Provoking The Press: De Zerbi's Brighton Tactics Explained

Roberto De Zerbi continues to blow the Premier League away as Brighton continued their chase for European football with a 6-0 demolition of Julian Lopetegui’s Wolverhampton Wanderers. In Part 2 of this week’s The Premier League Review, Statman Dave explains how De Zerbi provokes the opposition press using his “Magic Box” using match analysis and statistical data to highlight just how effective Brighton are this season.
TIMECODES
00:00-00:12 Intro
00:12-04:58 Introduction To De Zerbi’s Brighton Tactics
04:58-09:29 Possession Examples From Brighton 6-0 Wolves
09:29-11:06 Introduction To De Zerbi’s Pressing Tactics
11:06-14:03 Pressing Examples From Brighton 6-0 Wolves
14:03-15:55 Conclusion + Outro
Download the SofaScore app to find out more about your clubs players! bit.ly/3pEnPPz
► SUBSCRIBE TO STATMAN DAVE CLIPS: bit.ly/StatmanDaveClipsYT
Welcome to Statman Dave Clips!
This channel features clips of all my best moments across Twitch & KZbin as I talk all things football including tactics, analysis and diving into individual player performances across all European Leagues.
Follow me across socials:
Twitter: / statmandave
Instagram: / statmandave
Facebook: / statmandave
► SUBSCRIBE to STATMAN DAVE: bit.ly/StatmanDaveKZbin

[@MrLePov]

I'm not a Brighton fan, but I hope they go from strength to strength. An absolute breath of fresh air with how they are run.

[@ginetto7433]

I remember when the ridiculous Scottish commentator (ex player) Graeme Souness, welcomed De Zerbi, saying he was worthless and that it wasn't fair that he coached in England. But what are you waiting for to apologize to him?

[@0810drew]

Because Souness has still bad memories of Italy.... when he was at the end of his career and he moved to serie A, and honestly his time spent playing in serie A wasn't t definitely to remember 😂😂 PS: probably he was so "busy" to watch the Scottish League games (4 games Celtic vs Rangers)😂😂 forgetting former successful Italian coaches in PL like Ranieri, Ancelotti, Mancini Vialli, Conte, Di Matteo, Zola, Guidolin, and I say... very soon De Zerbi...

[@tabletnovo1969]

Because souness is one of the worst managers that I have seen, almost every team he went only made it worst ( yes, including ridiculous transfers and things like that) and then he goes to skysports talk rubbish almost like himself was a sucessfull manager, which he never was.

[@Raul-xe3ms]

But where’s paul pogba in all of this!!

[@Rainstorm121]

He is the best in my opinion. Even Pep snipped his baiting tactics to defeat Arsenal.

[@petemills5704]

As a Brighton fan..by far the best analysis I’ve seen Dave ..thx 👏🏻👏🏻👍

[@StatmanDaveClips]

Cheers Pete

[@_Snapper]

This man is changing the game

[@SMANDAL0852124]

Brilliant breakdown video !!

[@TheReddances]

Yep! Totally agree, I try to watch every game from DZ's Brighton. Like a good lesson each time! Something like what I'd hoped UTD would be by now🙄

[@daviddowdall6000]

Great analysis Dave. Lewis Dunk is a baller. Underrated.

[@ferjb2]

Very good analysis

[@jeffhemsley8693]

Hi Statman, at present Brighton are the Beautiful Game and long live their aim, Jeff from Wolves

[@emmanuelonyono4517]

They play fantastic football with no doubt

[@sridharjorapur3422]

Brighton..... Are using deception and patience to succeed.... The way out seems to remain patient and see what they do with the ball😊 if not pressed

[@wemapaschal2325]

The issue not tactics good performance is good players in right position

[@harrypearson7599]

I’m so glad I’ve got a szn ticket next szn at the Amex

[@cybermanne]

If I remember the FA cup semifinal correctly, United dealt very well with the "trap" Brighton set up with all of a sudden going vertical when United committed people in the press. Both Lindelöf and Shaw were very alert when it came to closing down the forwards who dropped back into midfield to recieve these vertical balls. It's gonna be really interesting to see what this game tomorrow will look like. Maybe De Zerbi is stubbord enough to play exactly the same way, and the game will look similar. But I think that game mostly was dictated by United, even though Brighton's midfield kinda ran the show. But United's way of defending seemed to nullify their threat. And both Casemiro and Eriksen were probably a little bit off the pace in that game and should be a bit better tomorrow. So if both teams play the same way I think that would maybe favour United. So maybe De Zerbi has a card up his sleeve.

[@Rzarecteh]

Forest countered this a few weeks ago by playing a back 3 to provide the width and a diamond in midfield, worked really well

[@goych]

Still getting relegated though, was a tight game that went your way and ultimately fatigue caught up with Brightons first team squad. Well done the crowd though for behaving like you’re good!

[@chathurangafernando9172]

Brughton was playing at less than 50% percent capacity though. If they were playing at their level, without the clear uncharasric error they made the result would have been different mate.

[@goych]

@@chathurangafernando9172 yup, bit of a 50 50 game and forest came out on top fair play to them but they’re still in big trouble

[@petemills5704]

Brighton were very leggy sadly

[@goych]

@Matt Gee well done you

[@mmsjejrinside385]

City have now also started building with 6 players

[@manny6669]

United will follow suit next season.

[@Mars-kj8le]

5 actually

[@megasophierose]

What you dont highlight Dave is how nerve wracking inviting the press can be!!! We some times do it in our own 18 yard area and that really is squeaky bum time😬😬

[@Llekamania]

We will sit back and catch then on transition. A ten Hag masterclass loading...

[@kingjr1842]

Which tactical board do you use for your analysis?

[@chadherman3631]

Never getting an answer bruv

[@IndieGoFigure]

I was so nervous going in to the May fixture as an NUFC fan I was terrified Newcastle would run into the trap and be caught out, turns out our press was s o good it could five even this a run for its money, really looking forward to next season for the two systems to clash again.

[@issahussein1641]

Here we go again... you just beaten by that Tactics... De Zerbi is revolutionizing the game. It's a post-highpress era, Sir Alex Firgisun, Benitez and Ancelotti system of direct-quick attack was destroyed by high quality players in one team like Real Madrid's Glagticus and Milan to a certain extent. Pep's quick ball recovery and possession at Barća destroyed by Mourinho, Simeone, Conte, Alegeri (parking the bus). Then Comes Zidan who invented the Idea of marking the pivot (or any one who has the responsibility to bring the ball and connecting the lines). Next Pep revolutionized his ideas in the Prem by All-at one (high pressure, High quality players, possession priority, midfield is the real battle). Now we have this De Zerbi who is basically anti-modern football. he football is not a hyper-systematic, it's a functionalist football where high pressure costs you the match

[@IndieGoFigure]

@@issahussein1641 Yesterday was the game I was expecting last year, well played Brighton, especially Ferguson. Howe was complacent with both his tactics and team selection and was found out by de Zerbi as a result.

[@-dny-]

you should start a new channel, doing videos just like this but on football manager

[@benjaminantoine2558]

Reminds me of sarri ball

[@winstong7438]

❤

[@MrDanallman]

I hope De Zerbi will replace Ten Hag if he doesn't get top 4 this season, at the moment that is looking extremely unlikely.

[@olatundeband2796]

Statman, how can United beat Brighton

[@StatmanDaveClips]

Win 1 v 1 battles and make the most of counter attacks - don't think Man Utd can out-possession Brighton

[@olatundeband2796]

@@StatmanDaveClips Glad you responded. Means a lot .

[@theseagulls7035]

They won’t.

[@AJ-ry8qd]

​@@theseagulls7035 Delusional fool

[@manny6669]

@@theseagulls7035 they did

[@b.alexanderjohnstone9774]

‘Use’ is better English than ‘utilise’ nearly always. Otherwise great explanation.

[@roders007]

SEAGULLs

[@Jykobe491]

I think provoking the press is an overly simplistic tactic, with time teams will adapt easily

[@StatmanDaveClips]

Interesting, what do you think the adaptation will be?

[@kushagra77777]

​@@StatmanDaveClips mostly counter attacks and play mid block/low block are the only solutions in my opinion, or play man to man in the diamond box with pacy midfielders

[@Jykobe491]

@@StatmanDaveClipsa box is made up of 4 points or 4 players in this case. if a team lines up in a narrow 433 shape, they can use the cover shadow of the front three to cut out the passing lane to 3 out of the 4 players in the box Brighton uses for build-up and then use this as a reference to press the man on the ball, that way the man on the ball will have no passing options because 3 out of the 4 players are always covered even if he shifts the ball out wide. basically blocking the points of the box Brighton uses for build-up, I hope this was understood