learning something.

[@Tifo]

That's a great game to play!

[@omijbhabha]

The new animations and the live face cam videos are just tooo good and the Tifo camera

[@gavinpikcom9834]

These videos are just so high quality, thank you Tifo Football!

[@humamfa]

Ole and Arteta: Write that down, write that down!

[@LongNguyen-mm7nf]

Lol now it’s more like Klopp

[@ayushmanagrawal7401]

Production and Content quality is just one of the best👍🏽

[@MattSaysHello]

Why didn’t someone send this to Arteta before the game with Leicester?

[@martytu20]

Arsenal tried the first method. They actually scored before Xhaka was ruled “offside by influencing the keeper”.

[@josiahvoisin7991]

@@martytu20 seriously how was that disallowed,

[@josiahvoisin7991]

Im not even an Arsenal fan, it just didn't make sense.

[@tawermeister99]

Arsenal did break the low block. Just didn’t finish the move.

[@Az_Pacino]

@@josiahvoisin7991 its var, killing the beautiful game ffs

[@combustingheads]

Great content as always, but the aesthetic and presentation is excellent! Unique and clear. A very good look for Tifo.

[@12thMandalorian]

The thumbnail had me thinking everyone was holding hands, like the players were on a Fussball table

[@thomasmarsh9991]

The animations on this are brilliant, well done!

[@kelon5775]

Sees this video *Adjust my tactics in football manager to play Athletics Madrid*

[@julian2870]

facts

[@corpse6193]

Atletico

[@abhishekrajbhoj6849]

Same bro same I face Atletico in CL next Tifos timing couldn't be more perfect

[@shottskies]

Agree with your analysis. What i would add as that you can use the space left in yours and the middle third of the pitch to relax, and pass the ball around a bit. What you can do is keep your wingers high and your fullbacks in line with your centre halves (or just not too advanced) and let your full backs advance the ball so far that it their winger gets tempted into going in to defend them. This will open them up and create space for your players to move into and get something going. Your analysis is correct. it is very difficult to break them down through the middle. You must try and draw their players out of position as much as possible and use width and switches. If they decide to keep their back four compact and use their winger to cover the flank this should open up space for your fullback to put a cross in from an advanced position however crosses from wide are actually not a particularly effective strategy against a low block when the opposition is on the front foot as they have the numbers in the middle and are facing the ball head on. Your threat from wide crosses in this instance only comes from the fact that you can put in so many and hopefully one might result in a goal. Contemporary tactics such as false fullbacks, invented wingers etc started being used by the top, forward thinking coaches as ways to try and overcome lesser opposition trying to use low blocks. Klopp uses fast and aggressive counters and quick, long and diagonal passes

[@simiqz]

Mesut Ozil needs to email this to Arteta ASAP

[@ashGT40]

the graphics was very pleasing on the eye good job guys

[@moncefecw3131]

Nice video bro cuz of your videos I started loving football once more

[@14loosecannon]

2:24 North London Red 😭. Someone send this to Arteta please!

[@godlistenmuro9313]

Appreciating your best work Tifo 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉✍️✍️✍️👍👍💪💪💪

[@syahmietherattlehead]

2:32 North London Red. yup pretty much Arsenal after Leicester game lmao

[@parthagarwal36]

Let me tag Guardiola! He might need it, seeing him struggle in recent times 🙏

[@Eric4presidente]

Dude seriously, and what makes it worse is that City doesn’t have an aerial threat at all

[@Jjjof]

@@Eric4presidente what? They dont need one. The seasons they won they had no real aerial threat and they dominated because their defense and attackers were solid. Now they have substandard wingers and dwindling defenders not to midfielders that dont always defend. I think that's what has caused them to struggle

[@Eric4presidente]

@@Jjjof so what you’re saying is that they had weapons and advantages that compensated for that area of attack but now they don’t? They may not have needed that in 2017/18/19 but it would sure be nice to open that part of their attack up considering they don’t have the aforementioned quality anymore. Sane and Silva were huge for us. Aguero is oft-injured. The record breaking club might not return so City has to evolve. But I do see your point

[@Jjjof]

@@Eric4presidente yes precisely, they dont have as good players as they did 2 seasons ago and the real difference makes have gone or declined Silva, kompany, aguero and sane. But even at that when man city played their best an aerial threat was never a deciding factor I think. but I really think you're over emphasising the effects of an aerial threat. It would be nice but it may not change much.

[@Eric4presidente]

@@Jjjof perhaps, but like you said “it would be nice.” To say we don’t need an aerial threat because we didn’t two seasons ago when we had players of that caliber is underestimating that part of the game. Especially when City are struggling to manufacture goals right now. We have the most gifted passer in the world, I think he would benefit from someone who could go over the top. Maybe I’m frustrated because Sterling has been abysmal in front of goal and Mahrez has been useless on the pitch

[@jaylucas8352]

The high percentage of goals against low blocks come from short passes just to the side of the goal back into the penalty area. These short crosses on the ground are very difficult to defend against as the defender can’t see forwards running in behind

[@atosishpradhan3402]

What a time to Post this video. Just after arsenal defeat against Leicester... Damn. This guy is a legend ♥️♥️❣️❣️

[@alfiewright1396]

Caught that Pharcyde - Passin Me By reference 😀

[@georgeezomo3883]

Best channel on KZbin ❤. Especially for Football Manager students 😅

[@jordanlomulder1636]

These kind of video's I like the most!

[@sidharthgautam8989]

so much quality in these animations

[@ashwinkumarm6800]

"Additional marks for doodles" 😂😂😂

[@ballislife6086]

Whatever you've said about trying to break the system looks great but it has been out classed by Simeone himself when he went on against Liverpool way before covid 19 stopped football. Watch that match in full and you'll understand or maybe the analysis of the match. To me that was part of the best match I've seen. 🙌🏼💯

[@ChocolateMilkCultLeader]

High level as always.

[@SGProductions87]

I needed this for my FM save

[@chrisandrademusic]

Excellent!! You should be proud of yourself. 👍👍👍

[@whyfi1141]

This channel does have a way of explaining things really well. I'm a huge football fan and all of the information in this video was obvious to me but it was clear regardless COYB 🔵 Tuchelsea are coming in the next couple of years

[@skoveche2k]

File: Passin'.Me.By.tfo - players on the far-side/pharcyde. Nice one Tifo

[@strikefire2000]

damn those animations are next level

[@bigpanda4051]

You have the best football channel other than the NFL

[@TinyBudha]

The voiceover for this channel is so Iconic

[@Alfredsson14]

Great, great and again....Great video

[@tawermeister99]

Anyone spot the ‘activate skynet button’ whenever he clicked on the ‘edit’ dropdown menu. Nice Easter 🥚

[@TheSm1thers]

Wasn't it in 'file'?

[@helmilentor9393]

Tried the tactics on FM and it works

[@shantanuchadha441]

Really good video!

[@NicholasOG]

Rogers masterclass 👌🏾

[@ArsenalHenryForever]

North London Red and Lancashire Claret 😂 subtle nod to the better football game out there

[@callumlomas508]

Very well timed chaps

[@gokulrajm5407]

Another stat attack 🔥

[@nehemiahjacobs1987]

Can we just talk about that new animation it's awesome tifo Football 3:35

[@subrahmanyanvravishankar2152]

I agree as teams become attacking with more money the teams with less money start becoming low block . U can see that in Spain after rm,barca domination. It is changing as they are becoming weak comparatively. Same in France and may be bottom half of Bundesliga ,5-6 sides in serie a like Verona. But in epl if money widens and title holders become more predictable than bottom half start playing defensively.

[@BalaKrishnan-fy1pf]

Do one video on the best formation to use all the best players and best starting 11 for man Utd.. we have so much options like de beek, Fred, pogba in midfield, and rashford, martial, greenwood, cavani in attack..

[@gavingrant8254]

Nice timing to post this with norwich

[@winerooster]

Alternative title: How Bayern smashed Atletico's parked bus to pieces...

[@lp3198]

The 2 goals they concelded were from bayren counter attack.

[@DS-cf3ru]

Could you make Part 2 - How should Arsenal have played against Leicester? Arteta did try to attack the wide areas, with both Tierney and Bellerin bombing forward, and Xhaka and Ceballos covering the wide areas incase they got caught on the counter. But as a result, Arsenal failed to dominate the midfield and create enough chances for the attack.

[@dayansiddiqui4426]

This is great content right here. Analysis of the metagame, the strategies and tactics being used and the arms race that creates new strategies and tactics to counter the prevailing ones and render them obsolete. I understand that a content creation channel has to make content for an active and engaged market so I do hope there are viewers for this sort of stuff because I would love to see more or it. Instead of garbage filler pieces like how Gaddafi tried to buy ManU. One suggestion, use actual game footage to illustrate your point. Other creators like Nouman already do it and I understand that may not mean there is no legal risk but I think you should seriously check whether analysis of game footage comes under transformative work because that would simply elevate this content

[@karthikgarimella2131]

Alice the animations are fantastic

[@MattMajcan]

I hope i can use this in my FM career because boy do i need it

[@franksonm]

Very creative presentation.

[@sebm2109]

please do a video on the Génération Foot academy in senegal if you see the alumni list you will know why also they seem to be heavily scouted by metz

[@zeksizeski858]

Very good video, pls continue with these tactical explanations. Maybe how to beat atalanta? They successful with their style of play and score a lot of goal, but how come other teams have no counter to it?

[@salegrb9793]

Ask Napoli

[@ronaldt2339]

if other teams have no counter to it, they would've lift a Serie A/ UCL trophy already.

[@bungeespeaks6081]

@@ronaldt2339 facts

[@floabdosando2727]

Someone send Ole this!!. He always struggles against lesser teams.

[@babayemiolumide336]

this video helped in in my school exam

[@supercoolbananas]

Arteta needed this video a week ago

[@matthewcopping3473]

this is more interesting than it should be

[@hannesp3493]

I like how this video is so implicitly directed at Mikel Arteta

[@xexinhuxD]

You should watch the Portuguese League teams against FCPorto, that's truly playing with the bus behind, and it's almost impossible to break

[@Clemzysmith]

Best way is to watch this video as fast as possible

[@contactshakya]

Does that mean I download and watch this in 8X speed?? 😂😂😂

[@aj-wn4ps]

Talk about how pinning and drawing in movements are used to occupy and draw out defenders !

[@jodenmintoor]

Could you pleeeease do more tactical videos just like this one

[@KubesC37]

Ole should’ve watched this video before he set up that Utd team against Villareal 😂. This man played right into Emery’s palm.

[@alimortazavi]

I'm using this video for next weekend league

[@MarioGarcia-hm6hu]

Today's match of Tottenham vs Man City was precisely this. Pep tried to play wider but to no avail.

[@rikupv]

This is basically a tutorial on how to win games in fifa ultimate team 😂

[@jonl8816]

Underrated comment

[@triggerfinger7831]

As a Chelsea fans, I demand the coach and the staff to look at this video right away

[@r0mario96]

This video made me appreciate Firmino's role in Liverpool even more.

[@MartyD]

Even the tactical discussion of the low block is frustrating! 😭

[@jamunabose1543]

I wish you had made this before that Arsenal vs Leicester match.

[@DrDysfunctionaL88]

Arteta seriously needs to watch this!

[@FULANODETAL]

Use DIEGO COSTA... that is how Lopetegui breaked the buses during 2016 and 2018..and as spanish we suffer the parking bus style since 2008

[@DJGXN]

Ole needs to watch this

[@tolgaunuvar98]

I think you can add klopps gegenpressing to that list as an option of break low block

[@k_rimi3.455]

I will need this for FM2021

[@killercaos123]

It would be so cool if you guys got to interview Ben Foster The Cycling GK

[@23lFrench]

Use the width, make sure you get a good amount of players in the box and whip crosses in. Play two centrally creative players so you can move the ball quickly with precision.

[@jaylucas8352]

I think it’s even more effective to drive into the box and look for tight passes one twos or shorter passes on the ground from the side of the goal into the penalty area , very difficult to defend these passes as the defender can’t see forwards cutting in behind him.

[@jb175]

Bielsa needs to watch this we always struggle against the low block.

[@varunmani3568]

Sure he's more than well aware. We faced enough of this in the Championship In his second season we were brilliant at luring in teams hitting them quickly on the counter. We'll do the same soon this season...

[@paramthakkar7120]

Managers should also watch this

[@espben360]

Where do you buy a tifo ipad? 4:10