How have the intricacies of football changed over the years?
Football is an ever-changing game and it has different methods, styles, and tactics – all of them successful in their own right. However, none of the aforementioned variations can be deemed perfect. Like everything, footballing methods have weaknesses and limitations. So, on we go for a journey of football tactics that have had a profound effect on the beautiful game.
The Early Days:
First, we will discuss the method that has always been an ever-present. The ‘direct’ option or route-one tactics as some call them – in which the ball is basically thumped towards a six-and-a-half foot striker. He then holds the ball up and creates havoc in the opposition box – eventually knocking one into the back of the net. A tactic often deemed scrappy, and not appreciated by many, but very effective till date.
The 4-4-2:
The era of the 4-4-2 formation, in which teams had two swashbuckling out-and out-wingers who would hug the touch-line to get crosses in, which strikers ultimately got their goals from. In the 4-4-2, wingers remained wide, which allowed creative midfielders enough space to control the middle of the park. One such team that comes to mind is Manchester United’s treble winning side from 1999, who played Beckham and Giggs on the flanks and Scholes and Keane in midfield. They accomplished remarkable things, and their team is considered one of the best to ever grace the game.
The Introduction of the Holding Midfielder:
Time went on, teams stuck to the 4-4-2, and they were successful. Jose Mourinho eventually entered the fray and normalised the use of a dedicated defensive midfielder. Even now, Chelsea continue to deploy a midfield enforcer in a position often dubbed the ‘Makélélé Role‘. The Portuguese tactician would make his teams defend deep, making it difficult to play through the lines. After winning the ball back, they would counter-attack at pace with wingers like Arjen Robben and Damien Duff. Alongside the blonde duo, they had Didier Drogba, who could hold ball up and bring a midfield runner like Frank Lampard into the game. Jose dominated English football with Chelsea and also won the Champions League later on with Inter Milan.
Happy 45th birthday to Claude Makélélé.
Champions League ✅
Premier League ✅
LaLiga ✅A player so good they named a role after him. 👏 pic.twitter.com/AwxCPcs7H2
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 18, 2018
Pep’s Love Affair With Tiki Taka:
In 2008, Barcelona announced Josep ‘Pep’ Guardiola as their manager. He brought with him a philosophy reminiscent of that which past Dutch sides employed. It was essentially passing a team to death (or exhaustion if that came first) and was colloquially referred to as ‘tiki taka’. With Iniesta and Xavi in the middle of the park, and Lionel Messi constantly supporting them, the team literally never gave away the ball. Shifting the ball from side to side and then breaking through the lines, getting their goals in the process. What made Pep successful was also his team’s willingness to hunt down the opposition in packs after losing the ball, winning it back almost immediately and nullifying any possible threat. His side dominated the game and won two trebles.
Eat, Sleep, Press, Repeat:
The modern era of football is bending more and more towards the Bielsa model of football – in which teams play at a lightning-quick tempo and press high. By doing that, they win the ball back further up the pitch and hurt the opposition on the counter. The new breed of coaches that we are growing accustomed to, individuals like Klopp, Pochettino, and Sampaoli, are notable examples of this shift. All of them like their teams to play football with an extra emphasis on pressing. Looking at recent results, this seems to be the way forward – but with the footballing tide always changing, who knows what’s in store for the future.