Parma's Tactics Masterclass 9

[Parma Ham's gone mouldy 2,219]

Challenged by Westcoast to come up with a genuine piece of football tactical innovation, there is something that is emerging (not before time) that will become more prevalent. It is highly relevant to one of the central Norwich debates and a fundamental need for the England national side.

Like fashion, it is new only in that it is a renaissance and reworking of a revolutionary idea from history that has been forgotten or drifted off the catwalks...

To avoid dry coaching analysis, let''s bring it on to the training fields of Colney and make it nice and relevant and personal to us all. Alex Neil and the other coaches are faced with the conundrum that haunts another dozen or so sides daily, particularly pre and early in any pre season: How to survive and thrive in the Premier league? How to we give ourselves an edge with less resources?

We are going to solve this deficit via new tactical innovation. We have all the Pro Zone data and player heat maps going back a few years and we have seen something. Players cover more ground, there is less space, the very best players that can score or create a goal from nothing in no space cost £20m+ and are paid £100k pw+, which we don''t have and can''t offer. What do we do?

Well first of all we don''t despair. We develop a clear methodology with very clear roles, movements and pattern of play. We embrace tactics more fully than we have done previously by giving due weight and importance to the central defensive midfield screening role, which becomes an anchor pivot that is highly restricted and effective. It is the role missing from English football for too long. We never go 2v3 in the middle of the field. Actually we flood this area, with 5 bodies more likely to be seen here than and an olde English flat 2. Good. Progress.

It works. We even throw in a Forest "W" to get the full backs starting positions higher, freeing space and creating options for Wes and getting other central players receiving the ball 5 yards further forward than they would typically be, ideally (and more often) on the half turn. That''s fine. It''s actually really good when executed well.

Really good in an English context.

Not revolutionary in an Italian (or Dutch) context. Well, not unless you go back 40 years.

So what do we do now? How do we go forward? What''s our innovation....?

Our analysis has shown us something else. Something that we knew, but did nothing about because no one else did, we didn''t have the resources and there was a lack of supply in the market.

All the time and space is at centre back.

Mascherano started playing centre back at the highest level. Xavi Alonso has started to play there. Michael Carrick looks really good there (like he does everywhere else).

But what''s going on (I hear some of you cry)?!? What about on a wet Tuesday at Spotland in January? What about when they come up against Assombalonga or Darryl Murphy or Steve Howard or.......?

.......aaah wait a minute...I see where he''s going.....

Aguero, Suarez, Bale, Neymar, Ronaldo...and increasing numbers of centre forwards and forward players from middle tier sides (let alone top sides) all target three quarter spaces, they move wide, attack from deeper angles, drift into areas where they can penetrate having accelerated and built up pace, created pockets of space in front of defenders, areas where olde English Centre back angels fear to tread......

....except Russell Martin.

He is actually very happy moving into wide area. Stepping into three quarter areas. Keeping hold of the ball half a second longer than our template olde English Centre back. Martin senses fear half a second later. This is a very good thing.

Martin has half a second more to make a slightly better pass into midfield. He does this rather well. It is crucial. The "W" full backs are high and wide, the centre backs have split to the edge of the penalty box and beyond, Our midfield pivot has dropped into the central defensive pocket as a "mistake shield", all this has allowed our midfielders to come to receive the ball have started their run toward the ball (critically!) a few yards higher up the field than is often the case. They trust Martin to slide the ball at a good pace into them. He can do this and does it regularly.if he doesn''t make this pass, another midfielder has to drop in and do it, that is one less passing option, that is the difference between possession and loss of possession. The difference between space and no space, the difference between the possibility of receiving player making a further pass to a third man run, confidence...or turnover, counter attack, out of shape, fear.

Let''s explain Norwich midfield tactics in the simplest possible sense. If the opposition have Pele and Maradona in the central midfield area and we have Tettey, Howson and Dorrans, we should win. We are trying to create small games within games, all over the field (but especially in the centre), where we are 3v2 or better.

Russell Martin is crucial to helping us achieve this. He is a genuine, trusted, capable central option to overload this area - even better than Wes dropping in, which is welcome too - because Martin is an extra body that the other side may not have or trust.

Aguero does not track Martin into midfield. He might well hover in the space behind him, hoping for a turnover, but we have a man extra with the ball and this moves the odds in our favour at this point.

Our tactical innovation is to expand, mature and develop this role.

It will not always work. Nor is it expected to. We have less resources than most others, out-battling, out-working, out-believing is all super-duper..but it belongs on the partial-truth-turned-into-story-turned-into-fact-by-osmosis tactics book of the Daily Fail, not my Italian world. We are looking for a tactical edge, an innovation, something that buys us some bonus points before getting copied / negated / superceded.

We can also augment this strategic innovation by incorporating unexpected movements from our number 9. I already see that Mbokani may be intended to throw something into the pot here.

We cannot afford the quasi-mythical (look at the stats) 20 league goals a season striker.

What we can do is pile more bodies on top of Pele and Maradona. Russell Beckenbauer can do it from the back and Mbokani''s early running patterns show me that he is capable and keen to come deep and engage in the play in a way that many (most) 9''s would have little intention of doing (and would be fairly half-hearted if they did). When coupled with athletic and willing running into channels, drifting into wider areas and threatening In behind, this is the multi-defender-occupying that Alex Neil loves (and needs) to make his system work.

That the 9 may score less this way, likely be in the box less than others, is less critical if there is a deliberate plan for the role to often be "false" and for others (catch up Nathan) run beyond and spread goals around the team. The recruitment of non-strikers who know where the goal is becomes key (Brady, Dorrans, Jarvis..plus the existing Howson, Redmond and now Wes being coached and inspired to do so).

For the mathematically minded amongst you, let''s try his equation: No striker + libero (x existing midfield pivot) = Greater movement backwards from striker, greater movement forwards from defenders = greater Domination of central areas = greater fluidity for those not tasked with key strategic, pivot roles = clear structure + the chance of creation.

For the English students amongst you let''s try a Shakespearean oxymoronic-type phrase: "..from greater structure comes greater fluidity..."

To come up with our innovation, we asked ourselves "Where is the freedom, the space, the time?"

Russell Martin is not Beckanbauer, nor is he Baresi or Ferdinand.

He is however the right KIND of player.

Because (done well) tactics are more important than transfers.

Parma

Sent from my iPhone

[OldRobert 38]

That''s a damn good read Parma.  Thank you.[:D]

[Iwans Big Toe 312]

Interesting thoughts Parma. Having watched all city''s games bar Palace and Rotherham I think though that Neil expects both of his central defenders to fulfill the role you have described, and as such, I think that Bassong is a better all round option. Whilst I accept that Martin is probably a slightly better alternative to Ryan Bennett at the moment for the duty of ball playing defender, I would still like to see us try and buy a bpd who is an upgrade on Bassong and move Russ out to right back. I feel this would give us a more solid back line without sacrificing anything in the way of being able to build from the back.Let me just put my tin hat on........

[Katie Borkins 1]

Parma, how I love you.

♥

[lowlyfendweller 0]

Thanks Parma!!

[Lessingham Canary 99]

Great piece Parma, nice read and makes good footballing sense.

[Van wink 2,994]

How should we avoid conceding goals so frequently from set piece Parma?

[westcoastcanary 0]

[Y]  Innovation of all kinds travels round the world in milliseconds but in football it can take 40 years for an idea to cross the North Sea! Meanwhile, in Norfolk, some still yearn for a pair of touch-line hugging wingers and a good old fashioned No.9 .........   [:''(]  Thank you Parma.

[Legend Iwan 30]

Parma, just a note re the comment about players covering more ground: the average PL distance has actually been decreasing over the last couple of season due to a combination of possession football, importance placed on transition and an emphasis on winning the ball back immediately, which has meant the number of km''s expended each match is reduced. In turn, the number of sprints has increased, hence the requirement these days for pace.

[Parma Ham's gone mouldy 2,219]

True and not true Iwan. A good example of how accurate stats can be misleading.

The overall km''s covered may well have slightly declined on average, though this can be explained in improved tactical awareness from sides.

Rather than chasing balls aimlessly, running or pressing in isolated fashion, teams are increasingly conceding possession in controllable areas, by pressing harder, sharper (increase sprints) and in more joined-up fashion.

Players themselves cover and shut the space faster and more intensely than ever. They just become more intelligent about when and where.

Parma

[Parma Ham's gone mouldy 2,219]

Bor 😘

[Legend Iwan 30]

So you''re in agreement that distances have decreased, then, Parma ;)

Although I don''t see where you''ve explained how what I said is not true. If anything, you''ve merely expanded my original post...

[Brighton Yellow 0]

What a load of waffle! You''ve managed to write a load of basic observations mixed with some made up $hit and then added some other guff to make yourself sound pretty pretentious.

[Crabbycanary3 994]

[quote user="Legend Iwan"]Parma, just a note re the comment about players covering more ground: the average PL distance has actually been decreasing over the last couple of season due to a combination of possession football, importance placed on transition and an emphasis on winning the ball back immediately, which has meant the number of km''s expended each match is reduced. In turn, the number of sprints has increased, hence the requirement these days for pace.[/quote]

Nice one Legend Iwan. These stats are very interesting, when we have people saying we have to run more as we are the worst in covering distances. Sounds like AN is the best at getting his team to work intelligently!

[westcoastcanary 0]

"Martin isn''t Beckenbauer but ........."........ and MBokani isn''t Zlatan but ......... Wow! What an idea! [:D]

[Badger 2,405]

Thanks Parma - very interesting and thought provoking.

[Gunthorpe 0]

I sniff Purple - his type of waffle

[ricardo 7,348]

Thanks Parma, always interesting to hear your thoughts.[Y]

[hogesar 9,618]

Brilliant post, and you deserve extra credit for still continuing to write it all out from an iPhone!

Great to see some tactical reasoning for Martins inclusion in the team to further back up mine, and several others opinions that he''s a good CB for us.

[nutty nigel 7,510]

I like this Parma. Please keep posting these. I think  you alone are woth the annual membership fee which we don''t pay[:)] Brighton is just a bit of an old misery guts who hasn''t been able to smile since BJ got POTS[;)]

 

We started pushing further up the pitch with Neil Adams. But we became braver after Alex Neil came in. I was concerned that we would abandon those priciples in this league but thankfully we haven''t. Players like Wes and Redmond need to get the ball in positions where they can really hurt the opposition but this can only happen if the whole team are brave. I remember back in 2004 our defence used to sit deep. We''d often see Worthy trying to get them further up the pitch to little avail. The back four then weren''t brave enough and this meant players like Hucks and McVeigh usually recieved the ball too far from goal to cause real problems for the opposition.

 

 

[Parma Ham's gone mouldy 2,219]

It''s a fair question VW and one that will tax minds at Colney this week.

Analysts have pointed out that Norwich use a combination of man-to-man and zonal marking, plus that they have a penchant for no men on the posts.

All of these options are worthy of discussion, there are good reasons for and against, though unlike 20/20 hindsight armchair pundits, I''m not sure that the answer lies directly with whichever answer is chosen.

Set pieces are always an excellent source of goals for any top side. Recent world cups have seen up to 48% of goals scored this way.

The goal conceded against West Ham was a good example of the kind of fast, flattish ball flight directed between the defensive line and the space to the goalkeeper.

This kind of ball will always be an issue. The defensive line is held in the right place, the attacking players come across the line of sight of the ball, the ball cannot be left, it may go straight in without a touch, the defending side have to run toward their own goal and make risky contact under pressure.

The answer is not bigger, olde English defenders. Unless we move towards American Football style rolling substitutions for highly specialised scenarios, some compromise will be necessary unless you can afford the very, very best. The loss of game management and control, the importance of constructive possession - both as an offensive and defensive weapon - is too important and valuable to not have ball players at centre back, with at least one who can step into midfield and also ideally into full back positions too.

In Norwich''s sense there are two factors that would go a good way towards reducing set piece goals.

Firstly there is still an honesty and decency to the side that puts the team at a disadvantage compared to others. There is a tendency to let the game flow, to try to nick the ball cleanly, to tuck in together a little deep late in games. I would like to see danger recognised earlier in midfield areas and strategic fouls to be made earlier in opposition moves, particularly late in games. More fouls around the half way line, breaking up and disrupting opposition play with stop-start fouls that rarely receive yellows. They are spoiling fouls that allow regrouping, waste time and disrupt opposition flow.

Several of the set piece concessions have come about because we have left it too long to make our fouls. The set piece is then taken from more dangerous areas which force us to hold an edge-of-the-penalty-box line, leaving a nice corridor target for the opposition.

Secondly I think John Ruddy could and should do more. I have a goalkeeping coaching qualification, though I am not a Goalkeeping coach, so the view is my own, but for such a strong character - one of the very few who know that they have a place on the teamsheet for next week - he does not always dominate his area and take all the responsibility that he could.

A goalkeeper can have a huge influence over the side, the pattern of play, the speed of play and the organisation of the side - even if they have very little to do during the action of the game. When the team is under pressure I rarely see Ruddy make a "statement claim", coming for a difficult ball when the team is under real pressure, to say "don''t worry lads, times are tough, this is my time, I''m here for you".

This is brave, far-from-the-line claims of balls late in games when crosses, diagonals and free kicks are raining in.

Making good saves, reflex stops, yelling when others make mistakes is all fine, but it''s expected. Big "help for heroes" goalkeepers send messages to their teammates - and the opposition. "Don''t just sling balls in, I''m going to come and claim them and make you look foolish, get your fans moaning by making half-decent crosses look wasteful".

Or alternatively, you stay on your line, shout orders, make last minute reaction stops, but you''re not risking your own mistakes by really helping the team out with your neck on the line. This defines the great goalkeepers from the good. These great goalkeepers can be identified by the way they make simple things important, theatrical even, while sending messages to teammates and opposition all the time.

They make fast dramatic throws ("lads we''re on top, we''re dynamic we''re playing to feet, keep the tempo high") and use both feet to make early, fast, flat distribution - even on 10 yard passes - to keep possession, change angles quickly, move the opposition a little out of shape. Every little helps and many don''t do it. It puts a message on the ball and onto the field of play.

Such goalkeepers are switched on in the mind, have a little arrogance, a desire to be involved when they''re not called upon to make saves, to contribute in other ways.

Keepers of this mentality also treat set pieces as an occasion to shine, a moment to alleviate pressure for the side, a theatrical stage when the lights are on them. They want it, they are not afraid. It is an opportunity to show what they can do.

This approach - even when mistakes are sometimes made - is infectious. It rubs off on others. The tone is set. Ask a defender how much difference it makes.

Parma

[ron obvious 1,501]

This is terrific stuff PHgm. Highly absorbing & a lovely way to follow up matches & reflect on what is going on at a deeper level. I don''t know if you saw this article, but it seemed to run on similar lines to your analysis.

https://tacticiancolumn.wordpress.com/2015/09/26/west-hams-rebrand-project-cast-envious-glances-in-the-direction-of-alex-neil-and-norwich/

What is your opinion of Jarvis, incidentally? Do you think we can fit his, perhaps more old-fashioned wing play into our system? He''s certainly made an impact!

[Crabbycanary3 994]

Got to agree about the assessment of Ruddy. I have always felt that, as much as I love him as our keeper, he has all the attributes to be an international keeper, but needs that ''Neville Southall'' attitude of the area being his ''manor'', and self confidence/arrogance to reach that pinnacle

[Parma Ham's gone mouldy 2,219]

Super article Ronaldo, very positive portrayal of Norwich. Good appreciation of the methodology and quite an endorsement.

Jarvis is obviously Premier League quality. This is a fairly rare compliment.

From the early stages of the Bournemouth game I got quite excited about his interplay and combinations with Brady. They both looked right, that they could play for almost any other premier league side and not look out of place.

For me it is what they do without the ball. If we compare to one of our more gifted -and frustrating - players in Nathan Redmond, it is instructive.

Jarvis takes up the right position having lost the ball. He fills up the right space when the opposition attack on his side of the field. He makes players flog round him the long way. He thinks fast and covers the first two yard quickly, shutting the space. Despite having arguably more natural weapons, Redmond often does not do these basic things. Jarvis always, always will. He is grooved to do it properly, time and again.

That he is calm in position, has pace, makes simple passes, plays with his head up, can shoot and score with either foot and is diligent mentally in defence are all further bonuses.

He is an Italian-type of player in that what he gives you, he gives on top of his basic defensive duties, there is no compromise to playing him. Ideal.

Parma

[wooster 134]

Another really interesting thread Parma, thank you.

Agree with the views on Jarvis and I hope we do all we can to keep him.

On Ruddy, he seemed more commanding against Liverpool than West Ham though, in his defence, if that big lump Carroll hadn''t got in the way of his punch it would have been a different result.

[Platonic 1]

Great post and follow up Parma. As I said in your previous thread, these posts are why some of us keep on coming back here, so please don''t stop!

[Yelloow Since 72 54]

Yet again another brilliant masterclass, Parma. Your OP anticipated almost exactly the tactics of our last two matches. We didn''t have Jarvis for West Ham, but Brady showed, not unexpectedly, that he has the same PL qualities as Jarvis, the very ones Redmond needs to work on. I suspect that we may well see both Brady and Jarvis on the flanks against Leicester and Redmond on the bench again because of that.

[PurpleCanary 5,554]

[quote user="Gunthorpe"]I sniff Purple - his type of waffle[/quote]I am honoured to be thought capable of such fascinating "waffle". Anything less like waffle I have rarely seen.A couple of points/questions, Parma. Firstly:Aguero does not track Martin into midfield. He might well hover in the space behind him, hoping for a turnover, but we have a man extra with the ball and this moves the odds in our favour at this point.Probably not Aguero, but might not some centre-forwards? If a team utilised a Russell Martin character like that against us would not Jerome do some harassing? And possibly (I have never seen him play but...) Vardy on Saturday?The other question is whether there is any link between the system we are playing and the lack of goals from central midfield. Only one in the league, and that from Hoolahan, who playes the furthest forward. As I understood it the idea used to be with a lone striker than the central midfielders got beyond, to provide the goal threat. But so far not one goal from Tettey, Howson and Dorrans. Instead we have five goals from the wide players - Redmond, Brady and Jarvis.Is this imbalance just happenstance or a result of Martin getting into midfield and so being covered by at least one midfielder staying back?

[Yelloow Since 72 54]

Against West Ham Howson had 4 shots, 2 on target. His turn will come methinks, Purple. Tettey is the one who stays deepest and thus is less likely to score unless he can crack a stunner from distance. Dorrans has had less game time and when he does play it''s usually because AN wants him to sit deeper with Tettey with Howson moving up.

I must admit though, I expected our CMs to be scoring more.

[Van wink 2,994]

Thanks Parma.

I take your point about our midfield "honesty", recognising and stopping a dangerous position earlier in the build up will help us concede less dangerously positioned free kicks.

The point I was hoping you would address, because it beats me, is this question of zonal or man marking when defending set piece.

It seems to me that whatever system is used, if it''s skillfully and correctly executed, it will be effective.

I am not sure what sysem we use to be honest, my perception is we try to mark a zone but then we conced where opposition midfielders drift into areas in the box, are not picked up and score. Surely if were properly implemented a zonal system would ensure these open spaces in the box would be covered.

A simplistic view, perhaps I don''t understand the system properly or is that we are not effectively implementing it?