My Pre-Season Friendlies
I don’t see any point in friendlies, apart from building up match fitness. For this, however, they are indespensible. My preferred pre-season match regime therefore consists of as few games as possible, preferrably against much weaker opponents. Hard games against tough opponents before the players are fully ready can only result in injuries and collapsed moral. This time I let the already pre-arrenged games against Fluminense and Monaco (which is not that good anyway) go ahead, but I can already say with certainty that things will be different next summer.
Formation (4-3-3)
As things stand, this looks set to be my preferred formation and first team over the opening months of the season. The Bologna squad that I inherited looks like its tailored to play a narrow 4-3-1-2, or midfield diamond – but this is something I will be looking to change.
I have always been a staunch believer in 4-3-3. Broadly speaking there are two main variations of this formation, either what the game calls 4-5-1 with a “V”-shaped midfield – or the above, where the midfield trio is formed like a “Ʌ”. The three central midfielders stick close to each other – which is why I don’t consider this to be a 4-2-3-1. In the latter formation the two holdning midfielders should stay much further back, protecting the back four. I prefer my entire midfield to press high up the pitch, trying to win the ball and participate in finishing off moves.
My philosophy is similar to that of Zdeněk Zeman or (to use a more modern example) Marcelo Bielsa. I prefer zonal marking, a very high defensive line and pressing all over the pitch. To aid the speed of our game I like players to play the ball vertically, ahead of his team mate (“Pass into space!”) rather than play to foot.
I find this to be a solid plan of action, both when playing against weaker sides that park the bus (the constant pressure will almost certainly make them commit mistakes) or stronger teams (preventing them from playing their own game). I am not entirely inflexible, however, an will change things around if the situation demands it. But I prefer to stick to my general framework and principles.
The Wide Playmaker
As you can see, my formation differs from an orthodox 4-3-3 in that I employ a left footed advanced playmaker on the right wing! This is a new experiment for me, and I am curious to see how it works out. It is partly the result of wanting to fit both Acquafresca, Diamanti and Di Vaio into the side. It is, however, also based on the following assumption: that by fielding a playmaker (in combination with an overlapping full back) out wide, I will stretch my opponent in that direction, leaving space for my proper winger on the left side, who will play very wide. With his excellent left foot Diamanti will be able to switch play in an instant, hopefully leaving Armenteros one on one with the opposition full back.
Based on my tests in pre-season this should work very well. But it’s always a different matter to come up against a tough opponent in a real competitive match.
The fixture list has certainly thrown me in at the deep end – our first match will be at home against none other than the mighty Juventus.
So, in my next update, we will see if my tactical reasoning will pass the test.
