Tactx on Tactx

Tactx

All

431 posts

180 comments

Posted

08 Sep 13:06

Live class tomorrow at 10am UK time. This one is open to everyone, so pass it on to anyone who would find it useful.

We are going through Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea properly. The midfield 3v2 Arsenal built, why James and Lavia could not pick up a reference point, what Calafiori did by stepping inside, Acheampong's position as he advanced, and how Arsenal set themselves up to counter into that space, and where Chelsea's build-up came unstuck against the press.

Come with questions. That is usually where the best bits come from.

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/arsenal-chelsea-live-tactical-class

Replied on Three v Three | Two v One Practice No...

08 Sep 09:39

Exactly this Roscoe.

Such a simple practice that is replicated in so many positions and scenarios on the pitch.

Brilliant for younger players.

Posted

08 Sep 08:29

Three v Three | Two v One Practice Now Live

Something a little different with this one, and a real-life example to go with it.

At the weekend, I worked through this with my son and his centre-back partner. My son plays right back at 13 years old, and we looked at how he and his right centre-back could play out from the back and specifically play around when pressed.

Newcastle, the team he played against, used a wide press with their left winger closing down the right centre-back, and through the two-v-one situation, my son was able to get out every single time. A simple visual, but it came directly from playing around technical practice 1.

These two v one practices are brilliant for developing the correct angles to play forward once players receive in those situations. Check out the playing-around practices and then the two-v-one, and you will see exactly how one feeds into the other.

David

Two v One Practice
Playing Around Technical Practice 1

01:54

THE 3v3 GAME - 2v1 PRACTICE 1

A 2v1 practice that breaks the game down into its smallest actions, developing the scenarios and coaching points players will meet within a maximum 3v3 model.

Commented on THE ARSENAL PRESS - LOCKING SPURS IN TO ONE SIDE | TALK-OVER

08 Sep 07:37

Hi Daniel,

We love that you are finding them useful.

The link below is the four-against-a-back-four. We don't have the back-five ones in place in this format on the website yet; the upcoming Coaches Pathway will take care of that.

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/manchester-united-high-pressing-performance-problems-collections

These X posts also support your request. https://x.com/Tactx_/status/1734239197953683930?s=20

Replied on Alonso's Chelsea: The 3-4-3 Press

07 Sep 17:37

Thibaut R.

Yes, exactly, Thibaut. 👍🏻

For me it’s less about the starting formation and more about what the opposition actually becomes out of possession and where the spaces appear. Against an aggressive 4-3-3, I think there’s definitely an opportunity for the full-back to roll inside the wide forward’s press. That can give your 10 and wide forward really good options to offer around, while the full-back moving inside can also create the extra player and potential overload in midfield. If they follow him inside, you potentially open the outside. If they don’t, you can find the overload centrally.But again, for me flexibility is key. I wouldn’t want the full-back automatically inverting every time just because we’re playing against a 4-3-3. Sometimes roll inside, sometimes stay outside, sometimes arrive later. Keep changing the picture and asking the opposition different questions.Ultimately, the more predictable our positioning becomes, the easier we are to defend.

I want enough structure to create advantages, but enough flexibility to keep surprising the opposition. 👍🏻

Posted

07 Sep 14:22

Attacking Transitions: When to Risk and When to Retain

We think you will hear a lot more about quick attacking transitions in the coming weeks, particularly in the Premier League with managers like Xabi Alonso now in the mix.

In Arsenal's game yesterday, we saw signs of their approach developing too. Alongside retaining possession after a regain, there was a real willingness to risk the ball and attack at speed.

Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. Attacking quickly can exploit an opponent before they recover, but it increases the risk of losing possession. Retaining the ball allows you to establish control, but can give the opposition time to reorganise. The best teams and coaches know when to do which, and that decision can be coached.

We have two collections that explore exactly this.

Risk the Ball

Our attacking transition collection looks at how to coach quick transitions after regaining possession, building from technical practices through to full sessions. If you want your players attacking at speed and understanding when to go, this is where to start.

Risk the Ball Collection

Retain the Ball

Fourteen practices and growing, focused on what players should do when retaining possession is the better decision after a regain. We will be building this into a full collection as we add more sessions.

Retain the Ball Practices

Risk or Retain: Decision Making

This is where it comes together. Ten full sessions, three practices in each, designed to help players recognise what the game demands when possession is regained and make better decisions in those moments.

Risk or Retain | Full Sessions

When your team wins the ball, do you encourage them to attack immediately or secure possession first? Drop your thoughts below 👊

Posted

04 Sep 16:28

Three v Three with Peter Prickett | Practice 10 🧱

Practice 10 is live for subscribers. More on back pressure as your library of practices on the topic continues to build.

Same coaching points, fresh practice.

Available for subscribers now 👇

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/the-3v3-game-1v1-practice-10

02:00

THE 3v3 GAME - 1v1 PRACTICE 10

A 1v1 practice that breaks the game down into its smallest actions, developing the scenarios and coaching points players will meet within a maximum 3v3 model.

Replied on Alonso's Chelsea: The 3-4-3 Press

04 Sep 16:23

Great question, Thibaut. 👍🏻

My issue isn’t with the full-back inverting itself, there are obviously situations where it can be really effective. It’s more about what advantage the inversion actually creates against a midfield four.

If the full-back moves inside and and form a box/diamond, quite often the free pass is the diagonal into the wide forward. If that player is exceptional 1v1, can receive under pressure and threaten outside, then absolutely, keep finding them and let them go to work.

The problem is that at the elite level, a good full-back is often comfortable defending that situation. They can show the winger inside towards the midfield four, where the spaces are already congested and the movements of your 10s are largely happening in front of an organised defensive structure. You can make the half-space run, but you’re often running into players who are already matched and positioned to deal with it. That’s why, against a midfield four, I generally prefer to think around before through.

Keep two players threatening the wide channel on each side at different heights, force that midfield four to make decisions about how far they’re prepared to travel, and stretch the distances between them. If they stay narrow, you can play around them and potentially create the 2v1 outside. If they jump wider, you’ve now created bigger spaces to play through.

So for me, it’s not “inverting full-backs is wrong.” It’s simply asking: what problem are we trying to create for the opposition?

Against a compact midfield four, I’d rather use width to create the space to play through, rather than putting more players into an area they’re already trying to protect.Obviously there are loads of different scenarios and solutions within that, but hopefully that explains the rationale behind the point I was making. 👍🏻

Tactx (Mikey)

Replied on INDIVIDUAL MOVEMENTS BEYOND THE DEFENSIVE LINE

04 Sep 15:07

GUJIANG Hi, these videos are related to collections where you can see more. The actual animations of all of the movements beyond are coming in their own class. This animation was only an example.

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/collection-cgp_gepqtlc

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/collection-ccu2ltidfxo

Posted

03 Sep 15:51

New Practice: Three v Three with Peter Prickett | Practice 9 🧱

Practice 9 is live for subscribers.

A similar setup to practice 5, and that is intentional. Use these two practices in tandem to create familiarity with your players. The starting positions and service change the angles of pressure; this one focuses on back pressure.

Don't be afraid of using similar setups with different objectives. Familiarity is part of learning.

Available for subscribers now 👇

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/the-3v3-game-1v1-practice-9

01:49

THE 3v3 GAME - 1v1 PRACTICE 9

A 1v1 practice that breaks the game down into its smallest actions, developing the scenarios and coaching points players will meet within a maximum 3v3 model.