@joelparker.bsky.social
Football Tactics Writer for BetweenThePosts.net. Napoli and Everton sufferer. https://betweentheposts.net/author/joelparker/
📈 Slot tries to revamp Liverpool momentum
🔄 Positional rotations in PSG’s circuit
🇫🇷 Dembouz deeper
💥 Transitional warfare favours PSG
♦️ Liverpool’s free man vs 4-1-4-1
⚡️Enrique subs spark late energy
@joelparker.bsky.social on a action-packed 2nd leg.
betweentheposts.net/liverpool-pa...
(2/2) Even when Rodrygo is delayed, the reaction from the City block left so much space:
- Valverde still free on the outside.
- Aké/Gvardiol start to drop = more space for Jude to receive.
- Aké on different level to Dias = space for Vini + Rodrygo third man run makes 3v2.
(1/2) Mbappé’s 2nd goal came from this pattern once more:
- Mendy stepped inside, Foden/Gündogan delayed as aware of Ceballos/Vini movement between lines.
- Tchouaméni free, switch is on for Rodrygo + Valverde as Silva is the only midfielder who approaches.
The same pattern played out on the left side, but with a few more adaptations with Jude/Vini/Ceballos all dropping/pulling wide left:
- Mendy dribbles inside, Vini drops, Ceballos takes CMs away.
- Lane opens for Vini to move the ball back and Rüdiger to find Bellingham.
When Valverde dribbled inside, Foden was often left in a dilemma on who to drop towards:
- Ceballos movement forces González to step up to Tchouaméni (not follow Jude.)
- Foden drops onto Bellingham rather than approach Mendy.
- RM target Khusanov with multiple dribblers.
(Thread) For the second week, Real Madrid burned through City’s block but in a slightly different way:
- FB dribbles inside, takes out pressing winger.
- CM adaptations: one pivot jumps up from between CBs, the other moves to take away closest City CM.
- 2v1 far side on switch.
ttx
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A look back at Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Bayern Munich
Explores:
- M2M vs M2M OOP approaches
- Progression tactics
- Leverkusen’s left-side
- Wirtz
- 2nd Balls & Rest Defence
Read for free: betweentheposts.net/bayer-leverk...
@betweentheposts.bsky.social
Inter’s rotations where more adventurous when Inzaghi made a triple sub, but still fell into the same problems:
- McKennie jumps onto Barella, Conceição on Augusto.
- Kolo Muani followed Acerbi and Weah jumped onto Zalewski.
- Juve able to transition with Conceição lane free.
When Inter tried to utilise Sommer and Acerbi stepped ahead of Pavard/Bastoni, Juve’s m2m still forced Inter into problems:
- Conceição jumped up onto Bastoni, McKennie followed Acerbi into the second line.
- Weah’s target is still the deep-left player (Dimarco in this case.)
Motta switched the defensive set-up into a more aggressive man-to-man arrangement:
- In the centre, Kolo Muani was more passive so McKennie jumped onto the CBs.
- Conceição and González followed the wide CMs into the centre, Weah jumped higher to make the turnover.
As a result, Inter was capable of creating plenty of chances through making these progressions in the middle third, to attack the box in a semi-transitional state.
However, their attack flatlined in the second half (until Juve had taken a 1-0 lead and entered the last 10 mins.)
Even when Juve where in a more passive state, the hybrid set-up left spaces for Inter to connect:
- Koop on Taremi/Mkhi, enough space for either man to turn as Koop had to occupy both (and without the compaction/intensity to protect.)
- Thuram zonal = lateral pass to Barella.
After 20 mins, third man runs dragged Koop towards the ball and freed up Mkhi back inside:
- Martínez could drop + space was made behind Gatti for Mkhi to run into.
- The run from the far ST kept the Juve defensive line deep and set Inter up for their waved attacks on the right.
But it was not long until Martínez moved into the position that Koopmeiners moved out from:
- Koop still jumping onto Mkhi.
- Lane open to Martínez as Conceição anticipated the pass to Dimarco and Taremi’s run pinned Gatti in the defensive line.
As Inter circulated the ball backward, Juve counterpressed up the field:
- Koopmeiners jumped, following Mkhi but also following the pass back to Acerbi.
- Conceição pressed outward onto Bastoni. Thuram picks up one of the STs movement.
ttx
Another thrilling Derby d’Italia, defined by Juve’s OOP being worked out before Motta changed at HT. The original arrangement:
- Passive 4141, very narrow with inward press from wingers.
- Koop double marking Martínez/Mkhi, Gatti jumps, Thuram zonal.
- Trap inside to target Martínez.
Lazio - Napoli analysis now up, I discuss:
- Conte reverts back three.
- Lazio buildup finds space, CMs in d line -> dropping forwards vs isolated Lobotka.
- Passive play, Napoli can’t build + 532
- Right side snaps into action.
- Predictable final mins.
betweentheposts.net/lazio-napoli...
(FREE) Man City - Real Madrid tactical breakdown, I discuss:
- RM exits down the left (Ceballos, Jude rotation.)
- Gvardiol makes the same run.
- Why was City’s 2-3-4-1 so unproductive?
- Bellingham adapts in 2nd half -> more ways forward.
- Going brrrr.
ttx
betweentheposts.net/manchester-c...
Sure the goal was amazing, but the Leyton Orient OOP is the true highlight here. Lines are so short-distanced that they merge into one big red wall and force City to go much longer.
08.02.2025 13:15 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Even in the first goal, on the transition, Guendouzi had little protection and Fiorentina countered effectively:
- Beltrán curved run into space, Gosens third man run.
- Folorunsho targets near post = defence bunched and Lazio get burned twice from crosses over to the back post.
Lazio wanted to maintain +1 in defensive line, so Guendouzi covered Mandragora when high press was engaged:
- Dia too far from Ranieri, time to pass.
- Guðmundsson dropped again, 3v2 down channel with Guendouzi/Dele-Bashiru occupied and CBs staying next to one another.
Baroni’s decision not to start Rovella had big repercussions vs Fiorentina:
- Fiorentina switch to single pivot in def. third.
- Lazio 442 press, staggered STs (one to press, one to cover DM).
- Guðmundsson drops to create 2v1 (Dia too far, Dele-Bashiru does not shift.)
🆕ttx | Bournemouth's 5-0 win v Forest should come as little surprise to anyone who's followed the Cherries' progress under Andoni Iraola.
In my latest piece for BBC Sport, I broke down how Iraola has made them so good with his structured chaos.
www.bbc.com/sport/footba...
Your Sunday dose of tattiche del calcio comes from Napoli - Juve, I analyse:
- Juve’s press (González cover shadow + traps.)
- McTominay the solution.
- Frantic game, Juve combines (GK -> third-man wide run.)
- Di Lorenzo inversion = Napoli CMs in box.
ttx
betweentheposts.net/napoli-juven...
Pep switched so KdB could be involved more in the third line OOP (4141) but PSG’s first goal came from a similar scenario:
- Ruiz free down left as CMs man mark and Foden steps.
- Akanji forced to jump from a deep position, Kovačić does not cover.
- Barcola 1v1, Nunes isolated.
Even as City tried to reset into the middle third, the same dynamics could be made again with different personnel:
- Foden steps to Neves, Silva on Ruiz.
- 3v2 created in forward line -> Mendes in space, 1-2 with Lee as CBs retreat and Lee drifts into spot, Mendes runs.
City’s mixed approach also faced repercussions vs PSG’s left. As Foden approached Mendes (often a additional CB in buildup) Silva man-marked the pivot and Ruiz had space to drift:
- Kovačić does not follow, drops to cover zone.
- Barcola can make 1-2 with Ruiz, Nunes bypassed.
On the Most Progressive Passes map you can see that PSG’s exchanges came mostly on the right.
Kovačić covered the zone in the centre, whilst Gvardiol’s aggressiveness onto the touchline meant that Dias had to cover a much larger zone. No wonder so much play went through Hakimi.
These three-man combinations where quite common down the right side:
- Neves moves the ball up to Lee, after receiving from Hakimi.
- Lee moves the ball back to Hakimi, free as Savinho stepped towards Neves.
- Third man run targets space behind Dias with CBs on different lines.
(thread) PSG are an interesting case. A very young team without any central methods to make progress but they showcased how easy it was to cook City down the channels:
- Ruiz drops to receive, third man run forwards.
- Lee back to Hakimi, Gvardiol committed, Savinho inactive round ball.
ttx
