Successful football teams often have reoccurring patterns—scoring plenty of goals and having a strong defensive foundation are two key factors.
However, particularly outside of the top division in England, it is challenging to tick both of those boxes, as Barrow AFC are finding out so far this season in the 2023/24 EFL League Two season.
After 16 games played at the time of writing, the Bluebirds sit in eighth position, just outside the playoff zone.
Barrow AFC are seemingly a club on the up at the moment under Pete Wilds tactics – they finished ninth last season after surviving relegation by the skin of their teeth back in 2021/22 and 2020/21, and they have brought last seasons momentum with them this time around.
Currently unbeaten in their previous six League Two games, they are really making a case for themselves as black horse playoff contenders.
Their biggest asset this campaign has been their defensive resilience.
They are tough to break down and show good tactical consistency in their defending.
This scout report will explore the data and match footage behind their defensive ability.
The analysis will also take a brief look into their attacking play and why they have struggled to find form in front of the goal despite showing promise during the build-up.
Use of a mid-block
Suppose there is one thing that manager Pete Wilds style of play deserves credit for.
In that case, it is the level of tactical discipline we see from his side out of possession—something that can be more difficult to instil with consistency and success the further down the footballing pyramid you get.
Wilds Barrow strikes a nice balance in the face of opposition possession—not sitting deep but also not applying a high press.
This segment of the tactical analysis will examine their application of a mid-block, focusing on the activity of the midfielders and forwards during these times.
While their use of a mid-block is often well-executed, it is not groundbreaking—and that is not a negative thing! What you see when analysing Barrows mid-block is tactical familiarity from the three units, especially the midfielders.
Barrow often deploys a 5-3-2, which sometimes becomes a 3-5-2, but either way, the mechanics behind the midfield three remain basically the same.
The three of them like to cover enough ground to
