Futsal: Using principles to coach rotations in football
Rotations in football have come into limelight in the modern game more than ever before. As we begin to view formations as dynamic interconnections between groups of players in specific phases of attacking organisation rather than rigid structures, we become more aware of the significance that specific movements by players can have as we progress [...]
Neymar: Another piece for the Setien jigsaw?
Neymar and Barcelona are a love story of old and while we wait for yet another transfer saga to be resolved, the question remains: Do the Catalans need their Brazilian superstar back and would he solve their problems? This tactical analysis will be a scout report on Neymar and will delve deeper into the analysis [...]
Analysis
Olympique Lyonnais Féminin: The Defensive Philosophy Under Jean-Luc Vasseur Tactics
The perennial winners of the Champions League and Division 1 Feminine are known for their attacking flair and offensive efficiency. However, their defensive work has been overlooked, despite the team using some interesting tactics to shut out the opposition. This is the first in a series of analysis articles that will look into the offensive [...]
Manchester United: Analysis of their corner routines
It’s a strange phenomenon in football when the ball goes behind for a corner. The crowd gets up on their feet with a surge of noise, excitement and anticipation in equal measure. But why is there so much expectation? On average this season in the Premier League, just 14.63% of corners result in a shot, [...]
Jadon Sancho: The right fit for Manchester United?
Jadon Sancho left Manchester City in the summer of 2017 after being emitted from Pep Guardiola's preseason squad due to a contract dispute. He then joined German powerhouses Borussia Dortmund on deadline day. Since then, he became one of the most dangerous attackers on the planet, as seen by the stats. Sancho finished the 2018/2019 [...]
Luis Alberto: The mezzala and the magician
Luis Alberto over the past three seasons has become one of the most desirable players in Europe, however, his rise in value has not been smooth. His move to Lazio under Simone Inzaghi saw the Spaniard arrive in Rome under a cloud of uncertainty as he looked to get his career back on track. In [...]
Tactical Analysis
Girondins de Bordeaux currently occupy the 12th place on the Ligue 1 table. They are ten points off Nîmes Olympique in the league’s relegation play-off place, which puts them closer to that position than they are to LOSC Lille, who currently sit in the fourth place (Europa League group stage qualification spot). Considering that Les [...]
Holstein Kiel U19s: Principles in possession
I wish to begin by thanking manager Dominik Glawogger and assistant manager Christian Dobrick for the many ways in which they supported the creation of this tactical analysis piece. Holstein Kiel U19s have demonstrated a variety of possessional principles this season under manager Dominik Glawogger and assistant managers Christian Dobrick and Freddy Kaps. These principles [...]
Adriana Leon: West Ham United Women’s heartbeat
West Ham United Women currently occupy eighth position in the WSL, with 16 points, a whole 10 points above the relegation zone. They have many good players, but there is one that glues the whole team together; Adriana Leon. The Canada international generally plays as an attacking midfielder, and is situated behind the striker, allowing [...]
Gerardo Seoane: Young Boys Bern’s tactical approach
In the Super League 2019/20, Young Boys Bern are currently sitting in second place only due to a worse goal difference than St. Gallen. Under head-coach Gerardo Seoane, they use some interesting strategies such as high attacking full-backs, a narrow structure and a lot of crosses. In this tactical analysis, we are taking a closer look at the [...]
Napoli: Why do they underperform in the final third?
Some of the teams in Serie A have been incredibly efficient in their attacking actions in the 2019/20 season. Many of them are willing to dive into forward ventures and focus their actions on their performance in the final third. While being over-productive upfront came as a surprise from some of them, it turns out [...]
Marcel Sabitzer
RB Leipzig’s season has been one that has surprised many fans. In Julian Nagelsmann’s first year, the club spent much of the season either at the top of the Bundesliga or in second, never dropping out of the top three once they arrived there ten weeks into the season. While Timo Werner has attracted much [...]
Analysis
MLS Scout Report & Data Analysis 2020 – Utilizing Homegrown Players
Since its establishment in 1993 and first season in 1996, Major League Soccer has been the most dynamically growing league in the world. Thanks to the arrival of well-known veterans from Europe and the country’s successful World Cup runs, average attendance and TV viewership have hit a new peak every year. With more revenue and [...]
Real Sociedad: The peculiar case of their attack
Last year, at the Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastián, Real Sociedad lay in ninth place in the La Liga standings. Scoring 45 goals and conceding 46 goals, they topped out on 53 points. However, with the turn of the year, Real Sociedad, before the coronavirus pandemic, found themselves in fourth place. All of a sudden, [...]
Shakhtar Donetsk: Team Analysis
Shakhtar Donetsk have gained a reputation for being one of the most attractive attacking sides in European football. When the Brazilian revolution started in January 2005 with the signing of Jadson, Donetsk had won only one league title. Since then former coach Mircea Lucescu has formed a team that won eleven league titles, one UEFA [...]
Analysis
André Villas-Boas Tactics At Olympique De Marseille 2019/2020
Olympique de Marseille have not finished in the top three of Ligue 1 since 2012/13, but since then, Paris Saint-Germain have established a monopoly, winning the title six out of the past seven seasons. André Villas-Boas has a tough job on his hands if he is to restore France’s joint most successful club to their former glory. The [...]
Analysis
Domenico Tedesco Tactics At Spartak Moscow 2019/2020 – Tactical Analysis
Domenico Tedesco has brushed himself down after a disappointing end to what was originally an incredibly promising spell at Schalke in the Bundesliga. Tedesco now coaches in the Russian Premier League, at the helm of Spartak Moscow. Spartak’s form hasn’t improved drastically under Tedesco, yet his tenure at the club is still in its infancy. [...]
Analysis
Gabriel Heinze Tactics At Vélez Sarsfield 2019/2020 – Head Coach Analysis
Gabriel Heinze was a tough, aggressive defender who played at the highest level for both club and country before transitioning into management in his native Argentina. After a short spell at Godoy Cruz, Heinze made the move to Argentinos Juniors, where success led him to his most recent club, Velez Sarsfield, from which he recently departed. [...]
Chelsea: Midfield problems aplenty
One of the most interesting things to watch in the Premier League this season has been Frank Lampard’s debut season in charge of Chelsea. The former Blues midfielder and record goalscorer was tempted away from Derby County to be given the reigns at Stamford Bridge at the start of the season, and while his hands [...]
Tactical Theory: Interactions of attackers that lead to goals
Ask any coach or player about the most difficult task in football and you’ll get the same answer, scoring a goal. Watch any top team play a lower level team from their league. Odds are the less talented side will sit in a low block and defend for their lives. Given the disparity in talent, [...]
Analysis
Takefusa Kubo Scout Report At RCD Mallorca 2019/2020 – Is He Ready For Real Madrid?
Poached from under Barcelona's noses last summer, Japanese international Takefusa Kubo was the subject of considerable hype when he signed for Real Madrid. After pre-season, he was loaned to RCD Mallorca, one of La Liga’s newly promoted teams, to help ensure that he gained regular game time as he developed and pushed for a role in the Real [...]
Dear members, Thank you once again for reading our latest Total Football Analysis Magazine. It has been one of the best months we have had since we set out on this journey just over two years ago. Firstly, we have taken the decision to move the magazine to twice monthly for you. The reason is [...]