Two positions Pochettino must address to fix attacking struggles

#CHENOT - Tactical Review

This is a contribution article from Ryan Gunness

On Saturday, Nottingham Forest defended in a 5-4-1 against Chelsea’s 3-3-1-3 (in attack), whereby, they posed the challenge of both overloading central areas and supplying defensive width as follows (A). Here, Chelsea’s players were man-marked heavily, making attacking progression increasingly difficult as a result. When situations as such arise, the onus are to be on ball-receiving players to beat their marker in order to progress play. Here, the two following positions are key in beating the opposition’s marking: 1) Attacking Midfielders (within no.8/10 pockets) and 2) Wingers. 

First, let’s begin with attacking midfielders. Midfielders within no.8/10 pockets must be able to operate on the turn under immense pressure and beat their marker (B). This requires players to possess great technical skill in receiving the ball, as well as the physical ability in the form of agility, strength and power. Here, such midfielders act as the “connectors” of play between defensive and attacking zones. That is, such players must have the ability to complete the final “move” (dribble/pass/shot) in progression to the final 3rd. Whilst Caicedo, Enzo and Gallagher all have their strengths, none of them are specialists in operating within no.10 into final 3rd zones. Therefore, this is an area that contributes to our lack of attacking threat, when matched or inferior numerically on the pitch. 

Second, wingers/those occupying wide zones. When man-marked in wide positions, it is paramount that receiving players are able to beat their marker 1v1 in order to progress play (C). At the moment, our only wide player in our starting 11 who can consistently do so is Raheem Sterling. Whilst Chilwell and Gusto both have the ability to affect the game from wide areas, their limited attacking qualities due to being naturally fullbacks make them less effective in scenarios when they are to go 1v1. That is, their natural game isn’t to receive the ball in wide areas and run at defenders in order to progress play into the final 3rd. Instead, their natural game is to overlap into empty space out wide, and affect the game from there. This, once again, is an area that contributes to our lack of attacking threat, when matched or inferior numerically on the pitch. 

With that, I do not believe that Pochettino’s system is inherently a defensive one. I, personally am a big fan of Poch’s use of a 3-4-3 diamond (3-3-1-3), as it allows Chelsea a solid base in vertical distribution, together with the ability to flexibly create central overloads, both of which aids in direct attacking football. This, all while keeping the width, with a wide front 3, makes for an easily interchangeable system that can damage teams from all directions. Fruits, which we will only see when the correct personnel are played in the correct zones.

Ryan Gunness