“who is supposed to score?”
was the question Bill asked on the offside, while discussing Ibrahimovic tendency to exile himself out of the opponent box during the recent games. I found it interesting enough to take place as a title for this topic.
You know I will not keep it that simple, right? I will do my best not to repeat things I mentioned in "Barcelona 2010, tactical Ramble". Only few remarks that are needed within this article will be qouted. It’s just important from time to time to put things together, added to some more detailed remarks to create a solid argument regarding a specific aspect of Barcelona game, so that we can keep tracking for the following chapter of the season.
Random outlets serving the topic: scoring, Attacking, and facing resistance.
Scoring is the final output of the offense operation. The goal scorer is the player who succeeds to be in the right place, at the right time to do what’s needed, stamping the ball in the net. That’s why, it’s important to review the offense dynamics in order to know who will be where and when. Is it always the striker who has to be responsible of the scoring touch?
Yet, offense is not an absolute approach. It must take in consideration the forecasted resistance. While planning the team offense, coaches must expect that the opponents will try to terminate the offense dynamics. The only way to counter the defensive approach of the opponent is through creating more offense diversity. Picking a tactical structure for the team is a crucial stage in team building, but it’s just the beginning of an endless process of continuous improvement. To perfect a system, it’s important to have a “What if” logical circuit that ring in the coach’s mind all the time:
- What if the opponents’ defense terminated my key player threat in a game?
- What if my basic offense flow (attacking on the flank/center/counter/…) didn’t click in a game, what are the alternatives? Are the alternatives dependent on changing the players’ roles on the field or should be made by getting a bench player involved? How many subs this change requires? What if that bench player was not available?
- What if I suffered defense fragility in a game that forced my midfield back? How will that effect offense and how to deal with this challenge?
- What if player -X - got a red card?
And the “what if” loop keeps on going... Seeking perfection requires finding alternative scheme for each and every match scenario. It’s an obsessive methodology where you consider your most vital strengths as weaknesses and engineer a way to deal with that challenge to come out with positives. Based on that, you plan your training drills, you customize your initial tactical structure, and you put the criteria for the player you need in every position.
Last season, matches resistance:
As we mentioned before, the resistance we faced last season was based on three ideas:
- What we used to call “Teams that park the bus” playing a passive defensive style.
- Tight marking mainly applied on our midfielders to dry the game fluidity.
- Pressure applied by the opponent to disturb the buildup process from the initial spark in our defensive third.
Most of the teams favored the first defensive approach-A.K.A Parking the Bus. First because we caught everyone by surprise the way we started the season, marking high scores on every team’s board. It was more a panicked reaction. Secondly, our offense structure was so tempting to counter through parking a bus. We had Henry, Eto’o, and Messi in front of Iniesta, Xavi and Yaya. Eto’o is not a striker who is disciplined to stay in the box, and he is not the most lethal in static situations. He is not exactly what you need in a packed area, as it was proven game in game out. Give him some space and he is the most lethal striker. Mark him tightly in the box and he will move outside as fast as his legs can take him. Henry is sort of better as a target man- though he is not naturally one of them. But switching positions between Henry and Eto’o was not valid either. Eto’o was not a player who could operate on the left flank. Add all that to the fact that neither Iniesta nor Xavi is a player to count on inside the box and Yaya was reserved for more defensive duties, the options were narrowed against two rows of defenders.
On the other hand, the decision to put pressure on Barcelona instead of parking the bus is not an easy choice. You need a specific kind of players to do so. And if parking the bus means that you have-for example- 40 % chance to draw, 40% chance to lose and 20 % to win, Putting pressure means that you either win (say 40 %) or lose (55 %). The draw is so unlikely (5%?). When you park the bus, you can create multi layers of covering. If Barcelona moves the ball on the left (to Henry), you will have a fullback to check him, a midfielder to check the left-sided Barcelona midfielder, plus a holding midfielder who creates a diagonal cover for the two players. Then you have two center backs in the box standing on the way of the offense flow guarding the box. It goes the same when you move the ball around the field (center or right). Crowds in the defensive part squeeze any spaces preventing Barcelona skillful players like Messi and Iniesta to dribble their way to the box.
Through parking the bus, you create numerical superiority and cover in defense and midfield. You contain the playmaking and terminate the scoring outlets. So why gambling a different alternative putting pressure on Barcelona defenders and leaving landscapes behind for Barcelona to attack the moment they penetrate through the initial pressure? No wonder that even the team that could have applied perfect high-pressure game against Barcelona ended up parking the meanest Bus!
This season and Barcelona counter approach:
The team sent a clear message at the beginning of this season to each and every coach who may play against Barcelona: If you still have the same old notebooks write the word “Historical Archive” on it as it will not work anymore. Think again. We used more Keita in the midfield to run into the box. We created more dynamics in the midfield adding the holding midfielder and Messi (as a 10) to the playmaking mix where the playmaker became the player in possession. In my article “Barcelona (Total) Football Club” Published: 18 August 2009, almost before the season Kick off, I used the slogan: “Mark your marker out of the game” while explaining the midfield dynamics needed for the new season. I wasn’t so sure how far we will go in that direction, but obviously we are not far from there.
In brief, if Xavi suffered a tight marking, Another "what if" condition, the playmaking process must not collapse. He can slide back as a holding mid pulling his marker out of the operation area (Opponent defense third) and the original holding midfielder has to move forward exposing the space created, so that he cooperates with Messi –in the center- and the third midfielder –Iniesta/Keita- to keep the offense build up running properly. Then the third midfielder for example pull his marker backward making a space for Xavi to move forward again, and so on...That’s the windmill we’ve seen –relatively- the way Iniesta, Xavi, and Busquets operated in the last few games.
What about offense line?
Once, I had a desire to buy a keyboard piano. I know you can’t imagine me being the new Frédéric Chopin, but get over it! Anyways, I met a musician my parents know and I was discussing my “future music career” with him. I asked about the most developed keyboard available in the market. You know: The best one that contains everything; can do everything you wish and available for free. To my surprise, the guy advice was to get the most primitive keyboard instead! He explained that the extremely developed keyboards offer too many options to handle for an amateur. I must not complicate things for a start. Get a one dimensional keyboard, make sure to do the basics right, then take the step forward buying a keyboard that can offer much more, though need more effort and experience to customize to the user’s taste.
Ten years later, the same happened when I went to a mall to buy a Camera. I asked for a professional one. The seller –to his credit- was very passionate about one extremely developed camera that he spent more than 15 minutes explaining the massive options it contains. I ended up feeling dizzy of all the complications. I gave up on the whole thing that day. Later on, I bought just a simple cam, you press one bottom, and you get a photo. Cool!
What does that has to do with our football offense. That’s Ibrahimovic. He is the kind of strikers with massive diversity who delivers endless options. Ibra is not the best striker in the world camping in the box. He is not the striker with the best work rate in the world. He is not the most technically gifted striker in the world. Bottom of the line, I am not sure if he is the best in the world in anything specific. But no doubt he is the best striking package in the world containing all the previously mentioned. Well balanced doses of physical characteristics, skillful passing, powerful shots, dribbling techniques, playmaking vision, and finishing qualities that makes it impossible for him to fail at any team. But mind you, this type of diversity creates a challenge. Pep decided to buy that extremely developed Keyboard/Camera. The quality of the hardware is out of question. Now it’s Pep who needs to show how far he can get advantage of what he just bought.
Bring me a developed camera and I can barely use it. But it doesn’t mean the cam is bad, it’s just me who failed to use it properly. That’s why, though it may sound harsh, but it’s Pep who we can evaluate regarding how far he is using Ibra properly. Wondering Ibrahimovic quality is not a valid argument.
Barcelona fans complain that we bought him as a target man in the box, and he is not doing exactly what meets our expectations. As I mentioned before, Crouch for five millions or less would have been a better option if we are only seeking a giraffe in the box.
The animated presentation I made in Barcelona(Total) Football
shows Ibra being more than just a tower in the Box
1) One Center back will follow him, which leaves three defenders for Messi and Henry to deal with when they slide toward the box to get a pass behind defense. At the same time, when the opponent play 4-5-1, then you need no more than two defenders to check the lone striker. Alves will contribute as usual in the offense playmaking with the midfield of Xavi, Keita/Iniesta, Yaya/Busquets assisted by Ibra. Then you will either have your left fullback contributing as well (Leaving the two Center backs to check the lone striker), or one of the center backs (Pique) moving forward to act as a holding midfielder. All in all you will have a 5 vs 6 situation in the midfield, and 2 Vs 3 in the offense. With the quality of players we have, that’s a very profitable deal for Barcelona. While Iniesta/Abidal and Alves opening on the flanks to generate crosses for Henry or playing diagonal passes to Messi in the box, we can still afford releasing Keita or Ibra to run into the box in a synchronized manner creating numerical superiority in the box for the final command.
2) If the Center backs didn’t follow Ibra to the midfield, staying in their zone and leaving the job for the midfield (a tactic Valencia applied successfully in the away liga game last season), then the massive midfield superiority for Barcelona will be none containable 5 vs 5. We will find all the space needed through the one touch game to shoot from the edge of the box. Again Ibra added to Keita are lethal in that department as well. It’s the same case if the opponents decided to play 5-4-1. The midfield domination will be massive.
No wonder then that recently all the teams had no choice but to go for the second option: High pressure. The risk margin between this option and bus parking changed since last season. High pressure keeps Barcelona far from their opponents’ box as long as possible by moving the battle to the Catalans’ area on the field rather than applying zone defense.
That creates a threat and an opportunity at the same time for Barcelona. It’s a threat because defense may commit more mistakes that may lead to conceding goals. It’s a threat because it complicates the playmaking process and the offense flow. And it’s a threat because instead of being in the proactive position generating attacks, we become in a reactive position trying to get rid of the pressure applied by the opponents and to dictate our game. The opportunity is that through putting pressure on our defense the opponents leave more spaces between the lines. If we break through the initial layer of opponents’ pressure we can penetrate all the way to their box.
To deal with this situation, we are installing a counterattacking plug in to upgrade our game. It consists of the following elements:
1) Trying to move the ball forward through fast and direct vertical passing rather than set up possession play. It requires continuous movements creating deep outlets. Center backs play a role moving to the holding midfielder position (one at a time) trying to receive the ball behind the opponents forwards and not in front of them.
2) Activating the two flanks through Abidal involvement offense wise. Normally there is more space on the flanks to move the ball forward than it is through the Center.
3) Bypassing the opponents’ pressure by sending long balls to Ibrahimovic in the opponent half. He has the qualities needed to act as a station, holding on the ball till his teammates move their troops forward forcing the opponents to reposition in their defensive third.
I believe we are still a bit far from perfecting this process, which is normal. But so far it is going well. The problem starts from there on. Recruiting the players who need to demand the final pass and try to score. We still lack the step where Ibra hand the ball to the midfield and move to the box. That’s a very crucial stage that need lot of understanding to time the movement and the transition from one stage to another. Henry and Messi still lack the collaborative anticipation needed to know when to get advantage of Ibra work on the edge of the box to make their runs creating goal-scoring outlets in the box. If you watch Barcelona chances and goals so far, you will notice how easy it is for Ibra to fax the ball to the player in the box.
Who score goals for Barcelona?
We are talking about total football here. Everyone is a goal scorer. Ibra has to take the responsibility of goal scoring at a time, The midfielders need to step in another opportunity. The flank forwards are as responsible toward goal scoring as the striker. Ironically, one of the most common critic targeting Iniesta performance on the left flank was the fact that he was not a goal scorer, which was the credit given to Henry. How come we consider Henry as a wing now who is doing his job there while the goal scoring responsibility is hooked around the striker neck? Messi is not the main striker, but still he is doing his scoring Job. If you are a wing forward who is not scoring, nor you are generating assists leading to goals, then you are not doing your job. You are doing an undoubted effort, it’s appreciated. But let’s not confuse effort with output.
Messi in return tasted Ibra assists and scored almost every time he made a proper well timed run into the box. The same as we need to work on the stage where Ibra can hand the ball to the midfield and move to the box, we also need to improve the decision making to figure out when it is important that Messi contributes in the playmaking and when he needs to move forward leaving that responsibility for Xavi and co.
Ibra is the new kid in the building. That may give him a time bonus. Though. while doing all the teamwork stuff he contributes in, he must not forget at any moment that at the end of the day, he is the striker of this team. That’s his basic responsibility.
With Iniesta or Pedro playing instead of Henry, things must be modified accordingly.
If we succeed in tuning things properly in the offense department, rest on your couch and enjoy the magic and the brilliance.
Adal Said,
A very long post...
Will read it later :)
Posted on January 27, 2010 at 5:22 AM
barcetia Said,
Wow.. That is all I say. Wonderful post.
Posted on January 27, 2010 at 12:01 PM
OmarCule Said,
Excellent post mate! You rock kind like Barca! :)
Posted on January 27, 2010 at 3:00 PM
FC Barcelona Said,
Nice one. Except...Pep is not handling one camera, he has 11 and not everything revolves around Ibra.
Posted on January 27, 2010 at 3:56 PM
Waleed Said,
The problem is that for Ibra, bieng a striker, his success is usually measured to how much goals he scores, you got it right Ramzi. but whats keeping me puzzled is why when the majority of our midfield looked shaky on the first few matches, Ibra was the man,doing everything from play making to keeping possession and scoring. while now when our midfield is rocking again he disappears in the shadows??could it be a mere coincidence?
I think Kieta's return will make things easier offence wise, all he need is to get used to the midfield rotation. his crazy runs into the box will do the trick, giving answers to the wandering crosses in front of the opponents goal line.
Posted on January 28, 2010 at 7:08 AM
adal Said,
Ramzi, any preview of the second half of the season?
Posted on January 28, 2010 at 11:48 AM
Waleed Said,
I was watching our match against Gijon from the last season which ended 6-1 and my impression is that we are now 100 times stronger and more perfect than the team we was then! nevertheless you can feel that the lads were fighting for every single ball with such a will and determination the fact that you see this season but with less intensity, Messi for example was running like a freak for the whole 90min covering every single yard of the field, and its very much understandable, last season they had something to prove.while this season we started from the top.
Posted on January 28, 2010 at 7:57 PM
barca96 Said,
nice post once again from Ramzi.
what ramzi said is right about the intensity.
last year we recoverd the ball a lot quicker.
we used to chase the ball like a pack of wolf.
but that is off-topic.
ibra just needs to make some runs or get in the box more to add an aerial threat in the play.
Posted on January 28, 2010 at 11:15 PM
barca96 Said,
ramzi, are you in the states?west side?
cause i posted a comment and it says 28Jan 11pm while I'm already halfway on the 29th.
Posted on January 28, 2010 at 11:17 PM
Ramzi Said,
Welcome on board Cule's
- "not everything revolves around Ibra", I totally agree on that. Thats why I always analyse departments/lines rather than specific players. And thats why I dont put the responsibility of Scoring/possession/defending on individuals. Which is the idea behind this article.
- I think Ibra already scored a decent number of goals. 11 goals half season as a new player. In this rate, he will score 22 - 25 goals in the liga this season. Thats not far from Eto'o scoring average along the seasons he played for Barca. So his scoring rate is not a problem. Not till now at least. Add that to his assists, and you get a good feeling about his direct constibution offense wise.
- When midfield improved, they ate some of Ibra imputs in that matter. Besides, he is not at his best in the past few games. The problem is that people forget that its normal not to be at peak performance all the time. The expectations are so high basically after the transfer value was blown out of contest. As I mentioned in "Txiki in numbers" article.
- Lats season we played putting more effort, this season we are trying to play smarter.
- Adal, Preview for the second half of the season sounds interesting. I will think about it, as I welcome any suggestions so we make sure we write about topics of common interest.
- No, I live in Sweden. Not sure why this dates case is happening though.
Posted on January 29, 2010 at 4:28 AM
adal Said,
Some perspective of the second half would be nice. Maybe some key matches we need to be extra prepared? Approach to CL matches?
PS: I live in Sweden, too :) Go Zlatan!
Posted on January 30, 2010 at 8:33 AM
adal Said,
Well, the time of this server is definitive not set to CET time. Its off by 9 hours.
Posted on January 30, 2010 at 8:34 AM