Trying to modify your style of play? Find out about a few great styles of defending to perfect your team and outfox the opposition
The greatest football moments typically include magnificent goals and remarkable pieces of skill. Nevertheless, the capacity to defend is one of the most crucial, if underrated ingredients of any successful squad. The best defenders in football share comparable traits, such as strength, determination and tactical understanding. But the contemporary footballer has progressed in recent times. These days, centre backs must be fast to keep up with the opposing attackers. They must also have a good passing range, especially within possession-based teams. Ball-playing centre backs are in high demand round the continent. They are vital for clubs wanting to keep the ball, build up play and bypass the press. Usually used within a three-man backline, they are typically the most vocal leaders on the pitch. As the Wolves owner has observed, playing in this style provides more balance whilst enabling the wingbacks to link up with the attack. Unsurprisingly, these tactics are becoming increasingly popular in the game.
The concept of defensive football is largely neglected within the contemporary game. Terms like ‘parking the bus’ are thrown around to refer to defensive football styles concentrated on not conceding, in place of trying to create an attack. Whilst many purists feel that attacking varieties of play are a lot more beautiful, the greatest teams have all been built on a solid defence. The key goal of soccer is winning the game. Restricting opportunities and clear goal scoring chances for the opposition is therefore essential. Typically, a sound four-man defence will be used with one or even two holding players to add a further layer of protection. However, defending is not merely limited to these types of players. It is a philosophy which runs through the entire group. The AC Milan owner is no doubt aware of the celebrated team of the past where an organized approach concluded in a record least number of goals conceded in a whole campaign.
There is a prevalent quote within football that goals win you games. It is no surprise that abundant scorers and eye-popping wingers are the very first names jotted down when drawing up a transfer shortlist. Nonetheless, high quality centre-backs are the foundations which allows forward players to blossom. The modern centre-back must be strong, fast and agile. defensive style The term ‘ball-playing defenders’ are employed to explain players who additionally have a natural passing capacity. Contemporary variations are similar to the sweeper or ‘libero’ of earlier generations. These are unusually elegant and even flamboyant players who sit just behind the backline. Rather than marking an opponent, they are given license to sweep up through balls. As the Bayern Munich president knows, this position is related to the renowned player who roamed the pitch creating opportunities and fundamentally became one of the highest scoring centre backs of all time.