[Albion] Decent article on De Zerbi ball

[ConfusedGloryHunter]

In-depth tactical analysis in this...

Interesting, do they do a similar one for our resident old skool tacticians? Something like "Step one, when the centre back has the ball, everyone screams 'get rid!' and he then hoofs it down the pitch as far as he can. Step two, the big lump up front tries to get something on it. From this style of play it can be seen that the optimum chance of scoring is when the little striker gets the knock down from the big guy and wellies it towards goal."

 

[Weststander]

We certainly seemed to have a more solid defence under Potter. But I’m not sure about our attack having more freedom, we used to have tons of shots and possession under Potter. RDZ has somehow made the players finish the chances, I’m still not clear how he has done this?

A great comparison is the recent game at Everton where we scored 4 goals. We actually created better and more goal scoring chances under Potter at home to Sheff Utd where we ended up drawing but where the Potter Out Campaign really got going. Maybe it’s as simple as RDZ not having the likes of Maupay, Connolly and Jahanbakhsh to miss very easy chances but instead, having much better players finish properly?

The difference imho was/is:

Potterball - generally when we passed our way upfield, opposition's were camped out en masse in defence. Potter did vary our tactics over time eg great counter attacking goals at Emirates and tearing Manure/Leicester apart.

RDZ - we attack and counter attack in great numbers, at speed. I have a screenshot of one of our Chelsea goals where we’ve got something like 5 or 6 players in and around their box, they’ve got less! More risk-reward.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

The difference imho was/is:

Potterball - generally when we passed our way upfield, opposition's were camped out en masse in defence. Potter did vary our tactics over time eg great counter attacking goals at Emirates and tearing Manure/Leicester apart.

RDZ - we attack and counter attack in great numbers, at speed. I have a screenshot of one of our Chelsea goals where we’ve got something like 5 or 6 players in and around their box, they’ve got less! More risk-reward.

Potter was way more timid going forward tgan RDZ. Always seemed quite happy racking up those 66% meaningless possession stats, mainly in his own half, without ever having any end product in the final third. Glad we got rid of that mediocrity

 

[Weststander]

Potter was way more timid going forward tgan RDZ. Always seemed quite happy racking up those 66% meaningless possession stats, mainly in his own half, without ever having any end product in the final third. Glad we got rid of that mediocrity

You’re masterful at drawing in a couple of posters .

A double act with @GB.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

You’re masterful at drawing in a couple of posters .

A double act with @GB.

What? Who? Me?

 

[BadFish]

That was me. @GP - call me x

Make sure you pick up, he has to change his number every couple of weeks.

 

[dazzer6666]

Social media is absolutely awash with analytical pieces on De Zerbi…..he’s a real favourite of the PA community.

 

[Barnet Seagull]

The key from my perspective is the defensive overload. RDZ likes a deep defensive 8. In effect all of the midfield are compressed meaning that if anyone presses us we have plenty of opportunity to play out. Most teams wont commit 8 to a press, so we always have an opportunity to play out provided we are technically competent.
In order to get some joy teams need to commit more players to the press which draws them out of their defensive shape. This creates the space in behind and if transitions are done with enough pace, attacking overloads. This is exploited via cross field switches or more importantly through speedy transitions using the double pivot (the two central midfielders)

If done right the opposition are not coming on to us in transition, they will be running back towards their own goal. This obviously also helps prevent their attacks and saps energy and motivation as they feel they are always defending.

It's great to see and should work particularly well against sides low on confidence or with weak worth ethic. It's also very difficult to stop without defensive risk unless teams are prepared to just sit and wait and never press - which fans do not like.

This is an incredible article btw. https://spielverlagerung.com/2021/1...bi-an-early-analysis-of-his-shakhtar-donetsk/

Interestingly, Liverpool tried to press with 7 on the weekend. It didn't work out so well for them.
I genuinely think the only way to negate us is to not engage high up the pitch. We are now very good at resisting the press and I wouldn't leave any space in behind or out wide for Mitoma and March to exploit. Best just to sit in a low block forever and play direct counter-attacking balls.

 

[ConfusedGloryHunter]

Interestingly, Liverpool tried to press with 7 on the weekend. It didn't work out so well for them.
I genuinely think the only way to negate us is to not engage high up the pitch. We are now very good at resisting the press and I wouldn't leave any space in behind or out wide for Mitoma and March to exploit. Best just to sit in a low block forever and play direct counter-attacking balls.

So low block 5-4-1 with a nippy lad up front? Sounds like what all the lesser teams already do to us. Home wins might continue to be harder to get than away ones.

If only we could just play the top teams every week instead. Perhaps some sort of super league could be arranged?

 

[Johnny RoastBeef]

Another nice analysis of how De Zerbi likes to break the press. Nothing new to see but still a decent look at how our double pivot operates contrary to the generally accepted ways of playing.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Terrific video that. This football really is a joy to watch!

 

[Johnny RoastBeef]

Another good piece with interesting insight into how our fullbacks cover for our defensive midfielders when needed, allowing us to pin opposition defenders without losing our own central structure.

 

[Miximate]

Also just listened to this. Its behind the paywall but you can sign up for a free 30 trial.

All about Brighton from about 20 mins in and really interesting with comparisons being made with Potterball.

The Athletic Football Tactics Podcast | Podcasts | The Athletic

Hosted by Ali Maxwell, revered football tactics writer Michael Cox is joined by more of The Athletic's brightest tactics and data analytics writers to

theathletic.com

 

[Johnny RoastBeef]

Also just listened to this. Its behind the paywall but you can sign up for a free 30 trial.

All about Brighton from about 20 mins in and really interesting with comparisons being made with Potterball.

The Athletic Football Tactics Podcast | Podcasts | The Athletic

Hosted by Ali Maxwell, revered football tactics writer Michael Cox is joined by more of The Athletic's brightest tactics and data analytics writers to

theathletic.com

That's a great pod, which is available for free (no paywall).

Liam Tharme is a Brighton fan and knows his stuff.

His CV is pretty impressive.

Liam Tharme is one of The Athletic's Football Tactics Writers, primarily covering Premier League and European football. Prior to joining, he studied for degrees in Football Coaching & Management at UCFB Wembley (Undergraduate), and Sports Performance Analysis at the University of Chichester (Postgraduate).