I think the game is evolving–shifting gradually from long-ball tactics to possession football.
Managers have discovered that having ball-playing defenders add another dimension to the way a team defends. Among other things, they enhance understanding among players on the pitch.
Examples? Southgate dropped Smalling from his side in the World Cup Friendly against Germany and Brazil. He wanted defenders who could play out from the back. And Mangala hardly plays for Manchester City because Guardiola doesn’t trust his footwork as a defender.
It’s apparent that more managers are bringing in defenders who have the ability to use their feet comfortably.
A side that has ball-playing defenders has a better chance of dominating games. That’s because those defenders have qualities that bring balance to a team. How so? Let me give you five attributes.
–They have the ability to make runs and attack spaces in the midfield.
–They can play out from the back with touches on the ball and can switch play with long-range passing ability.
–They have the ability to bypass a congested midfield area and get the ball straight to the attack.
–They have passing ability to escape tight areas at the back without giving the ball away in dangerous positions.
–They have the intelligence and skill to spreading passes in the defensive area.
Courtesy: The Independent
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City team is a contemporary example of superb ball-playing defense. While Pep has said repeatedly that he “doesn’t train tackles,” just how does he handle the issue of ‘second ball’ when a long ball is played into his side’s defensive area? Well, the Spaniard relies heavily on central defenders to regain possession as quickly as possible without going for tackles.
Guardiola’s side is very good at winning the second ball by positioning one of the central defenders to pressurize the first touch of the opponent. The next defender will try to take advantage of any bad touch from the opponent and win the second ball. John Stones and Nicolás Otamendi have been magnificent at doing that for Manchester City.
It remains to be seen how long City can sustain such a tactic without involving tackling, but City’s ability to keep the ball away from the opponent’s attacking players is quite impressive. The synergy between this defensive duo and the midfielders allows City to enjoy a large portion of the possession with the intention to restrict teams in their own half.
Courtesy: Fansshare.com
Bayern Munich is also another team that utilizes the passing ability of its ball-playing defenders. Mats Hummel and Jérôme Boateng have been phenomenal because of their sensational ability to take the game to the opponent with their passing skills. The tandem ensures stability at the back with their passing range when making the transition from defence to attack.
Yes, defenders who aren’t very effective with the ball on their feet still have a major role to play in modern-day defending. But it’s clear that those who are excellent with the ball on their feet have an edge when it comes to keeping the ball on the ground.
We can’t ignore the fact that some managers still prefer a long-ball tactic, especially in games when they have the height to attack aerial balls. With that approach, hard-tackling defenders are more suitable. However, I believe football is evolving–shifting gradually from long-ball tactics to possession football.
