Video wird geladen...

Video konnte nicht geladen werden

Zur Startseite

WHY Tonali to Man United makes PERFECT sense 🧠⚽️ Even if he isn’t a controller type midfielder on the market… ❌Not the most creative passer ❌Not a tempo-dictating possession hub ❌Not the midfielder who fixes every in-possession issue alone Tonali solves a DIFFERENT problem 👇 ⚡️Elite athletic base →...

21,553 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten •via X (Twitter)

0 Kommentare

Keine Kommentare verfügbar

Kommentare vom Original-Post werden hier angezeigt

Ähnliche Videos

🚨Steve Holland on Manchester United’s summer midfield plans with Carlos Baleba, Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali and Elliot Anderson all under consideration: 🗣️ “Manchester United’s priority is to build a midfield that can control games, win duels and still have the technical quality to play progressive football. The ideal midfielder for Manchester United today is someone who can defend large spaces, recover possession, progress the ball quickly and contribute in both phases of play. That’s why different profiles are being discussed. Sandro Tonali is attractive because he is already proven at the highest level. He brings leadership, intensity, tactical intelligence and experience in big matches. Carlos Baleba offers physical dominance, athleticism and defensive security. He has the profile to become one of the best ball-winning midfielders in Europe. Elliot Anderson is admired because of his energy, versatility and ability to carry the ball through midfield. He understands the pace of the Premier League and has shown he can influence games consistently. Mateus Fernandes is viewed differently. The club sees him as a player with huge potential, technical quality and room to develop, but also understands that he is not yet as proven as some of the other names being considered. The reason Tonali, Anderson and Baleba are receiving so much attention is because they fit the immediate need for reliability and physical presence in midfield. Manchester United want players who can compete now while also helping build the foundation for the future. The club likes Fernandes, but when comparing profiles, Tonali, Anderson and Baleba are seen as players who can impact the team immediately while still having their best years ahead of them.” {TNT Sports }

SethOfficial

213,638 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

🚨 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 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat

Samkelo Zwane x Thabo Cele✍️🏾 Another solution the team can or could have built on. ■ There was control and a lot of forward passes. There is a way to balance the many attacks, our attacking transactional moments and dominance on the ball. ■ When you have the right profiles to improve your ideas, you need patience after you identify them. Be patient and focus on key areas like what needs to be improved, not who needs to be removed. ■ Players grow with the confidence they get from playing. The understanding between players grows with more games they play together. ■ You are not going to get the best out of players who are scared to make mistakes because they don't get a chance to grow from those. ■ The next problem would be using a 10 that does not only bring creativity but also goals we criticize and rely heavily on strikers. ■ You have solved the problem of unsustainable passing patterns or poor space management and lack of control from midfield. You also have players on the bench who provide enough tactical flexibility in case you want to freshen up the midfield. Those players can't all be started. Hence, you need a midfield partnership you will stick with longer and improve. When the team changes its spine as frequently as we did, it interrupts your abilities to identify problem areas after bad results because there is no consistency in the team. When forced changes like suspensions and injuries hit us, you don't know if we lack compactness due to a new CB pairing[injury/suspension] or a new double pivot[random change]. You end up solving the wrong problems and having a team that always looks unsettled even when they have more of the ball. We look shaky in most defensive moments. In this game vs Chippa, we dominated the game and created a lot of chances. We won, and our Nedbank Cup journey gained more momentum. ■ We changed Zwane and put Mshini in the next game, and the quality in midfield was elevated instead of dropped. ■ This gave the technical team 2 of our best possible midfield pairings. We now have working solutions in midfield, but our obsession with having players that offer more running than solutions on the ball meant we are changing this partnership again in the following game and suddenly the quality we've been seeing disappeared. Points started dropping. ■ One of the reasons I want the coach to get the players he wants is to allow us to judge the team on the application of tactics more, not proper selection. As supporters, we won't be happy to see the team drop results when we are not using our squad to the best of its potential. ■ Drop a player for another who will perform functions in midfield better than those you're dropping. We can't repeat similar tactical blunders going into the 2025/26 campaign. ❤️✌🏾

El Capitano⚪

19,729 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr

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 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten

🚨Rio Ferdinand on Liverpool signing Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona. 🗣️“ I know a lot of Liverpool fans are sat there right now going ‘Araujo? Really? The one who’s been struggling at Barcelona?’ And I’m sitting here thinking, you lot never learn. This is a proper defender. Not a progressive passer who looks nice on a possession graphic. A proper, physical, aggressive, dominant centre-half. Exactly the type of player the Premier League still rewards when the games get messy. At Barcelona under Flick they want their centre-backs playing like midfielders, high line, constant pressure on the ball, line-breaking passes, perfect positioning every single second. Araujo isn’t that. He never was. He’s a warrior. He’s the one who wins the first duel, the second ball, the aerial battle, and then recovers with that ridiculous athleticism when the space opens up. That’s not a weakness in the Premier League. That’s currency. In La Liga, especially at Barça, those little concentration lapses and the occasional overcommitment get punished because the spaces are bigger and the system demands perfection. In the Premier League? Those same traits become strengths. Teams play more direct, the midfield is more chaotic, the strikers are more physical, and the game lives in the transitions. That’s where Araujo lives. He’ll eat those battles up. Would I have loved him at United? Of course I would. I’ve said it before, he’s got every attribute that translates to this league. Physicality, aggression, leadership, recovery pace, presence. He’s the type of centre-half that makes a back line feel solid when the pressure’s on. United could’ve used that. But Liverpool getting him on loan right now? It’s a smart bit of business. They’re light in there, Van Dijk can’t do everything forever, and this is a player who’ll give them that nasty edge they’ve been missing at times. I know some of you don’t want him. You want the polished, modern, progressive centre-back who never makes a mistake on the ball. Fair enough. But when the games get physical, when it’s raining, when it’s set pieces and second balls and someone has to put their body on the line, you’ll be glad he’s there. Barcelona’s system exposed his limitations. The Premier League will expose his strengths. Big difference. He’s not perfect. No defender is. But if you’re telling me a strong, aggressive, aerially dominant, leader of a centre-half who can also cover at right-back doesn’t improve Liverpool right now… then you’re watching a different sport to me. United missed out. Liverpool didn’t. And I reckon a few of you will be eating your words by Christmas.”

Vfynn_🥷🏼 𐙚

523,944 Aufrufe • vor 15 Tagen

Possession vs Progression: Patience or Lack of Ideas? Is Kaizer Chiefs showing more patience on the ball, or a lack of ideas to penetrate defensive blocks? Kaizer Chiefs were more comfortable in possession and better organised against Sekhukhune than against Golden Arrows over the weekend, but the key question was whether this represented patient control or a lack of attacking invention. Chiefs kept the ball but rarely broke lines. Circulation was often safe and predictable, with few passes between the lines, limited rotations in the final third and little movement behind the defence. Possession, therefore, did not consistently translate into clear chances. This also exposed structural and personnel issues in build-up. When we build in a 4-2 and the opposition blocks passing lanes to Maboe and Ox, progression becomes difficult. The fullbacks are not consistently high, while we lack enough quality from the back to play through pressure and connect with Baartman or Ighodaro moving into the half-spaces or behind pressure. These are passes a player like Aden McCarthy used to provide more naturally, but we often resort to long balls with poor accuracy. Midfield control is another concern. Ox made more passes into the final third[14] than Maboe, despite Maboe playing as the 8. We need the 8 to be more influential in these areas, helping control the flow and connect midfield with attack. Ox was effective at winning the ball and playing forward, but that responsibility cannot fall primarily on him given his technical flaws once the expectations rise. Sekhukhune's passive press gave Chiefs comfort on the ball, but it also highlighted how dependent our possession can be on the opponent's approach. We can circulate when unpressured, but still struggle to play through a well-organised press. Ighodaro is another example: he often drops too deep to get involved, yet when he makes runs behind the defence, he is not consistently found even when the space is available..we lacked players brave enough to play "that pass". We also rely too heavily on low-probability long shots instead of getting the ball into the box for players such as Silva, Ighodaro and Duba. Final-third decision-making has to improve. We need to get our best midfielders on the ball more often and, once we reach the attacking third, consistently find our most dangerous players in positions where they can hurt the opposition. We struggled to get Phili in the game in the 1st half. The second half was an improvement on the pointless circulation of the first. Chiefs played more forward, increased the intensity a little and benefited from substitutions that brought better movement in the final third. Instead of simply passing around Sekhukhune's block, we began moving it, creating spaces from both wide and central areas and the goals followed. Having a player capable of operating between the lines also made a difference by providing a link between midfield and attack. There are clear signs of progress in the coach's positional model, particularly in our ability to retain the ball and control games for longer periods. However, possession must become more consistently penetrative. This is also a squad-balance issue. The coach has asked for 4 attacking reinforcements, and management is yet to provide them[Only Phili came and Faiz is more of a project buy than a player who comes and hits the ground running] Some of these limitations, if attended to, should improve with better attacking profiles, but the existing group must still make better decisions in the final third. The progress is there, but the next step is turning possession into progression, and progression into consistent chances. Match day 3 under coach Fernando Da Cruz...📝

El Capitano⚪

20,315 Aufrufe • vor 8 Tagen

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 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren

WHY France’s Biggest Problem Might Be Kylian Mbappé… France probably have the most frightening squad at the World Cup. Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise, Cherki, Tchouaméni, Saliba, Upamecano, Konaté, Maignan. The depth is ridiculous, and on talent alone they have to be considered one of the favourites. But there is one problem Deschamps still hasn’t solved. Mbappé increasingly operates as France’s number nine, yet he doesn’t really play like one. He wants freedom, drifts wide, drops deep and looks to become the focal point of attacks. The issue is that when he vacates central areas, somebody still needs to occupy the centre-backs. That could become a major issue. With Ekitike injured, France lose the profile that looked perfectly suited to balancing the attack. So can Thuram provide that presence? Or will Deschamps need to turn to Mateta when games become more physical? Defensively, France remain terrifying. Their transition defence might be the best in the tournament, with Saliba, Upamecano, Konaté and Tchouaméni capable of shutting down counters almost on their own. Add in their aerial power and athleticism, and very few teams can match them physically. But possession remains the question mark. France still lack a clear repeatable build-up structure and often rely on moments of brilliance rather than sustained control. That makes the Olise versus Cherki debate fascinating. One offers a direct route to goal, the other might be the player who actually connects the team. If Deschamps finds the right balance around Mbappé, France have enough talent to win the World Cup. But if those attacking issues persist, another deep run could end in familiar fashion. France fans, are Les Bleus lifting the trophy or falling just short again? 👀🇫🇷 📹Samson Kalnińş Brough

Pythagoras In Boots ⚽️

14,391 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. Most people will use sportsbooks. A few will discover something better. Here's why the World Cup is actually POTS MARKET Market biggest moment. Every match carries dozens of predictable outcomes, not just who wins, but scorelines, goalscorers, red cards, halftime leads, VAR decisions. Traditional sportsbooks will process billions in bets. And keep most of it. Here is the problem with sportsbooks that nobody talks about: They set the odds. Not the market. Which means the house always has an edge baked in before you place a single bet. You're not trading against the market, you're trading against a company whose entire business model depends on you losing. That's not a prediction market. That's a casino with a football shirt on. Prediction markets are different. The odds aren't set by a company. They're set by the collective intelligence of everyone participating. When millions of people put real money behind their beliefs, the market finds truth faster than any analyst, pundit, or algorithm working alone. This is why prediction markets outperform polls, pundits, and press releases, every single time. Now here's where POTS Market changes the game entirely. POTS MONEY has a dedicated sports vertical, built specifically for football, basketball, and esports. Not a generic market with a football category tucked in the corner. A tailored module optimized for the way sports prediction actually works, short windows, live data, rapid settlement. 64 World Cup matches = 64 live prediction markets. Each one open, on-chain, transparent. But the real edge is not the markets themselves. It's the capital layer underneath them. On a traditional sportsbook, every bet locks your full stake. You place £100, that £100 is gone until settlement. POTS Money changes this. The DeFi lending primitive means you can collateralize positions and optimize capital across multiple markets simultaneously, without locking up dead capital on each one. That's not betting. That's portfolio management. And then there's the AI layer. Via MCP (Model Context Protocol), you can deploy autonomous trading agents that monitor live match data and execute positions based on your pre-set strategy. Imagine this: Agent monitors possession stats in real time Detects a momentum shift at the 60th minute Auto-places a position on the next goalscorer market before the crowd even reacts 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 Compare the two worlds side by side: Sportsbook: ❌ House sets the odds ❌ Geo-restricted ❌ Capital locked per bet ❌ No automation ❌ Withdraw only when they allow it POTS Market: ✅ Market sets the odds ✅ Open and on-chain ✅ Capital efficient via DeFi lending ✅ AI agents execute your strategy ✅ Fully collateralized, transparent settlement One of these is built for the next decade. The other is built for the last one. The timing is not a coincidence. POTS Market launches Q2 2026, right as World Cup fever peaks globally. Q1 2026 — MVP + Polymarket integration ✅ Q2 2026 — Market Launch + DeFi lending beta 👈 we are here Q3-Q4 2026 — Skill Hub + Sub-accounts 2027+ — DAO governance + cross-chain The infrastructure is ready exactly when the biggest prediction event on earth arrives. That's timing. The 2026 World Cup will mint the first generation of serious prediction market traders. Most will start on sportsbooks. The ones who do their research will end up on POTS. From trusting the house to trusting the market. From locked capital to capital efficiency. From punting to positioning. POTS MARKET POTS MONEY, the World Cup just became a DeFi event.

KIMMY OF GOOD LIFE 😍

21,955 Aufrufe • vor 3 Monaten

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 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

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 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

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 it difficult for Kruger United to maintain their defensive shape, creating more space and allowing Chiefs to attack with greater fluency and control. A far more dynamic display in attack with Vilakazi mostly receiving inside that wide. ■ Chiefs showed patient but purposeful ball circulation, refusing to force attacks but moving the ball a bit quicker than usual. There were quick passing sequences, one-touch combinations and improved third-man movements which manipulated Kruger's defensive block, creating spaces to penetrate in the half-spaces and from both flanks. We made it difficult for them to break out and progress when we decided to press. ■ Ethan Chislett was the tactical heartbeat in the 10 role. He freely roamed across the final 3rd, creating overloads between the lines and dragging defenders out of position. His pressing was good, contributed directly to the sequences that led to both goals. His movement allowed both Baartman (LW) and Vilakazi (RW) to invert into central pockets without sacrificing width. ■ The chemistry between Chislett, Baartman and Vilakazi created constant positional rotations that made Chiefs unpredictable. As Kruger narrowed to protect central spaces, Monyane and Frosler aggressively attacked the wide channels, stretching the defensive block while remaining tactically disciplined after offensive actions. You'll see Frosler moving into a more inverted role when Monyane pushes to cross and vice versa. ■ Despite committing numbers forward, Chiefs remained structurally balanced. I was impressed with the aggressive counter-press which saw the team recover possession very quickly, preventing Kruger from transitioning and also it allowed us to sustain relentless attacking momentum. The goals came from continued attacking momentum, and good ball circulation. ■ The team built attacking moments on controlled possession, repeated ball circulation and well balanced off-the-ball movement rather than individual brilliance. Every ball recovery immediately initiated another attacking phase, pinning Kruger United deep until the pressure eventually produced the goals that sealed the victory. This team delivered an impressive performance despite being without key talents like Asanele Velebayi, Mduduzi Shabalala, and new signing Langelihle Phili. ■ The depth, structure, and quality on display should give Kaizer Chiefs supporters plenty of encouragement. Kaizer Chiefs of coach Fernando Da Cruz...📝

El Capitano⚪

40,076 Aufrufe • vor 17 Tagen

🚨Thierry Henry on Myles Lewis-Skelly being offered to Manchester United and Chelsea, with Arsenal reportedly open to selling. 🗣️“I’m going to say this slowly so it sinks in. Myles Lewis-Skelly is not some promising kid you’re allowed to sell because the books look tidy. He is already a first-team player who understands the most important thing in modern football: how to control space with and without the ball. And Arsenal are seriously considering opening the door to Manchester United and Chelsea after fresh contact following Bruno Guimarães’ arrival? That is not squad planning. That is self-sabotage dressed up as business. Let me break down exactly what you’re looking at. Tactically, Lewis-Skelly is the prototype inverted full-back that every elite coach wants. He doesn’t just bomb up and down the line like a traditional left-back. He steps inside, receives between the lines, progresses the ball under pressure, and still has the recovery speed to shut down transitions. At Arsenal he already slots perfectly into Arteta’s system, the same system that demands full-backs who can become temporary midfielders when the team builds. He gives them numerical superiority in the middle without sacrificing width. That is rare. That is valuable. That is not something you replace with a random signing in January. Now imagine that same profile landing at either Manchester United or Chelsea right after Bruno Guimarães walks through the door. Bruno dominates the middle. He dictates tempo, he wins duels, he connects phases. Suddenly you drop Lewis-Skelly next to him and you have a left-sided player who can receive from Bruno, carry into the final third, or invert and create overloads. United get a modern left-back who can finally progress the ball instead of just surviving. Chelsea get another high-ceiling, high-work-rate piece that fits their rotation and development model perfectly. Both clubs win. Immediately. Not in three years. Now. And Arsenal? They will tell themselves they have depth. They will say they can replace him. That is the same language every club uses right before they watch a homegrown talent become a problem for them every single season. You develop a boy who already starts, who already understands the intensity of the Premier League, who already has the composure most 24-year-olds are still chasing, and you sell him because two big clubs made a fresh call after Bruno arrived? That is not smart. That is weak. I’ve seen this exact movie too many times. The club that sells the kid who ‘isn’t quite ready yet’ spends the next four years trying to buy a worse version of him for three times the money. The club that buys him gets a foundation player who grows into a monster in front of their fans. Lewis-Skelly is not a squad option. He is a future cornerstone who is already delivering. Sell him and you are not cashing in on potential. You are selling a player who is already solving problems on the pitch. Arsenal fans should be furious at the very idea. United and Chelsea are not circling because they are bored. They are circling because they see what Arsenal risk throwing away. Fresh contact after Bruno’s arrival is not coincidence. It is opportunistic. They smell hesitation. Keep the boy. Let him grow into the player who makes left-backs across the league look ordinary. Because the second you open that door, one of those two clubs is walking through it with a smile, and Arsenal will spend years explaining why the left side never felt the same again. Do not do it. This one will hurt.”

Vfynn_🥷🏼 𐙚

243,554 Aufrufe • vor 11 Tagen

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⚪

89,575 Aufrufe • vor 11 Monaten