Pagewood 4-4-2 analysis

4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1...You can get so many different phone numbers nowadays in any football conversation. Pick one and use it wisely and you will get results. That's the beauty of this poem called football.

Pagewood writes his lines with a defined 4-4-2. But are we that tactically that good? We move all together like a pack of wolves? Or we run like an ostrich in the sabana? 

A bit of both I will say, with a touch of superb moments in some games. The great news is that we have a team with players that have more experience and knowledge of each other. Also, you can talk about your personal knowledge. What you can do and what you can't do. Every player has his own description, and are made it for accomplish a task inside the team factory. 

Know what you do in your position, and you will be one step ahead of your opponent.

"Ross sees a hole and smokes the pass so that it can get through that hole. Can you deal with that ball that is coming at you?"

This is how Pagewood starts every game.

4-4-2 in Defence

Basic movement and this is actually already happening in our games. In defence we are used to be pretty secure. 

Whoever is in RW or LW has the duty of help in defensive task, so are Ross and Ian in the MD.

Evan or the second striker that is playing will drop a little bit more than Jason, opening the door for a quick contra attack if the MD can get a ball trough.

Although that a contra attack is a really quick way to stab the enemy, our players will get exausted if we abuse of them, specially against tough teams with a better physicall level.

The key points here are.

- High pressure until we get the ball. 

- Keep the lines more close giving less space to the opponents. 

- Don't rush once you got the ball. 

4-4-2 Transition to 3-5-2

As it sounds. Crazy right? Totally. Just sit down and enjoy the last Barcelona or Bayern game (specially the last 6-1 against Porto) and you will see the hole to wonderland.

Come on Marco, we are not Barcelona haha, we are Pagewood!

True it is! but a bit of sense did never hurt anybody right? 

Have a look yourself

So...let me explain what is this all about. At the end of the last season, we lost 3 games in a row, the worst one was against Queens Park. Those games had a big impact because we where coming from being the most fierce team, hand to hand with Heffron.

We lost because in some games we didn't play together, no tiki no taka amigo.

The 10 passes rule

Once the team get the ball in defence, the team transition starts. Is Pagewood able to do 10 passes in a row the next game? Can we? : )

Because most teams use to defence in the man to man, is important that our LB and RB open the field playing wider, and a step forward than usual. Instead of play in line with George, play line with Ross. 

As I mention before, is good to know what everybody can do best, and Ian is the bulldozer of the team followed by George. Pushing in both wings, and Ross having support from both sides, Ian can drop his position covering the back becoming a 3th CB, but with a different kind of duty. He will be the one going to cover the midfield if any chance of contra attack appears, giving more time to RB and LB to cover they zones. 

Having a line with 5 players, allow the team to play an easy inside game.

Here is an example. Cam is playing the ball. He probably have 3 out of 4 chances of make an easy pass to one of those 4 players.

Communication is the key, and if we talk and we know where we are and who is on our left or right when you get the ball is primary for be a better team.

Cam plays to Ross. I just draw 2 triangles, but i'm sure that you can find more. If Ross can't turn around and play forward, he has 3 options to play back and start again. Live another day for kill tomorrow. 

If he can turn around he oooops also has 3 options or more.

The key points here are:

- 10 passes rule. Game control

- Patience. 

- Mobility 

- Inside game

- Tactic discipline

The wing game

Whoever that play's in the wings cover the blue area in attack. Of course communication is the key again. Talk, talk and talk. 

RB and LB can play and join to the attack using his deepness giving more passing options for Ross. This means that Pete and Marc will stay one step behind, in line with Ross and one eye on the back in case of contra attack

This will only be effective if the players and the lines talk together. Players like George, Ian and Jason have to be a loud voice in the field. 

Hopefully the fields are open tomorrow because I really need to play as you can see....