Tactics question

Does anybody have an idea how the game is actually run? Matt talked about having a plan, but I'm curious if there was more to it than just, "come on lads, score a goal" from my own experience as a kid/teen, we were told what areas to cover but never what to do defensively or offensive other than "look for space". I wonder if we could run plays like they do in basketball...

 

Plenty of people know a helluva lot more than me Eloc, but there are designed plays on set pieces (free kicks, corner kicks). Tactics would include how they would like to attack an opponent depending on personnel matchups (i.e our manager thinks our winger can consistently beat their left back, etc.). I think it's similar to a motion offense in basketball, there are plenty of give and go's, post-up plays (same as hold up play by forward), all within a reactionary system where there aren't necessarily set plays, but depending on situations within a match.

 

Like any sport, there's far more to it than what you mentioned you were taught as a kid. As Joe said, there's a fair amount of freestyle that goes on, but usually within the construct of the strategy, formation and tactics being deployed. Defensively, for starters, you're usually trying to mark a man or a zone while also trying to close down passing lanes. Some managers are very strict (Roy's first year or two at FFC) and don't allow the players a lot of freedom outside of their system. Others (like Jol) practically send the players out like they would for a pickup game.

May sound stupid but I got most of my beginners knowledge by playing FIFA on the Xbox. I've expanded that by applying that to the matches I've watched and reading articles and blogs and just talking football with friends. Craven Cottage Newsround and Statsbomb are two good sites I frequent, if you want to learn about more of the nuances. Football, moreso than most things, is in the eye of the beholder. I don't know if there's another team sport I've watched where so many people can have so many differing opinions after watching the same thing.

 

Zonal Marking is another good site to read up on what teams did in recent games -> http://www.zonalmarking.net/

 

I got the points about defensive "plays" I guess I was thinking. More offensively. Like for example in basketball, unless you're on a breakaway usually the point guard gets the ball over the line and then calls the play, on his own, or after checking with the coach, to see which number to run. I don't ever really see something like that, unless it's a deadball situation. Ideally you would, in a 4231, have a cdm who can distribute and run the offense through him, but again, I feel like I never see any of that.

 

I agree that I dont think I really see plays or planned offenses in pro soccer. I've always wondered if there isn't a missed opportunity in not having more of a set offense in soccer, along the lines of a motion offense in basketball that Joe mentioned where multiple attacking players are making specific movements to create options. However, perhaps with the size of the field, offsides, and less accurate passing (I'm assuming passing with your feet is less accurate), it would not be worth the effort. Maybe it would all just break down too easily and once it does it's a lot harder hit reset on a soccer field than on a basketball court. In scouting youth talent, coaches will say what they are looking for above everything else is the kid who has his head up and can read the game, see the game, so that does really make me think set offenses are not a part of soccer other than what has already been mentioned. Personally though I would like to see someone try it - I think you could do some damage. Also, lately I've been suspecting Caleb Porter might be fiddling with this idea a bit for the Timbers.

I posted this video before. While it is a "play" from a deadball situation, I think it is a lot more ambitious "play" than some of the things I would invision for a "motion offense" in soccer.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUFbLdpgiME[/youtube]

 

I agree. I feel like there is an untapped ability to decimate from running a play. Given the slow builder up we have, and looking at teams like Barcelona who putt the ball back and forth between cdm and the back four, I don't see why it's not possible to run some sort of play, theirs no play clock. Although perhaps getting back onto defense may be an issue, but then that's where a zone system comes into play

 

There are a lot of tactics in soccer that could be thought of as a portion of a play or a mini-play in itself. 1-2 (wall) passes, diagonal runs by forwards either designed to get the forward into space or create open space behind the player, playing a "hold up" forward with his back to the goal, and spreading the field (and thus the defenders) are all movements used by teams to create openings/opportunities.

As Don said, there is very little to compare basketball to soccer. The size of the playing field, the style of defense (no man-to-man in soccer), certain rules (offsides being a huge one), and the fact that there is a goalie in soccer (goaltending allowed) are all major differences between the two sports. I'm not sure what sort of "plays" would work in soccer, especially at the highest level of play.