Fluminense’s Fall From Grace 2024: Analyzing Their Worst League Start In Years – Scout Report

The current season has been nothing short of a nightmare for Fluminense.

The teams worst start since 2006, with just six points after twelve games, leaving fans and analysts alike scratching their heads.

Despite a talented roster and a coaching staff with a proven track record, Fluminense is struggling to secure victories and is slipping down the league standings.

In this Fluminense scout report, we conduct an in-depth analysis of the myriad issues plaguing the team.

From tactical missteps and ineffective tactics to injuries and off-field distractions, this Fluminense tactical analysis and scout report aims to uncover the root causes behind Fluminenses disappointing campaign so far.

Fluminense Managerial Insights

The season began with Fernando Diniz, a coach known for his reliable track record.

Diniz rejoined Fluminense in 2022, leading the team to victories in the Copa Libertadores last season and the Recopa Sudamericana in February.

Despite these previous successes, Fluminense managed to secure only six points from 11 games this season.

The final blow was a 1-0 loss to Flamengo, which ultimately led to his dismissal.

So, where did the clubs issues with the manager begin?

The problems arose from both managerial decisions and the actions of the clubs higher executives.

Fluminenses president, Mario Bittencourt, emphasized that Dinizs dismissal was not due to a single poor result but rather an overall assessment of the team’s recent performances and internal dynamics.

A coach must adapt the teams playing style during tough times, making micro adjustments rather than overhauling the entire starting lineup or coaching philosophy.

These minor changes accommodate the specific issues the team faces on the pitch.

Due to injuries and the old age of key veteran players, Diniz had limited options for making such adjustments.

From the start of the season until his sacking, he did not have the chance to field the same starting 11 more than once, which was purely a matter of bad luck.

Dinizs playstyle and philosophy had become outdated and ineffective for the current players, and the tactics could no longer produce results.

Fernando Diniz liked to play with Relationism, a philosophy he has successfully implemented at several clubs, including Fluminense.

His teams are known for their fluid attacking play, unpredictable movements, and emphasis on creating overloads.

Relationism relies on players having freedom and using their IQ to scan the next movement to make and where to be in order to anticipate what will happen next.

They use non-verbal communication, body language, and subtle cues to create passing triangles, overloads, and attacking opportunities.

This style aims to create space by constantly moving and occupying different positions, generate attacking opportunities by focusing on overloads and exploiting space, and disrupt the opposition with its unpredictability, making it difficult for opponents to defend.

At Fluminense, Dinizs Relationism is evident in their fluid attacking play and constant player movement.

Fernando Dinizs style of play includes build-up by creating overloads in widths of the pitch, and a heavy tilt to progress up the field; players frequently change their stance on areas of the pitch to create space and attacking opportunities.

This makes it extremely difficult for a team to know what is going to happen next and how to defend or attack in transition.

A prime example of a team that excels at this method of football is Real Madrid, who execute it exceptionally well.

Their ability to seamlessly transition between defence and attack while maintaining unpredictability showcases the effectiveness of this approach when implemented correctly.

Unfortunately, Fluminenses current struggles highlight the challenges of replicating this style without the right balance of player capabilities, player profiles, and tactical coherence.

Positives

Relationism is characterized by adaptability.

It allows players to react to any situation, making them unpredictable and challenging for opponents.

This philosophy empowers players, giving them more freedom and responsibility on the field, leading to a dynamic and engaging style of play.

The tactical idea is to overload certain widths of the pitch and look for transitions.

Evidence of this can be seen below.

The players marked in black are creating the overload, and the goal is to quickly transition the ball to those marked in yellow.

Negatives

Relationism is demanding as it requires skilled, tactically aware, and communicative players.

Its attacking focus can leave teams vulnerable if they lose possession, exposing them to counterattacks.

Mastering this philosophy involves a significant learning curv