[Albion] Did… did we just play with a Libero?!

[jcdenton08]

Two centre backs splitting and Baleba playing as a sweeper/libero. The two fullbacks both inverted, and Baleba playing behind the defence.

Not seen since the Mätthaus/Hoddle days.

Fascinating to watch in 2023!

 

[aolstudios]

Yep

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Great word

I'm going to go with it, yes

 

[WhingForPresident]

Gross played that role against Liverpool, definitely in the first half at least. Worked pretty well today, bar the defence splitting pass with Baleba out of position and JP and Igor too far apart, obviously. It'll obviously take time to get right if we are going to start doing it more often!

 

[el punal]

I thought you said librarian which probably would have been apt as we did everything by the book. The result spoke volumes for our resolve. It was nice to see us start a new chapter in our proud history with Jack Hinshelwood being on the front page with his winner.

I shall now retire to my dusty shelf and turn over a new leaf.

 

[jcdenton08]

Wonder if we’ll see this again on Saturday. Absolutely wonderful stuff.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Yep, said much the same after twenty minutes when my mate said he was still wondering about our formation. I don't think it's happened much in recent years, has it?

 

[jcdenton08]

Yep, said much the same after twenty minutes when my mate said he was still wondering about our formation. I don't think it's happened much in recent years, has it?

Only one I can think of was Pirlo often played there for Italy. And even that is over a decade ago now…

 

[Weststander]

Earlier this season I said on nsc that Gross played libero against Liverpool.

 

[Clive Walker]

Is Libero the new term for sweeper?

Need to know before morning when my 9 year old wakes up. Thanks.

 

[Invicta]

Is Liberia the new term for sweeper?

Need to know before morning when my 9 year old wakes up. Thanks.

No it's a country in West Africa, but that's not important right now!

 

[Clive Walker]

No it's a country in West Africa, but that's not important right now!

lol. Thanks. Just corrected.

 

[jcdenton08]

No it's a country in West Africa, but that's not important right now!

Weah precisely?

I’ll get me coat.

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

Certainly in build-up phases Baleba was used there. It meant Gross could get higher up the pitch in the half spaces and gave us a safety net of speed for any counter attacks.

 

[jcdenton08]

Is Libero the new term for sweeper?

They are actually different roles. A sweeper deals solely with defensive duties, normally permanently sitting deep behind two centre backs and two full backs. Their job is “sweep” behind the back four, covering opposition forwards running in behind. When in possession, they tend to distribute quickly to the nearest teammate and return to their position.

Back when teams generally played a 3-3-4 or 3-2-5 they would be on permanent defensive duty against multiple inside and centre forwards.

A libero is a playmaker starting play in the same area of the pitch (deep, often behind the back line) and looking to control possession and begin new attacks. This can be with long passes (as seen by the likes of Pirlo, Gerrard) or with carrying the ball forward through the defensive phase into midfield (ala Hoddle, Matthäus).

In short, a libero is a creative player attacking from deep in defence, and a sweeper is an out and out “last man”. They share some responsibilities, but are distinct positions on the pitch.

 

[warmleyseagull]

The Libero played in a library tonight.

 

[Ratso2005]

LiberoGrande - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Sirnormangall]

Brentford are usually dangerous on the counterattack and I think our defensive shape was designed to guard against that - which worked other than for the penalty! Allowed Gross and Hinshelwood to play further up - and both scored.
I’m probably not alone in sometimes looking at our line up and formation and thinking OMG how’s that gonna work - but it invariably does.

 

[Seagull1989]

I couldn’t figure out the formation tonight. Gross starting at left back but spending most of the game on the edge of their box.

Baleba sitting so the CBs could split and Hinshelwood could roam. Then the next minute Baleba pressing their GK.

Wonderful stuff from RDZ, don’t think other managers, except Pep maybe would try something like this .

 

[GT49er]

Wonder if we’ll see this again on Saturday. Absolutely wonderful stuff.

With Dunk as the libero? Yes, could well be an idea.