IT IS NOT THAT (III) (1)

The "positional play", often called "tiki-taka" incorrectly is based on two main ideas: quick ball movement and mobility of players. The important thing, with this mobility, is not to lose the "positions", i.e. if a player moves to another place, someone must fill that empty space created, or, the other players must move so that this space is covered, ie , what we'll need is to have a permanent, and flexible enough structure, that allows these adaptations.

As strengths of this style of play, we can highlight:

• It is played very close to the opposing goal
• High mobility of players
• Constant exchange of positions as a result of the previous
• Creation of superiority with little movement of players
• Few (or no) risky passes at the zone of creation
• Simplicity in passes

The weaknesses we have:

• It is played far from the own goal, with a risk of counterattack for the opponents
• Players need to have good ability of the vision of the game
• Risk of becoming predictable because the lack of mobility
• Agglomeration of players in tight spaces (own players plus opponent's)
• Need of players able to dribble contraries in short spaces

All this goes far beyond the system (formation) used. Systems indicate absolutely nothing in the way of playing, and if not, remember that the system used by Mourinho at Inter or Chelsea, the one often used by Ancelotti, the one of Guardiola or the most usual with Martino: all are 1-4-3-3. All them. And here the similarities end between them. Because every coach plays it differently. The following figure shows this arrangement.

At the time, Guardiola maximized the strengths and minimized the weaknesses and, every time it seemed that opponents found a way to stop it, a tactical variation appeared. But, always, keeping what is considered the basic points of the " positional play": Order and compactness ( "together"). Do not confuse these basics with what I said on quick ball movement and mobility.

The latter do not exist without the previous ones. The ball can go as fast as we want, but if we are badly placed, this will be useful for nothing, and if players are not close to each other, the passes will not be easy. For the same reasons, when players are nearby, it is easy to switch positions and sometimes only with the movement of a player, there may be 2 or 3 players changing the position. We had seen as Alves or Abidal finishing the plays because Toure or Busquets, or whoever, kept those positions. The team was swinging from one side to another to support and be balanced.

The figure shows how the team has been to the right, to give support, because the play is at that flank. They had moved, but the structure is retained. The crosser could be Alves, or Pedro, or Messi himself. The finisher, either. There was always someone somewhere. And this led to many recoveries. Beyond the high pressure, which was the natural consequence of where the players were (why do we have to go back to recover if we are already there?), the main point was that they were well placed and therefore, if a player could dribble the first player pressing, automatically appeared behind him the one that was covering. More. This pressure prevented long passes to the contrary, that were easily stopped by the defenders. Now all that is gone. The opponents can make a long, accurate pass and as there is too much space between the lines, it is easy to run with the ball and face the defenders. And of course, we concede a lot of goals because of the defense. Are you sure that only then are to blame? Before the 4 defenders had 3 players at 10-15m. They are now 25m away. Do you mean there is no relation between these things?

Do you remember the "15 passes rule"? It said that an attack could not begin if there weren't completed 15 passes. The reason? Very simple. This allowed all the players to be in the position to start. Have you ever seen a game of handball? When the defensive team gets the ball, if there is no counterattack, substitutions of players are done and everyone goes to his position. Until they are all,  the attack does not start. This was the same in the "old" Barça. And then the "pass and move" began. And Xavi was going to the right, Messi left. Pedro the middle. Piqué, up. Busquets, down. And so, with the ball moving at breakneck speed between players who came and went from the point of action just in time to play the ball, until the moment to find the "hole" to make that pass that was half a goal. Because the aim was not to move the ball. This was the medium used. This was the trap. The magic trick. Everyone looked at the ball without realizing where the Barça players were, nor, as the defenders were moving from place. Because this was the goal: Move the ball to move the players. Nothing more than that. Do you remember what Van Bommel said about Barca when they crushed Bayern 4-0 at the Nou Camp when asked why they had not made fouls? The answer was clear: When we arrived, there was nobody, not ball or player. It is like chasing shadows.

What do we have of all this now? Little. It is seen just in few moments. The ball goes quickly from side to side of the field. The game has gone from "positional" to be "transitional". But many people still have not understood it. And keep talking about % ball possession and the number of passes made and the % of success in these passes. As if this was sufficient to say if they played better or worse, as if this is what defines the style.

And, of course, it is not this, comrades, it is not this.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

P. S. As you can see, still a whole section fot to exercises. This second part will come in a few days.