Is Defence the new form of Attack?
2008-08-20
- English game welcoming a more continental approach?
Is Defence the new form of Attack?
ARTICLE BY Lee McAnulty
In a vastly changing sport that contains more money than JK Rowling can only dream of it appears as though many managers are taking a new form of approach in the way their team plays. For decades the "default" formation if you like was always considered to be 4-4-2, with your strength and height down the centre complimented and balanced by the nippier more technical players destined for the wings.
However, football appears to be changing, an influx of foreign players may have caused this within the English game, but with each player expected to be technically gifted nowadays (you can excuse Titus Bramble) the revolutionised 4-5-1 is coming into play more and more. To some, including Jose Mourinho, this can be seen as a 4-3-3 also, but for the purpose of keeping things simple, we'll call it a 4-5-1. Consequently, the idea of this formation is gaining the ability to have 10 players behind the ball without excessive effort making it harder for the opposition to break you down and masterfully is perfect for the counter attack with wingers able to tuck in to the striker offering 3 forward men.
Leaving all this tactical stuff behind (sorry Sven) this has caused teams such as Portsmouth and Manchester City to become established top half clubs by winning those games that they simply must in order to be part of the Premier League top half. Moreover, it has re-discovered the defensive midfield position, which now seems vital for any team to include at least 1 within the starting line-up. Claude Makelele, at only 5 foot 7 is not your everyday centre midfielder yet his unbelievable talent to sit behind the likes of Lampard and Ballack and break up counter attacks before they reach the defence is something i have to admire. OK, the likes of Makelele, Diarra and Hamann may not be the most skillful players to grace the planet but they don’t have to be, they play the simple pass and open opportunities for more forward thinking players.
Spain's recent Euro victory highlighted how the game is evolving, look at their midfield - Xavi, Fabregas, Iniesta to name just 3, they are by no means going to throw in crunching Roy Keane like challenges through the 90 minutes are they? No, but they were instrumental in carving openings for Torres, Villa and even themselves and it had me glued to my television. It seems if you’re not part of Bolton Wanderers, gone are the days of the good old English hoof and we are now welcoming a much more continental approach. This leaves me pondering one question:
Is this approach good for football?
Lee McAnulty
