What is Fluid Football?

What is Fluid Football?
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Fluid Football could be mistaken as meaning a team without a formation or structure - a team playing with no rules. However, this is not the case.
As JJ Bull explains Fluid Football is actually heavily rehearsed and can be spotted in more teams than expected.
Illustrated by Philippe Fenner.
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Produced by Tifo Studios: Taking an illustrated look into the beautiful game.
Music sourced from epidemicsound.com
Additional footage sourced from freestockfootagearchive.com
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#TifoTactics

[@brianjenkins8514]

"If we don't know what we're doing, opponents can't know what we're doing."

[@dylanseah2021]

@@ctapuk3754 I like how you are trying to make people angry but there ain’t any Bayern matches for practically a month so get good lol

[@shambhav9534]

@@ctapuk3754 Wait, what happened tonight?

[@theNicholas2756]

??

[@darundayanithi2677]

@@ctapuk3754 get a life 🤡

[@darundayanithi2677]

@@ctapuk3754 so what

[@erikbladh7464]

I remember in an interview when Pep was still at Barca he said something along the lines of "A formation has to be rigid and positions static in build up play, and that is my job, but when we reach the final third it's up to the creativity of the players." Build up play, even in "fluid teams" will look similar every time until they have progressed into the final 3rd

[@wokie.3204]

Yeah I remember watching that, Pep said his job is to get the team to move the ball up the pitch until the final 3rd then they're free(er) to do what they think is best

[@realog868]

That's when you need Players with High IQ in football & Among reason why his teams at City failed while Counting those chances in. They create way more than others but they fail to chose the final Part especially Sterling. For such Plans, you need players with Higher finishing & IQ which he had at Bayern ( his stint at Bayern was rather Unlucky imo ,wrong Manager at the Wrong time ) but at City ,he lacks it. At Barca he had Mid fielders who could finish better than City's forwards.

[@zickosaurusrex]

@@realog868 This. Also want to add that aside from being unlucky, Pep's stint at Bayern was also a bit "hampered" by his own realization to unlock Muller's potential (arguably Bayern player with the highest football IQ). Once he understood how to utilize Muller perfectly (2015-2016 season) you can see how Bayern produce some of the most beautiful football ever played.

[@hydrolifetech7911]

@@realog868 Sterling is the most outstanding player in 'bringing football home' project! You Pep apologists always blame players or bad luck whenever he falls short. Sterling in this Euros has shown the quality player he is and that he was being made a scapegoat by Pep apologists like you

[@realog868]

@@hydrolifetech7911 watch more , a Manager can only provide vision which sterling Posses but cannot make'em finish well. Your views are completely based on recent 3-4 matches , guy had a history of missing important goals.

[@brajeshwarthakur9001]

The linkup seems almost telepathic when it works.

[@iwantgoals1566]

When it flows it flows but I’ve started to realise recently, that when Pep’s players play for their national teams, they look so much freer and expressive. I’ve noticed this of Zinchenko when watching the Euro’s and also Sterling and Marhez, even KDB.

[@bronzejourney5784]

@@iwantgoals1566 Because in national matches, managers usually just vomit an ansemble of best players from their country into the pitch and yell ''go score or something man idk, shieeet'' every once in a while.

[@iwantgoals1566]

@@bronzejourney5784 Hahha would to hear them say “I don’t know shiiiiieet” lmao

[@KT-ki6gz]

Oh that's Pep... I thought Joe demanded an illustration of the new Alex

[@RandalfElVikingo]

Fraudiola

[@cfcmoi11]

Cruffy deserves more credit for utilising this style and past it through to different generations.

[@kieronparr3403]

Not Rinus Michels?

[@Yky-xh7ej]

Jock Stein does

[@igederaeyana8513]

This type of play always used in futsal tactic, in 1-2-1 formation, keeping the diamond in shape

[@shwetamathur8626]

Futsal is all about liquidity

[@dariolivaja978]

That’s right… In futsal you have to know to play in all positions, there is no other way…

[@shahir1395]

Rest in peace, Johan.

[@adityagarg4650]

Fluid football is the most satisfying form of football to watch example being 2009 prime barcelona!

[@rorisangsathegi]

Or 2011 barca 🤔 maybe?

[@sohom1308]

Yeah, such a fluid football that needed a referee to continue the fluidity when Barca ran out of gas at the Bridge. 😂😂

[@ghostknight1865]

IMO better examples are Pep bayern, Pep City, and Klopp's Liverpool. Pep Barcelona had too much side and back passing and many times it was Messi who bailed them out through sheer individual brilliance. It's no coincidence Pep hasn't won the CL without Messi.

[@Niibaah]

@@ghostknight1865 klopps Liverpool is not fluid football, tuchelball is more fluid

[@adityagarg4650]

@@sohom1308 You still crying over one match?

[@containedhurricane]

I believe all UEFA Pro License holders know about positional play, yet most of them chose the safer methods. Only a few of them can train their players for positional play and can instill the confidence to their players, to play like that

[@kanyesouth4002]

Tifo football's voice is so pleasant

[@ShivamDD1810]

His name is joe

[@jackbrown5567]

@@ShivamDD1810 Joe who?

[@mugiwara-no-luffy]

@@ShivamDD1810 who's joe?

[@hariharanvenkatasubramania2732]

Joe Devine

[@ShivamDD1810]

@@jackbrown5567 joe devine the narrator of the vid

[@mphomokoena2866]

When you guys have time please do a video on the proposed African Super League and why the FIFA president and the new CAF president both back it.

[@FPLNameless]

They back is because that League will break the ice. When we're able to see how it is there, in the "near future" the European Super League will be proposed again, until they succeed.

[@robert2690]

Let me tell you this: African leagues have NOTHING to argue since the only thing that negatively affects them is the funds and without the funds, these players, managers, coaches, all of them need wages to provide basic living. The only ones that are willing to fund them is investors so investors have an upper hand. African super league will happen. Money talks and in Africa, they lack an economy so this is their only option to feed African families You and every football fan don’t have the right to demand investors to invest in Africa unless they have 100% control of the clubs.

[@robert2690]

@@FPLNameless There’s one thing you ignore: African leagues, and African countries in general LACK THE ECONOMY. That’s why African countries are still poor. They Lack the funds so they have nothing to argue. Money talks and if people in Africa are very desperate for money to feed their families, Africa super league will happen. Successful or not is not the point, since African leagues lack the funds to pay wages to everyone ANYWAYS, it’s already unsuccessful since the start. African super leagues will happen. You and every football fan don’t have the right to demand investors to invest unless they have 100% control.

[@mphomokoena2866]

@@robert2690 Agree for Africa it also needs to happen cause lots of countries need the money to build better stadiums and facilities and more money will improve the standard of money. Only place where hasn't happened is in South Africa cause of government corruption the league is one of the richest players get high and decent wages even some South American players play here but the quality of the league is poor. Facilities are good cause they're world cup facilities and infrastructure.

[@kznindaba2728]

@@robert2690 Not all African countries tho. The SA is way better and has been attracting sponsors for decades, even Betway wanted to sponsor it last year.

[@profmerlinpants]

This is exactly how Spain played against Italy in the recent semifinal Euro 2020.

[@BurnRoddy]

It all comes down to the 2-3-5 formation from back in the 1920s. The 5 players up front had mirror possitions on the flanks and the Center Forwards would direct and connect for wingers and insiders who would run towards or away from the area effectively forcing the defending team to reshape and adapt. Even more shifting happened with the WM formation of the 1940s these were the first teams that actually adapted off the ball tactics within the center Diamond. But wasn't until Dutch Tottal football that the whole team was able to dislocate into pockets of action while the rest shift places to reestructurate the balance with or without the ball turning the offside rule into a trap rather than an aide for the opposing team, hence why its so hard to pull off. The easiest of tactics is just defensive solidity which is why fluid football is so rare even today.

[@lucaslonchampt613]

It's obviously Galatick Football Christ I gotta be the only one who remembers that cartoon

[@mumandubula1788]

Lol no bro am here with you. Snow Kids had me feeling some type of way.

[@joshbrown2217]

Wait is this that show where they all had powers and the team you followed had this power called the flux?

[@lucaslonchampt613]

@@joshbrown2217 Oh it is the flux in English? In French it was called "Le Fluide"

[@joshbrown2217]

@@lucaslonchampt613 Yeah it must have been, you have like triggered a memory here lol. Sounds about right as fluid and flux could be considered similar words. That's a pretty cool fact tbf.

[@MFachrizalR]

So in simple terms: A true fluid football really needs high-specs players to be realized optimally while most of the teams that don't have such privilege often stick to the rigid and discipline system. No wonder many teams worldwide tends to stick to a fixed system each of their own and makes it actually predictable for spectators in every match.

[@carlx8409]

Except for Bielsa

[@StuttGooner]

I wouldn't necessarily say that, Guardiolas City is a extreme, but depending on system even in a lot of smaller teams the attacking players move around to create space for their colleagues to move into. The difference being they get back into shape quickly when they lose the ball, and it's not everyone but rather the strikers, wingers and the 10 (sometimes the 8).

[@mpitsikletiuser6081]

no wonder that today you see a lot of predictability cause most teams don't use playmakers in their systems. They probably use one and he is the deep lying playmaker who helps them progress the ball from defence to midfield. Then up front all the fluid movements are to be made by inside forwards/wingbacks/typical central midfielders etc. watch juventus, not one playmaker in the team the whole year. No wonder why they seemed a bit ok when Dybala played some games. Instead if you see Wenger's Arsenal it had nasri,fabregas,rosicky,arteta,cazorla or arshavin or hleb together on the pitch. That was fluidity in its extreme. A shame they had mertesacker and konsielny, two slow defenders, at the back. without playmakers and without a central diamond, how much fluidity can you see? diamond is for control, if a team has diamonds only in wide areas they can only exploit the opposite area via positional play. and that's the most weird cause nowadays you don;t see wingers there but wingbacks. Most of them are medium at best at dribbling, so what can you excpect? :D

[@darundayanithi2677]

I think Bayern has mastered this , since I started watching Football bayern has been very fluid they're players are too tactically versatile . I even think Jose Mourinho in inter had a very fluid left flank with eto all over and many Bundesliga teams have some sort of fluidity . Ajax has been fluid since ages and all the player they produce are tactically versatile and adaptable , Barca was fluid I think the fluidity has reduced ever since Enrique left

[@anirudhm2524]

Fluid formation can be resorted to the Total Football back when Rinus Michels was the coach and Erik ten Hag's Ajax side of 2018/19 in which they're knocked out by Spurs on away where the latter always had a rigid structure but broken through fluid football. But maintaining fluid football structure also might pick up so,e loopholes in the defence.

[@DeAtHaToMiC88]

It's less about fluid football and more about liquid football.

[@exorcist5651]

Liquid is a fluid

[@DeAtHaToMiC88]

@@exorcist5651 I'm not sure you've got the reference mate.

[@WickedRizla]

Suffice to say, @deathatomic had the last laugh

[@ruan13o]

Things have moved on and the concept of fluid football has evaporated to become gaseous football.

[@grantojeh1251]

Another wonderful video ❤️

[@colouredIncognito]

You guys really are going back to absolute basics

[@ninjabiscuit1095]

That was liquid football!

[@bluedemon4266]

Something I had been looking for in a long time.

[@wilmerholmqvist8705]

I am drowing in this wave of tifo content!

[@TheWAYF]

Appreciate the fact that mousing over the "What is Fluid Football?" thumbnail results in a perfectly looping gif of rotating football players.

[@anthtan]

Fluid Football(tm) -- the energy drink that keeps you going to extra time and beyond!

[@iwantgoals1566]

It even gives you xtra time in the bedroom!

[@repothenon2706]

How about a video on how tactics and formations change when a team has to play with 10 men

[@lukelloyd8976]

Fluid Football: the name of the new energy drink that Alex is looking to create, based on all his product-testing of rivals on the Podcast?

[@piyushpoddar9292]

Welcome back

[@kwazilucas]

Real Madrid did this very well when Ronaldo and Bale were still at the club. Also Pochettino taught this when his midfielders could play each other's position.

[@adn17]

Which tactical software are you using please?

[@melvinodoom8977]

Wasn't this Wenger's philosophy?

[@alejandrocastillo325]

It's Cruyff's Total Football

[@SmallTalkbyQwertyDigital]

Please do a video on England’s play style

[@Kerwinnn]

At some point can you guys pls cover ball physics 🙏 like the effect of ball momentum

[@ryanchristophergavan80]

JJ Bull’s Joe Devine impression is shockingly accurate.

[@edwardkelly3280]

Marcelo Bielsa is the perfect example

[@matu_______6423]

Who makes the instrumentals for your videos?

[@thomassunil3121]

Pep - fluidity in football Rudiger touch my little toe

[@user-gb3sy1lo3u]

what software do you use please?

[@coolbian513]

Great video but i never saw gundogan on the wing.

[@ken.9320]

He has played in the left channel a lot this year

[@beukenphom3680]

This Reminds me of Ronney-Teves-C.Ronaldo in 07/08 Which left the opponent crazy.

[@facundoriesco1369]

actually scholes and giggs were the " hart " of that team

[@omalone1169]

@@facundoriesco1369 03:40

[@ivanarichardson4305]

Water style football☺

[@GUTZ420]

Spinazzola is a fluid elven in himself, he is amazzing :)

[@kohchungwei]

I'd say it's football played on a waterlogged pitch 😂😉

[@JK_JK_JK_JK]

😒

[@christianopulinaldo8319]

😒

[@alangbarbrahma8452]

😒

[@freewifi8521]

😒

[@neronero141]

😒

[@jonpaul3868]

Fluid vs rigid, why FM removed this terms, along with "with ball" and "without ball" tactics of CM.

[@rohitbauri5958]

Please make a video on Tite's Brazil 🙏 please Tifo

[@freddymain6910]

Vieira manager profile please!

[@nathanngumi8467]

Word.

[@chimahchinedu5433]

Could you guys get an interview with a PL director of football

[@BeachPleased]

2:13 This Pep kinda sus to me. I bet this is lowkey new Alex Stewart 😂

[@porassrivastava8242]

"Why Chelsea play so good... because they have three central defenders close, the two holding midfielders who move in relation are close, the pockets are close, the striker and the two [others in attack] are so, so close. "The distances are so close, and at the same time they are so wide with the wing backs, they are so good with the ball in behind. "That's why you cannot be close because they push you [out wide] and they have a lot of good players in the middle."

[@christianopulinaldo8319]

- a fraud who needs 20 billion to win Caraboa cups

[@ken.9320]

@@christianopulinaldo8319 - Christian Benchisic

[@user-jp3hc4ux4e]

@@christianopulinaldo8319As far as i know , he didnt have 20 billion with Barcelona and still won them a UCL

[@haashim1411]

@@christianopulinaldo8319 pep is rent free in your head

[@homosapien5156]

@@christianopulinaldo8319 I don't think he said anything malicious. If anything it is an appreciation of our game

[@user-pj1ks8yh2n]

I'll use it in Football Manager

[@Patrica90]

Pls explain in more detail

[@tanakacee6804]

ngl I thought it was Alex on the thumbnail for a minute there😂

[@fraac]

how is this different from totaalvoetbal?

[@Shines.22]

Insert joke about not being able to comment right now as I need to go to the bathroom and do some fluid football.

[@TomFlynn717]

That's liquid football!

[@daaichommie708]

I was under the impression that fluid football was waterpolo

[@monkeyhero_]

Didnt know Hazard is a Burnley player

[@homosapien5156]

The drawings were of Dwight McNeil and Chris Wood

[@andreasblobel1871]

How do city maintain structure within their fluidity?

[@saffronjuice]

Through positional play

[@omalone1169]

@@saffronjuice and space domination

[@saffronjuice]

@@omalone1169 yep

[@108u9]

Dyche after seeing this video: challenge accepted. Burnley no more. It’s Burncelona from now.

[@seanbarnes1567]

Did you see us against Palace and Wolves this season?

[@spexydoc5395]

Tifo makes these terminologies 🤣

[@ErikGinting]

Someday mueller will lead team like this perfect

[@loyaltyovereverything649]

Tifo must be a coach somewhere

[@isiaharellano3789]

I always try to make my system in FM fluid. It has become a habit.

[@Boomtowndogs]

Missed Rocket League rotation analogy opportunity

[@Norlamon]

Can we please have a video on Argentina vs Brazil. Both squads are new and pretty exciting and I don't think there's nothing more exciting going on atm than Copa America final Match between Brazil and Argentina football-wise. It's a classic.

[@thehappyloaf]

Supa Strikas with their antics

[@henrytortor2530]

Football that continually deforms under the influence of shear stresses??

[@13Joelu]

So, Tifo doesn't recognise Wengerian tactics as Fluid Football? Give the godfather his credit man!

[@nimrodnix1577]

what is beautiful football?

[@joeycheang6984]

Xavi iniesta and messi are the epitome of fluid football. Facts

[@JulioLeonFandinho]

the fact is that this "fluid" football can be tracked until the 30s in the form of the Wunderteam, the Austrian national team from that era... and then, in the 40s, River Plate's team called "La Máquina" and so on and so on... So no, the epitome of "fluid" football isn't those 3 guys and it wasn't invented yesterday

[@joeycheang6984]

@@JulioLeonFandinho to be fair xavi iniesta and messi did win 4 champions leagues together and dominated world football with fluid football for a decade

[@JulioLeonFandinho]

@@joeycheang6984 I'm not talking about accolades, but about the development of the game... besides, are you telling me that the 2 mitropa cups won by Sindelar or the 3 European Cups in a row won by Cruyff are not dominating? 🤦

[@joeycheang6984]

@@JulioLeonFandinho the fluidity of current football is better because xavi iniesta and messi had to play against more structured and organised defences hence why the lethality of their fluid football is the best

[@positional_play]

@@JulioLeonFandinho so to be the epitome you have to be the first to do it ? Stupid logic. Football peaked in 2010/11 with Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and others under Guardiola in Barcelona.

[@lwandomadikizela2213]

Ah! Total football. Works very well when done right and having players that suits it. Weakness are when exposed, it's vulnerable to counter attacking football like the current Manchester United side and the 11/12 Madrid side.

[@Taporeee]

Fluid football is the natural progression of liquid football courtesy of Alan Partridge and The Day Today. THRYKER

[@user-kk4zw5jo4t]

Total football innit

[@iybjs5308]

Absolute liquid football

[@Yunghamz]

It's the type of football where you spend billions and win no champions leagues

[@enriquesalvador9904]

I bet Alex has a shirt about fluid football.

[@fcbm5280]

Can anyone translation tifo football for Arabic language

[@jdiggz7923]

Southgate watching this? " u wot m8??"

[@SilliusSodus]

“Doesn’t always guarantee success.” *Chelsea intensifies*

[@gautamchamoli6965]

One season later , city is even more fluid and they're about to win another title.

[@abhijithr.t5994]

Leeds UNITED also playing these type of football

[@aidanjanemcintosh6919]

If Guardiola is the master of fluidity, then Tuchel is the hydrogen man. He can freeze anything and thus stop the leaking.

[@Z3RO4351]

Isn't "Fluid Football" just a contemporary term for a long-existing football philosophy called "total football" ?

[@hanishthatikonda7209]

Pls make an analysis video of midfield trio of xavi, Iniesta and Busquets. How press resistant were they ?!

[@m.e1891]

Traduction en français 😭😭🙏

[@tsoen-shinlam7621]

Fluid means...Raheem, be water and dive.

[@mrcake5171]

7th

[@Ss-dt8lk]

lol why do the players in red stand like kante

[@anonymoususer602]

I read it as 'What is Fruad Football' idk why lol

[@cmul7651]

Liquid football

[@bboyneon92]

I appreciate the fact brought out by 'tifo' about Pep Guardiola being rigid. As much as I have respect for the man. I personally feel, his rehearsed fluidity in positioning and movement isn't enough. He ought to allow individual showmanship which in my opinion he doesn't appreciate enough. City does become predictable. Example : Against Chelsea.

[@ankonish]

why couldn't fluid football win the CL final?

[@nkhadebe]

Pep Guardiola? I thought that was Bonucci

[@coconutheads9459]

Chelsea... Nigeria

[@kianisherwood7307]

Is modern football trying to screw me over I base my style on players like pepe,ramos,maguire,and the GOAT Vinnie Jones I can tackle foul and clear that's it if I'm expected to be good in other positions

[@OsmarMty]

Fluid Football? Never heard of that that gender before

[@Illok]

I think you mean "liquid football" ;)

[@haroldcvideo]

Fluid Football = Liquid Football

[@jockmackay9582]

AH HA!

[@ottson]

Uhhh so many different skin colors!