Inverting The Pyramid by Jonathan Wilson (Fall 2010)
I'm looking forward to reading Michael Cox's Mixer, his first book focusing on soccer tactics in England. I should get to it sometime in the winter, I suspect (and write about it sometime next winter, I'm sure).
The only other pure tactics book I've read is Jonathan Wilson's Inverting the Pyramid. I'm not sure how it will compare. Inverting the Pyramid is considered among the most accessible titles on the topic. My guess is I'll enjoy The Mixer for its tactical insights but miss Wilson's talent at spotting and weaving interesting stories about the sport into his broader discussions about strategy.
My favorite such story was about the invention of Italy's famous defensive system, catenaccio. The main innovation was to position an extra defender between the standard defensive line and the goalkeeper. This extra player, the sweeper, was responsible for picking up loose balls, helping the defenders in front double-mark dangerous forwards, and act as a last-ditch 'insurance policy' for any defensive lapses in front of him (1).
The idea came early one morning along the docks. The manager (whose name I forget) was wandering among the fishing boats while thinking about his team. He watched a boat unload its catch and noted how the net holding the fish reliably transferred all the fish from the boat to the dock. Sometimes, though, a fish or two would fall free toward the water. But these escapees only enjoyed a brief freedom...they were caught by a second net strung out below...
A net below the net...a defender behind the defenders...
I think you get the idea, you savvy football-loving reader, you.
Footnotes / imagined complaints
0. And this changed your life how?
Oh right, sorry. It did, trust me.
0a. That explanation is rubbish, it is!
Oh, quiet, this blog is free for a reason.
1. This is not a purely defensive tactic...
Like all overly defensive systems, the key to the tactic was finding players capable of transcending the system's limitations. In the first version of the system, the key man was Facchetti, a full-back who contributed as much to the scoresheet as a forward. This player was able to essentially cover the entire left flank on his own, allowing the team to overcome the limitations imposed further forward by committing an extra player to the rear.
A more recent example of a similar concept was Barcelona's use of Dani Alves as essentially a 'right' player. Alves covered the entire flank on his own, allowing the Catalan side to commit an extra midfielder to bolster their short passing 'tiki-taka' system. Again, the key was Alves bringing balance to an inherently unbalanced tactical concept.
This is seen in other sports. Basketball teams recently have exposed the shortcoming of slow yet tall defensive players by using more players who can shoot from long distance. In helmet football, teams have shifted to using three safeties on defense to counter the new threat posed by the slot receiver without sacrificing run support.
