18-07-2024, 11:49 AM
So with the links to a winger like Alexis Jesse Saelmaeker and attacking fullbacks like Francisco Moura I thought I would see what that could do to the team set up. This is only hypothetical and could only be accomplished with the type of rumoured players we are linked with.
I don’t see the attacking full back meaning we are moving to a 3-4-3 or 5-3-1-1 formation with wing backs. In fact if anything with the midfield players we have I would have a guess the starting formation will look like a 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1 as it was the preferred choice last season. I say starting formation as formations under Nuno are very fluid and interchangeable depending on phase of play etc.
Low build up
With the ball at low build up phase I would expect with the additions mentioned above the fullbacks would invert into a mid-high central midfield area and the width would come from CHO and Saelmaeker (I will explain later why Elanga is not mentioned here later). Meaning the build up formation for things like goal kicks or ball back to the keeper would be 2-3-5 or 2-3-2-3.
What the team low build up set up could look like.
Players would drop low in this phase of the game to create a numerical advantage, allow us to actually beat a press but following the pressure points or going direct. When I say following the press it means that with players low and centrally tight on our side, we can quickly move into the space that the pressing player leave behind. Teams that have been using high press have wingers come in to press the centre back and are more inclined to do this when they think there is no direct threat of a player already being out wide.
Full back or midfield can receive the ball and turn into space allowing progressing up the pitch
Also the build up set up allows for the third man principle. This means using a third player, normally the inverted fullback to reach (pass the ball to) a free player whose straight passing lane is blocked by a pressing player.
With dropping low and filling the central area has benefits for the direct ball as well as the opposition follow the dropping players, creating space behind the midfield line and wide. Direct balls into the channels will increase the chance of 1v1 situations.
Importance of the attacking full backs
Forests biggest strength last season was the ability to build through the central areas of the pitch and by having players like Moura, Williams and Aina we create more options and less space between players. Shorter passes means shortened time between the pass and less time for the other team to press and more time for our players and more control.
We have the wingers playing high and wide to pull the back line apart maintaining a numerous advantage if you are thinking the other team will just flood the midfield to counter this.
This in turns builds good conditions for defensive transition and a fast press if the ball was turned over.
High build up
I am a huge fan of keeping 3 back when in the attacking third but with attacking fullbacks being linked I don’t think that will be Nuno’s plan, however I am assuming he has learnt from last season the risks with high and wide fullbacks and the mid to low block. So following on from the build up formation and lets say we are going for inverted full backs I would then expect to see us continue in the 2-3-5 formation with over-laps coming either from central midfield or the inverted fullbacks with either leaving the other full back to double pivot with the CDM or the CM on that side dropping. However with a signing like Moura I expect him to cross from a deeper central position or play through balls to a running striker.
I don’t see much overlapping being done on our right side with MGW given more of a floating role to go make through balls centrally and us using underlaps over on the right. Especially if we sign a winger like Saelmaeker who likes making whipped crossed first time closer to the byline.
All this is based on when Nuno first came in and he said something along the the lines of he wanted his teams to find the quickest and most effective route to move the ball up the pitch. Not only does the fluid rotation allow this to happen but the team is in a formation system that allows for better control and build up play in the opposition half rather than building in our own half.
Defending
Think we will see two types of pressing this season Low and High press.
Low press will prob be the 4-1-4-1 starting formation with the back four close and compact with the view to force the other team wide and no routes into the middle. Need to have this in the locker room as we are not going to control all the game and even though it can annoy fans you have to be able to do it.
However with the view on attacking fullbacks both sides forest will have to player a higher line to keep that midfield compact. With the new pitch looking more narrow than previous seasons space out wide won’t be to much of an issue for the CB’s to go to although the length of the space behind might, thus a serious need for a sweeper keeper (potentially just signed one of those). So with that in mind Forest are going to have to press high and early and with the 2-3-5 formation we have enough bodies up the pitch to over load any area of the pitch quickly on the press and suffocate the ball.
Weakness
Counter attacks and could lose the compact defensive shape and gaps appear in the lines.
Ok and now for the radial bit Elanga as the number 9
His biggest strength is his speed and his timing and purpose of his runs. Here me out on this but the out balls (more direct passes) are down the wings so actually we can allow him to have that starting position offside to make way into the box for the cross, think Vardy like.
Then in higher build up situations he can play either side allowing for more rotation up the pitch and has the extra speed to get onto through balls. The extra width and movement we get from him central would benefit MGW as CB’s wouldn’t step out to press as they know they ain’t getting back to him.
I don’t see the attacking full back meaning we are moving to a 3-4-3 or 5-3-1-1 formation with wing backs. In fact if anything with the midfield players we have I would have a guess the starting formation will look like a 4-1-4-1 or 4-2-3-1 as it was the preferred choice last season. I say starting formation as formations under Nuno are very fluid and interchangeable depending on phase of play etc.
Low build up
With the ball at low build up phase I would expect with the additions mentioned above the fullbacks would invert into a mid-high central midfield area and the width would come from CHO and Saelmaeker (I will explain later why Elanga is not mentioned here later). Meaning the build up formation for things like goal kicks or ball back to the keeper would be 2-3-5 or 2-3-2-3.
What the team low build up set up could look like.
Players would drop low in this phase of the game to create a numerical advantage, allow us to actually beat a press but following the pressure points or going direct. When I say following the press it means that with players low and centrally tight on our side, we can quickly move into the space that the pressing player leave behind. Teams that have been using high press have wingers come in to press the centre back and are more inclined to do this when they think there is no direct threat of a player already being out wide.
Full back or midfield can receive the ball and turn into space allowing progressing up the pitch
Also the build up set up allows for the third man principle. This means using a third player, normally the inverted fullback to reach (pass the ball to) a free player whose straight passing lane is blocked by a pressing player.
With dropping low and filling the central area has benefits for the direct ball as well as the opposition follow the dropping players, creating space behind the midfield line and wide. Direct balls into the channels will increase the chance of 1v1 situations.
Importance of the attacking full backs
Forests biggest strength last season was the ability to build through the central areas of the pitch and by having players like Moura, Williams and Aina we create more options and less space between players. Shorter passes means shortened time between the pass and less time for the other team to press and more time for our players and more control.
We have the wingers playing high and wide to pull the back line apart maintaining a numerous advantage if you are thinking the other team will just flood the midfield to counter this.
This in turns builds good conditions for defensive transition and a fast press if the ball was turned over.
High build up
I am a huge fan of keeping 3 back when in the attacking third but with attacking fullbacks being linked I don’t think that will be Nuno’s plan, however I am assuming he has learnt from last season the risks with high and wide fullbacks and the mid to low block. So following on from the build up formation and lets say we are going for inverted full backs I would then expect to see us continue in the 2-3-5 formation with over-laps coming either from central midfield or the inverted fullbacks with either leaving the other full back to double pivot with the CDM or the CM on that side dropping. However with a signing like Moura I expect him to cross from a deeper central position or play through balls to a running striker.
I don’t see much overlapping being done on our right side with MGW given more of a floating role to go make through balls centrally and us using underlaps over on the right. Especially if we sign a winger like Saelmaeker who likes making whipped crossed first time closer to the byline.
All this is based on when Nuno first came in and he said something along the the lines of he wanted his teams to find the quickest and most effective route to move the ball up the pitch. Not only does the fluid rotation allow this to happen but the team is in a formation system that allows for better control and build up play in the opposition half rather than building in our own half.
Defending
Think we will see two types of pressing this season Low and High press.
Low press will prob be the 4-1-4-1 starting formation with the back four close and compact with the view to force the other team wide and no routes into the middle. Need to have this in the locker room as we are not going to control all the game and even though it can annoy fans you have to be able to do it.
However with the view on attacking fullbacks both sides forest will have to player a higher line to keep that midfield compact. With the new pitch looking more narrow than previous seasons space out wide won’t be to much of an issue for the CB’s to go to although the length of the space behind might, thus a serious need for a sweeper keeper (potentially just signed one of those). So with that in mind Forest are going to have to press high and early and with the 2-3-5 formation we have enough bodies up the pitch to over load any area of the pitch quickly on the press and suffocate the ball.
Weakness
Counter attacks and could lose the compact defensive shape and gaps appear in the lines.
Ok and now for the radial bit Elanga as the number 9
His biggest strength is his speed and his timing and purpose of his runs. Here me out on this but the out balls (more direct passes) are down the wings so actually we can allow him to have that starting position offside to make way into the box for the cross, think Vardy like.
Then in higher build up situations he can play either side allowing for more rotation up the pitch and has the extra speed to get onto through balls. The extra width and movement we get from him central would benefit MGW as CB’s wouldn’t step out to press as they know they ain’t getting back to him.
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