Analysis: How NCFC could improve in the build-up.

Overview:

• An overview of two key tactical weaknesses under Dean Smith.

• A comparison of Dean Smith and Daniel Farke.

Analysis:

• Norwich’s build-up under Dean Smith.

• Introduction to the ‘free man’ concept.

• How NCFC could use Juego de Posicion (Positional Play).

• How to create a ‘free man’.

• How to find the ‘free man’.

• Summary.

Overview:

There have been numerous, recurring, tactical weaknesses at Norwich since Dean Smith became head coach. These include ineffective counter-pressing – a discipline Smith sought to improve after his appointment – and incoherent build-up play.

Counter-pressing (pressing immediately after losing the ball, when the opponent is still trying to gain control of the ball) represents a means of creating chances after a turnover in possession. There are two primary reasons for this. Firstly, after a turnover in possession the opponent will transition into a more offensive formation – characterised by horizontal width and vertical depth. This creates space which can be exploited in transition. Secondly, regaining possession immediately is likely to occur high up the pitch, potentially only a few passes from the opponent’s goal.

Thus far, Dean Smith has failed to improve Norwich’s counter pressing. Norwich do not regain possession fast enough after losing it. As a result, they are unable to benefit from the transition and often fail to prevent attacks.

Build-up play involves transitioning through an opponent’s lines from back to front, typically through several short passes. Under Daniel Farke, Norwich’s build-up play involved a large quantity of short passes designed to gradually drag the opponent around the pitch to create space. Dean Smith’s style generally involves building up in fewer, more direct, passes. Applied practically, a typical attack under Farke might have included around 20-30 passes in the build-up, while a Dean Smith attack may include transitioning from back to front in 5-10 passes.

While Daniel Farke could be described as an ideologist, Dean Smith is more of a pragmatist. Farke implemented a clear style with many concepts remaining constant regardless of the opponent; gameplans under Smith are more of a reaction to the opponent. For example, when an opponent creates numerical superiority in the centre of the pitch, Smith would want his team to play around them. If the opponent plays with width, his team may look to play through the lines. Similarly, if an opponent presses high, Smith is happy for his team to go long – to play over the press – rather than building up with ground passes.

While Farke’s style was hugely successful in the Championship, ultimately it failed in the Premier League. In appointing Dean Smith, Norwich hoped they had a manager better suited to achieving survival. But his pragmatic approach has created uncertainty surrounding his style, especially against weaker teams in the Championship – against whom Farke had so much success.

Analysis: Improving NCFC’s build-up:

Under Dean Smith, Norwich’s build up has been inconsistent and disjointed. While their counter movements (see below) and use of a single pivot (since Hayden’s return) have been effective, there are very few other positives to speak of. Poor movement and positioning are two primary reasons for Norwich’s poor build-up play.

There have been two main variations in Norwich’s build up formations this season. When using a 4-2-3-1, Norwich build-up in a 2-4-1-3 with a double pivot. In a 4-4-2 diamond, Norwich build-up in a 2-3-2-1-2 with a single pivot.

While the double pivot creates more defensive solidity, the single pivot creates more triangles. Triangles represent passing angles/options through which a team can progress. This is essential when attempting to play out from the back.

Here are the triangles in a 4-4-2 diamond:

However, Norwich’s midfielders and full backs often start too high. This is so the centre backs can beat the first line of the press with one pass. But this reduces passing options in the build-up and makes it harder to create numerical superiority in the defensive third.

Instead, the full backs should stay on the same line as the holding midfielder. This would provide passing options for the centre backs. Another midfielder should also drop to provide an immediate passing option for the full backs and holding midfielder.

One of the most significant weaknesses in Norwich’s build-up play this season has been their failure to create and find a ‘free man’ (see below) ahead of the ball. This failure is due to a clear lack of movement from players when a teammate is in possession. Without this movement it becomes difficult to escape an opponent’s press without going long.

The Spanish concept of Juego de Posicion – known as Positional Play in England – provides a structure for players positions in the build-up (see below). No more than two players should be on the same line, running left to right below, while no more than three players should be on the same line running top to bottom below. The use of this structure creates optimal triangles/angles between players and maximises space in possession. Each player starts in a separate zone. Movement between zones is organised and allows a team to consistently provide passing options, while also creating a free man. This is something Norwich could benefit from greatly – at present their build up is slow, disjointed, and ineffective.

Positional Play can be used to create a free man by encouraging third man runs. Once a player drops into a different zone, another player can move into the zone vacated by their teammate. These runs manipulate a pressing opponent and create a gradually more offensive free man. Here is an example of escaping the press using rotations between the zones.

The zones created by Juego de Posicion, or Positional Play, could be used by Norwich to add some coordination, organisation and structure to their build-up. Movement between the zones is designed to allow progression through the creation of free players ahead of the ball, this would help Norwich to escape the press without going long. Beginning an attack with a long ball creates less attacking potential than with rotations (see above) in a more patient build-up.

There will always be a numerical advantage for a team in possession (11v10) as the opposing goalkeeper is not involved in the press. But without movement, a team’s free man may be the goalkeeper, this is useless.

There are numerous ways to create a free man ahead of the ball:

1) La Pausa (the pause):

A Spanish principle where a player in possession stops with the ball at their feet. This invites pressure from an opposing player which begins the sequence of creating free players ahead of the ball.

In this example, the pressing team have a man-to-man press against Norwich’s 4-4-2 diamond. The goalkeeper could pause on the ball to encourage a striker to press. This creates a free man ahead of the ball:

2) One-two:

Players can play quick one-two’s to encourage a player’s marker to follow the ball, leaving a player free ahead of the ball.

Here, a one-two between the goalkeeper and the number 6 encourages the marker to press the goalkeeper:

3) Short passes in defensive third:

Short passes may also encourage pressing players to begin chasing the ball, leaving players unmarked.

4) Overload one side of the pitch:

A team can create a free man by attracting the opponent to one side of the pitch while leaving one player on the opposite side, this player becomes the free man.

5) Move forward with the ball:

If an opponent isn’t pressing the player in possession, the player on the ball can run at the opponent. The opponent then has no choice but to engage the player on the ball, this creates a free man.

In this example, the player marking the number 6 leaves his man to intercept the run of the centre back:

6) Opposite movement to the ball:

This is a concept whereby a player finds space by moving in the opposite direction to the ball. The player moves away from the opponents press.

Here, the number 6 moves away from the opponents press to find space, where he can receive a pass once the opposition have shifted to the other side:

Once a free man is created, after encouraging opposing players to press, there are a few ways of finding the free man to build from the back:

1) Third man runs:

One of Norwich’s biggest failures this season has been the lack of third man runs. The third man is used when two players exchange passes, to attract an opponent, before a third player moves into the space vacated by the opponent. Third man runs allow a team to find a free man who could not have been found with a direct pass.

Here are three examples of the utilisation of a third man:

The second example (above) highlights the need for Norwich’s full backs to start deeper. If the right back was higher, in this example, his marker would not have been close enough to the centre back to press him. Therefore, the right back would not have become the third/free player. Players starting in a deeper position actually increase the space behind the opponent as pressing players are forced to move higher up the pitch, leaving gaps behind.

2) Pivot switch:

This is where a midfielder in a single or double pivot is used to find a free man on the opposite side of the pitch with a long pass.

3) Positioning behind and between the lines:

Players ahead of the ball should be positioned behind and between the opponent’s lines, this ensures a player in possession has progressive passing options.

4) Support the ball:

A key concept in football is supporting the ball. Players should provide easy passing options for a teammate so the team can continue to move the ball to find progressive passing options. Dropping to support the ball creates numerical superiority in the build-up.

In this example, the opposition players are cover shadowing the midfield players, making it hard for the centre back to keep the ball moving. Midfielders could drop and the free centre back and goalkeeper should move to ‘support the ball’ in the build-up. Supporting the ball also drags markers forwards, leaving space behind.

To summarise, one of the biggest challenges Dean Smith must overcome is Norwich's slow and ineffective build-up play. The World Cup break gives Smith the chance to improve his sides' structure and movement in possession. Through the structure provided by Juego de Posicion (Positional Play) and the movement patterns explained in this piece, Smith could drastically improve Norwich's build-up. This would lead to more threatening attacks, and a clearer style of play.