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Inside Kaizer Chiefs' Second-Half Tactical Dominance📝 Kaizer Chiefs produced a far more balanced and purposeful attacking display in the second half. There was greater tactical flexibility in their movement, improved intensity in and out of possession, and better decision-making in the final third. The constant rotation of positions made...

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El Capitano⚪

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36,789 views • 1 day ago •via X (Twitter)

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Kaizer Chiefs vs Scottland FC📝 Kaizer Chiefs passing patterns and attacking combinations for the 1st 45 minutes📝 ■ Kaizer Chiefs showed better variety in some moments in possession, effectively mixing direct attacks in behind with shorter passing combinations to bypass Scottland's press and progress into the final 3rd. We shifted between 325 and a 3223 depending on moments. Vilakazi occupying the right half space while Monyane aggressively pushed high on the right with Velebayi doing the same in the opposite flank. Reeve Frosler was often the makeshift LCB in a back 3. Chislett took the left half space but showed greater flexibility across the final 3rd. ■ The team's attacking structure and passing patterns looked quick and less predictable, creating several promising situations with good rotations and combinations. Chislett, Vilakazi and Velebayi combining multiple times to create some good moments. ■ The biggest weakness remained the final action. Too many attacks broke down because of poor decision-making, inconsistent execution, and a lack of quality in the final action. ■ While some of these shortcomings are expected from players still in their developmental phase, others simply require a higher level of technical and tactical quality in decisive moments. The structure is creating the opportunities; the execution now has to match it. So far, there is something to build on. The first half looked better in a lot of areas compared to the second half. But the team managed to protect the narrow lead to the end. 📝
10:08

Kaizer Chiefs vs Scottland FC📝 Kaizer Chiefs passing patterns and attacking combinations for the 1st 45 minutes📝 ■ Kaizer Chiefs showed better variety in some moments in possession, effectively mixing direct attacks in behind with shorter passing combinations to bypass Scottland's press and progress into the final 3rd. We shifted between 325 and a 3223 depending on moments. Vilakazi occupying the right half space while Monyane aggressively pushed high on the right with Velebayi doing the same in the opposite flank. Reeve Frosler was often the makeshift LCB in a back 3. Chislett took the left half space but showed greater flexibility across the final 3rd. ■ The team's attacking structure and passing patterns looked quick and less predictable, creating several promising situations with good rotations and combinations. Chislett, Vilakazi and Velebayi combining multiple times to create some good moments. ■ The biggest weakness remained the final action. Too many attacks broke down because of poor decision-making, inconsistent execution, and a lack of quality in the final action. ■ While some of these shortcomings are expected from players still in their developmental phase, others simply require a higher level of technical and tactical quality in decisive moments. The structure is creating the opportunities; the execution now has to match it. So far, there is something to build on. The first half looked better in a lot of areas compared to the second half. But the team managed to protect the narrow lead to the end. 📝

El Capitano⚪

36,856 views • 10 days ago

Kaizer Chiefs vs AS Simba | Playing From Control ⚽️🔥 This sequence captures what it means to play with control — patience on the ball, purposeful movement, clarity in possession, and always waiting for the right moment to break the lines. Even at 3–0 up, the team managed the game intelligently, shifting Simba’s block and creating space through quality circulation and good passing decisions. What stands out just as much is the work out of possession — the willingness to recover, close spaces, and press with intent. The awareness and collective reaction in difficult moments showed growth. A positive mentality from the team. The 4-2-3-1 system is clearly bringing balance: control in midfield, better defensive structure with better recoveries, and the ability to build and create. Now it’s about refining those attacking patterns so they consistently lead to goals. The progress is evident — and the signs are very positive, but we should build from this team and performance instead of breaking it with unnecessary changes. ❤️✌🏾
1:19

Kaizer Chiefs vs AS Simba | Playing From Control ⚽️🔥 This sequence captures what it means to play with control — patience on the ball, purposeful movement, clarity in possession, and always waiting for the right moment to break the lines. Even at 3–0 up, the team managed the game intelligently, shifting Simba’s block and creating space through quality circulation and good passing decisions. What stands out just as much is the work out of possession — the willingness to recover, close spaces, and press with intent. The awareness and collective reaction in difficult moments showed growth. A positive mentality from the team. The 4-2-3-1 system is clearly bringing balance: control in midfield, better defensive structure with better recoveries, and the ability to build and create. Now it’s about refining those attacking patterns so they consistently lead to goals. The progress is evident — and the signs are very positive, but we should build from this team and performance instead of breaking it with unnecessary changes. ❤️✌🏾

El Capitano⚪

28,344 views • 9 months ago

Player Profile: Khanyisa Mayo[27]📝 Position: RW/RF/CF Foot: Left Club: Kaizer Chiefs FC Kaizer Chiefs has made another bold move in adding quality to the teams attack. Khanyisa Mayo provides immediate and long-term attacking solutions for the club on the right. 1. Technical Qualities Mayo is a skillful, left-footed attacker with a profile built for modern, high-intensity attacking football. ■ A very direct winger, always looking to advance play instead of recycling possession. ■ Excellent at carrying the ball through pressure, breaking lines, and forcing defenders into retreat. ■ His dribbling and progressive runs add verticality to the team’s attacking structure. Shooting and Passing: ■ Strong shooting range when cutting inside from the right. He provides that unpredictability to the attack with his quality to strike the ball from range. Consistently attempts to feed the box: goals, assists, and key passes. A finisher and creator between the lines. Positional Versatility: ■ In a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1, his best role is as the right forward or right winger, cutting inside to shoot or combine. He can also be effective stretching play and still carry goal threat and creativity. ■ As a No. 9: While not his best role, he is capable of leading the line. He uses his pace to run in behind. He can compete but lacks the physicality to hold off defenders, though his finishing is good. ■ As a Second Striker[442]: A role that plays better to his strengths than as a 9. He is comfortable operating between the lines, combining with midfielders and a traditional box striker. His mobility, creativity, and shooting ability allow him to function as the link player, collecting the ball, supporting the primary striker, and creating or finishing opportunities. This ability to operate both wide and centrally makes him tactically flexible, giving Chiefs options in various attacking structures. 2. Physical Attributes ■ Pace & Explosiveness: Quick acceleration makes him a constant outlet for balls in behind. ■ Strength & Balance: He is strong enough to hold off fullbacks, sustaining attacking sequences under pressure ■ High Intensity: Matches the tempo of Chiefs’ pressing and counter-pressing game. We do most actions with a lot of intensity, and his explosive nature will be very much welcomed in our attack. 3. Tactical Fit at Chiefs Under Coach Nabi, Chiefs are shaping into a side that plays with directness, intensity, and aggression across all phases of play: ■ Pressing & Counter-Pressing: The team applies immediate pressure after losing the ball. Mayo’s speed, defensive work rate, and forward momentum align seamlessly with this system. ■ High-Tempo Attacking: Chiefs don’t rely on slow possession. Attacks are vertical, sharp, and quick. Mayo’s instinct to drive forward, dribble at defenders, and attack space makes him an ideal fit. ■ Attacking Personality: His ability to provide not just progression but also the final goal, final pass, and decisive action elevates Chiefs’ attacking efficiency. Mayo’s game is inherently aligned with protagonist football: high tempo, forward intent, and productivity. 4. Experiential Value ■ Continental Experience: Spent a season in Algeria with CR Belouizdad, scoring 6 goals from wide positions. Notable not just for the numbers but for adapting to a challenging cultural and tactical environment. ■ Tactical Growth: North African teams are disciplined and organized, with compact defenses and structured pressing. Mayo sharpened his decision-making, spatial awareness, and ability to operate against tight blocks, preparing him for high-level CAF competitions. ■ Mentality: At 27, he blends maturity with hunger. His willingness to take risks reflects confidence and attacking intent. Yet to reach his peak, now is the perfect time to step up, showing the quality glimpsed at Cape Town City. Mayo joins Chiefs as both a system player and a game-changer. A top signing by the Glamour Boys! 📝
2:00

Player Profile: Khanyisa Mayo[27]📝 Position: RW/RF/CF Foot: Left Club: Kaizer Chiefs FC Kaizer Chiefs has made another bold move in adding quality to the teams attack. Khanyisa Mayo provides immediate and long-term attacking solutions for the club on the right. 1. Technical Qualities Mayo is a skillful, left-footed attacker with a profile built for modern, high-intensity attacking football. ■ A very direct winger, always looking to advance play instead of recycling possession. ■ Excellent at carrying the ball through pressure, breaking lines, and forcing defenders into retreat. ■ His dribbling and progressive runs add verticality to the team’s attacking structure. Shooting and Passing: ■ Strong shooting range when cutting inside from the right. He provides that unpredictability to the attack with his quality to strike the ball from range. Consistently attempts to feed the box: goals, assists, and key passes. A finisher and creator between the lines. Positional Versatility: ■ In a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1, his best role is as the right forward or right winger, cutting inside to shoot or combine. He can also be effective stretching play and still carry goal threat and creativity. ■ As a No. 9: While not his best role, he is capable of leading the line. He uses his pace to run in behind. He can compete but lacks the physicality to hold off defenders, though his finishing is good. ■ As a Second Striker[442]: A role that plays better to his strengths than as a 9. He is comfortable operating between the lines, combining with midfielders and a traditional box striker. His mobility, creativity, and shooting ability allow him to function as the link player, collecting the ball, supporting the primary striker, and creating or finishing opportunities. This ability to operate both wide and centrally makes him tactically flexible, giving Chiefs options in various attacking structures. 2. Physical Attributes ■ Pace & Explosiveness: Quick acceleration makes him a constant outlet for balls in behind. ■ Strength & Balance: He is strong enough to hold off fullbacks, sustaining attacking sequences under pressure ■ High Intensity: Matches the tempo of Chiefs’ pressing and counter-pressing game. We do most actions with a lot of intensity, and his explosive nature will be very much welcomed in our attack. 3. Tactical Fit at Chiefs Under Coach Nabi, Chiefs are shaping into a side that plays with directness, intensity, and aggression across all phases of play: ■ Pressing & Counter-Pressing: The team applies immediate pressure after losing the ball. Mayo’s speed, defensive work rate, and forward momentum align seamlessly with this system. ■ High-Tempo Attacking: Chiefs don’t rely on slow possession. Attacks are vertical, sharp, and quick. Mayo’s instinct to drive forward, dribble at defenders, and attack space makes him an ideal fit. ■ Attacking Personality: His ability to provide not just progression but also the final goal, final pass, and decisive action elevates Chiefs’ attacking efficiency. Mayo’s game is inherently aligned with protagonist football: high tempo, forward intent, and productivity. 4. Experiential Value ■ Continental Experience: Spent a season in Algeria with CR Belouizdad, scoring 6 goals from wide positions. Notable not just for the numbers but for adapting to a challenging cultural and tactical environment. ■ Tactical Growth: North African teams are disciplined and organized, with compact defenses and structured pressing. Mayo sharpened his decision-making, spatial awareness, and ability to operate against tight blocks, preparing him for high-level CAF competitions. ■ Mentality: At 27, he blends maturity with hunger. His willingness to take risks reflects confidence and attacking intent. Yet to reach his peak, now is the perfect time to step up, showing the quality glimpsed at Cape Town City. Mayo joins Chiefs as both a system player and a game-changer. A top signing by the Glamour Boys! 📝

El Capitano⚪

87,172 views • 11 months ago

People of Nabi Ball!❤️✌🏾 There is progress in this team👏🏾 The patterns need time to develop and for the team to be consistent in them. ■ The left side looked better with Mmodi and Shinga✅️ ■ We needed Duba to attack the box and be available more when these 2 attacked on the left. He dropped to the edge of the box very often. ■ Unlike in the 1st half, there was a better understanding between Shinga and the LW. When Shinga overlapped, Mmodi was willing to occupy the pockets and combine. ▪︎ When Shinga inverted, Mmodi was happy to hug the line and take his man on. This understanding was key in that side coming to life in the 2nd half. ■ What was also impressive was the ability for them to create good combinations and movements with Mdu and Duba on the offense from the left side. ■ Lilepo from the right was getting into good goal scoring positions when the left was creating in the 2nd half, but poor decisions on the ball and slow reactions were a problem. He should compete on the LW with Mmodi. ■ In the 1st half, it was Monyane and Vilakazi on the right, and 2nd half it was Mmodi and Shinga with some of our best moments in attack. Overall, you can see the general attitude of this team changing. They want to play now. They want to stay on the ball and create chances from a position of control, not rely heavily on transitional moments to create chances. We have shown signs that we can control and be patient, but when opportunities to attack comes we are relentless, and we use a lot of speed to enter the final 3rd. We just need to work on the combinations and finishing in the final 3rd. Like I said before, we are a work in progress, and we will get better only if we build on the positives and remove the negatives. Protagonist Tiki-taka is coming!❤️✌🏾
1:48

People of Nabi Ball!❤️✌🏾 There is progress in this team👏🏾 The patterns need time to develop and for the team to be consistent in them. ■ The left side looked better with Mmodi and Shinga✅️ ■ We needed Duba to attack the box and be available more when these 2 attacked on the left. He dropped to the edge of the box very often. ■ Unlike in the 1st half, there was a better understanding between Shinga and the LW. When Shinga overlapped, Mmodi was willing to occupy the pockets and combine. ▪︎ When Shinga inverted, Mmodi was happy to hug the line and take his man on. This understanding was key in that side coming to life in the 2nd half. ■ What was also impressive was the ability for them to create good combinations and movements with Mdu and Duba on the offense from the left side. ■ Lilepo from the right was getting into good goal scoring positions when the left was creating in the 2nd half, but poor decisions on the ball and slow reactions were a problem. He should compete on the LW with Mmodi. ■ In the 1st half, it was Monyane and Vilakazi on the right, and 2nd half it was Mmodi and Shinga with some of our best moments in attack. Overall, you can see the general attitude of this team changing. They want to play now. They want to stay on the ball and create chances from a position of control, not rely heavily on transitional moments to create chances. We have shown signs that we can control and be patient, but when opportunities to attack comes we are relentless, and we use a lot of speed to enter the final 3rd. We just need to work on the combinations and finishing in the final 3rd. Like I said before, we are a work in progress, and we will get better only if we build on the positives and remove the negatives. Protagonist Tiki-taka is coming!❤️✌🏾

El Capitano⚪

21,726 views • 1 year ago

Siphesihle Ndlovu and the Double Pivot: Tactical Analysis📝 Out of Possession Siphesihle Ndlovu is a box-to-box midfielder in its purest form. Defensively, he was excellent at recoveries, closing gaps, cutting off passing lanes, and making well-timed interceptions. His anticipation and positional awareness allowed him to support the defense effectively. He maintained a high work rate, consistently tracking back and covering spaces behind the press, which was crucial for stabilizing the fullbacks, especially with Monyane looking flat. Even during periods when his influence in possession dipped, Ndlovu continued to deliver a solid shift out of possession, working alongside Maboe to break up play, win tackles, and apply pressure on the ball. In Possession Ndlovu embraced his box-to-box role, always looking to support the player on the ball, always trying to move the ball forward with line-breaking passes. He carried the ball whenever space allowed and maintained a vertical mindset, favoring forward passes over sideways or backward options. This approach helped the team establish attacking momentum early on. However, in the final 3rd, Ndlovu’s actions leaned too heavily towards shooting. Maboe created more chances[3] than Ndlovu[1], though Ndlovu was the more adventurous between the 2. He limited his actions far from the box. While Maboe prioritized creating opportunities in the final 3rd, Ndlovu often opted to shoot even when he had a teammate in a better position. His pass timing and selection was a concern too. This was especially problematic since Silva was often isolated, with no supply, and so the team needed more support in the final 3rd. With improved judgment in these moments, our quality in the final 3rd would have also received a boost from the midfield and, overall, avoid wasted opportunities. Ndlovu🤝🏾Maboe The double pivot provided balance and control, especially in the first 30 minutes. They kept excellent distances between, denying Arrows the chance to settle & play through midfield. This dominance was most evident early on, with the team controlling the game physically and tactically. Their chemistry was exciting. Whenever they combined, the entire attacking flow looked clean and well-balanced. They were very direct, which demanded high physical output due to the constant need to support forward passes and track back. This lack of patience in possession may have been influenced by Arrows’ aggressive pressing, forcing quicker decisions and increasing physical demands. Or it's part of our high intensity attacking football the coaches favor. After 30min, the team’s attacking intensity dropped, and the combinations between Ndlovu and Maboe became less frequent. This loss of rhythm allowed Arrows more time on the ball, suggesting fatigue in midfield, a trend that continued into the 2nd half. Tactical Considerations and Impact on the Partnership We didn't show much improvement coming from half time. Maboe was becoming less and less influential. The turning point came with the substitution of Maboe for Mabaso. Although this change was relatively late, considering how less influential the midfield remained after the break, Mabaso had an immediate impact. His energy revived the midfield and brought Ndlovu back into the game, demonstrating that Ndlovu still had the legs and capacity to influence the match, what he needed was renewed support and intensity around him, especially with Shabalala offering limited influence as a 10. In the final 15 minutes, the team regained control, pressed higher up the pitch, and created better attacking moments. We looked like we could score a 2nd goal. The combinations returned, the forward passing improved, and Ndlovu once again became influential in driving the team’s play. Tactically, an earlier sub could have restored control and allowed those attacking moments to come before Silva’s sub. A good overall performance from Siphesihle Ndlovu📝 Video analysis with notes:
2:00

Siphesihle Ndlovu and the Double Pivot: Tactical Analysis📝 Out of Possession Siphesihle Ndlovu is a box-to-box midfielder in its purest form. Defensively, he was excellent at recoveries, closing gaps, cutting off passing lanes, and making well-timed interceptions. His anticipation and positional awareness allowed him to support the defense effectively. He maintained a high work rate, consistently tracking back and covering spaces behind the press, which was crucial for stabilizing the fullbacks, especially with Monyane looking flat. Even during periods when his influence in possession dipped, Ndlovu continued to deliver a solid shift out of possession, working alongside Maboe to break up play, win tackles, and apply pressure on the ball. In Possession Ndlovu embraced his box-to-box role, always looking to support the player on the ball, always trying to move the ball forward with line-breaking passes. He carried the ball whenever space allowed and maintained a vertical mindset, favoring forward passes over sideways or backward options. This approach helped the team establish attacking momentum early on. However, in the final 3rd, Ndlovu’s actions leaned too heavily towards shooting. Maboe created more chances[3] than Ndlovu[1], though Ndlovu was the more adventurous between the 2. He limited his actions far from the box. While Maboe prioritized creating opportunities in the final 3rd, Ndlovu often opted to shoot even when he had a teammate in a better position. His pass timing and selection was a concern too. This was especially problematic since Silva was often isolated, with no supply, and so the team needed more support in the final 3rd. With improved judgment in these moments, our quality in the final 3rd would have also received a boost from the midfield and, overall, avoid wasted opportunities. Ndlovu🤝🏾Maboe The double pivot provided balance and control, especially in the first 30 minutes. They kept excellent distances between, denying Arrows the chance to settle & play through midfield. This dominance was most evident early on, with the team controlling the game physically and tactically. Their chemistry was exciting. Whenever they combined, the entire attacking flow looked clean and well-balanced. They were very direct, which demanded high physical output due to the constant need to support forward passes and track back. This lack of patience in possession may have been influenced by Arrows’ aggressive pressing, forcing quicker decisions and increasing physical demands. Or it's part of our high intensity attacking football the coaches favor. After 30min, the team’s attacking intensity dropped, and the combinations between Ndlovu and Maboe became less frequent. This loss of rhythm allowed Arrows more time on the ball, suggesting fatigue in midfield, a trend that continued into the 2nd half. Tactical Considerations and Impact on the Partnership We didn't show much improvement coming from half time. Maboe was becoming less and less influential. The turning point came with the substitution of Maboe for Mabaso. Although this change was relatively late, considering how less influential the midfield remained after the break, Mabaso had an immediate impact. His energy revived the midfield and brought Ndlovu back into the game, demonstrating that Ndlovu still had the legs and capacity to influence the match, what he needed was renewed support and intensity around him, especially with Shabalala offering limited influence as a 10. In the final 15 minutes, the team regained control, pressed higher up the pitch, and created better attacking moments. We looked like we could score a 2nd goal. The combinations returned, the forward passing improved, and Ndlovu once again became influential in driving the team’s play. Tactically, an earlier sub could have restored control and allowed those attacking moments to come before Silva’s sub. A good overall performance from Siphesihle Ndlovu📝 Video analysis with notes:

El Capitano⚪

23,353 views • 6 months ago

We are Kaizer Chiefs!❤️✌🏾 In just 4 months, coach Nasreddine Nabi has changed the mentality of our players. There is still a long way to go but we have made positive progress towards our goals: ▪︎ They don't settle for anything less than total domination! ▪︎ They use unbearable speed in attack, a clear Nabi attacking blueprint🔥🔥 ▪︎ Once we find spaces to attack, our movement and passes are very quick. ▪︎ The decision-making on the ball is getting better, and our structure is getting better every game. ▪︎ They create a lot of chances every game! ▪︎ They fight as a team! We are very flexible tactically. There is positive energy around the team. The players are regaining their confidence! Kaizer Chiefs supporters, it's now on us to step up and support the team without forcing hate towards any player in the team. ▪︎ Look at how Nabi and his technical team show love, support, and patience with our players ▪︎ Look at how that is helping these guys never give up on us and our club. Everyone wants to do well here, and we have enough quality to do well this season. Quality is measured by performance, and that's what we are getting. It can only get better when upgrades are brought in. ▪︎ No player is guaranteed a place in the team, that on its own should tell us the coach knows what he's doing when he picks his 11. ▪︎ Let's keep rallying behind the team. We are Kaizer Chiefs!🫡🫡
3:44

We are Kaizer Chiefs!❤️✌🏾 In just 4 months, coach Nasreddine Nabi has changed the mentality of our players. There is still a long way to go but we have made positive progress towards our goals: ▪︎ They don't settle for anything less than total domination! ▪︎ They use unbearable speed in attack, a clear Nabi attacking blueprint🔥🔥 ▪︎ Once we find spaces to attack, our movement and passes are very quick. ▪︎ The decision-making on the ball is getting better, and our structure is getting better every game. ▪︎ They create a lot of chances every game! ▪︎ They fight as a team! We are very flexible tactically. There is positive energy around the team. The players are regaining their confidence! Kaizer Chiefs supporters, it's now on us to step up and support the team without forcing hate towards any player in the team. ▪︎ Look at how Nabi and his technical team show love, support, and patience with our players ▪︎ Look at how that is helping these guys never give up on us and our club. Everyone wants to do well here, and we have enough quality to do well this season. Quality is measured by performance, and that's what we are getting. It can only get better when upgrades are brought in. ▪︎ No player is guaranteed a place in the team, that on its own should tell us the coach knows what he's doing when he picks his 11. ▪︎ Let's keep rallying behind the team. We are Kaizer Chiefs!🫡🫡

El Capitano⚪

64,305 views • 1 year ago

Continental Football EDITION🗣 Pre-Match Analysis: Kaizer Chiefs vs. ZESCO United📝 ■ Setting the Tone in the CAFCC Today's game is our opportunity to show that we can perform as a solid team and secure a result. We’re playing at home, the supporters will be filling up the stadium, and from how ZESCO performed at their home ground, they haven’t shown enough quality to make us fear them. We need to be brave, show faith in the quality in the team, come out to play, and win. We won’t compromise the result or the principles of our game. We have the players, and domestically, we’ve been getting results. On continental turf, we’ve had contrasting outcomes: loss, draw, win. Now we have the chance to make it 2 wins in a row, giving us momentum for the next fixtures. The coaches have positively influenced games with substitutions, and today, on top of that, we need a strong start, willingness to control, and dominate the match to create better scoring opportunities. ■ Tactical Adjustments Our consistency has been an issue; we often change midfield pairings, like the one of Ndlovu and Maboe, too frequently. In the Betway Premiership, they’ve shown better composure and chemistry. Very exciting once they settle in possession with attacking flair, in continental football, our control is limited because we often have a mentality that forfeits possession. This mentality means we don’t always seek to control the game, and that limits us during moments when we need composure on the ball. We can’t always rely on beautiful football, but we can't also rely on kicking the ball forward aimlessly to win. Some opponents will punish us if we allow them to control the game more than necessary. It’s crucial to choose our moments well and not let opponents dictate play, especially when they have the quality to hurt us with that. ■ Attacking Performance In our previous match against ZESCO United, our attack was blunt. We only managed 1 shot on target, which happened in the 2nd minute. That shot resulted in a goal from a rebound: Silva’s header hit the upright, and Pule Mmodi was onside to tap it in. Apart from those 2 moments in the 1st 2 minutes, we failed to test the goalkeeper for the rest of the match. The keeper made 0 saves, and we only had 5 attempts, with just that 1 goal as the only attempt on target. Our attacking quality was lacking; we couldn’t find Silva, and we got no spark from Mayo as a 10. Even with substitutions at halftime, we couldn’t improve our offensive quality. Our attack needed reshuffling, reviving, and clearer tactical blueprint. ■ ZESCO United’s Threats ZESCO United’s primary attacking threat comes from their left-hand side, particularly with Chilangoshi at LB and Kampamba at LW. Kampamba is a dynamic dribbler who consistently challenges opposing fullbacks, making it essential for Kaizer Chiefs to maintain defensive discipline. Keeping Solomons on the pitch will be crucial for effective defensive recovery. They also have strong CB. Today, we suffocate them with pressure, maintain attacking intensity, fight for every ball, and we make better decisions in the final 3rd. An early goal✅️ The defense and Gk have done a lot of good work. It's time for the midfield and attack to show more consistency. ❤️✌🏾
4:10

Continental Football EDITION🗣 Pre-Match Analysis: Kaizer Chiefs vs. ZESCO United📝 ■ Setting the Tone in the CAFCC Today's game is our opportunity to show that we can perform as a solid team and secure a result. We’re playing at home, the supporters will be filling up the stadium, and from how ZESCO performed at their home ground, they haven’t shown enough quality to make us fear them. We need to be brave, show faith in the quality in the team, come out to play, and win. We won’t compromise the result or the principles of our game. We have the players, and domestically, we’ve been getting results. On continental turf, we’ve had contrasting outcomes: loss, draw, win. Now we have the chance to make it 2 wins in a row, giving us momentum for the next fixtures. The coaches have positively influenced games with substitutions, and today, on top of that, we need a strong start, willingness to control, and dominate the match to create better scoring opportunities. ■ Tactical Adjustments Our consistency has been an issue; we often change midfield pairings, like the one of Ndlovu and Maboe, too frequently. In the Betway Premiership, they’ve shown better composure and chemistry. Very exciting once they settle in possession with attacking flair, in continental football, our control is limited because we often have a mentality that forfeits possession. This mentality means we don’t always seek to control the game, and that limits us during moments when we need composure on the ball. We can’t always rely on beautiful football, but we can't also rely on kicking the ball forward aimlessly to win. Some opponents will punish us if we allow them to control the game more than necessary. It’s crucial to choose our moments well and not let opponents dictate play, especially when they have the quality to hurt us with that. ■ Attacking Performance In our previous match against ZESCO United, our attack was blunt. We only managed 1 shot on target, which happened in the 2nd minute. That shot resulted in a goal from a rebound: Silva’s header hit the upright, and Pule Mmodi was onside to tap it in. Apart from those 2 moments in the 1st 2 minutes, we failed to test the goalkeeper for the rest of the match. The keeper made 0 saves, and we only had 5 attempts, with just that 1 goal as the only attempt on target. Our attacking quality was lacking; we couldn’t find Silva, and we got no spark from Mayo as a 10. Even with substitutions at halftime, we couldn’t improve our offensive quality. Our attack needed reshuffling, reviving, and clearer tactical blueprint. ■ ZESCO United’s Threats ZESCO United’s primary attacking threat comes from their left-hand side, particularly with Chilangoshi at LB and Kampamba at LW. Kampamba is a dynamic dribbler who consistently challenges opposing fullbacks, making it essential for Kaizer Chiefs to maintain defensive discipline. Keeping Solomons on the pitch will be crucial for effective defensive recovery. They also have strong CB. Today, we suffocate them with pressure, maintain attacking intensity, fight for every ball, and we make better decisions in the final 3rd. An early goal✅️ The defense and Gk have done a lot of good work. It's time for the midfield and attack to show more consistency. ❤️✌🏾

El Capitano⚪

41,618 views • 6 months ago

Tactical Report [1st half]: Nkosingiphile “Mshini” Ngcobo📝 Role: Central Midfielder / Controller Observations: Tempo Management: Mshini effectively dictated the pace of the game, controlling transitions and ensuring the team played to his rhythm. Positional Awareness: Maintained excellent spatial awareness, constantly scanning surroundings to anticipate opposition movements and adjust positioning. Passing & Distribution: He showed composure in possession; consistently found forward passing options without forcing risky balls. Created and exploited passing lanes to connect with the likes of Shabalala and Ighodaro across all areas. Combination Play: The understanding with Ox was particularly effective; they maintained optimal distances to facilitate fluid build-up and maintain team structure. It's not perfect, but they give the team improved quality together. Defensive Contribution: Showed high commitment out of possession, applied intelligent pressure, closed passing lanes, and maintained positional awareness. Even after Ox was removed, he was the pivot who used the ball to manage the game and supported the build-up. Impact on Team Play: Provided stability in midfield, controlled transitions, and allowed other players the freedom to operate with confidence. To avoid exposing technical deficiencies in our double pivot, Mshini did not push too high too often, maintaining good distance from Ox. Mshini functioned as the fulcrum of midfield control. Once again, showing how important his role is no matter how we want to play. His composure, tactical awareness, and connection with teammates ensured the team maintained structure and rhythm in both possession and defensive phases. 📝
5:06

Tactical Report [1st half]: Nkosingiphile “Mshini” Ngcobo📝 Role: Central Midfielder / Controller Observations: Tempo Management: Mshini effectively dictated the pace of the game, controlling transitions and ensuring the team played to his rhythm. Positional Awareness: Maintained excellent spatial awareness, constantly scanning surroundings to anticipate opposition movements and adjust positioning. Passing & Distribution: He showed composure in possession; consistently found forward passing options without forcing risky balls. Created and exploited passing lanes to connect with the likes of Shabalala and Ighodaro across all areas. Combination Play: The understanding with Ox was particularly effective; they maintained optimal distances to facilitate fluid build-up and maintain team structure. It's not perfect, but they give the team improved quality together. Defensive Contribution: Showed high commitment out of possession, applied intelligent pressure, closed passing lanes, and maintained positional awareness. Even after Ox was removed, he was the pivot who used the ball to manage the game and supported the build-up. Impact on Team Play: Provided stability in midfield, controlled transitions, and allowed other players the freedom to operate with confidence. To avoid exposing technical deficiencies in our double pivot, Mshini did not push too high too often, maintaining good distance from Ox. Mshini functioned as the fulcrum of midfield control. Once again, showing how important his role is no matter how we want to play. His composure, tactical awareness, and connection with teammates ensured the team maintained structure and rhythm in both possession and defensive phases. 📝

El Capitano⚪

44,645 views • 9 months ago

As requested by Alex Miller yesterday, a look at our out of possession shape in the first half. 1: (10 secs) - Wednesday in a very narrow high block in a 523 out of possession. It only looked like this when the ball is central. Nowrich rotate (change positions during play) a lot and this narrow block denies central rotation. In this clip, they have had rotation in left back position as the CM has dropped into the area and left back on the last line. 2: 20 secs - When the ball went wide or started to move wide, the full back would advance up the pitch to pressure the full back and press full back to full back, whilst the CBs would come out with the Norwich forwards coming in between the lines, as this ball transitions across the pitch you see Sargent come out and Iorfa following tight. Fusire in this clip has come out to mark full back to full back and creating a makeshift back 4. 3: 47 secs - Wednesday get back into their narrow block shape 4: 56 secs - rotation from the front line form Norwich 5: 58 seconds, Palmer comes out of the back line to pick up the rotation and prevent space between lines. As the player turns to our left, Amass starts to come out to pick up full back to full back on the other side. In summary, Wednesday played their familiar 523 blocking shape out of possession but it was much more proactive in the back 5 than we usually see it, with full backs and Cbs following rotations and stepping out of the backline to prevent space between lines. It worked, first half. Norwich combated it a little better second half. Will get a clip out tomorrow of what they did
1:39

As requested by Alex Miller yesterday, a look at our out of possession shape in the first half. 1: (10 secs) - Wednesday in a very narrow high block in a 523 out of possession. It only looked like this when the ball is central. Nowrich rotate (change positions during play) a lot and this narrow block denies central rotation. In this clip, they have had rotation in left back position as the CM has dropped into the area and left back on the last line. 2: 20 secs - When the ball went wide or started to move wide, the full back would advance up the pitch to pressure the full back and press full back to full back, whilst the CBs would come out with the Norwich forwards coming in between the lines, as this ball transitions across the pitch you see Sargent come out and Iorfa following tight. Fusire in this clip has come out to mark full back to full back and creating a makeshift back 4. 3: 47 secs - Wednesday get back into their narrow block shape 4: 56 secs - rotation from the front line form Norwich 5: 58 seconds, Palmer comes out of the back line to pick up the rotation and prevent space between lines. As the player turns to our left, Amass starts to come out to pick up full back to full back on the other side. In summary, Wednesday played their familiar 523 blocking shape out of possession but it was much more proactive in the back 5 than we usually see it, with full backs and Cbs following rotations and stepping out of the backline to prevent space between lines. It worked, first half. Norwich combated it a little better second half. Will get a clip out tomorrow of what they did

TW Football

16,673 views • 9 months ago

Thabo Cele and Lebo Maboe double pivot vs Polokwane City📝 The level of organisation, discipline, and resistance was completely different compared to our games vs Magesi, Orbit or TS Galaxy and that matters when analyzing performance. And, before even getting into the Maboe–Cele double pivot, it’s important to address the front 3. Trying to impose a possession-based approach with Lilepo, Duba, and Silva is, at this stage, a bit unrealistic. The profiles don’t naturally support sustained control or efficiency in tight spaces; they are more direct, which makes the approach look slightly disconnected. Otherwise, who should combine with the double pivot to keep possession against a low block cos you're not inverting any fullbacks or CBs? Mdu[10] is also direct and won’t drop deep into ball circulation. ■ The midfield pairing of Cele & Maboe gave the team a clear structural balance in the 1st and 2nd phase, even if the chemistry is still far off. I mean, it's their 1st start together so🤷🏾‍♂️ Cele operated as a holding midfielder, anchoring the team behind/next to Maboe. He took on most of the defensive responsibility, well-positioned to screen the backline, and effective in managing transitions. ■ In possession, Cele was central to the 1st and 2nd phase of progression. He completed more passes than Plk City’s midfield duo of Kambala and Maphangule combined while also neutralising their 10 Mutudza. Mutudza managed just 5 passes in 66 minutes, which says everything about Cele’s dominance in that zone. He constantly made himself available in front of the CBs, scanning, managing the tempo, and organising the team’s structure. He always demanded movement from his teammates, always pointing to open spaces they should be occupying to progress better. At one point, he was calling Mdu to receive while Mdu was instead making a forward run away from Cele who had the ball. Cele didn’t force progression unnecessarily, but that doesn’t mean he lacked intent to move the team forward. He completed more line breaking passes and passes into the final 3rd than any other player. That highlights his awareness of when to accelerate play and when to maintain control. ■ Maboe, on the other hand, operated as the 8, with freedom to impact higher zones. With Cele securing the base, he was free to connect phases and influence play closer to the final 3rd. However, you could still see old habits from his previous role. He often dropped deeper than expected, which slightly limited his presence in decisive attacking areas. As much as he played balls into the final 3rd, we also needed him to receive in the final 3rd more. ■ Together, Cele and Maboe created 5 chances against a very disciplined low block of Plk City. 4 of those came from Maboe, underlining how much creative responsibility he still carried. However, this wasn’t his sharpest attacking performance in terms of passing and shooting. Despite the output in chances created, there were several misplaced passes in key moments, and he didn’t attack the box enough for an 8 with a reliable 6 behind him. It’s a similar issue we had with Mdu yesterday, he also struggled to consistently enter the opposition box as usual or combine between the lines. There was a clear lack of chemistry in the final 3rd in our overall performance. We couldn't stay on the ball enough to put pressure on their defense and cause enough panic for them to crack. ■ Towards midway through the 2nd Half, both Cele & Maboe started to lose some steam, and the pairing needed refreshing. At this point, Plk City had already overloaded the middle and allowed very little space for us to operate. We failed the same way in the loss vs Stellies, they improved their midfield to cancel our dominance, and we looked confused with our subs, no clear intention to improve a clear area that's been neutralized. Our struggles were not in the double pivot. There was nothing result-altering or structurally wrong with Maboe & Cele. [Video] Part 1:
3:27

Thabo Cele and Lebo Maboe double pivot vs Polokwane City📝 The level of organisation, discipline, and resistance was completely different compared to our games vs Magesi, Orbit or TS Galaxy and that matters when analyzing performance. And, before even getting into the Maboe–Cele double pivot, it’s important to address the front 3. Trying to impose a possession-based approach with Lilepo, Duba, and Silva is, at this stage, a bit unrealistic. The profiles don’t naturally support sustained control or efficiency in tight spaces; they are more direct, which makes the approach look slightly disconnected. Otherwise, who should combine with the double pivot to keep possession against a low block cos you're not inverting any fullbacks or CBs? Mdu[10] is also direct and won’t drop deep into ball circulation. ■ The midfield pairing of Cele & Maboe gave the team a clear structural balance in the 1st and 2nd phase, even if the chemistry is still far off. I mean, it's their 1st start together so🤷🏾‍♂️ Cele operated as a holding midfielder, anchoring the team behind/next to Maboe. He took on most of the defensive responsibility, well-positioned to screen the backline, and effective in managing transitions. ■ In possession, Cele was central to the 1st and 2nd phase of progression. He completed more passes than Plk City’s midfield duo of Kambala and Maphangule combined while also neutralising their 10 Mutudza. Mutudza managed just 5 passes in 66 minutes, which says everything about Cele’s dominance in that zone. He constantly made himself available in front of the CBs, scanning, managing the tempo, and organising the team’s structure. He always demanded movement from his teammates, always pointing to open spaces they should be occupying to progress better. At one point, he was calling Mdu to receive while Mdu was instead making a forward run away from Cele who had the ball. Cele didn’t force progression unnecessarily, but that doesn’t mean he lacked intent to move the team forward. He completed more line breaking passes and passes into the final 3rd than any other player. That highlights his awareness of when to accelerate play and when to maintain control. ■ Maboe, on the other hand, operated as the 8, with freedom to impact higher zones. With Cele securing the base, he was free to connect phases and influence play closer to the final 3rd. However, you could still see old habits from his previous role. He often dropped deeper than expected, which slightly limited his presence in decisive attacking areas. As much as he played balls into the final 3rd, we also needed him to receive in the final 3rd more. ■ Together, Cele and Maboe created 5 chances against a very disciplined low block of Plk City. 4 of those came from Maboe, underlining how much creative responsibility he still carried. However, this wasn’t his sharpest attacking performance in terms of passing and shooting. Despite the output in chances created, there were several misplaced passes in key moments, and he didn’t attack the box enough for an 8 with a reliable 6 behind him. It’s a similar issue we had with Mdu yesterday, he also struggled to consistently enter the opposition box as usual or combine between the lines. There was a clear lack of chemistry in the final 3rd in our overall performance. We couldn't stay on the ball enough to put pressure on their defense and cause enough panic for them to crack. ■ Towards midway through the 2nd Half, both Cele & Maboe started to lose some steam, and the pairing needed refreshing. At this point, Plk City had already overloaded the middle and allowed very little space for us to operate. We failed the same way in the loss vs Stellies, they improved their midfield to cancel our dominance, and we looked confused with our subs, no clear intention to improve a clear area that's been neutralized. Our struggles were not in the double pivot. There was nothing result-altering or structurally wrong with Maboe & Cele. [Video] Part 1:

El Capitano⚪

58,049 views • 3 months ago

Uzenenye!📝 Possession with purpose: You have a very competitive team here. You just have to fix the goalscoring problem. ■ We haven't lost our ability to create chances, which is important. They just come from clear repeated attacking patterns and control than just kicking the ball forward. ■ We are able to progress both wide and central. We still need to work on looking for that "better option" when we have the ball around the opposition box. ■ We create chances through good movement and passing. ■ There are moments of patience on the ball, and there are moments of continued direct attacks. We put pressure on the opposition defense persistently. The ideas are not dominant as yet, but they are clear. We are quick once we find those pockets to progress. We have those small triangles in wide areas. ■ In Central midfield, they will improve with time and a few other clear factors we need to solve. ■ We need to improve the balance in some key areas. Work on our rushed passes. Even in quick transitional moments, we sometimes rush a pass that kills the attacking momentum. You still need well-timed passes and a good selection of passes in key areas to create better scoring chances. So decision-making will forever be at the center of everything we want to achieve in the field of play. ■ Sometimes, your teammate hasn't really completed a run for you to release a pass, but we make that pass anyway. Small details. ■ Once our match sharpness and overall team chemistry improve, we will increase the quality of key actions across the field. If you don't abandon your principles to dominate and control games, you will create chances, and it won't be by luck, but it will be by design. ■ The team will find rhythm, and when results come, they will be consistent. ■ We have worked on the spaces between players to some degree, and you can see how quickly we win the ball back. There is little space for the opponent to breathe after winning the ball. Even in the Netherlands, we never sat deep, we always pressed every angle on the pitch. ■ We are aggressive, and the close proximity relationships we are building are helping us in regaining possession quickly. ■ They are not yet perfect, but we have made some progress from how tactically confused we often looked last season. We are patient this side. There is good progress in the team. I believe in teams that grow, and growth doesn't move from zero to ten. You need to be patient and build each step at a time. Protagonist Tiki-taka in motion!❤️✌🏾
4:44

Uzenenye!📝 Possession with purpose: You have a very competitive team here. You just have to fix the goalscoring problem. ■ We haven't lost our ability to create chances, which is important. They just come from clear repeated attacking patterns and control than just kicking the ball forward. ■ We are able to progress both wide and central. We still need to work on looking for that "better option" when we have the ball around the opposition box. ■ We create chances through good movement and passing. ■ There are moments of patience on the ball, and there are moments of continued direct attacks. We put pressure on the opposition defense persistently. The ideas are not dominant as yet, but they are clear. We are quick once we find those pockets to progress. We have those small triangles in wide areas. ■ In Central midfield, they will improve with time and a few other clear factors we need to solve. ■ We need to improve the balance in some key areas. Work on our rushed passes. Even in quick transitional moments, we sometimes rush a pass that kills the attacking momentum. You still need well-timed passes and a good selection of passes in key areas to create better scoring chances. So decision-making will forever be at the center of everything we want to achieve in the field of play. ■ Sometimes, your teammate hasn't really completed a run for you to release a pass, but we make that pass anyway. Small details. ■ Once our match sharpness and overall team chemistry improve, we will increase the quality of key actions across the field. If you don't abandon your principles to dominate and control games, you will create chances, and it won't be by luck, but it will be by design. ■ The team will find rhythm, and when results come, they will be consistent. ■ We have worked on the spaces between players to some degree, and you can see how quickly we win the ball back. There is little space for the opponent to breathe after winning the ball. Even in the Netherlands, we never sat deep, we always pressed every angle on the pitch. ■ We are aggressive, and the close proximity relationships we are building are helping us in regaining possession quickly. ■ They are not yet perfect, but we have made some progress from how tactically confused we often looked last season. We are patient this side. There is good progress in the team. I believe in teams that grow, and growth doesn't move from zero to ten. You need to be patient and build each step at a time. Protagonist Tiki-taka in motion!❤️✌🏾

El Capitano⚪

16,338 views • 1 year ago

When considering high pressing — whether from a goal kick or in open play — I was long a believer in full zonal marking and the idea of compactness at all costs and 'force them wide'. But over time, I began to question this approach and ask myself: Is there a way to create more favourable conditions to consistently generate goalscoring opportunities? That curiosity led me to study Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta — a coach and team that have had a significant influence on how I view the defending phase of the game. From there, I began implementing man-oriented high pressing as a core defensive principle with the teams I worked with. Starting with the U15s, the impact was immediate. We achieved more ball regains in central areas and, as a result, created more goalscoring opportunities directly from our pressing moments. Beyond the tactical outcomes, this approach also exposed players to more 1v1 defending situations, while naturally developing their anticipation and interception skills. Importantly, nothing was trained in isolation. Every session linked the pressing phase to the attacking transition. The principle was simple: Win the ball → Play forward. This same defensive principle was adopted by the first team at Røa, and it became a key focus throughout last season. The consistency of the idea — and the conviction behind it — played a major role in our success, regardless of the opposition. Below is a video example of us scoring against Champions League opposition Brann. The belief in our principles never changed, whether we were facing a Champions League side or a team around us in the table. Video examples: • Gasperini’s Atalanta vs Bayer Leverkusen • Røa vs Brann • Røa U15
0:54

When considering high pressing — whether from a goal kick or in open play — I was long a believer in full zonal marking and the idea of compactness at all costs and 'force them wide'. But over time, I began to question this approach and ask myself: Is there a way to create more favourable conditions to consistently generate goalscoring opportunities? That curiosity led me to study Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta — a coach and team that have had a significant influence on how I view the defending phase of the game. From there, I began implementing man-oriented high pressing as a core defensive principle with the teams I worked with. Starting with the U15s, the impact was immediate. We achieved more ball regains in central areas and, as a result, created more goalscoring opportunities directly from our pressing moments. Beyond the tactical outcomes, this approach also exposed players to more 1v1 defending situations, while naturally developing their anticipation and interception skills. Importantly, nothing was trained in isolation. Every session linked the pressing phase to the attacking transition. The principle was simple: Win the ball → Play forward. This same defensive principle was adopted by the first team at Røa, and it became a key focus throughout last season. The consistency of the idea — and the conviction behind it — played a major role in our success, regardless of the opposition. Below is a video example of us scoring against Champions League opposition Brann. The belief in our principles never changed, whether we were facing a Champions League side or a team around us in the table. Video examples: • Gasperini’s Atalanta vs Bayer Leverkusen • Røa vs Brann • Røa U15

Russell Pope

14,840 views • 6 months ago

Just watched some in-possession bits from Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough, and although plenty of great accounts on here have already broken down how they set up with the ball, I thought I’d also share a few thoughts of my own. There’s been a lot of talk about their structure and the methodical, sometimes slow, nature of their build-up, and I largely agree with that. It isn’t rigid; players aren’t locked into zones at all times, but there is a clear recurring picture. The left back holding width, the right back tucking inside, the 3-2 base in build up. That structure is very evident, but I'm not going to talk about that. What really caught my eye was the intention to change rhythms across all three thirds. The slow circulation mentioned can very quickly turn into sharp vertical play or quick combinations, often without warning. The centre backs, along with one of the central midfielders, seem key to this in deeper areas. They are often the ones responsible for accelerating the game during a passing sequence, whether through sudden carries, changes of direction, switches of play, or simply finding a brave pass through the press. In the middle third, the use of a staggered midfield and central overloads allows players to operate on diagonal angles to find and link passes, and when you add the constant movement from the wingers and the attacking midfielder, it regularly sets the stage for UBTs or third man combos\runs, creates the conditions for these tempo shifts. In the final third, similar principles apply, especially in wide areas where triangles are formed to facilitate combinations. Wingers and fullbacks are clearly encouraged to take on their man in 1v1s, and pass and move sequences are used to increase the tempo. While a lot of this play happens out wide, targeting central zones through diagonals or cut backs is also a recurring feature. On the downside, and although I felt the players always seem to be on the lookout for opportunities to increase the tempo during these passing sequences, it sometimes feels like they wait a bit too long before executing a quick action. That hesitation is, in my opinion, what gave their build-up its “slow” reputation.
5:36

Just watched some in-possession bits from Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough, and although plenty of great accounts on here have already broken down how they set up with the ball, I thought I’d also share a few thoughts of my own. There’s been a lot of talk about their structure and the methodical, sometimes slow, nature of their build-up, and I largely agree with that. It isn’t rigid; players aren’t locked into zones at all times, but there is a clear recurring picture. The left back holding width, the right back tucking inside, the 3-2 base in build up. That structure is very evident, but I'm not going to talk about that. What really caught my eye was the intention to change rhythms across all three thirds. The slow circulation mentioned can very quickly turn into sharp vertical play or quick combinations, often without warning. The centre backs, along with one of the central midfielders, seem key to this in deeper areas. They are often the ones responsible for accelerating the game during a passing sequence, whether through sudden carries, changes of direction, switches of play, or simply finding a brave pass through the press. In the middle third, the use of a staggered midfield and central overloads allows players to operate on diagonal angles to find and link passes, and when you add the constant movement from the wingers and the attacking midfielder, it regularly sets the stage for UBTs or third man combos\runs, creates the conditions for these tempo shifts. In the final third, similar principles apply, especially in wide areas where triangles are formed to facilitate combinations. Wingers and fullbacks are clearly encouraged to take on their man in 1v1s, and pass and move sequences are used to increase the tempo. While a lot of this play happens out wide, targeting central zones through diagonals or cut backs is also a recurring feature. On the downside, and although I felt the players always seem to be on the lookout for opportunities to increase the tempo during these passing sequences, it sometimes feels like they wait a bit too long before executing a quick action. That hesitation is, in my opinion, what gave their build-up its “slow” reputation.

Fathalli

32,694 views • 6 months ago

After the Spain and France game, I tweeted this: “Collective quality outperformed individual quality.” This was just a sense. It was a feeling after the game that I quickly put into words, but I didn’t have any evidence for it. I didn’t have anything other than the feeling that I got from watching the game. So I decided to go into FIFA’s Training Centre and look up the match reports to see if I could find anything that would lead to the conclusion I had: that Spain were collectively better than France. At a glance, the answer was no. Other than expected goals, pretty much everything was around the same: complete passes, pass completion, possession percentage and ball progressions. If you look at the line breaks, you’ll see that France were actually a little bit higher, which makes sense because France typically like to play a little bit more vertically. However, there is one statistic that does show what I felt: offering to receive. France had 329 total offers made, distributed fairly evenly throughout the field, and 114 total offers received. Spain, on the other hand, had 438 total offers made. They made 236 offers in the middle third and 275 offers inside the shape. That is where the numbers really begin to differ. As FIFA defines it, an offer to receive is an off-ball movement that shows intent to support the player on the ball, either to maintain possession or progress the ball. Spain were constantly providing their teammates, through proximity, through closeness, and through angles and lines of support, an option to continue playing. That shows that, in moments when Spain have the ball, there are constantly three, four or five players moving and providing an option to continue to maintain possession. Spain play together. The player on the ball is rarely left alone to solve the moment through their individual quality while everyone else watches. There is an option, an exit plan, some way out in case they need it. Secondly, when we think about this Spanish style, we often think about one touch, two touch, pass, pass, pass. What we often fail to realize is that these players have so much ability on the ball. Even a right back has the quality to beat a player, get out of a press and continue the attack. Playing collectively does not mean removing individual quality. Their individual quality allows the collective to continue playing. Then there are the speed-up moments. Spain can maintain possession, move France, slow the game down and continue offering support, but when the moment to go forward appears, it is time to go forward. They recognize that moment of verticality and they accelerate. Then, if the possibility disappears, they slow down again and continue playing. There is another element of Spain. Once they have moved France back into their final third, they create these structures where they basically suffocate you. Any time the ball pops out, there are players ready to defend and ready to win the next ball in order to keep it going. The structure, the organization and the roles allow them to stay pressing, keep playing together and keep having the ball. Lastly, there is this type of football that I call football from the plaza, fútbol de plaza, where you learn to attack, dribble, pass and play in tight spaces. You learn these interactions and these one-two combinations, but you don’t learn them through the repetition of patterns. You learn them through doing it for your entire childhood in these tight areas. It is play, pass and go, play and go, constantly finding the next interaction and then finding that moment of verticality. That whole sequence shows exactly why Spain are Spain. To summarize, they are constantly offering their teammates support. My initial feeling that collective quality outperformed individual quality came from watching Spain play together, always offering options to the player on the ball rather than watching the player on the ball do something with their individual quality. They offer an option, an exit plan, some way out in case it is needed. The players are also able to escape individually when the collective solution is not immediately available. They recognize the speed-up moments and, when they find themselves in moments where they can go forward, they go vertical. Then they suffocate you through the structure and organization that allow them to win the ball again and keep playing together. And that last piece—the forward pass, play and go—is the kind of thing you get a lot from 3v3, 4v4 and 2v2 games. All in all, fantastic. So much fun to watch the Spanish team and so much fun to see all of their style essentially culminate into one match and, in this case, into one goal.
1:03

After the Spain and France game, I tweeted this: “Collective quality outperformed individual quality.” This was just a sense. It was a feeling after the game that I quickly put into words, but I didn’t have any evidence for it. I didn’t have anything other than the feeling that I got from watching the game. So I decided to go into FIFA’s Training Centre and look up the match reports to see if I could find anything that would lead to the conclusion I had: that Spain were collectively better than France. At a glance, the answer was no. Other than expected goals, pretty much everything was around the same: complete passes, pass completion, possession percentage and ball progressions. If you look at the line breaks, you’ll see that France were actually a little bit higher, which makes sense because France typically like to play a little bit more vertically. However, there is one statistic that does show what I felt: offering to receive. France had 329 total offers made, distributed fairly evenly throughout the field, and 114 total offers received. Spain, on the other hand, had 438 total offers made. They made 236 offers in the middle third and 275 offers inside the shape. That is where the numbers really begin to differ. As FIFA defines it, an offer to receive is an off-ball movement that shows intent to support the player on the ball, either to maintain possession or progress the ball. Spain were constantly providing their teammates, through proximity, through closeness, and through angles and lines of support, an option to continue playing. That shows that, in moments when Spain have the ball, there are constantly three, four or five players moving and providing an option to continue to maintain possession. Spain play together. The player on the ball is rarely left alone to solve the moment through their individual quality while everyone else watches. There is an option, an exit plan, some way out in case they need it. Secondly, when we think about this Spanish style, we often think about one touch, two touch, pass, pass, pass. What we often fail to realize is that these players have so much ability on the ball. Even a right back has the quality to beat a player, get out of a press and continue the attack. Playing collectively does not mean removing individual quality. Their individual quality allows the collective to continue playing. Then there are the speed-up moments. Spain can maintain possession, move France, slow the game down and continue offering support, but when the moment to go forward appears, it is time to go forward. They recognize that moment of verticality and they accelerate. Then, if the possibility disappears, they slow down again and continue playing. There is another element of Spain. Once they have moved France back into their final third, they create these structures where they basically suffocate you. Any time the ball pops out, there are players ready to defend and ready to win the next ball in order to keep it going. The structure, the organization and the roles allow them to stay pressing, keep playing together and keep having the ball. Lastly, there is this type of football that I call football from the plaza, fútbol de plaza, where you learn to attack, dribble, pass and play in tight spaces. You learn these interactions and these one-two combinations, but you don’t learn them through the repetition of patterns. You learn them through doing it for your entire childhood in these tight areas. It is play, pass and go, play and go, constantly finding the next interaction and then finding that moment of verticality. That whole sequence shows exactly why Spain are Spain. To summarize, they are constantly offering their teammates support. My initial feeling that collective quality outperformed individual quality came from watching Spain play together, always offering options to the player on the ball rather than watching the player on the ball do something with their individual quality. They offer an option, an exit plan, some way out in case it is needed. The players are also able to escape individually when the collective solution is not immediately available. They recognize the speed-up moments and, when they find themselves in moments where they can go forward, they go vertical. Then they suffocate you through the structure and organization that allow them to win the ball again and keep playing together. And that last piece—the forward pass, play and go—is the kind of thing you get a lot from 3v3, 4v4 and 2v2 games. All in all, fantastic. So much fun to watch the Spanish team and so much fun to see all of their style essentially culminate into one match and, in this case, into one goal.

David Garcia

42,406 views • 18 days ago

We have to acknowledge the progress while also calling out poor officiating, especially when it directly costs us results🤝🏾 I can’t fault the boys for a performance that was more than good enough to win the game. They gave everything, from their consistent effort they scored and it was denied, and they were denied a clear penalty too. It can’t only be about missed chances. No team converts every opportunity, but the ones you do score should count if you shut the back door. We were in a position to win this match if the officiating was fair, simple as that. For us as Kaizer Chiefs, this is the kind of performance you build on, not break down. We should be proud and positive behind the boys. We’re sitting 4th on the log, just 4 points behind the log leaders. How does that make us the “worst team”? The season is long, and right now, what the team needs most is positive energy. No one is going to support Kaizer Chiefs for us. No one is going to encourage our boys for us, and we actually have real positives to rally behind. I am still 100% behind the boys and the technical team❤️✌🏾
1:48

We have to acknowledge the progress while also calling out poor officiating, especially when it directly costs us results🤝🏾 I can’t fault the boys for a performance that was more than good enough to win the game. They gave everything, from their consistent effort they scored and it was denied, and they were denied a clear penalty too. It can’t only be about missed chances. No team converts every opportunity, but the ones you do score should count if you shut the back door. We were in a position to win this match if the officiating was fair, simple as that. For us as Kaizer Chiefs, this is the kind of performance you build on, not break down. We should be proud and positive behind the boys. We’re sitting 4th on the log, just 4 points behind the log leaders. How does that make us the “worst team”? The season is long, and right now, what the team needs most is positive energy. No one is going to support Kaizer Chiefs for us. No one is going to encourage our boys for us, and we actually have real positives to rally behind. I am still 100% behind the boys and the technical team❤️✌🏾

El Capitano⚪

13,493 views • 8 months ago

Pressing, transitions and goals in Canada! After the hiring of Jesse Marsch this week by Canada Soccer , there has been lots of talk about pressing and transitions in the football community. This is THE style of play that we have used for the last 5 years with Alliance United FC in @L1OMens and will give you some insight in how this can look. We went away from the 'possession' based 1-4-3-3 that everyone has been using as the 'best way' to develop players and win games. Many say this is the 'right way' of playing. However, we use the players' abilities and inabilities as the starting point and based on players produced in Canada, within our youth system, this is the way we think will get us the best results and help our players get to the next level. You need to understand youth development in our country to understand what is and what is not being taught to young players. This is not a negative outlook, it is just looking at the reality. Many mistake this style of play as just non-stop pressing and chaos. Yes, these two aspects are important but it is a much more deliberate and planned way of playing that is used to predict where the opposition will play the ball, where the ball can be dictated and what areas the opposition leave open for transitions when they attack. In 2019, I was introduced to Ernst Tanner former Academy Director of Red Bull Salzburg and current Philadelphia Union Sporting Director that has led the club to being one of the top clubs in MLS and arguably the best academies in North America the last few years. Both organisations are known for their pressing and fast transitions in addition to producing top players. He became a mentor to me and gave me insights and education on this style of play. He has changed the way I look at football. Every season we try to recruit players that can play this style that I will describe below and we do not waiver in the way we played. Every game since 2019 Alliance United FC have played either in a 1-4-2-2-2 or a 1-4-4-2 midfield diamond....every game. We have no secrets in how we play. We focus on defending, pressing, forcing teams into mistakes and transition football. It is important to understand that we do not care how much possession we have and we actually want the opposition to have the ball most of the time. Stats in football show that only when a team has the ball 70% or more in a match their is a correlation to winning. Anything less is not correlated to winning in a certain match. In addition, 80% of goals are scored under 5 passes or less and under 10 seconds when regaining possession. We follow the trend! So, here are some important points based on the video: a) Pressing higher up the pitch when possible. All 11 players are committed to the team intention (principles) and if anybody is not committed and does not contribute to this style of play, they do not play. There is no leeway on this. Either you are in 100% in or you are not. All it takes is one player to not commit and the plan will not work. If we do not win the ball on the high press, everyone is to drop behind the ball as fast as possible to restart the press closer to our goal. b) Based on the opponent's scouting we press certain players and decide if will press closer to the sideline and 'pin' the player to the sideline or we dictate the passes and dribbles centrally and 'surround' the player to win the ball in central positions. We also decide if we will sometimes drop lower for the opposition to advance so we can play behind them when winning the ball. This is done if we scout that the opposition centre-backs are slower than our two strikers. This means we will 'outrun' them in the space they leave behind. c) When winning the ball we want to exploit space behind their backline as the priority which means that a player(s) need to be passing options behind the backline and preferably centrally which is closer to the goal, players winning the ball has to look to play the ball to the player furthest up the pitch. Possession is not a priority but scoring goals as fast as possible is. d) When winning the ball we stay as central as possible with passes and dribbling. We use the width of the penalty area (44 yards) as the preferable dimension when transitioning. We want to stay within this width. The wider the team plays the ball, the more time the opposition has to block the middle. PLAY AS VERTICALLY AS POSSIBLE! The emphasis is to get the ball to the two strikers and play 1v1 against the CBs. e) We know that most youth players grow up playing against a 1-4-3-3 which means there is one central striker meaning the centre-backs one back press and one can cover. Against 2 strikers this is not possible and many centre-backs do not have the ability to play 1v1 with space behind them. They are not taught the cues to step and press or drop to protect space behind them. They are never taught at youth level. We exploit this deficiency. e) All 11 players must get up the pitch to close the spaces if we lose the ball from our attacking transition so the opposition cannot transition against us and we can counter-press. f) A goal is the best outcome based on the objective of attacking but at the minimum we want to get a shot on goal from a transition. This is a quick overview of a different way of playing football that Canada will see with the Men's National Team.
1:55

Pressing, transitions and goals in Canada! After the hiring of Jesse Marsch this week by Canada Soccer , there has been lots of talk about pressing and transitions in the football community. This is THE style of play that we have used for the last 5 years with Alliance United FC in @L1OMens and will give you some insight in how this can look. We went away from the 'possession' based 1-4-3-3 that everyone has been using as the 'best way' to develop players and win games. Many say this is the 'right way' of playing. However, we use the players' abilities and inabilities as the starting point and based on players produced in Canada, within our youth system, this is the way we think will get us the best results and help our players get to the next level. You need to understand youth development in our country to understand what is and what is not being taught to young players. This is not a negative outlook, it is just looking at the reality. Many mistake this style of play as just non-stop pressing and chaos. Yes, these two aspects are important but it is a much more deliberate and planned way of playing that is used to predict where the opposition will play the ball, where the ball can be dictated and what areas the opposition leave open for transitions when they attack. In 2019, I was introduced to Ernst Tanner former Academy Director of Red Bull Salzburg and current Philadelphia Union Sporting Director that has led the club to being one of the top clubs in MLS and arguably the best academies in North America the last few years. Both organisations are known for their pressing and fast transitions in addition to producing top players. He became a mentor to me and gave me insights and education on this style of play. He has changed the way I look at football. Every season we try to recruit players that can play this style that I will describe below and we do not waiver in the way we played. Every game since 2019 Alliance United FC have played either in a 1-4-2-2-2 or a 1-4-4-2 midfield diamond....every game. We have no secrets in how we play. We focus on defending, pressing, forcing teams into mistakes and transition football. It is important to understand that we do not care how much possession we have and we actually want the opposition to have the ball most of the time. Stats in football show that only when a team has the ball 70% or more in a match their is a correlation to winning. Anything less is not correlated to winning in a certain match. In addition, 80% of goals are scored under 5 passes or less and under 10 seconds when regaining possession. We follow the trend! So, here are some important points based on the video: a) Pressing higher up the pitch when possible. All 11 players are committed to the team intention (principles) and if anybody is not committed and does not contribute to this style of play, they do not play. There is no leeway on this. Either you are in 100% in or you are not. All it takes is one player to not commit and the plan will not work. If we do not win the ball on the high press, everyone is to drop behind the ball as fast as possible to restart the press closer to our goal. b) Based on the opponent's scouting we press certain players and decide if will press closer to the sideline and 'pin' the player to the sideline or we dictate the passes and dribbles centrally and 'surround' the player to win the ball in central positions. We also decide if we will sometimes drop lower for the opposition to advance so we can play behind them when winning the ball. This is done if we scout that the opposition centre-backs are slower than our two strikers. This means we will 'outrun' them in the space they leave behind. c) When winning the ball we want to exploit space behind their backline as the priority which means that a player(s) need to be passing options behind the backline and preferably centrally which is closer to the goal, players winning the ball has to look to play the ball to the player furthest up the pitch. Possession is not a priority but scoring goals as fast as possible is. d) When winning the ball we stay as central as possible with passes and dribbling. We use the width of the penalty area (44 yards) as the preferable dimension when transitioning. We want to stay within this width. The wider the team plays the ball, the more time the opposition has to block the middle. PLAY AS VERTICALLY AS POSSIBLE! The emphasis is to get the ball to the two strikers and play 1v1 against the CBs. e) We know that most youth players grow up playing against a 1-4-3-3 which means there is one central striker meaning the centre-backs one back press and one can cover. Against 2 strikers this is not possible and many centre-backs do not have the ability to play 1v1 with space behind them. They are not taught the cues to step and press or drop to protect space behind them. They are never taught at youth level. We exploit this deficiency. e) All 11 players must get up the pitch to close the spaces if we lose the ball from our attacking transition so the opposition cannot transition against us and we can counter-press. f) A goal is the best outcome based on the objective of attacking but at the minimum we want to get a shot on goal from a transition. This is a quick overview of a different way of playing football that Canada will see with the Men's National Team.

Ilya Orlov

14,114 views • 2 years ago

"If you can not press, you are not complete." That's what Thierry Henry said when talking about the attributes of a striker. There's been more focus on out of possession tactics over the past seasons, and teams have incrementally got better. With the right intensity and intelligence, we've seen so many teams compete with the best in the league because their off-ball game is top. What's important to note is that the frontline pressers are so crucial for any high pressing system. You can not have a successful press if your forwards aren't intense and intelligent enough. It was great to hear Henry talk about the importance of pressing from the front. There is a lot of insight in this episode. He also touches on the runs he made when his team had the ball in deeper areas and how that's enables the midfielders and forward to have more space between the lines. So crucial. Hansi Flick's Barcelona does this really well, too.
3:45

"If you can not press, you are not complete." That's what Thierry Henry said when talking about the attributes of a striker. There's been more focus on out of possession tactics over the past seasons, and teams have incrementally got better. With the right intensity and intelligence, we've seen so many teams compete with the best in the league because their off-ball game is top. What's important to note is that the frontline pressers are so crucial for any high pressing system. You can not have a successful press if your forwards aren't intense and intelligent enough. It was great to hear Henry talk about the importance of pressing from the front. There is a lot of insight in this episode. He also touches on the runs he made when his team had the ball in deeper areas and how that's enables the midfielders and forward to have more space between the lines. So crucial. Hansi Flick's Barcelona does this really well, too.

Fahd

26,104 views • 1 year ago

🚨 Chelsea's interest in John Stones says a lot about the type of game Xabi Alonso plans to play and the type of players he wants... more than people realise. This isn't just about signing an experienced centre-back. It's about signing a defender who can completely transform the first phase of build-up. At his best, John Stones isn't just a centre-back. He's a midfielder in disguise. He steps into midfield effortlessly, breaks opposition pressing lines with his passing, creates overloads and allows his team to dominate possession without sacrificing defensive stability. That's exactly what made Pep Guardiola's Manchester City so difficult to press. Now imagine that in Xabi Alonso's system. Xabi doesn't just want defenders who can defend. He wants players comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, carrying it forward and dictating the tempo from deep. John Stones has done that for years at the highest level. His ability to drift into midfield also gives Chelsea tactical flexibility. The shape can change from a back three to a back four or even a box midfield within seconds without making a substitution. That makes pressing Chelsea far more complicated. It also explains why Xabi appears to be targeting technically gifted defenders rather than traditional stoppers. Yes, Stones has struggled with injuries in recent years, so that's a genuine concern. But from a tactical perspective, the interest makes perfect sense because it reflects the identity Xabi wants this Chelsea side to have: calm in possession, dominant in build-up and intelligent enough to control games with the ball. #CFC #ChelseaChampions #ChelseaFC
0:40

🚨 Chelsea's interest in John Stones says a lot about the type of game Xabi Alonso plans to play and the type of players he wants... more than people realise. This isn't just about signing an experienced centre-back. It's about signing a defender who can completely transform the first phase of build-up. At his best, John Stones isn't just a centre-back. He's a midfielder in disguise. He steps into midfield effortlessly, breaks opposition pressing lines with his passing, creates overloads and allows his team to dominate possession without sacrificing defensive stability. That's exactly what made Pep Guardiola's Manchester City so difficult to press. Now imagine that in Xabi Alonso's system. Xabi doesn't just want defenders who can defend. He wants players comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, carrying it forward and dictating the tempo from deep. John Stones has done that for years at the highest level. His ability to drift into midfield also gives Chelsea tactical flexibility. The shape can change from a back three to a back four or even a box midfield within seconds without making a substitution. That makes pressing Chelsea far more complicated. It also explains why Xabi appears to be targeting technically gifted defenders rather than traditional stoppers. Yes, Stones has struggled with injuries in recent years, so that's a genuine concern. But from a tactical perspective, the interest makes perfect sense because it reflects the identity Xabi wants this Chelsea side to have: calm in possession, dominant in build-up and intelligent enough to control games with the ball. #CFC #ChelseaChampions #ChelseaFC

Vez™

1,134,009 views • 16 days ago