Tottenham Hotspur 2011 / 2012

Fade out wrote:Spain don't play 'attacking possession', they play 'preemptive possession'. They don't act, but they certainly wait for the 'reaction' of the opposition, by enforcing their possession style & suffocating the opposition out of oxygen.

blutgraetsche wrote:

worms wrote:
Not at international level,Uruguay are a counter attacking team and Spain play a double pivot,there not what I would call an attacking team anymore.I have heard there way of playing in the WC described as Catenaccio by keeping possession)But that's just the tip of the iceberg I mean international tournament on the whole are becoming more and more defensive with each passing tournament.I mean even the Copa America last year which used to be all about flair was probably the most defensive international tournament I have ever seen where the underdogs won more often than not due to spoiling tactics and sitting deep.In general the more defensive team won.

And about the 3 - 1 - 4 - 2 I never said it was defensive,it was just an example of couches reacting to the current tactics and formations by countering them with new ideas.This has always happened and always will.There is no perfect formation or perfect way of playing,there is always an other formation or way of playing which has an advantage over it ie rock paper scissors.

And MWP I would argue that the tactic of letting the opposing team have the ball and sitting back is being used more and more by the weaker teams in tournaments.And is still just as effective against most top teams as it used to be,maybe the dominance of Barcelona is making people think that this football is outdated but they are a one off I think,no matter how you play against them you will most likely get beat.

How was the last WC "more defensive" than the one before? Or Euro 2008 more defensive than Euro 2004? On what basis do you make that argument? A double pivot in itself is not necessarily a defensive strategy, it all depends on how the rest of the team looks like. Spain do dominate possession and use it as a defensive strategy indeed, but the reason for that is that they'd be outmuscled and bullied silly otherwise, knowing what kind of players actually play in their midfield. The number of primarily attacking players on the pitch, the intention to take the game to the opposition and dominate them, and not just contain them, are clearly signs of a team with an attacking philosophy.

Jaime wrote:If you want to criticise Spain for something in the last World Cup it was for not being very precise in front of goal. You can go on about the possession and the 1-0s but the fact is they took more shots than any other team in the tournament (tied with Uruguay and Holland for most shots on target), had more corner kicks than anyone else in the tournament, more deliveries into the penalty area than any other team and had more total attacking moves than anyone else in the tournament.

worms wrote:
Typical German taking everything literally

In general international tournaments are getting more defensive,the last World Cup and Copa America where both probably the most defensive ever.I watched every single game of both tournaments and it was clear that in most games the tactic first and foremost was to not concede.Hence the low goal count in both.

Euro 08 was an exception but in general they are getting more defensive with every decade passing by.The average goals per game 40 - 50 years ago was literally twice what it is now in top level football and it's still declining although it won't get much lower now.Teams now are better prepared physically and tactically now.

Metta World Peace wrote:

Jaime wrote:If you want to criticise Spain for something in the last World Cup it was for not being very precise in front of goal. You can go on about the possession and the 1-0s but the fact is they took more shots than any other team in the tournament (tied with Uruguay and Holland for most shots on target), had more corner kicks than anyone else in the tournament, more deliveries into the penalty area than any other team and had more total attacking moves than anyone else in the tournament.

I'm at a loss as to understand why anyone would think watching Spain, comparatively to most other national teams, is dull.

International football in general is pretty dull currently (sorry Blut, I know you don't like people slagging it off), and whilst I know Spain aren't an all out attacking side, the way they pass the ball around and strike quickly and (mostly) precisely in the final third is very entertaining IMO

blutgraetsche wrote:

worms wrote:
Typical German taking everything literally

In general international tournaments are getting more defensive,the last World Cup and Copa America where both probably the most defensive ever.I watched every single game of both tournaments and it was clear that in most games the tactic first and foremost was to not concede.Hence the low goal count in both.

Euro 08 was an exception but in general they are getting more defensive with every decade passing by.The average goals per game 40 - 50 years ago was literally twice what it is now in top level football and it's still declining although it won't get much lower now.Teams now are better prepared physically and tactically now.

A German taking it literally or you talking out of your arse one wonders...

International tournaments are not getting "generally" (read: talking out of one's arse) more defensive, the opposite is the case, as Greece winning Euro 2004 with very defensive football was a turning point in this regard. For years after that, European football, including club football, was dominated by highly athletic, primarily defensively minded sides (with exceptions, of course). But since the emerge of Barcelona and the Spanish NT after 2008 latest, not to mention the German NT, attacking football has been clearly on the rise. Even traditionally rather 'conservative' sides like Italy follow a much more adventurous style now.

And as could be seen in the last few tournaments in particular, Europe clearly dominates international football these days. The best teams come from Europe, they are the trendsetters, the benchmark. And btw., it was those South American sides with an attacking approach that had the most impact, especially tactically, as Bielsa's Chile were one of the pioneers of the 'three at the back' approach you mentioned yourself earlier. Brazil failed with a defensively minded counter-attacking style at the WC, and in the abscence of a strong Brazil and Argentina, the impact of last year's Copa on the global game is very questionable.

Jaime wrote:He strikes me already as a money grabbing mercenary c*nt. Hopefully Rosell will sign him up.

Fade out wrote:Hazard is going to Chelsea. Why would he go to Spurs?