How To Beat a Low Block

Summary

The script discusses football teams' tactical approach, focusing on high pressing and positional play versus the defensive low block strategy. It explains how teams like Mourinho's Inter Milan and Simeone's Atletico Madrid use a low block effectively with counter-attacks and strong defenders. The script also explores statistical measures of a low block, such as average start distance and pressure in the attacking third. It concludes with strategies to break down a low block, including playing with width to exploit spaces and playing through with technical skill to find gaps.

Takeaways

• 🏃‍♂️ The trend among top teams is to play with pace, high pressing, and positional play to gain superiority on the pitch.
• 🚫 Some teams use a passive low block as a defensive strategy, which is generally seen as a sign of weakness.
• 🔐 Teams like Mourinho's Inter Milan and Simeone's Atletico Madrid have had success with a low block combined with counter-attacking and high-quality defenders.
• 📊 A low block can be statistically approximated by the average start distance of play sequences and the percentage of pressures in the attacking third.
• 🛑 Teams employing a low block defend deep, start attacks from deep positions, and are more passive in higher areas without the ball.
• 🔄 On the pitch, low block teams aim to congest the middle, compress space vertically, and minimize gaps between defensive and midfield lines.
• 💡 To beat a low block, teams can use set-pieces, but these can work against any team; low block teams like Burnley, Wolves, and Newcastle conceded below average numbers of set-pieces.
• 🎯 Having a go from outside the box can be effective against low block teams as their back line has retreated.
• 🤾‍♂️ Two main ways to score against a low block are playing with width to exploit space in wide areas and playing through with technical players who can find space between the lines.
• 🏃‍♂️ Quick switches of play and fast breaks into wide areas can create surprises and chances against low block teams.
• 🤝 Playing through requires quick interchanges and movement, with players arriving at pace into the danger area to find space and shoot.

Q & A

What is the prevailing trend among the biggest and best football teams?

The prevailing trend is to play with pace, high pressing, and positional play, attempting to win superiority in certain areas of the pitch with overloads or freeing a team’s best players to attack weaker, isolated defenders.

What is a passive low block and why is it generally considered a sign of weakness?

A passive low block refers to a defensive strategy where teams retreat towards their goal and attempt to compact space regularly without pressing aggressively in the opposition's defensive third. It's considered a sign of weakness because it prioritizes security over challenging for honors.

How do teams like Mourinho’s Inter Milan or Simeone’s Atletico Madrid find success with a low block?

These teams find success with a low block by pairing it with lethal counter-attacking in transition and having very high-quality defenders.

How can the low block be statistically approximated?

The low block can be statistically approximated by looking at the lowest average start distance of each team's open play sequences or the percentage of a team’s pressures that occur in the attacking third.

What does it mean for a team to defend deep and start their attacks deep?

Defending deep means the team is positioned in their own defensive third. Starting attacks deep indicates that the team initiates their offensive moves from their own half of the field.

How do teams playing a low block try to make themselves hard to attack?

They congest the middle, compress the space vertically, and try to leave as small a gap as possible between the defensive and midfield lines, often dropping the attacking line back as well.

What challenges do teams face when trying to score against a low block?

The challenges include the relative absence of a high press, which makes it tough to draw the defending team forward and create space behind them.

How can set-pieces be effective against a low block?

Set-pieces can be effective because they provide opportunities to score from dead-ball situations, but they can work against any team, not just those employing a low block.

Why does having a go from outside the box make sense against a low block?

With the back line having retreated, shooting from outside the box can be effective as it can obscure a keeper's view and create deflections or rebounds.

What are the two main ways to score against a low block?

The two main ways are playing with width to exploit space in wide areas and playing through the lines with technical players who can find space and achieve quick interchanges.

How can teams exploit the space in wide areas against a low block?

Teams can break quickly into wide areas, look for runners from deeper positions, or use quick switches of play to find open far sides and attack at pace.

What role does movement play in scoring against a low block?

Movement is key in both exploiting wide areas and playing through the lines. Players need to arrive at pace into the danger area and burst beyond the last line of defense before they can be closed down.