NAC Breda 2022/23: How the Dutch club can now aim for promotion again using Thomas Tuchel-esque tactics – scout report

NAC Breda is a Dutch club that is now playing in the Eerste Divisie despite having played in the Eredivisie as recently as 2019 and having progressed through to the Europa League in 2009. 

In 1912, NAC was established and is one of the oldest clubs in Dutch footballing history. NAC lost to Roda JC in the promotion/relegation playoff final after the 2014–15 season, bringing an end to the clubs attempts to escape relegation during the previous several years. 

For fifteen years running, they have played in the highest division. After spending the better part of the last two decades in the Eredivisie, the squad has been bouncing between the lower and upper divisions of late.

The club has given Peter Hyballa, a German manager, a shot after employing Dutch coaches for the years 2021–2023. Hyballa came to NAC in early 2020, surviving for just five months and stepping down following a disagreement with the technical director.

Rather than pay the higher price tag that may come with hiring a foreign coach, a traditional club like NAC would look to domestic candidates who have the opportunity to foster a distinctive brand of play. Ultimately, the club went back to Hyballa and he has been in charge ever since.

This tactical analysis will delve into the attacking and defending tactics approached by NAC in the crucial games this season. This analysis in the form of a scout report will look at all the question marks NAC has to bury to gain promotion.

As of this writing, NAC is in seventh position in the Eerste Divisie, 20 points from a promotion spot to the Eredivisie and just six points from being the second runner to the top.

Structures employed and how they approach

Theyve played a variety of formations, from a five-man defence to a four-man defence, depending on the opponent. There are pros and cons, and well learn more about them here.

There is clear evidence that the 4-3-3 is NACs preferred formation. This is a snapshot of the many formations theyve employed this season; 5-3-2 is the third most popular option which is quite the favoured one for Hyballa, utilised 14% of the time.

With just five games in charge, Hyballa has mostly used a defensive formation that has three players back as opposed to the usual four. He has utilised four at the back just once out of the possible five games.

The players natural excitement has been effectively restrained by the coach, who is exerting maximum effort to shape the game in his teams favour. The influence one takes with a bunch of players hes given is fascinating in its own way.