WORLD CLASS COACHING
Tactical Series Mauricio Pochettino
By James Lambert
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part Two
BALL POSSESSION OPPOSITION
BALL POSSESSION OPPOSITION TO BALL POSSESSION
Chapter 4 - BALL POSSESSION OPPOSITION
Defending the longer ball is an important area, the EPL is an high tempo league that varies in methods of attack. Without organized shape, a simple long ball forward can give lesser opponents an opportunity at goal.
The image above shows Tottenham playing with a back four with Dier and Rose covering Vertonghen who is challenging for the ball. Considerations for the first defender are the trajectory of the ball.
Can the ball be won?
Regardless of the answer it is important the covering defenders anticipate the possible flick on.
Can we cover the flick on if the ball is not won?
Midfielders on the other side of the defenders need to anticipate and disturb the opponents if the ball is won by their central defender. The opponents have the advantage because they can attack the ball and play forwards.
Can we disturb or stop the opponents if our central defender wins the ball?
Often teams will clip balls forwards to the chest, so the opponent’s defender attacking the ball cannot win it or intercept it. The ball is then dropped off to a player who times his run to meet the ball. It is critical that the defending team’s midfielders react quickly to this type of attack.
Tottenham use a 1-4-2-3-1 Mid-block with just Kane in front trying to force and disturb the defenders.
When the ball is played forwards, especially on the ground in the middle to back-third, Tottenham’s defenders defend in anticipation.
With flat balls between the lines Tottenham defenders look to steal the ball by attempting to get in front of the opponent.
If the ball breaks into the central zone of the middle third, it sets Tottenham up well to win the ball with Wanyama waiting to attack the ball carrier.
It is clear that Tottenham work on individual pressure on the opponent’s ball carrier.
All of the Tottenham players show hard work and good discipline to quickly move towards the ball carrier and slow to jockey, never diving in. This is something that needs to be worked on in every training session, and seems to be a part of Pochettino agenda.
When Tottenham play teams that are playing out from the back, and allow them to press high, they form a shape of a 1-3-4-3.
Tottenham’s front third work hard with high tempo pressing, Kane forces one way with Alli, Son or Eriksen are ready to join in. The middle four of Rose, Dembele, Wanyama and Walker wait to see if they are needed to pounce on any forward passes.
When defending in a Mid block Tottenham shape is a 1-5-4-1 with Rose and walker dropping deeper to join the back three. The two player’s behind Kane now drop and create a compact line with Dembele and Wanyama.
This shape is difficult for the opponent to play through, with a tight four stopping forwards passes, and the 5 man back line negating long switch balls.
All of the Tottenham players are waiting for a loose pass so they can explode and intercept.
At times while transitioning to the BPO shape Walker may press forwards while Rose heads back to join the back three. This normally happens when the opponent have circulated around the Tottenhams front three. Walker moves in to stop the forward ball.
At this point the two players behind Kane start to retreat to form the deeper defending shape. Dembele and Wanyama also slide over to screen, and are ready for any balls that enter their zone.
Chapter 5 - BALL POSSESSION OPPOSITION TO BALL POSSESSION
Tottenham are very measured and safe in transition to Attack, they don’t force the ball forward aimlessly. The best way to look at Tottenham in the moment of the counter attack is to look at the area they win the ball.
In the back third Tottenham wait for a moment to play forwards, they often circulate so if the ball is played forwards, it is done so in a controlled manner.
Kane always stays high, he is an outlet for the Tottenham quick break. The passes to him are controlled and into a space that he can get to the ball. In the example above the ball is played into the channel so it favours Kane who can protect the ball and wait for support. It is important the ball is not punted aimlessly forward because if the opponent win the ball this can be a very dangerous situation for Tottenham.
Kane runs tirelessly with the aim of offering himself for the team, screening the ball and waiting for support.
Kane runs the channels and attempts to get to the ball first in order to delay and wait for support. Kane is strong and mobile so the opponent’s central defenders can only move across and stop him facing forwards.
Controlled passes into Kane or Janssen are valuable, the strikers screen the ball and drop off to the midfielders. When Tottenham play with two forwards this option works well because both execute this action well.
When Tottenham win the ball in the back third often only Kane is high, playing a rushed inaccurate pass forwards will mean Kane is fighting to win the ball. Tottenham would rather move the ball in order to see a more controlled pass and give supporting players time to push forward.
Even when Tottenham enter the middle third they still do not rush forwards, every attack is measured for higher chances of success. Tottenham prefer to get their team into an attacking shape so they can run through more recognised patterns. When a team plays with a back 3 often the ball needs to be circulated in order for the wingbacks to move forward. Every player except for Kane gets behind the ball, so it is critical the game does not become too end to end.
When Son plays for Tottenham they do have better opportunities to counter quickly. Son is very quick and breaks forward at pace, he is strong at making forward runs and running with the ball.
Son waits until the ball becomes free and his Tottenham team mates can face forwards. Once he sees this he breaks forward at pace encouraging the possible through ball.
Son breaks the last line and enters a 1v1 with the Goalkeeper, once in this situation Son is composed and is a very good finisher.
Walker and Rose’s energy and commitment to drop back, defend and break quickly must take tremendous planning from Tottenhams support staff.
Rose wins the ball deep and runs with the ball inverting, a few players dive in which brings over the central defender, freeing Alli to break the last line.
Alli, who is a very good finisher, sets himself before striking low to the far corner.
