Football undergoes rapid tactical evolution
Mqondisi Dube | Friday June 12, 2020 10:50
Nearly two decades ago, a loud cheer would greet a clearance emphatically booted out to the stands. A striker was defined solely through his predatory instincts in front of goal.
Football matches were fierce contests, with most of the old guard constantly reminding the new generation about the good old days.
From one country to another, there is a generation that is still the talk of town, long after they quit the game.
It was those days when football boots were referred to as shooters. The sight of a player wearing the famous Puma boots, was enough to drive excitement through the roof, as fans trooped to the stadium as early as 11am for a 3pm kick-off.
Once the referee blew the whistle to signal the start of the match, players knew they had to stick to their positions, which were rigidly defined.
The number in relation to the player’s position was defining. There was little or no shuffling of the cards.
Number two was your typical right footed, right back, while number nine was instructed to stay eagle eyed in the opposition’s box, ready to pounce. The usual formation had three defenders, which had the last man known as a libero or sweeper.
Usually, sweepers were uncompromising defenders who would boot the ball out, at any given opportunity. It was referred to as ‘safety first.’
Ball playing skills were not required from a fullback. His brute power and ability to launch the ball as far as possible, were the prerequisites. Number five was usually the player to take goal kicks, with number nine the primary target.
However, it was not criminal for the ball to land anywhere else, as long as it was kicked high enough to cross the centre line.
In goal, the goalkeeper was expected to kick the ball forward, at times aimlessly, as long as they got rid of the pigskin from their own half.
Number two and number three were typically expected to maintain their positions on the wide sides of the pitch.
Number two was, in the majority of the cases, right footed while number three would use his left. They rarely drove forward, but were expected to keep guard on the opposition’s number 11 and seven, respectively.
Number three was a centre back but operating immediately in front of the sweeper. Number five was the sweeper, and as the name suggests, expected to mop up in the event of leakages from the men ahead of him.
The number six position has not evolved much in as the player sits right in front of the defenders. However, his role has assumed a new meaning as he is now involved more in attack.
Shirt number seven was reserved for a right footed winger, who will occupy his position ahead of number two. It was almost similar, but in reverse, to number 11, who was a left footed winger operating in front of number three. Both number seven and 11 were deployed primarily to post crosses into the box.
Number eight was expected to be the play marker, who made things happen, mostly dribbling wizards, with very little or no defensive duties. The main striker was the team’s number nine. His role was clearly defined; bang in the goals. This would be a player who would roam menacingly around the opponents’ 18 area putting away chances.
He would only look out for off-sides, but was instructed to be as close as possible to the opposition’s goalkeeper. In most cases, these were clumsy, bustling or bulldozing players, who had the ability to hold off opponents. Skill was not a major requirement for the job.
Number 10 used to operate in an advanced role, supporting number nine.
If the first shot was from number 10, then number nine was expected to pounce on the deflection or loose ball in the box.
The transformation
The goalkeeper is no longer just a shot stopper expected to prevent balls from going in. He now has added responsibilities. Bayern Munich goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer embodies that role. Goalkeepers are central to initiating attacks, not just through long balls, but short play to defenders.
The glovemen also act as sweepers, as they have been given more latitude to venture outside their box, and be more adventurous.
Number two also has more room, and can drive down the wing to launch dangerous attacks.
Most right backs are kings of crosses, with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Brazil’s Dan Alves amongst those who have done a more than decent job venturing forward.
The left back position has equally revolved like number three, where the likes of Marcelo are more menacing going forward than defending.
The central defensive pairing in most cases are ball players and clean tacklers. In the past defenders were known as no-nonsense, bone crunchers, with little creativity on the ball.
But number four and five are now critical to moving the ball forward, usually with patient build-ups.
Number six has evolved into a player who can instigate attacks from deep, and not just do the dirty job of protecting the defensive. Players like Pirlo and Yaya Toure are some of those who would launch attacks from deep lying positions.
Toure in particular, was a tireless box-to-box midfielder.
Number seven has moved from a rigid position reserved for a right footed player, with those occupying the position expected to be able to operate across the frontline. They cut inside and mostly move in towards the box, before making a decision, other than in the past where they would cross closer to the byline.
The number eight position has added defensive duties, and their role is no longer a ‘stroll in the park.’ The striker’s role is also no longer limited to banging in the goals. Number nine has to drop deep and fetch balls, or even play as a creator. Their defensive roles, as in the case of Firmino, have been amplified with the recent shift in the game. Number 10 is usually reserved for some of the game’s most gifted players, but there too, are expected to defend.
However, some like Neymar and Messi still have the licence to stroll back once they lose possession.
Former Zebras coach, Peter Butler, who made more than 450 appearances for English sides between 1984 and 2000, notes the difference but argues some of the tactics remain the same.
“Pressing teams then was called getting after teams. Defending a bit deeper in modern day terms is called a low block, all fancy anecdotes. It’s all just become a bit more trendy and anecdotal,” Butler said.
He acknowledged the change that goalkeepers have brought to the modern game.
“Goalkeepers have had a huge difference and the catalyst for that was (Edwin) Van der sa. Full backs play like wingers now, overloading wide areas to create two-versus-one scenarios. Central defenders have to be comfortable on the ball and mobile. Years ago, they had to be strong in the air,” said the former West Ham midfielder, who was in charge of the Zebras between 2014 and 2017.
Security Systems coach, Daniel ‘Chico’ Nare, who represents an emerging crop of modern day gaffers, does not see the shift, as an evolution but ‘science or modern trends’.
“I do not know if I should call it evolution, but back in the day, we used to play with a libero and a sweeper. Number four was a man marker, and number five was free. But the Germans, did their study after a World Cup tournament, they brought number four and five as men markers, and there was no sweeper anymore,” Nare said.
“The sweeper was depriving teams more attacking options. When you have two men markers, you release the number six who was an anchor, to play a twin central role with the number eight. The number eight supports number nine and 10. That was Germany (philosophy). The next World Cup, Brazil reduced the numbers at the back to three, to push more players into attack.”
He said ‘the science’ continued with Spain playing without an outright number seven and 11, who tuck in more, rather spend more time on the byline. Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola are some of the architects of a revolution at Barcelona, where a false number nine was popularised.
“Germany still believes you need to have a number seven and 11. I do not know if you call that evolution.
I would say it is the science of case studies from every World Cup. I would call them modern trends of football where you will have more players in the midfield to dominate. If you look at Liverpool, they play a 4-3-3, they have three in midfield, and three on the outside. But those who are (on the) outside go more inside, to allow fullbacks to be wing backs,” Nare said.