Dick Advocaat's theoreme

Dick Advocaat made a statement after his side scored four goals in their Euro 2012 debut. As much pointed out, Advocaat lined up an usual 4-3-3 system, with the central midfield's trio of Igor Denisov, Konstantin Zyryanov and Roman Shirokov coming from Zenith. To tell the truth, Russia's 4-3-3 was more a 4-1-4-1 with Denisov acting like a midfield's sweeper in front of the bank four of Aleksandr Anyuko, Aleksey Berezutsky, Sergei Ignashevich, and Yuri Zhirkov. One of the key difference between a 4-3-3 and a 4-1-4-1 is the role of the midfield's sweeper.

This guy acts like a true, advanced sweeper, covering the spaces behind the other four midfielders. When this formation face an attacking midfielder, such as Russai did against Czech Republic, this man charged with the duty to control the rivals' No. 10.




When the attacking midfielder goes away from his initial position behind the forwards – or the lone striker – the 4-1-4-1 weakness are exposed, because the other central midfielders don't made the movements to occupy the central holding midfielder's position.











By the way, both Zyryanov and Shirokov worked strongly and were disciplined putting pressure on Jaroslav Plasil and Petr Jiracek. On the offense, Advocaat opted to start without a target man option – Pavel Pogrebnyak or Roman Pavlyuchenko – and lined up a different kind of central forward in Aleksandr Kerzhakov. In Kerzhakov, Andrey Arshavin, and Alan Dzagoev, Russia had a trio of mobile forward, able to keep defenders away from the back line with their movement. This movement open the spaces for the upcoming midfielders, such it happened in Shirokov's goal.











Tactics aside, the physicalshape, as someone pointed out, could be a key during this tournament. Fitness coach Raymond Verheijen utilizes an innovative form of periodisation. An expert in football fitness, Verheijen worked for the Dutch FA, South Korea, Russia, and Barcelona.
"A lot of coaches treat players the same way, whatever their age, whatever their body composition, whatever their injury history, whatever their playing position". (Verheijen)
He don't believ on training the players two a day.
"Doing two sessions a day in pre-season...I really I don't understand, because all you are doing is exhausting your players," added Verheijen, who believes different types of players - young players who have just joined the first-team or experienced defenders - should each be following specialised training plans". (Verheijen)
Despite the fact that Russian journalists criticized Advocaat for only training the team once a day in last three weeks, the coach staied on Verheijen's side.
"Key to the philosophy is injury prevention. If you build up fitness quick then you are more likely to get injured. It then becomes a vicious circle because if a player does get injured in pre-season, the rest of the team develops quickly so there is a bigger gap to make up when you return and we often see a player getting injured again trying to over-train to catch up". (Verheijen)
Verheijen is the guy which keept Gareth Bale off during the match against England in March 2011.
Verheijen's method requires also extensive warm-up and extensive passing near to the match, with no possession games or tactical games to avoid load on muscles and tendons. After the game the players go  into swimming pool for a recovery session. The day after the game, substitutes do 6x2min of 4v4 with 1min recovering. By the way, in tournament like Euro 2012, with less days between games, subs have to stay fresh so they do only an extensive warm-up, intensive pass/shooting drill, and conditioning games 4x2min of 4v4 with 1min recovering + a session in swimming pool. No pass/shoot exercise with tired muscles.

  

The Dissertation of Fernando Santos

Greece started Euro 2012 with one goal, one red card, one penalty kick failed and one point. Fernando Santos had big decisions to make: two was bad, another was excusable, the others was right. Santos' pick of Kostas Chalkias over Michalis Sifakis and Alexandros Tzorvas was riskless, because all Greece’s three goalkeepers are average at the best. The second choice was on defense, where Santos pick Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Avraam Papadopoulos as centre-backs instead of Kyriakos Papadopoulos. This choice was wrong as Kyriakos Papadopoulos showed to be excellent at the back, also playing alongside midfielder Kostas Katsouranis, dropped back after Sokratis Papastathopoulos’ red card. Another bad decision was to start with Jose Holebas at left-back. Holebas was outplayed and didn't received help by Karagounis. But when the game was 11 v 10, Santos made two good calls. The first one was the decision to move back Katsouranis: Greece's coach already utilized one sub in Kyriakos Papadopoulos and, with the hosts leading 1-0 thanks to a goal by Robert Lewandowski, insert a second defender would have been meaningless. Then, the Portuguese coach calling on Dimitris Salpingidis to replace Sotiris Ninis changed the game. Start with Ninis over Salpingidis as right forward was excusable: Ninis is highly regarded in Greek football circle. But the coach was good changing his mind and going with Salpinigidis in the second half. And Santos' choice to came out for the second half in a  4-4-1 shape, with two wide forwards, affected Poland: Greece nullified the man less. Removing central forward Theo Gekas to insert teenage attacking midfielder Kostas Fortounis on the left, moving Georgios Samaras as centre-forward, had an impact too. You can question Santos’ initial strategy but his reaction after the goal and the red card was great. He ruined hosts' gameplan. So, give credit to Santos for this point.

Ukraine

Euro 2012 is coming. Between all the players, teams and coaches to take a look to, there is one to watch. I mean Oleg Blokhin's Ukraine. They are the host - toghether Poland - and the world' eyes will be turned upon Ukraine both on and off field. Off field, Euro 2012 faced diplomatic crisis, with some Prime Ministers that won't visit the country. But we must to stay on the pitch. There, there is a sense of justice to see football coming here. In fact, while Total football is surely linked with Holland's Revolution, leaded by Rinus Michels and Stefan Kovacs in '70s, not enough have given Valeriy Lobanovskyi credit for installing his way to total football in Kiev, Ukraine. Lobanovskyi was a true genius. He imposed his style of play based on a high offside line, pressing, and players' position interchanges when nobody was playing like that. Lobanovsky believed in the application of science to football. In the mid-1980s, his tactics had been based on a computer programme that dictated positions for the players on the pitch. At Dynamo Kiev, he created one of the best football academy in the world to build smart and skillful players.
“Players have to react faster. Every movement, every action happens faster. Think faster, act faster, this is the football of the future.” (Valery Lobanovskyi 1996)
It’s hard to say if Lobanovskyi's nephews can perform well at this Euro Cup tournament. The home advantage means nothing. Oleg Blokhin, Ukraine's head coach and one of the best Lobanovskyi's product, likes a 4-4-2 formation but with one of the forwards coming back we can talk of a 4-2-3-1. Ukraine doesn't have superstars neither an established starting XI. On defense, there are lot of trobules. Andriy Pyatov is a good goalkeeper but who in front of him? Dmytro Chigrinskiy is out due to an injury. Yevhen Khacheridi and Taras Mykhalyk are considered the best centre-backs but there is also Yaroslav Rakitskiy from Shakhtar Donetsk. Also there is the possibility to line up Bayern’s Anatoliy Tymoschuk who played at centre-back this season. At full-backs, Oleh Husiev is one the choice at right-back, while Yevhen Selin is one of the options as left-back. Shakhtar's Bohdan Butko is an interesting backup. In the middle, Tymoschuk aside,  Denys Harmash could play as second holding midfielder; but Blokhin prefers a combination of a defensive midfielder and a deep-lying playmaker. So we have Serhiy Nazarenko or Ruslan Rotan. The wide players are the key of this system. Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Konoplyanka are the talents here, with Oleh Gusev which can also play on the flank. At forward, Andriy Shevchenko is the veteran with Andriy Voronin as another experienced man but the best option maybe is Artem Milevskyi. As Michael Cox pointed out, underdogs can produce results playing defensively and attacking on the break. Some players have struggled throughout the seasons so this could be the best way to play. But there is the Lobanovskyi's legacy...maybe Total football is no more here but can Ukraine sit deep and play the counter-attack in front of his own fans?

The debut

The Viet Nam Football Federation announced some days ago coach Phan Thanh Hung to take over the national football team. Hung replaced German coach Falko Goetz. Finding a head coach for the national team has been a tough task. The high salary demanded by foreign coaches has shifted the focus to local coaches, but according to a VFF rules, the candidates cannot be in charge of a club at the same time. Vietnamese football is growing: Viet Nam is 97th in the FIFA rankings, the seventh consecutive month they has been placed atop Southeast Asia since December 2011. In the same time, members of VFF and Viet Nam Professional Football are ready to leave for Japan on June 14 to learn more about the J-League system. Phan Thanh Hung, coach of 2010 V-League champions Hanoi T&T, showed confidence about to get a good results on 2012 ASEAN Football Federation Cup. Hung will start his job leading Viet Nam in the next friendly matches against China on June 8 and Hong Kong on June 10, two warm-up games  for the Southeast Asian Football Federation Cup. His first 22-member team’s outing is:

Goalie: Hong Son, Manh Dung

Defenders: Phuoc Vinh, Bat Hieu, Viet Cuong, Dinh Dong, Minh Duc, Hong Tien, Quang Thanh, Chi Cong

Midfielders: Ngoc Duy, Duy Nam, Sy Cuong, Van Quat, Trong Hoang, Van Binh, Thanh Luong, Thanh Hung, Tan Tai.

Forwards: Anh Duc, Viet Thang, Cong Vinh

Among the players, Van Binh, Ngoc Duy, Duy Nam, Hong Tien, Bat Hieu, Phuoc Vinh and Sy Cuong get their first call.

EURO 2012 Preview: the change argument

“Whether it’s 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 – the numbers game is no the beautiful game in my opinion,”  Harry Redknapp once said. In the wake of Roy Hodgson’s appointment as England manager, all that you could heard from tactical analysts is how much the new England's boss is linked to very different kind of patterns. At West Brom, Hodgson tried 4-4-2 and 4-3-3/4-5-1. This is because he's the ultimate ‘system’ manager, one which wants train his team on a daily basis in the way to teach his zonal defensive system. Hodgson is not very demanding tactically – his teams defend the same old way, with two banks of four and two or a lone striker up top – but his drills are focused on it and on team shape. Another thinking manager is Paul Lambert. His Norwich usually was lined up in a traditional 4-4-2 with two wide men in a direct football orientated. But Lambert switched to a  4-4-1-1 when he needed and he also picked three centre-backs against Chelsea. The reason for that is because English managers, which usually sets out in a 4-4-2 which two centre-midfielders, often operate in a 3 men midfield league. One of this EPL season’s story was the success of Alan Pardew. Newcastle's manager have been playing with different systems other the 4-4-2 formation he employed in the earlier part of the season. Alan Pardew changed and Newcastle have played a 4-3-3 too. Tactical flexibility is part of the modern game. Being tactically flexible is a good thing when it works, as for Roberto Di Matteo in Chelsea. Other times, it can be a bad thing, as Kenny Dalglish's continuos changes showed. We are not talking about a change of system during the season but about changes from game to game or within a game. It requires palayers' ability in tactical thinking. Tactical flexibility can apply if a particular tactical formation is known by the players. But how does it works at next level, when coaches have few time to work with the players? From WC 2012, the 4-2-3-1 formation dominated. The three Euro WC 2012 semi-finalists, Germany, Netherlands and Spain, all are expected to employ a version of this system though Jogi Low showed a 3-4-2-1 against Ukraine. Almost every other country will play a back four, two wide players, a lone forward and a three-men midfielder. It’s a 4-4-1-1, 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. Big teams aside, Sweden, Czech Republich and Denmark too should play this way. Can we expect much variety of system? Are there flexible teams? Poland coach Franciszek Smuda is gone through a lot of patterns: 4-3-2-1, 4-1-4-1/4-3-3, and 4-4-2. Now is a 4-2-3-1 parking the bus with Arsenal's Wojciech Szczesny in goal; Damien Perquis (Sochaux), Marcin Wasilewski (Anderlecht) and Arkadiusz Glowacki (Trabzonspor) as centre-backs options; and Rafal Murawski (Lech Poznan), Dariusz Dudka (Auxerre) and Eugen Polanski (Mainz) as holding midfielders. Between big teams is unusual to switch the starting formation but this isn't not true talking about Italy. When Cesare Prandelli took the job, he wanted to play 4-3-3 but injuries and line up skills forced him to swiitch to a 4-3-1-2 formation. Fixing scandal and defensive bad shape could force him to make another change and switch to a three-men back line. There’s a block of seven Juve players so a 3-5-2 formation could be not a bad idea, as John Horncastle pointed out. And also a late change of system for the Azzurri isn't a new: all remember when Giovanni Trapattoni ran a 4-3-1-2 until the start of WC 2002 just to switch to a classic 4-4-2 at the start of the tournament. One to watch is Slaven Bilic. Croatian manager showed his flexibility switching from 4‑1‑3‑2 to 4‑2‑3‑1, 4‑3‑3 or 4‑4‑2. In any case, he likes to employ two attacking full-backs. That produced some troubles for Bilic (as friendly game vs Norway showed). Bilic can change because he has has plenty of options in midfield with Ivan Rakitic, Niko Kranjcar, Ivan Perisic, and Luka Modric, and in attack with Eduardo, Nikica Jelavic, Nikola Kalinic, and Ivica Olic.

Adapt when necessary

Blues boss Chris Hugton is high on the list of Norwich and WBA, with both clubs searching for a new manager. Hughton was already interviewed by West Brom last season. And Hughton was also linked with Swansea City following Brendan Rodgers exit to Liverpool. The work he has done at Birmingham has been outstanding. Hughton is a  4-4-2 disciple.
“My preferred formation is 4-4-2 or a form of 4-4-2, 4-4-1-1, with one playing a little bit more off the front, because I think that gives you a little bit more in the opposition half, it allows you to keep the ball more in their half". (Hugton 2011)
 FourFourTwo Performance dedicated a lot of time to Hughton. He talked about how to stop the opposition's passing game,  how to make the opposition play the long ball game you have to press high up, how to countering a team pressuring high.
He's open to change when it is needed. For sure he wants to play on the ground.

“Certainly what I want to do is play as much as possible a passing game, look to what your strengths are". (Hugton 2011)
 But you have to adapt.
"You can look at different philosophies and I think it’s about playing to the strengths of what you have got.”

"Generally I want to play a passing game, but you have to be very open-minded.". (Hugton 2011)

This is because Hughton switched from 4-4-2 to a 4-5-1 formation during the game he needed to do it. So he could deal with Norwich style of play. Rumors at the start of last season predicated Norwich to get relegated. Instead, Paul Lambert'side was easily adapted to EPL's life playing a direct football, very far from possession football played at Swansea, the other EPL newcomer. Norwich emphasis on long balls to Grant Holt and Steve Morrison resulted on more long balls than any other EPL side. Norwich usually lined up in a traditional 4-4-2 but they had the ability to change look. If you take a look at West Brom too, they have tried a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 system under Roy Hodgson, but they have fondness for a 4-4-2. Hughton can utilize both. He's is not a parking the bus fan. 

“There can be a philosophy of going away from home and trying to get what you can, trying to sit behind the ball and making yourself difficult to beat."
“But you can’t defend for 90 minutes, if you try to then the likelihood is that you will lose. You have to be a threat yourselves and do enough to try and win games." (Hugton 2011) 
He seems to be a good manager. The question is: stay or not at Blues next season? The Championship could be tougher next year with teams Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton alongside Blackpool and Cardiff City. So Birmingham City needs quality and depth to compete. Can the Blues give him that?

Chi è

Chi è il nuovo allenatore della Lazio? I giornali di questi giorni si danno da fare per presentare il nuovo tecnico dei romani, ma tutti sottolineano le stesse cose...che sia un amante del calcio offensivo, che prediliga il 3-4-3, che parli diverse lingue...ok, ma chi è in realtà, come allenatore, il nuovo boss dei biancocelesti? Vladimir Petkovic è certamente un allenatore poliglotta: conosce ben 4 lingue. Sicuro, deciso, sa cosa vuole. In questo filmato lo vediamo alle prese con Giuseppe Morello ai tempi dello Young Boys, mentre spiega cosa pretende dai centrocampisti nel suo 4-3-3: "per me è molto importante il continuo interscambio fra i giocatori di centrocampo". Altro elemento cardine del suo gioco è la riconquista del pallone. "Parla molto con i giocatori insistendo sul concetto di recpuero del pallone e sul rigore tattico," ha dichiarato Didier Crettenand, centrocampista de Sion, salvato questa stagione dopo aver avuto poco tempo a disposizione. "Per natura io sono un uomo preciso, molto esigente. All'inizio della mia carriera sulla panchina, ero molto severo e mi aspettavo che i miei giocatori lo fossero altrettanto. In un certo senso, vivevo nel mio mondo...con l'esperienza poi ho capito l'importanza del dialogo con i giocatori. Questo è fondamentale per stabilire contatti individuali e specifici. Così ho preso quella direzione," ha avuto modo di dichiarare negli anni scorsi il bosniaco. Tattico ma anche psicologo, eco cosa diceva nel 2009:  "La comunicazione è fondamentale. A pari qualità, è la testa che fa la differenza. I giocatori devono essere convinti del loro potenziale. Dobbiamo costantemente convincerli di quello che sono. " Ci vorrà del tempo perché possia comunicare la sua visione di gioco, hanno detto i suoi ex giocatori commentando l’arrivo di Petkovic al Sion a pochi giorni dagli spareggi per mantenere un posto in Super League. Qui  da noiavrà almeno un mese di ritiro a proprio favore. E' difficile fare previsioni sul tipo di calcio che Petkovic adotterà a Roma. Sappiamo che è un fan del 3-4-3 ma non disdegna il 4-3-3 e, comunque, non è legato ad un unico sistema. Anche i giocatori che avrà a disposizione saranno migliori degli uomini avuti a disposizione in Svizzera allo Young Boys e al Sion, quindi potrebbero dettare una filosofia di gioco differente. La sua ultima esperienza ad alto livello risale allo Young Boys, con cui ha giocato anche i preliminari della Champions League. Se guardiamo a quel periodo, alle partite dell'epoca, notiamo come la squadra di Petkovic ricercasse la profondità quando se ne presentava l'occasione. La squadra era molto abile offensivamente ma aveva lacune difensive. Nelle 3 stagioni disputate a Berna, Petkovic ha avuto due volte il secondo miglior attacco del campionato ed una volta il terzo, registrando due volte la terza ed una volta la quinta miglior difesa, sempre su dieci squadre (in realtà dall'ultima stagione dovremmo escludere le ultime partite, quando il tecnico era stato allontanato dopo un pareggio).
A volte la squadra teneva la linea alta anche in situazione di palla scoperta, con i centrali che seguivano l'uomo di riferimento nella propria zona quando questi venivano incontro alla palla.

Questo classico accorgimento tattico delle difese a zona trovava però a volte la difficoltà dei laterali difensivi a stringere centralmente, lasciando l'altro centrale con molto spazio da coprire e con pericolosi buchi centrali

su palla laterale, invece, a volte la linea difensiva denotava difficoltà nel piazzarsi, con l'esterno opposto alla zona della palla troppo stretto.

Questo comportava la conseguenza di lasciare spazio al giocatore che si inseriva sul secondo palo.