Why are modern football formations so confusing? (feat. Girona)

[@dsuniverse132]

Thats why Ancelloti barely stresses during games compared to positional managers like Arteta and Guardiola

[@GNMbg]

I am wondering if he can beat this Arsenal in an UCL game

[@abheykalia5393]

​@@GNMbgfirst beat lens

[@MerrillDragonAge]

​@@abheykalia5393first beat Man City

[@MerrillDragonAge]

Ancelotti has his own weapon 🤨

[@hungotuan4431]

Or our man is so experienced that he is able to hide his stress from the camera 😂

[@rod6722]

Curious to see your next video about Wenger! I've seen various people make the case that in this new era of positional football (largely spearheaded by Guardiola) we've seen a rise of the bottom 50% of players, who have become better due to the increasing focus on tactics. But that it also took some creativity away, which would be why the top 1% of players in this generation aren't as good as those of the previous one. And I think it has some merit. Managers like Wenger and Ferguson put more emphasis on individual creativity, which was an ideal environment for exceptional players to shine.

[@MerrillDragonAge]

Where has he said his next video will be on Wenger

[@kyrrer]

@@MerrillDragonAge Indicated at the end of this one with the choice of image as he was talking about his next vid. Though I suppose not _about_ Wenger, but likely he's an example of the type of manager he'll speak about.

[@MerrillDragonAge]

@@kyrrer 🙏🏾

[@Saeroye]

Lack of creativity for individual players reducing under positional play style lead to increase of games won and collective effort. Something had to give with control and chance higher it’s small price to pay for managers, in the grand scheme of things. Winning trumps everything even at cost of creativity of individual player being reliant to be bigger effect.

[@nyukechen]

@@Saeroyethis so would be fair if ancelotti and klopp who let creativity fly haven’t literally been to the most champions league finals in the last 10 years. This play guranteed beating bad teams but does not gurantee beating the good ones.

[@finnblower7075]

Football is changing rapidly....the days where individual stars like messi,cr7,neymar,r9,ronaldinho and maradona making all the difference in the match have faded away.This may also be the reason we dont see young upcoming players with overwhelming skills and flair like messi and neymar were when they were teens.

[@thatissomeBS]

Messi became Messi under Pep. He was good as a teen, he became the goat after Pep. Also, Haaland is notching more goals than appearances with Pep. Positional play isn't a detriment to the players, it allows the players to flourish within a system that provides support.

[@finnblower7075]

@@thatissomeBS actually the opposite....even pep admits that....in barcelona Messi is the system...Pep has said that the only player he wouldn't ever bench was messi

[@michealadebunmi8141]

​@@thatissomeBS haaland is scoring cos he is heavily facilitated at man city, and does not involve in their build up play, we are talking Abt players that can change d game by grabbing d ball dribbling 2 or 3 men and slapping it top bin, haaland can't do that in a million years, players like grealish can do that but he is being restricted heavily cos of pep which is very sad cos players like grealish will thrive so much if given more freedom

[@patrickbateman1660]

​@@thatissomeBSmessi went through multiple phases in his career and did better without pep.

[@benedictjajo]

​@@thatissomeBSyou do realise that pep didn't win the champions league for 10 years after leaving Barca? He couldn't do it at Bayern despite Bayern having a great squad of players. He couldn't do it at city before Halaand arrived. Pep is a great coach but to say that he shaped Messi is outright wrong. Pep can't win the biggest club level trophy without having the best player of the generation in his team.

[@silvesta5027]

People complain that football players aren’t as brilliant as previous generations, but people forget it’s ultimately a team sport. Teams are so much better nowadays than they were even 20 years ago it’s remarkable. The intensity of press, athleticism, build up, out of possession structures, it’s leagues above what it used to be

[@daniaaal]

Agreed. A combination of sports science, technological advancements on analysis on games have also helped to improve the way managers think of the game as well. I argue that man-managers like Sir Alex Ferguson would have a harder time dealing with current teams since he cannot just rely on sheer motivation of his players.

[@neel8407]

​@@daniaaallook at Carlo Ancelotti He is using the balanced combination of man management and structural game. Football is not all about having a great tactics. Because each strategy has a negative side. If a coach can expose it then he is better manager. Maybe through individual brilliance or through strategic dominance

[@jehvanmontieth1292]

​@daniaaal Yet Carlo ancelotti is the most successful modern day manager. Next in line is Zinadine Zidane.

[@jakadalla]

​@jehvanmontieth1292 What are you smoking, dude? How is Carlo Ancheloti, the most successful manager?

[@jehvanmontieth1292]

@jakadalla A title in every league he's been in and the most champions league titles. He is the best. I was wrong to say the most successful but he is arguably the best.

[@DanJiang]

Nice analysis. I haven't watched Girona's game this season and they are doing superbly. Your understanding of their formation and shape helped me to understamd why they are doing so well.

[@houdinisplug]

Great video as always, switching to a 3-6-1 in possession against low blocks is something I've been seeing a lot of managers doing recently, most famous example being City vs Inter in the UCL final with Stones moving from the pivot to the half space. I also think it's why we are seeing a rise in fullbacks that are able to operate in the half space at an elite level such as Miguel, TAA, Zinchenko, Mazraoui, Estupinan just to name a few.

[@oneword5217]

Man I really like your videos. Your take in these videos intuitively seems closer to the reality than other KZbinrs' take (e.g. how presence/absence of talented players can magnify/nullify the coach's tactics). I've learned quite a number of things from your videos, which is nice for someone like me who wants to be a coach in my retirement years but doesn't have time to take coaching classes right now 😊 And one critical feedback, your videos tend to focus more on LaLiga/Barcelona and it would be nice to see your take on other leagues and teams. But your latest videos seem to be heading in this direction so that's really exciting!!

[@thepurist_]

That’s really kind feedback, thanks. I have a few videos planned that branch out from La Liga/Barca, so stay tuned!

[@johnnahason4851]

I love the fact that you take Girona and other clubs as example not the big clubs.

[@GNMbg]

its not just a random team, they are doing incredibly good so far being 2nd behind Real in LaLiga

[@RahulBonnerjee]

Brilliant vid. Was wondering how Girona were keeping up with Barcelona and the Madrid teams and then you dropped this 👏👏

[@thepurist_]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@Kgosi-z9m]

Please have a look at Mamelodi sundowns from South Africa they also tend to follow these modern trends.

[@innocentgoitseone3715]

He won't since mamelodi Sundowns is not evolving football tactics but copying what is trending. A common trait in Africa. While Europe and south america innovate and evolve tactics. Coaches in Africa need to evolve tactics to get attention, like their south american counterparts.

[@Zamunda-]

​@@innocentgoitseone3715looks like you watch a lot of African club football.

[@qlaakumworld]

@@innocentgoitseone3715💯💯

[@its_master_Roshi]

Most of the Spanish teams nowadays use a 5 man defence which is irritating and boring to watch. Just defend and counter.

[@ryanfinnerty6239]

It’s the easiest way to defend overloads, though I agree

[@raymanLENG]

you EARNED my subs! this is a brilliant way to actually explain the tactical side of a football match to ppl who genuinely think Arsenal vs City last week was boring! that match was so engaging yet so complicated it was like a chess match. some ppl who don't really follow the development of modern football would think otherwise.

[@Sports-xo7wy]

This philosophy doesn't work well when playing against a team that is gonna put pressure on you. Man City struggles to move the ball when they are pressed high, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa also struggles to move the ball against a high pressing team. The best formation for Tiki Taka is a 4-3-3 with players forming triangles and a 4-4-2 diamond. No matter how high you get pressed you still gonna retain the ball because of triangles

[@chidinganyadi6796]

But Girona starts using a 4-3-3

[@hungotuan4431]

Different game states require different 'shapes', so a lot of formations or 'shapes' are used. Kind of self-explanatory if you are used to watching positional play coaches like Pep.

[@immerschoendynamischbleiben]

Fantastic video! I wonder if you could take a look at Leverkusen from Germany as they play a magnificent football at the moment under Xabi Alonso

[@niklasbirksted8175]

Great video dude, analysis like this really separate you from other football chanels.

[@omadduxo]

I think that we have to move away from the physical position on the pitch to thinking in positional duties. Teams don't move around the pitch in a perfect 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-1-2 formation but every player is moving around depending on their duties during the different phases of the game. The defensive players in a 3-1-x-x formation are acting like a standard back-4 with the outside centre-backs being covering fullbacks, the middle centre-back is on a cover duty too and the #6 in front of him is a centre-back on stopper duty. And so on. And a 3-1-6 formation isn't that hard to defend against as you can see in the video. The first defensive line has no one to cover and can focus on closing passing lanes only. The last defensive line is sitting in a space with 6 attackers, that is so packed that some of the defenders can effectively cover 2 attackers at the same time. They just need to move a bit to the left or the right depending on where the ball is going. And there is no vertical movement from the attackers that could drag defenders out of position to create spaces. The whole attacking structure depends on someone beating his man in a 1v1 and then a defender missing the tackle or fails to block the pass. The bad ones of course. Good teams are nominally play in a 3-1-6 formation but move around a lot to create spaces. But then they arend't in a 3-1-6 formation, except for maybe 5 seconds at a time and then not anymore for the next 2 minutes. That's why some teams are great when using a 3-1-6 and others suck. It's all about the movement.

[@zatharigo7815]

this so much

[@nwaoparathankgod779]

You broke down the intent on the part of coaches. Which is nice..we now appreciate these coaches better because of you

[@peixe_do_dallas8510]

Great video as always. Do you think xavi could use a 3-1-6 with Romeu as the 6 or could he use another one as the pivot?

[@olusojisylvestertomilola6445]

He is not as press resistant neither does he have the vision to be the sole build

[@peixe_do_dallas8510]

@@olusojisylvestertomilola6445 Do you think he could push up and not be involved in the build up or could someone else be the sole build or the team would lose stability on the counter?

[@crevesfan8215]

that wouldn't work imo bc romeu can not cover 2 defensive spaces alone and in posession he is not reliable

[@notnotnownow9622]

Xavi is very poor as coach, he doesn't know how to get the best out of each player.

[@nakdickson]

​@@notnotnownow9622okay expert.

[@hulan2033]

To be honest Im conflicted when it comes to this. As a Real Madrid I have seen what individual brilliance can do from Marcelo, Modric, Kroos, Bale, Karim to CR7. The game is changing and it seems like the next phase for Real will be structured probably by Alonso. I hope it does not limit the freedom of Vini and Rodrigo very much

[@jonathana6943]

Love your videos. Gives me so much more understanding of the game

[@thepurist_]

Glad to hear it :)

[@thedeansmith]

Great content. Among the best Tubers for sure

[@mrhenu]

This was the best explanation on positional football I've seen. The Purist is the GOAT!

[@PETROVICGAMES]

Thank you for this video. This is the kind of question that I ask myself sometimes 😂😂 and dont even know where to look for answers or even who to talk to, since people will think its a crazy question. Keep up the good work 🎉🎉🎉

[@caseymclane1972]

3-1-6 is exactly what Lens look like in possession most of the time and is arguably one of the keys to our success!

[@worldcupppppp735]

The French team in ligue one

[@GNMbg]

what do you think is the reason for Lens' slow start of the season ? Was Wahi the missing link in the beginning ?

[@caseymclane1972]

@@GNMbg yes I think so, plus we need to sort out the midfield again, with Séko gone we have to find balance, plus idk what the recruitment were thinking NOT signing more defenders this summer, we already had fatigue and injury issues last season even without the CL fixtures, atm we just don't have enough quality backup

[@lmaoo31]

Lens and success? Success at 15th at table? This guy smokin ass

[@YoJesusMorales]

Great video. I don't think you cover women's football, but with them being slower and a bit less explosive in the acceleration, have there been any progress out of necessity in tactics? I imagine positional attacks should be more advantageous.

[@jonathana6943]

He covered some women football with a preview to the wwc. I think he might have a vieo on barceolna's women team as well

[@CharlesOffdensen]

In the 50ies a vary popular formation was using a central forward, two wingers, two attacking midfielders behind the front three, two DMs and three defenders. There were four lines, but the system was written everywhere as 3-2-5. They didn't count how many players played in each line, but how many defenders, midfielders and attackers there were. Now, it could be written as 3-2-5 or as 3-2-2-3. This is confusing. We've always had a notion how to write formation, but now some people just stop using it. It's as if I would stop spelling words correctly as I write them. Of course it's going to be confusing. As for the fluidity, if you see how the Dutch defended in the 70ies, they've had like 8 players in a line. There formations were fluid. This is not something new either.

[@Gvvenk]

Girona is not postitionally rigid compared to teams such as Arsenal and Man City. They play closer to Wenger's 2010s teams while retaining some basic positional play principles. Players are allowed a lot of freedom to make their own decisions. They are very much encouraged problem-solve. The versatility to play multiple roles allows guys like Yangel Herrera, David Lopez, and Aleix Garcia to shine. I agree with the premise of the video but I disagree with the framing of Girona's approach.

[@marcvanderbilt9324]

it is like Cruijff said: these numbers don’t mean anything. Maybe Arteta was making a little joke, when you really coach on 43 formations you are fucked up. So it isn’t about formations, it is about position. Not only in modern football, this is so since the sport was invented. And we go to where there is space and get there together with the ball. You see that players are not yet in the free spaces you point out.

[@nyukechen]

It’s because of the fouls too. If you watch 2010 Barca tiki tak, positional play you would understand any play similar today isn’t even close. The flaw in this play is that if your back line makes a mistake your finished which is diminished by the thing today where if you shield the ball and fall it’s a foul.

[@ballersfindaway]

Great video man. Looking forward to the Wenger one!

[@gabrielmontero5265]

Another great video! Best tactical football KZbin channel⚽️

[@bleed2022]

HEY Man loved your vdo,...plz plz make one on barca"s defence being vulnerable past few matches ...thank you and love you

[@jacobdaly553]

Big fan of Savio on Girona.

[@behnamsattar]

The best football channel on my radar!

[@HT3897]

This video reminds me the 3-1-3-3 of Pep against 5 def like (inter or wolves) 😅

[@SK808_]

Could u make a video about Vincenzo Italiano's Fiorentina

[@gkbyte]

would love to see a video comparing Girona and leverkusen this season

[@bleh4352]

I realized this while watching, what I call the simplest Team and that is Atletico Madrid. They switched from a back 4 to a back 5 and a back 3 all in one game

[@qwaynewaite2934]

Very good piece on breaking down positional play into baby format

[@dinoperta3576]

Please do in depht tactics of Leverkusen.Maybe the best team in the world right now tactically.

[@nutellaboy112]

Nagelsmann was using this formation, some football analysts said it's a 3-1-6, I think its a 3-1-3-3, plz help

[@themat-chanalyst5344]

You are actually right, sometimes looked more like a 3-1-3-3, the concepts are similar in certain situations

[@s.h.r29]

Thanks for th video, appreciate ur work. Until next time

[@emelnwoye4449]

Cant wait for your next video on presumably relationallism

[@Dr_Mind]

Grear video. Absolutely amazing

[@alexluckoo55]

Poch has been trying to use the 316 against “low block” teams in the prem… problem is, he hasn’t worked out enough patters to make the final third movement dangerous. And our defender’s haven’t been good enough at playmaking or defending

[@benyamin6085]

FC Girona is playing very nice football ⚽️, to watch, but i notice that Girona's players move and rotate at the final third a lot,

[@naycent1716]

Nice analysis, what do you think if Chelsea game, love to see what you make of it

[@fabiancancellara1]

As a Mallorca fan, this was enlightening

[@this_is_jmdub]

Great explanation!!

[@arsenalogist4285]

I think its always been this way. The only thing changed is less space and more intensity

[@blazee132]

I love these videos man! ❤

[@AyoshMaitra]

Enzo Maresca tried the 3-1-6 with his Leicester City side. It was against Preston's 5 atb.

[@bobdfgh7795]

Top quality content as per usual👊

[@woman178]

3-1-6 depend upon what kind of player you have in your team every body plays according to there team strength anyway like the explanation of 3-1-6

[@carlbyronrodgers]

Because football is fluid and situations change from the beginning the middle and the end of a game.Flexible is key.

[@deathstarresident]

The only reason gegenpressing works in today’s game is because there are no more no 10s like Zidane or Iniesta or Pirlo or Scholes. If there were players like them, the high line of defense would be a bad choice because they are very press resistant and they can easily by pass the high line defense with their passing range and almost telepathic connection with their teammates. Today’s teams realize that individuals with such brilliance on football pitch does not exist anymore and gegenpressing is kind of the antidote to lack of creativity in the midfield which haunts most teams. Only exception being KDB in City as far as I know

[@StayMe7o_]

Looking forward to the wengerball vid!

[@rumblinggod]

Bro hypes up the Brazilian coach a few vids back and goes and draws against Venezuela

[@rumblinggod]

What makes it even funnier is that the coach goes to the press conference and complains about Venezuela parking the bus. I can't 😂

[@bjaminbrown8697]

Excellent content, thanks!

[@qt1051]

Games always evolving and players either with it or breaking current strategies!

[@noblesleem1077]

What's coming soon? Patiently expectant

[@SandileNkonyane22]

We need a video about Xabi alonso tactics there's something different that they're doing more 25 goals in few games

[@alonperetz-composer]

Great one !

[@prashantvantagudi1025]

Hey man ! Please make a video on Arsenal ... (& especially Ars vs ManC)

[@ashfahq]

Do you think this could work for Xavi's Barca against lowblocks??

[@jonathana6943]

Doesn't have the necessary profile for the lone 6.

[@ryanfinnerty6239]

541 attacking structure 😍

[@cb264]

Nowadays people only talk about Premier League as if it is the only top football league in the world. I’m glad that you do expand people horizons by introducing Girona.

[@Apudubled]

Can u make a video on psg and their tactics w/luis enrique ?

[@Sujith_Kunnini]

Great content. ❤

[@danielf81]

Wenger's Arsenal next ?

[@vishunt]

Lovely video mate

[@KgomotsoMalindi]

If all the injured barća players were available could we win and score a lot of goals or is Xavi not good enough ????

[@peixe_do_dallas8510]

If we are winning otr drawing with all this injuries what do you think we would do with a full fit squad? All players injured are importants or crucial to Barça, De Jong is a starter, Pedri is a starter Raphinha would probably be a starter Gavi was a sub that was showing great evolution.

[@notnotnownow9622]

Xavi is an average coach, he has great players and prefers to defend and win 1-0, remember last season? The difference is this season Real plays very well and it's harder for Barcelona to win based on the value of the players only.

[@thamsanqawisdomsiziba3552]

@@notnotnownow9622Thank you,Xavi is slacking a lot and needs to improve his tactics to compete with Real.Pimienta is keeping the ball with a way poorer squad than Barcelona, we should have hired Pimienta a long time ago

[@GNMbg]

you score enough goals, but you concede too... scoring 2 or 3 should be enough to beat Granada and not take just a point

[@MrRichieburg]

I always feel smarter after these videos

[@bekagustafgillbert8578]

Can you do a video about Leverkusen?

[@scofflaw._]

A video every week please 🙏🏾 😢.

[@bythecliff]

I think the top quality players in a team should be given more freedom while the rest follow the system. If you have a Messi in your team, you wouldn't mind him doing things on his own.

[@GNMbg]

especially in the final minutes and you need to score a goal, all tactics go out the window haha

[@RajatKumar-zf9nd]

This is nice video 👏

[@quecleiton5422]

It also helps to play fifa, i won a match 9-1 last weak lol

[@johnnysaraiva13]

You forgot to include Bahia from Brasil in clubs owned by City Football Group

[@cheeboonlim2192]

How do you get ahead when sports science is on the rise , when technical ability is even out ; look at the Japanese now and players are fitter than ever before ? Innovate innovate and innovate

[@exv0102]

Xavi needs to watch your videos

[@ashutoshshukla5362]

Just shut up. Xavi has more tactical accumen than these youtubers. He was the leader and deep lying playmaker of the greatest team in the history of the sport, mentored by best coaches .

[@surajdubey3496]

Being too tactical often suppresses a players skill

[@fillipe4700]

Lovely!

[@gonigbratal3963]

Cause managers and players afraid to play the game and play boring not attacking football, toulouse gainst liverpool what was that by toulouse or ange or poch

[@LeafGreen906]

yeah this is exactly how united plays against low blocks, except no matter how many times we play around the block we never score lmao

[@angkhoapham8209]

Well *that's the point*, right?

[@BlenduSaliu]

Can you do more barca contenr and could play barca a 3-1-6

[@ashutoshshukla5362]

What?? Have u even seen the matches? This has already been used against low block teams in last minutes of the game.

[@notnotnownow9622]

Why? They should play 4-2-3-1 to get the best of Frenkie and Lewa.

[@BlenduSaliu]

@@ashutoshshukla5362 yes but i mean to play a 3-1-6 vs low block teams because they streagule to play vs low block teams

[@ashutoshshukla5362]

@@BlenduSaliu we have already been doing it. Its not even a question

[@BlenduSaliu]

@@ashutoshshukla5362we play every match with a 2-3-5 with cancelo a inverted fullback and i didnt see a game that we play in a 3-1-6

[@elclandestino93]

I try to apply this logic when I play fc 24 lol

[@Ericleo09]

Thank you

[@prashiksingh951]

Damn that's quick😅

[@nour5840]

No one talking about Danny blind

[@colouredIncognito]

Why do football coaches pretend its so smart to have roles be fulfilled, by flexibel personel?

[@llucruano9836]

Michel is insane

[@mistermaquaid1259]

none of these are modern takes. WM wasn't stagnant

[@DanielBEDoffen.]

Evolotion/strategi.

[@sanisanisani387]

Managers now uses AI for technical analysis

[@MeitechMicro-Credit-jl1kh]

Best of the best

[@andrerichards7808]

Another likely disadvantage of positional structures is how time intensive it must be to prepare players. Time that could maybe be put to better use..

[@sloveniesta]

These formations are actually incredibly old and just being recycled into modern football.

[@Wardell.Koloi10037]

Formations are no longer static. A lot of coaches use fluid formations with a lot of movements