Tactics
Fans throw that word around like it has some sort of magic power. Just get the ‘tactics’ right and victory is assured!
Oh how managers must love to hear fans talk about tactics.
I don’t pretend to know much about coaching football. But it seems to me that it is possible to get your tactics right and still draw, or even lose, a game. Conversely, it’s possible, though less likely, to get the tactics wrong and still win.
What does the word tactics mean, anyway? Formation? Personel? Tempo? Style? Mindset? All of the above?
When is the right time to change tactics? Between matches? Halftime? After a goal is scored? 20 minutes to go? In response to an injury? All of the above?
Is it possible for the same tactics to work at the beginning of a game, but not later? What about vice-versa? How soon should you abandon your tactics? How do you know that the new tactic will work better?
If your tactics aren’t working is it because one player is failing, or several players? Which players? How will a tactical substitution affect the play of those staying on?
Lots of questions, aren’t there? And keep in mind, I’m probably just scratching the surface. And I’m doing so from the comfort of my home, not in the middle of a match. So, before we start throwing around the word tactics, keep in mind that it’s probably a lot trickier than we imagine.
46 Responses to “The most misused words in the fans’ vocabulary:”
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December 28th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
If we are talking about Portsmouth’s game, you could have seen from a plane that we won’t win that game if Wenger doesn’t change something. I have never complained about Wenger’s tactics and I hope I never will, but I still think he should have changed something earlier.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
The last sentence in Sheed’s post is straight out of the Rick James Bible:
“See, I never just did things just to do them. Come on, what am I gonna do? Just all of a sudden jump up and grind my feet on somebody’s couch like it’s something to do? Come on. I got a little more sense than that.
[pause]
Yeah, I remember grinding my feet on Eddie’s couch.”
- Rick James, Chappelle’s Show
December 28th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Whenever I hear someone bemoaning Arsene Wenger’s “tactics”, I assume I’ve misheard them and what they’re really whinging about is “the Latics”, and thus must be Wigan Athletic supporters. Then the only decent thing to do is to afford them the pity they so richly deserve.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
The problem I have with Wenger is that he is too slow to react and often lets results cloud his judgement. For instance, if Robbie Keane had scored last Saturday and Arsenal had lost, or gotten a late draw, Wenger would have most likely played 4-4-2 at Portsmouth. Yet, because we stole a win he chose to neglect the evidence of our stale play and persist with the same system. Now, after dropping more away points against Portsmouth, it finally looks like he’s going 4-4-2 tomorrow. It might be too late. The players already look shot as far as I can see and I think Everton will beat us whether we play 4-4-2 or 4-5-1. They are simply in the better form at the moment and our away results have been poor for a while now. At least in a championship winning context.
Wenger also seems to decided not to taken heed of our performances in the Carling Cup. In every game in the Carling Cup we have played 4-4-2 and we have given opposing defences all sorts of problems. Blackburn couldn’t live with us for that first half an hour and that partly came from the Blackburn defence not knowing whether to sit deep or play the offside. As a result there was space between the lines.
I would personally like to see Wenger go with Bendtner and Eduardo for a spell. Opposing teams know Arsenal like to play around them for the most part and this would leave Eduardo with space in between the two centre backs. We’ve seen how easily Eduardo can latch on to throughballs and I think Everton will try and push up tomorrow, leaving this avenue open. I don’t think Arsenal can beat Everton playing pyramid football. They are too tenacious and determined to let Adebayor take an age to control a pass and shoot.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Sheed, you’re killing me. No, I’m not talking about one game. I’m talking to many people who, over the course of many years, have trotted out the word tactics and nodded sagely as if they were some fucking football wizard. Who if they weren’t sitting at some desk somewhere would no doubt be leading Estonia to World Cup glory.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
In general I agree with your point about tactics. Alot of it is bollocks. But it has been so obvious for the last few months that Adebayor cannot link play in a 4-5-1, and gradually this has led to a degeneration in our all round game. Players no longer make runs or do one-twos with any conviction because they know the chances of them getting a decent return from Ade are slim to none.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
It’s all about the formations. 4-5-1 or 4-4-2, we should be playing better than we did against Portsmouth.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
lol@kbarham
December 28th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Bulls Eye Rick!! Wanted to come up with something on these lines. Its very loosely used .. the word tactics. Its actually pretty similar to what a lot of us do in real life. Making loose staements like .. WinRar is better than Winzip…when you ask Why..there won’t be an answer or there’ll be something loose like…it offers “better compression”…whatever that means. So yes…tactics in football in a nutshell..are “A reading of the situation at any given point of time in a game and making sure that the players best suited to deal with that situation are on the pitch at that time” .. the situation however again depends on how the coach sees it…similar to what we see our team from a “half empty” or “half full” perspective… Sam Allardyce would probably sit on a 1 goal lead for 85 minutes and play 5-5-0 for 20 minutes and say that “I felt we needed to be defensive”…whereas AW would say “They were dangerous on the counter attack and there was a need to get a second goal..and will throw on Bendtner for Eboue” .. so its all perception really…and its here that all that BOTTLE talk really comes into play….Can AW himself not BOTTLE it in big game situations? I’m not talking Arsenal - Pompey or Everton .. I’m talking CL Final when he took Cesc off…that time I felt it was perfect..on hindsight I felt he BOTTLED it…
Yes he’s not above criticism..but when you’ve done as much good for Arsenal and football as AW has….I guess the 10% imperfection can well be excused. So really ..I guess we can quit ranting…stop beating on dead horses…and please stop the “I told YOU SO’s” …
December 28th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Wenger on Beckham:
“So does Wenger expect Beckham to teach Arsenal’s young players how to excel from free kicks? Perhaps not. “I think it will be a tough competition for Beckham!” laughed Wenger.”
He is a joke master, isn’t he?
December 28th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Yeah sheed…I liked the Reyes quote a lot..this was when there was all this uncertainity about AW’s own future..
Media: Is Reyes unhappy?
AW: He does not like the weather. I can’t change that for him
Media: And what about yourself
AW: Personally I have never cared about the weather too much.
Got to love the guy
December 28th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
LDE, it was like this
“Despite the global warming England is still not warm enough for him”
Damn, that was good
December 28th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
my only tatical new year’s wish is no eboue in the everton game…
December 28th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Your wish will come true
Wenger said he will rest him.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
hope its more of a deep sleep
December 28th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
I dont know guys. He did offer quite a threat on the right side. Looked very very raw …all power and no finesse at all…but he did look a threat. But yeah I won’t be unhappy if he’s shipped out. Doubt AW will do the same though…
Yeah Sheed..that was probably it…but the second bit about AW was just like that ..I think. Whatever - I love the guy
December 28th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
raw yes.. threat.. yes.. but this new midfield eboue has forgotten his defensive roots.. doesn’t even cover for Sanga.. when sanga goes forward
December 28th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
I’m kinda one of those army guys that kinda knows what tactics really are. After seventeen years in the army I should know how to not misuse this word by now.
Not wanting to bore you with army tactics, soccer tactics have to do with how you plan on winning a game. If what you’ve planned isn’t working then you make tactical changes in a timely enough fashion to still give yourself a chance to be victorious. Good tactics don’t guarantee victory but they give you a good chance at it where bad tactics don’t give you much of a chance at all.
A 4-4-2 formation with Gilberto and Diarra isn’t going to give Arsenal a good enough chance to win against anybody as neither of those guys are going to create, show for the ball, or be instrumental at helping the team keep the ball. It’s not what they do well. It’s why Kolo kept playing the long ball. It’s why Boro kicked our ass. You can’t blame the players for that. It’s like putting Eduardo in goal and blaming him for being a bad goalkeeper.
If you’re playing a formation that’s not created many chances after sixty minutes then it’s probably safe to assume it won’t create many chances after 90 minutes either; unless you make a tactical change. Wenger’s been blasted for years about waiting too long to make tactical changes. He’s made good changes this season that have led us higher up the table but I’m not sure if they were by design or by coincidence. I mean did he already know before the game that he was going to put a player on after 60 minutes or did he see during the game that they were needed? I’d like to believe the latter.
December 28th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Ok, let’s leave it at this:
1. No one get the tactics right every time.
2. Wenger’s ability or lack of with tactics has been reasonably constant during his time with Arsenal.
3. Arsenal have been ridiculously successful during Wenger’s time.
4. Questioning Wenger’s tactics is a bit like complaining that Adriana Lima is a brunette and not a blonde while she is pleasuring you.
December 28th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Luka Modric is sold to some English club. Dinamo Zagreb’s President announced that tomorrow will be a spectacular press conference and they will reveal the name of the club where Luka is going. He only said that Arsenal, Spuds, Chelsea, Newcastle and Man City were after him. We will see tomorrow if he will become a Gunner
December 28th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
And if something does go painfully wrong during the pleasure process, it might be a brave man who won’t scream out in pain, regardless of the model in question
December 28th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
I agree with everything you’ve said Rick, except #4
I also agree that Wenger will go down in history as one of the greatest managers the world has ever known and I’m happy he’s the Arsenal manager. But I’m not going to dub the man infallible purely on the strength of past accomplishments.
Sure, no one gets tactics right every time and we’ve had injuries, and blah blah blah etc whatever. But to suggest that this man or any other man’s tactics are beyond reproach is a bridge too far; especially when it’s plain to see that his actions or lack of timely action is one of the main reason we’ve played poorly in the few games we’ve played poorly.
Trust me, I don’t hate Wenger. I just want our team to win games they’re supposed to win. When we lost to Sevilla, I don’t think I mentioned tactics at all. But Boro, are you f*cking kidding me?
December 28th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
I’m not saying Wenger is infallible or that he gets it right every time. I just think it’s a bit silly for someone like me to say, “Wenger got the tactics all wrong on that one.” Likewise, I would laugh if Le Boss came to my office and said, “Boy, that’s not how I would have done it.” I’d say, “with all due respect, I think I’ve been doing this a little longer than you and I know what I’m doing.”
December 29th, 2007 at 2:26 am
Wenger has said that he is willing to let Lehmann leave and won’t be signing any new players in Jan. Wonder if that will change if someone leaves like Gilberto or Diarra. I think we could have done with one new player (CB or winger). This certainly makes our title push a lot more difficult.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:44 am
Check this out:
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has hit out at moaning Lassana Diarra and admits he could be sold in January.
He said: “You cannot feel sorry for players who are frustrated. We are in a job where you have to be men. I cannot understand this. When you are a professional football player competition is part of your job. You cannot be at one of the biggest clubs in the world, like ours, and not expect competition.
“You know that before you play football. And, when you sign a contract, no one puts a gun to your head. It is a job for strong people and those who remain strong will always do well. We are not a kindergarten. Why should I give explanations to everyone who is unhappy? It is a joke
December 29th, 2007 at 3:52 am
If AW indeed said what being reported, it’s an unusual act from Wenger. We all know, over the years, he rarely came out and blasted one of his players, and most of the time would stand up for them through thick and thin.
Of Diarra, now this guy clearly got what it takes to make it at Arsenal. I can understand the frustration of players find themselves on the bench. Bendtner, Denilson, Diaby have made some similiar noises as well this season.
but one difference is - Bendtner, Denilson and Diaby the likes have been with the clubs a couple of seasons, so to a certain extend, fair enough.
but I can’t actually recall when was the last time a new Arsenal player has come out and moan about lack of first team chance merely a few months since joining the club? Not even Le Sulk.
Of majority of the talented youngsters under Wenger at the past, even the likes of Thierry Henry and Anelka, they had to bid their time and spent the first few months on the bench.
If he’ll be a bit more patiented, I m sure AW will give him the chances he deserved.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:07 am
excellent comment from wenger.
i dont think we need a CB. yeah senderos and djorou seem like dangerous options but wenger is not going to sell them this january.
Song is not going to the ANC which is great news! Gallas and Song should start in Toure’s absense, while Djorou and Senderos should sweat it out for a place on the bench.
Eboue’s absense is utterly inconsequential. Diaby, Denilson, Walcott, Hleb and Rosicky can all do a better job there. Infact Eboue’s departure is a blessing in my view LOL
December 29th, 2007 at 6:12 am
Yeah, I thought it was cool that Bendtner came out and said that he wasn’t leaving Arsenal no matter what.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:21 am
Fred, it’s easy for you to say that Song should start ahead of Djourou and Senderos. Imagine what they will feel like? If Lehmann starts now ahead of Almunia (even though he is a better keeper), won’t Almunia’s confidence will be shattered? The same is true for the defenders. I don’t see that happening. Wenger will start with Senderos and Djourou on the bench. For good or for bad.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:15 am
From http://www.insidearsenal.co.uk/?p=1141
The statistics however, do not lie. We have played the 4-5-1 in 15 games of a possible 28 and have scored a disappointingly low 9 goals, with a measly 0.6 goals scored per game. In contrast, we have scored a huge 31 goals in the 13 games that we played 4-4-2. This gives a ratio of 2.38 goals per game.
Don’t know where he got the stats from. I am not surprised that we score more goals when we play 4-4-2, but the numbers are too skewed in favour of it.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Song… A classic case of … “I was not crap…I can play football” . There were times when people have said that Song was “Utter garbage” … judged him on that 1 Fulham away game and a ton of 88 minute appearances…now Fred you come out and say Song should be in ahead of Sendy n Djourou. Well you have the right to change your mind for sure…it just shows one more time of how little we actually know specially relative to AW.
And really…Eboue has not been as RUBBISH as people have yakked about here. Yes he is a pathetic diver but he has a different breed of skills and if he cuts the Mr.Hyde out of his character I’d be happy to have him here. Yes he is a one trick pony…but people even though they know that have not been fully successful in stopping him fully. Jury’s out on him…next year will be the year where he will have to perform…AW is not selling anyone…
December 29th, 2007 at 10:34 am
LDE, very few players are utter garbage or rubbish. But every player needs competition to keep him on his toes. Very few players like Cesc usually don’t but it’s true for almost everyone else. Remember what happened when Lehmann was dropped in favour of Almunia a few years back? He upped his game and never looked back, going all the way to displacing Oliver Kahn.
At present, too many Arsenal players are reaching their comfort zone. Eboue is one of them. For me, Rosicky and Ade are two others. Wenger needs to wake them up and if benching them for a game or two is the answer, then so be it.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:32 am
I agree Nipuna…competition is a must…the only thing is…How do you have “healthy competition” .. its a big problem…which managers say they “love to have” … but I’m not so sure. Most footballers and I mean no disrespect to anyone…think pretty much with their hearts and are naturally aggressive. So hence…they will not stop to think..Is the guy in front of me truly better? Does the boss really have a point? What do I have to do to break in? A few do…and they get their rewards..like Flamini.. but a vast majority just think… I’m not getting game time…the manager is biased…I’m out of here. The better you are; the more the problem intensifies. Hence if we now happen to get Luka Modric…while I’d be happy on one hand at acquiring an excellent talent(based on reviews) .. I’d be worried for Mozart…and think okay if Luka is great…well great..Arsenal will be in good hands…but then Mozart will say…I’m not exactly a bad player am I? and will eventually want to leave..which I dont want either…coz he fits like a glove into our formation-less system. Similarly I worry about Dudu n Bendtner..surely they will feel left out if they dont play at all? If RVP is out and neither’s palying..when will they? Sure AW has his reasons…but its tricky.
However you will lose some..eventually…its the manager’s job here to ensure that its based on merit and after the player has been given a chance to prove himself…when and where is upto AW again…its not an exact science and even an ace talent spotter like AW will bumble at times..and sell or buy the wrong player…(very rare but can happen) … so yes benching may or may not be the answer…depending on the player..again the manager knows this.
As for the utter garbage bit…remember JoshuaD once saying this..but in all fairness coming back and saying he was OTT…hence I brought that up.
How much competition and from whom is a tricky tricky science…never exact…and for me thats where AW earns his salary and deserves every penny of it. Apart from the Bert situation …very rarely has there been poor man mangement from the Prof..its always been …as “far as I can see” .. if ur good enough u will play.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Rosicky is better than Modric anyway.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Luka Modric will stay at Dinamo untill the summer. Their President yesterda announced a spectacular press conference for today, and today they revealed that Modric is staying untill the summer at least.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Just an example Mazza.. whether Rosicky > Modric can be seen only when he plays in the EPL with the same type of players that Rosicky plays with…else we’re back to square 1.. if we compared things that way.. then Kezman was supposed to be an instant hit.. but what a flop he turned out to be….
December 29th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
“The statistics however, do not lie. We have played the 4-5-1 in 15 games of a possible 28 and have scored a disappointingly low 9 goals, with a measly 0.6 goals scored per game. In contrast, we have scored a huge 31 goals in the 13 games that we played 4-4-2. This gives a ratio of 2.38 goals per game.”
Did the stats mentioned during that 15 games with 4-5-1 we were without our best striker van Persie?
December 29th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
@LDE 33, exactly. I think our cental midfield has some “competition” this season, yet it doesn’t really appear to be “healthy” to me.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Competition does not mean having two great players in every position. Competition means knowing when your players are getting into the comfort zone and ensuring they don’t by whatever means possible, playing others if required.
I’ve said this often - Wenger believes a lot in playing his best team (read best players) which is why we have 4-5-1 in many games when RvP is not around. The problem with that is there is a clear hierarchy in the team. Rosicky, for instance, knows that as long as he is fit, he is sure to play. It is easy to get complacent in such a setup.
In the past title winning seasons, this strategy has worked out very well. But that doesn’t mean it will work forever.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
“Did the stats mentioned during that 15 games with 4-5-1 we were without our best striker van Persie?”
Andez, I am sorry but I am tired of hearing this. Have we pinned out title hopes on RvP staying fit? Then God help us.
RvP missed half of last season and is well on his way to repeat that feat this year. Wenger better take notice and start planning for some games without him.
Having said that, it’s an absolutely incredible achievement that without RvP for so many games, we are just one point of the top of the league. But goals were going to be a problem sometime and it is happening now.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
If you have seven central midfielders when only two can play, there can’t be healthy competition.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
@ LDE 31: errr…i have never called Song garbage….infact I was always one of the few here who reasoned that wenger wont have bought him for 2million AFTER watching him on loan for a year if he didnt have something. in the summer i expected him and flamini to be sold because they were too low on the CM hierachy….but now that Song has displayed his usefulness in CB…so he is very valuable now in my view.
so maybe you mistake me for somebody else.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
No Fred..u got me wrong…Josh had said that…I was just pointing out that u had not rated Song but now say he is backup CB…thats all..anyway if it wasnt u then I apologize…
December 29th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Yeah, I hold my hand up. I called Song garbage after one game when he really disappointed. But I withdrew my criticism when I realized he was only nineteen years old. For some reason I thought he was about 23. My bad.
December 29th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
The most misused words in the fans’ vocabulary:
“Can I have more than just head at half-time”
From my perspective that is.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
As a coach myself for a travel team and a high school team I think tactics are all the above. I have seen great “tacticians” coaches will fail when is games and situation in games that they never dealt with. Also the players and their state of mind before and during the game gets in.
Arsenal in the first half vs. Everton were miserable and slow each player was waiting for the other player to do the work. Nick Bentedner and Eduardo were not connected at all, they both attacked the same space and lacked connectivity.
At HT AW as guy who knows football, would stress points and give his suggestion and also ask player to do a certain task. It could work or not. .. but 100% the work between the 2 forwards was better in the second half. in 10 minutes were up 2-1 …
I recall coaching a game vs. the state winners and I was intending to keep my team in the game 0-0 for 15-20 minutes before I go after them and play my game. But I was 2-0 down in less than 2 minutes. Not because I suc* or my player do.I tried out things, and my approach was either to sit and lose 2-0 or go after them and see what happens. I did 2. I lost the game. It was the biggest loss I had in my coaching career. I played this team before in a tournament and lost 2-1…..
So much to say.. will write more when I get back home.