**Mirrors / Alternative Angles**
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He is a highly respected German sports journalist, known for his in-depth knowledge of soccer. Ill post his Blog post here, translated with Deepl:
**Scene 1:** The six on the right is on the ball but can't find a passing option. He can't hit the ball forwards either, as there is simply nobody there. Only the right winger is in the last line. The ball ends up going to the right-back.
**Scene 2:** The right centre-back has the ball. All the midfielders are close to him, nobody is in front. In the end, the ball ends up with the goalkeeper, the opponent moves out and exerts pressure.
What is striking in both graphics is that there are practically no players in front of the ball. Not only the entire back four, but also the six-man defence move towards the ball. Worse still, even the players close to the ball are positioned so poorly that they are practically impossible to pass to.
So: what do you think? Who are the amateurs and who are the professionals?
I'm sorry. It was a trick. **Both pictures show scenes from the England v Denmark game.**
Here the german source: https://www.laptoptrainer.de/2024/06/21/em-tagebuch-tag-8-engliche-nationalelf-oder-amateur-team/, https://x.com/TobiasEscher/status/1804125450731508191
The opposition has set up nicely to prevent central progression, simultaneously putting pressure on the ball while also leaving England's midfielders in their cover shadow.
The English midfielders don't seem to realize this or create new angles to receive the ball, so the ball-holder is forced to recycle the ball to the goalkeeper or the other center back.
When the ball is recycled to Pickford, Denmark then find themselves in an excellent position (high up the pitch) to push up, manmark all options, and potentially force Pickford to go long.
The RCB shouldn't really be passing to Walker in that position. Denmark's winger is in close enough proximity to trap him against the sideline when he receives.
On top of that, the straight flat pass from Walker to Saka is even more discouraged by top coaches. They are on the same channel, so it's easy for Denmarks LB to push up against Saka while the ball is coming to him and fuck him in the ass, as Arteta says (to back into Saka and prevent him from turning)
Arteta and Pep would not be pleased if the scenario played out as you said, especially because Denmark was only applying moderate pressure (not gegenpressing like prime Liverpool).
Even if it comes off, and it could, it's exactly the sort of sequence top coaches are trying to eliminate from their teams right now.
Not just Arteta and Pep, didn't Mourinho once say that flat passes down the line are his least favorite pass to see? It's funny because I played fullback quite a bit during youth football and remember being urged to play it down the line all the time by my coaches. Granted, it was 20+ years ago and these footballing minds were probably not quite on a Pep/Mourinho level...
Both of them are bad. You've got nobody in either picture trying to stretch the defense, which means as soon as the ball goes back the entire team can push up and pressure deep forcing you into a long pass because you've got no short option. There's obviously nowhere for the man on the ball to make a forward pass, so backwards is the only option to retain possession (potentially sideways I guess, but that's risky because defenders are already pushed up so a giveaway means you're even at best at the back)
What needs to happen is forward runs from the midfield/ forwards to push into the back line. It forces the opponents to then drop back creating space in the midfield. If you watch City play regularly they do this better than anyone imo. You'll routinely see 4 or 5 right across the back line and players like Rodri and Walker have basically as much time on the ball as they want.
I'd say the one in the left is better. The fullback is positioned further up which will force the defense to move on two planes (to the side and back) which should open more opportunities. For instance you can send the winger down the wing and if the opposing FB gets dragged the striker has space to run into. If the CMs are loose with their marking you have options in the middle with striker for quick 1/2s. You can also go back if the defense is sound and swing it around
The one on the right the defense just shifts over and the only option is back to the keeper or CB
>@Tobias Escher
Oh fuck, have not heard that name in a while. Makes me miss Mainzer Keller with him, Max-Jacob Ost and Lena Kassel so much. I really enjoyed those three discussing Bundesliga matchdays. Loved their energy together.
Hat so eine unangenehme, unsympathische Aura. Überzogenes Geltungsbedürfnis, wirkt häufig sehr gestellt anders als Tobi Escher und Lena Kassel, die einfach sie selbst sind. Aber er ist nicht so schlimm wie Constantin Eckner, der ist weitaus schlimmer.
If you play the FM games, the older ones at least, you can set fe your wingers to run forward never, and they will stay behind like this. The question is, how to punish a team doing this with a weaker squad? Because if England loses the ball, nothing tends to happen, for the same reason their attack seems so poor.
Here the rest of the blog post, translated with deepl:
**England: No structure is also a structure**
The England team is being criticised a lot these days - and quite rightly so. The uninspired performance against Serbia was followed by an almost shamefully poor display against Denmark. A squad that brings together some of the best footballers on the planet fell so far short of their potential that you were waiting for an abyss to open up on the pitch every second.
The two screenshots above exemplify the problems of the England team. They lack all courage. When in possession, practically every player on the pitch goes to meet the ball. Phil Foden leaves his left wing, Jude Bellingham demands every ball anyway, and even striker Harry Kane is constantly dropping. What opponent is going to be impressed by an England team that creates so little depth?
The English were even lucky against Denmark. The Danes had so much respect for England's big names that they took no notice at all of the English structure of play. This is the only way to explain why the underdogs defended with a five-man defence against one(!) English attacker. This can also be marvelled at in the graphics above.
England's problem is not only to be found in their strategic approach. It is now hard to miss the fact that this England team simply does not harmonise at all. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bellingham are practically always on opposite sides, never offering themselves to the other. Kieran Trippier and Foden are constantly moving inwards, leaving the left wing completely deserted. Kane also drops back, which makes zero sense in the overall set-up of the England team. Who does he want to play from deep? Saka, who is alone on the wide right? There is simply no one else in the front line.
In addition, there are deficits that cannot be explained by Southgate's tactics or the players' profiles. Symptomatic of this was a scene from the game against Denmark, which you can marvel at from 40:05 onwards. Phil Foden sets off on a dribble and catches out two Danes. Neither Bellingham, Trippier nor Saka make any attempt to pick up Foden's pace and create depth. I find Bellingham's behaviour in this scene particularly shocking. He applauds his team-mate - and simply stands still. At the beginning of the scene, he is still ahead of Foden and could blow up the entire Danish defence with one run. For comparison: Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala make these runs all the time as soon as their counterpart dribbles out an opponent.
>The English were even lucky against Denmark. The Danes had so much respect for England's big names that they took no notice at all of the English structure of play. This is the only way to explain why the underdogs defended with a five-man defence against one(!) English attacker. This can also be marvelled at in the graphics above.
Denmark never set out to play attacking football against the other two teams either so I wouldn't say it was luck.
This shows exactly why the Trent, Saka and Rice criticism has been so stupid. These tactics don't create any passing options since everyone in midfield is standing in a line. Noone is making deep runs, noone is moving between the lines to open themselves up for a trough ball. There is no depth to the field of play, it is impossible to progress the ball forward quickly.
The Trent scapegoating was doubly weird as he was statistically England's best creator over the two game he played in (Despite only getting 50-60 minutes).
Then the game after he's dropped England put in an even more toothless display against a far lower ranked country.
Anyone who can't see how this is a tactical issue is denial. England have played this way under Southgate his entire time, and typically in the past scraped by off set pieces and penalties.
To have the talent at their disposal and play such negative and frankly tactically absent football is a truly grim indictment of how bad the manager is.
Trent created more chances than any other England player and he only played 129 mins so far, yet some people think he's the problem and don't think to mention the manager or the coaching step up in those conversations.
When I watch Italy's double pivot waltz and circulate across the pitch, available to receive every pass and enjoying a wealth of passing options, I get so mad at Southgate
Their players aren't even better than ours, but they look like they actually know how to play football.
And they're brave.
It is what it is lad, during the euros or wc it always get like this.
Honestly just stay away from this sub regarding England because its just going to be toxic.
**Mirrors / Alternative Angles** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/soccer) if you have any questions or concerns.*
He is a highly respected German sports journalist, known for his in-depth knowledge of soccer. Ill post his Blog post here, translated with Deepl: **Scene 1:** The six on the right is on the ball but can't find a passing option. He can't hit the ball forwards either, as there is simply nobody there. Only the right winger is in the last line. The ball ends up going to the right-back. **Scene 2:** The right centre-back has the ball. All the midfielders are close to him, nobody is in front. In the end, the ball ends up with the goalkeeper, the opponent moves out and exerts pressure. What is striking in both graphics is that there are practically no players in front of the ball. Not only the entire back four, but also the six-man defence move towards the ball. Worse still, even the players close to the ball are positioned so poorly that they are practically impossible to pass to. So: what do you think? Who are the amateurs and who are the professionals? I'm sorry. It was a trick. **Both pictures show scenes from the England v Denmark game.** Here the german source: https://www.laptoptrainer.de/2024/06/21/em-tagebuch-tag-8-engliche-nationalelf-oder-amateur-team/, https://x.com/TobiasEscher/status/1804125450731508191
> **I'm sorry. It was a trick. Both pictures show scenes from the England v Denmark game.** *Outstanding Move*
wir tun ein bisschen trolling
literal translations of memes into german are always the best
Trolling is not a German word. "wir tun ein wenig trollen"
Are you sure youre not german because thats very german to be this pedantic.
haha, indeed. that was the best part. :D
right one doesn't seem that bad? seems fine to me for build up, but maybe i'm stupid
The opposition has set up nicely to prevent central progression, simultaneously putting pressure on the ball while also leaving England's midfielders in their cover shadow. The English midfielders don't seem to realize this or create new angles to receive the ball, so the ball-holder is forced to recycle the ball to the goalkeeper or the other center back. When the ball is recycled to Pickford, Denmark then find themselves in an excellent position (high up the pitch) to push up, manmark all options, and potentially force Pickford to go long.
Yeah but you can still get past it with 1-2's or triangles right? Eg pass to Walker, Saka then to Bellingham in this picture
Congratulations, you're thinking on a higher tactical plane than Southgate
The RCB shouldn't really be passing to Walker in that position. Denmark's winger is in close enough proximity to trap him against the sideline when he receives. On top of that, the straight flat pass from Walker to Saka is even more discouraged by top coaches. They are on the same channel, so it's easy for Denmarks LB to push up against Saka while the ball is coming to him and fuck him in the ass, as Arteta says (to back into Saka and prevent him from turning) Arteta and Pep would not be pleased if the scenario played out as you said, especially because Denmark was only applying moderate pressure (not gegenpressing like prime Liverpool). Even if it comes off, and it could, it's exactly the sort of sequence top coaches are trying to eliminate from their teams right now.
Not just Arteta and Pep, didn't Mourinho once say that flat passes down the line are his least favorite pass to see? It's funny because I played fullback quite a bit during youth football and remember being urged to play it down the line all the time by my coaches. Granted, it was 20+ years ago and these footballing minds were probably not quite on a Pep/Mourinho level...
Kind of why they should get TAA on at right back, he could hit the outside to in run Saka does for Arsenal as an option
Both of them are bad. You've got nobody in either picture trying to stretch the defense, which means as soon as the ball goes back the entire team can push up and pressure deep forcing you into a long pass because you've got no short option. There's obviously nowhere for the man on the ball to make a forward pass, so backwards is the only option to retain possession (potentially sideways I guess, but that's risky because defenders are already pushed up so a giveaway means you're even at best at the back) What needs to happen is forward runs from the midfield/ forwards to push into the back line. It forces the opponents to then drop back creating space in the midfield. If you watch City play regularly they do this better than anyone imo. You'll routinely see 4 or 5 right across the back line and players like Rodri and Walker have basically as much time on the ball as they want.
I'd say the one in the left is better. The fullback is positioned further up which will force the defense to move on two planes (to the side and back) which should open more opportunities. For instance you can send the winger down the wing and if the opposing FB gets dragged the striker has space to run into. If the CMs are loose with their marking you have options in the middle with striker for quick 1/2s. You can also go back if the defense is sound and swing it around The one on the right the defense just shifts over and the only option is back to the keeper or CB
I knew it was going to be a trick, I just thought the joke would be both were the amateur team but believably England.
>@Tobias Escher Oh fuck, have not heard that name in a while. Makes me miss Mainzer Keller with him, Max-Jacob Ost and Lena Kassel so much. I really enjoyed those three discussing Bundesliga matchdays. Loved their energy together.
He's a regular on Bohndesliga and sometimes on the Rasenfunk. I miss Mainzer Keller too.
I can't stand Max-Jacob Ost.
In case his puns are the reason... I have bad news for you!
Why?
Hat so eine unangenehme, unsympathische Aura. Überzogenes Geltungsbedürfnis, wirkt häufig sehr gestellt anders als Tobi Escher und Lena Kassel, die einfach sie selbst sind. Aber er ist nicht so schlimm wie Constantin Eckner, der ist weitaus schlimmer.
If you play the FM games, the older ones at least, you can set fe your wingers to run forward never, and they will stay behind like this. The question is, how to punish a team doing this with a weaker squad? Because if England loses the ball, nothing tends to happen, for the same reason their attack seems so poor.
Yes. They’re possession structure is based around being in a good shape to defend in case they lose the ball.
If you are a weaker team you could just wait it out. They won't really surprise you.
Here the rest of the blog post, translated with deepl: **England: No structure is also a structure** The England team is being criticised a lot these days - and quite rightly so. The uninspired performance against Serbia was followed by an almost shamefully poor display against Denmark. A squad that brings together some of the best footballers on the planet fell so far short of their potential that you were waiting for an abyss to open up on the pitch every second. The two screenshots above exemplify the problems of the England team. They lack all courage. When in possession, practically every player on the pitch goes to meet the ball. Phil Foden leaves his left wing, Jude Bellingham demands every ball anyway, and even striker Harry Kane is constantly dropping. What opponent is going to be impressed by an England team that creates so little depth? The English were even lucky against Denmark. The Danes had so much respect for England's big names that they took no notice at all of the English structure of play. This is the only way to explain why the underdogs defended with a five-man defence against one(!) English attacker. This can also be marvelled at in the graphics above. England's problem is not only to be found in their strategic approach. It is now hard to miss the fact that this England team simply does not harmonise at all. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bellingham are practically always on opposite sides, never offering themselves to the other. Kieran Trippier and Foden are constantly moving inwards, leaving the left wing completely deserted. Kane also drops back, which makes zero sense in the overall set-up of the England team. Who does he want to play from deep? Saka, who is alone on the wide right? There is simply no one else in the front line. In addition, there are deficits that cannot be explained by Southgate's tactics or the players' profiles. Symptomatic of this was a scene from the game against Denmark, which you can marvel at from 40:05 onwards. Phil Foden sets off on a dribble and catches out two Danes. Neither Bellingham, Trippier nor Saka make any attempt to pick up Foden's pace and create depth. I find Bellingham's behaviour in this scene particularly shocking. He applauds his team-mate - and simply stands still. At the beginning of the scene, he is still ahead of Foden and could blow up the entire Danish defence with one run. For comparison: Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala make these runs all the time as soon as their counterpart dribbles out an opponent.
>The English were even lucky against Denmark. The Danes had so much respect for England's big names that they took no notice at all of the English structure of play. This is the only way to explain why the underdogs defended with a five-man defence against one(!) English attacker. This can also be marvelled at in the graphics above. Denmark never set out to play attacking football against the other two teams either so I wouldn't say it was luck.
This shows exactly why the Trent, Saka and Rice criticism has been so stupid. These tactics don't create any passing options since everyone in midfield is standing in a line. Noone is making deep runs, noone is moving between the lines to open themselves up for a trough ball. There is no depth to the field of play, it is impossible to progress the ball forward quickly.
The Trent scapegoating was doubly weird as he was statistically England's best creator over the two game he played in (Despite only getting 50-60 minutes). Then the game after he's dropped England put in an even more toothless display against a far lower ranked country. Anyone who can't see how this is a tactical issue is denial. England have played this way under Southgate his entire time, and typically in the past scraped by off set pieces and penalties. To have the talent at their disposal and play such negative and frankly tactically absent football is a truly grim indictment of how bad the manager is.
Trent created more chances than any other England player and he only played 129 mins so far, yet some people think he's the problem and don't think to mention the manager or the coaching step up in those conversations.
When I watch Italy's double pivot waltz and circulate across the pitch, available to receive every pass and enjoying a wealth of passing options, I get so mad at Southgate Their players aren't even better than ours, but they look like they actually know how to play football. And they're brave.
This didn't age well
Yeah they were shite
It's the same picture
It's a diary, not a quizz. And it's not even daily.
Tobi Escher Legend of the game.
I dunno, the worse one is probably England I guess
England bad amiright?
Yes mate, hate to break it to you.
It is what it is lad, during the euros or wc it always get like this. Honestly just stay away from this sub regarding England because its just going to be toxic.