The reason I rather dislike the idea of three holders is because it forces most of your creative runs to come from deep positions. A center mid sitting in front of the two holders can just track any runs from midfield to preserve a numerical advantage – and the defensive shape – while keeping Toure out of the slow buildup play.

Regarding my previous article, 4-2-3-1 is an attempt to characterize the depth of the Barca midfield while recognizing that it often rotates to leave only one holder. If some other symbol for that same idea makes you happy, you’re welcome to it.

Well, one particular point to add to the mix is the Zonal Marking. This is the new method to avoid creating any holes in your team for the opponent to get advantage of. Man-Marking is history for me. Some coaches realized that, others still struggling. But nowadays, we mark territories, not players. And thats how you limit the damage Barcelona cause, using the supernatural skillfull players they have.

Defensively, you need a 4-3-2-1 Structure to lock Barcelona. the two mid (on counter) take advantage of the space Barcelona leave in the midle-third of the pitch, where only Yaya camp to cover (thats where I dont agree on the 4-2-3-1 you mentioned in the previous article). when the team lose the ball, one of the two MUST mark YAYA. yes I am serious about it. His role inbarcelona transition from pressing status, to earning-back-possession-then-attack is underrated. The other midfielder slide toward the flank where the action is taking place (say the right flank). While thier LB mark his torritory (not the player Alves or Messi), one of the three holding Mids position himself facing the Messi-cut-in Path, with a CB creating the diagonal cover for the two players (the LB and the 3rd HM). The flanked midfilder mentioned before complete the triangle upfront, preventing back passing which is crucial for Barcelona ball circulation from one flank to another. The other two holding mids guard the edge of the box putting pressure on Xavi and closing spaces. While the whole backline stay deep regardless of the striker movement outside the box as an attempt to pull defense out of position. You already have three HM to deal with this. your striker press Barcelona defender who has the ball (Specially if he is Pique or Marquez). Valencia tried something similar, and it clicked. Chelsea (though used man marking) but it was man marking with positional sense.

It looks easy on paper. But it need lot of training to create the right syncronize defensively to match the quality of barcelona players syncronize offensively. Yet, if you are not planning to play a “burned bridge” game, opening the game and putting pressure IN barcelona Half , then this is your only way.

Messi cutting in was a must, he need to open the path for alves, or else it will be too crowded for both of them to operate. Personally, I have been demanding this since long time ago, glad it happened last season. with Ibra added, we will see lot of positions exchanging next season. No doubt about that. And hopefully with iniesta playing more on the left with Yaya/Keita playing as an outlet for Xavi instead the team will only get better (unlike the common belief). So man marking will never be an option for a smart opponent, nor it will work to close any holes.

You’re absolutely right that Ibra will help break through compact formations, which is why his purchase looks good on paper. The Seattle game is a poor model for defenders’ movement because after the first 20 minutes Barca was just toying with us. You know you’re screwed when Alves is parked at your corner flag.

I’m waiting on Ibra because he *should* change the dynamic of the “false 9″ tactic from how it was played last season – particularly because of his size and the potential to switch places with Messi. I’m curious how that will be utilized and, afterward, if last season’s experiences will even seem relevant.

The good teams will try to beat us by controlling imposing their game, not by reacting to ours. It is the reactive mentality that loses matches, and top coaches with top players know this. I’ll be shocked if any major team this year adopts a flat double pivot against us. I expect to see a lot of open, attacking formations and some which play three men in a triangle in central midfield.

The 4 in Barca was the number worn by Guardiola and is typically referred to as the center-mid playmaker or tempo setter position. It has constantly evolved from Guardiola (who was more of a deep lying playmaker a la Pirlo). Yaya is probably more similar to Guardiola than the current version of Xavi but Xavi still sets the tempo and keys the movements. When you say 4 you refer to the maestro of the orchestra in Barca. Its the role usually played by Xavi and the only other player really capable of playing it is Iniesta. Ideally one of the two should always play. Hence why I referred that platooning may be a viable option given the compressed schedule this season.

Re: defending the false 9. EXACTLY. It is a specific counter to the double pivot, otherwise its offensive effectiveness diminishes. A 5-4-1 or even a compressed 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 will make it hard to work although you will be essentially negating the other team’s attack. If this tactic that you so well observed makes teams more keen to play a double pivot (two holding midfieders and two wingers in a 4-4-2) against us then we have something up our sleeve to counter it.

However, I think we may end up seeing more teams emulating Chelsea than Man United against us next season. Ibra being a heading threat and forward pivot will go along way towards opening spaces against packed 5-4-1′s or 4-3-2-1′s. What we saw against Seattle, with the ball moving through the wings when passing midifeld and a more aggressive left back seems like it has the makings of a counter to “parked buses” a la Chelsea. Ibra will go a long way to solving that problem but like you, I am waiting to see him in action before playing what-if first.

For a False 9 article, just watch the 2nd RM game and the Man U game. Those are the perfect example of why double pivot against us with Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi healthy is not a good idea. This is particularly relevant in that Pellegrini’s favorite formation is precisely a 4-4-2 double pivot.

I certainly should do an article on the “false 9,” as you call it. Lone strikers checking into the hole is one of the tactics that destroys conventional defensive systems and will lead the evolution of the game. Expect that after Ibra starts playing while I wait to see how often he fills that role.

Defending the deeper Messi is rather simple – Chelsea showed that in the Champions League semi-final. However, such a dedicated defensive strategy leaves the attack practically nonexistent. At some point it becomes less an issue of formation and more an issue of athleticism. To win the game on paper is simply a matter of playing 5-4-1. You need four good tacklers, a centerback whose read of the game is impeccable, and extremely athletic fullbacks and outside mids. Oh yeah, and the talent to finish in front of goal with about 90% efficiency to capitalize on the three chances you have the entire game. Good luck with that.

Three playmakers is easy to accommodate – as Messi drifts inward from the right, Iniesta drifts out to the left, making almost a 4-4-2 diamond in which one outside mid attacks while the other tucks in to support the play. That was done several times last season.

Like you said, the big question is what will happen with Iniesta back. Will we see a more rigid midfield structure or will he resume the libero role that paid such dividends last season? How well can we play with not one or two but three playmakers? Is it even possible? Considering Hleb’s exit and the fact that Dos Santos is still raw, we have no other player other than Xavi and Iniesta to play the 4. Maybe we will see more of Xavi OR Iniesta playing the four, platooning to keep fit, and Messi filling in as more of a traditional playmaker than he was last year.

Regarding your possible counters to this tactic, forcing the opposing team to play a double pivot plays right into our hands. You should do an article on the False 9 look we frequently gave against double pivot teams. Its basically the anti-double pivot when Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi are all healthy. Its the same look that dismantled the likes of Sevilla (first leg), Real Madrid (second leg), and Man U.

The front three trident is essentially inverted with Messi switching to the 9 but dropping deep while the regular 9 goes to the right wing. It’s primary goal is to outnumber an opponent in the midfield and take control of the middle. This look is the anti-double pivot. A triangle of Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi formed around the two pivots and passing them to death. Typically CB’s are not comfortable coming out and challenging in space so they can do this with relative ease most of the time. Meanwhile the strikers on the wing are part decoy to keep the fullbacks away from the center (and also defensively, unable to bomb forward as the traditional 4-4-2 double pivot requires) so Messi can run at the bigger, slower CB’s in space, but also are meant to get one on one looks against the FB’s (see Henry frequently getting looks one on one on Ramos and frequently skinning him against RM). This is something in which Ibra can help a lot because he can play both the False 9 (very similar to his role at Inter) and on the wing where he is a much bigger threat than Samu. While this happens, the opposing wingers are kept honest by our FB’s while their forwards are isolated.

I’ve tried finding ways that a double pivot can feasibly outfox it but I haven’t been able to come up with one. See if you can come up with something. It made the Carrick and Anderson combo and the Lass and Gago combo look like amateurs. If this type of tactic makes team play us with a double pivot, it will benefit us as long as our three midgets are healthy.

Cheers.

Genius is never appreciated in its time.