Two x Eighteen
Southampton faced American opponents in the Junior section, Orange County Blues from Southern California. Unlike Strikers OC Blues tried to play football in the modern style. Looking for short passing combinations and creativity in midfield. They lined up in the same shape as Southampton and tried to play the same way but when two teams are matched up systemically and stylistically the team with better players usually comes out on top.
The Southampton centre forward, their number 18, enjoyed himself. The OC defenders gifting him the first goal of the game with slices clearance that dropped invitingly to be headed into the corner of the goal. From there on the central defenders allowed this 18 too much space. By not getting close enough he could turn and attack with regularity.
In the second half he did just that. Receiving the ball with his back to goal and spinning the first defender, then moving across from left to right across the penalty area to hook a right foot shot against the inside of a post. His gleeful team mate on hand to tap in. I’m sure the number 18 would like to play OC every day as they were just that fraction off the pace.
Bar one. Orange County Blues’ own orange booted number 18. Playing in central midfield he looked to be positive and creative. Comfortably controlling the ball and spinning away from challenges, dribbling from deep areas and looking link with team mates. His display was reminiscent of Jack Wilshire in the famous a Arsenal vs Barcelona Champions League semi final. The consensus being that Jack would have looked at home in a Barcelona shirt. This 18 would have looked quite at home playing alongside the other 18.
Back three. Version one.
Some South American flavour came to Portstewart in the Premier section. The Chilean team O’Higgins playing Motherwell.
The shape of the O’Higgins team intrigued me. It took twenty minutes to truly put a handle on what they were doing. The frenetic early tempo had players sprinting all around the pitch from position to position. Once the game slowed a little it became apparent that the Chilean side were playing in want has become a typically Chilean, Bielsa inspired 3-4-3.
O’Higgins wanted to use this formation to stretch Motherwell. Constantly they looked to change the point of the attack with fast switches and diagonals. When the tempo of the game was at it’s apex this looked aimless or even careless. Once they had calmed themselves the recipe of these moves from point to point and excellent first touch bad Motherwell in a spin.
The deeper into the game we went the more O’Higgins were willing to turn the game into individual duals. Backing themselves to dominate their direct opponent in both attack and defence. The tempo only reaching the levels of the first twenty minutes in and around the Motherwell penalty area. The defence constantly being tested by either penetrative combinations or direct dribbles.
Yet Motherwell managed to hang on. By not getting completely over run it meant the two goals snatched at set plays gave them a credible 2-2 draw.
Back three. Version two.
On Monday Liverpool impressively dominated County Tyrone in their Junior section match. They utilised a 4-3-3 with lots of width and a drifting central forward.
Against Swindon Town 3-5-2 was the shape on show. Players moved positions from the previous game. The player who had impressed so much at left back, with attacking bursts and dribble, performed as a left sided central defender. One of the central midfield players in that Monday game was deployed at right wing back.
Clearly Liverpool are willing to let players learn shapes and positions. Whether these players have been in this formation and positions before I do not know. Certainly by changing in this manner they are adding more to their repertoire.
The Liverpool style did not change. The focus remaining on playing short passes while having the license to beat opponents with a dribble or pass. A license to show off the high levels of individual skill they possess.
Moving to three central defenders was not defensive. Like O’Higgins Liverpool used a three man defence to increase numbers in forward positions. Liverpool’s back three allowed them to keep an extra man in central midfield and deploy another striker. Just as a back three did for Brendan Rodgers during the 14/15 season. Liverpool’s first team have utilised both a back four and back three in recent seasons. It may be that the Junior’s willingness to switch is a reflection of an overall philosophy.