The Debrief · Football explained
How to spot a tactical change
How do you spot tactical changes during the match? Most go unnoticed and most occur without needing a substitution.
By Harry Lowe · 5 min read
Read the article →
Introduction
A manager does not need a substitution to change how a team plays. A full-back stops overlapping, a midfielder drops between the centre-backs, the goalkeeper starts kicking long. None of it is announced, but all of it can be seen from the stand.
My Football Explained carousel picked out eight of those signs. This article takes each one further: what you see, how the team does it, why they do it and what they gain from it. Each one has a moving board that shows the change happening.
Before you look for change, you need something to compare it with. Early in the match, take a few reference points: where the full-backs stand when their team has the ball, who receives the goalkeeper's first pass, where the number ten starts without the ball and how many players make up the back line. Check them again after a goal, at half-time and after any long stoppage. A change only shows up against something you have already seen.
- 01 · The full-backDoes the full-back still overlap?
- 02 · The dropCheck who drops into the back line
- 03 · Going longGoal kicks that suddenly go long
- 04 · The number tenWhere does the ten start?
- 05 · The man-markerFind the player following one opponent
- 06 · The back fiveCount the back line without the ball
- 07 · Tucked inLook how narrow the wingers start
- 08 · One sideWatch which flank the ball goes to
01 · The full-back
Does the full-back still overlap?
- What you see
- When the team has the ball, the full-back stays level with the centre-backs instead of running past the winger in front of them.
- How the team does it
- The full-back holds a position level with the centre-backs and stays with the opposition forward rather than following play forward. The winger in front keeps the width on their own.
- Why the team does it
- To add cover behind the ball. You often see it when a team is protecting a lead, or when the opponent leaves a quick forward high up the pitch.
- What is the benefit
- If possession is lost, there is an extra player between the ball and the goal, so counter-attacks are slowed before they start.
Dashed: where they started.
02 · The drop
Check who drops into the back line
- What you see
- In possession, a central midfielder moves between or alongside the centre-backs. The centre-backs split wider and the full-backs push higher.
- How the team does it
- The midfielder drops into the line as the team builds up. The centre-backs move wider, towards the edges of the box, and the full-backs push on to give width higher up.
- Why the team does it
- Against a front two, two centre-backs are matched player for player. A third player in that line gives the team a spare passer.
- What is the benefit
- One of the three always has time on the ball, so the team can carry it forward or pass through the press instead of going long.
03 · Going long
Goal kicks that suddenly go long
- What you see
- The centre-backs stop splitting either side of the box to offer a short pass and push up the pitch instead. The goalkeeper kicks long.
- How the team does it
- The centre-backs push up instead of splitting wide. Teammates move forward to compete for the first header and gather where the ball will land, ready to win the second ball.
- Why the team does it
- To skip a press that has been winning the ball high up, to aim for a strong target forward, or to move the game into the opponent's half.
- What is the benefit
- The ball is moved away from danger. If the team wins the first or second contact, it starts its attack far higher up the pitch.
04 · The number ten
Where does the ten start?
- What you see
- Without the ball, the number ten now starts level with the striker instead of behind them.
- How the team does it
- Without the ball, the ten moves up alongside the striker. The two agree who goes to which centre-back and press in a way that blocks the pass into midfield.
- Why the team does it
- Two players at the front can press both centre-backs. A team chasing a goal may also want more players near the opponent's box.
- What is the benefit
- The opponent has less time at the back and is pushed towards long balls or the touchline, where the ball is easier to win back.
05 · The man-marker
Find the player following one opponent
- What you see
- One midfielder now tracks the same opponent wherever they go, even into wide areas or deep in their own half.
- How the team does it
- One midfielder is given a single opponent to follow, wherever they go. Teammates shift across to cover the space the marker leaves behind.
- Why the team does it
- To reduce the time and space a key opponent has on the ball.
- What is the benefit
- The opponent's most influential player sees less of the ball and has less time on it, so their team has to find another way to play.
06 · The back five
Count the back line without the ball
- What you see
- A winger drops into the defensive line when the team does not have the ball, turning a back four into a back five.
- How the team does it
- When the ball is lost, the winger drops into the defensive line beside the full-back. The centre-backs hold a narrower line and the five move across together.
- Why the team does it
- Five defenders can cover the full width of the pitch. Teams often do it to protect a lead or to deal with a strong threat out wide.
- What is the benefit
- The opponent's wingers and overlapping full-backs are always met, and crosses tend to come from deeper, with defenders already in the box.
07 · Tucked in
Look how narrow the wingers start
- What you see
- The wingers start inside the full-backs, nearer the centre of the pitch.
- How the team does it
- The wingers start inside the full-backs, between the opponent's lines. The full-backs push forward to hold the width.
- Why the team does it
- To add numbers in the middle, to outnumber the opponent's midfield or to receive between their lines.
- What is the benefit
- More passing options through the centre, and wingers who can receive facing goal in spaces the opponent finds hard to cover.
08 · One side
Watch which flank the ball goes to
- What you see
- The ball keeps going down the same side of the pitch.
- How the team does it
- Passes are directed towards one flank. Players on that side combine quickly, and teammates shift across to support them.
- Why the team does it
- Often to target a matchup the team is winning, such as a fast winger against a slower full-back, or to avoid a strong press on the other side.
- What is the benefit
- The team keeps using its strongest one-against-one, and drawing the opponent across can leave space on the far side for a switch of play.
09
Put it into practice
Next time you watch a match, take your reference points early and write down the time whenever you see one of these signs. You do not need to explain it straight away. Note what changed, then keep watching to see whether it lasts.
When you have a change you are confident in, explain it with the framework in What? How? Why?: what changed, how the team did it, and why it helped them, or did not.
The Debrief · Football explained
How to spot a tactical change
How do you spot tactical changes during the match? Most go unnoticed and most occur without needing a substitution.
By Harry Lowe · 5 min read
Read the article →Introduction
A manager does not need a substitution to change how a team plays. A full-back stops overlapping, a midfielder drops between the centre-backs, the goalkeeper starts kicking long. None of it is announced, but all of it can be seen from the stand.
My Football Explained carousel picked out eight of those signs. This article takes each one further: what you see, how the team does it, why they do it and what they gain from it. Each one has a moving board that shows the change happening.
Before you look for change, you need something to compare it with. Early in the match, take a few reference points: where the full-backs stand when their team has the ball, who receives the goalkeeper's first pass, where the number ten starts without the ball and how many players make up the back line. Check them again after a goal, at half-time and after any long stoppage. A change only shows up against something you have already seen.
- 01 · The full-backDoes the full-back still overlap?
- 02 · The dropCheck who drops into the back line
- 03 · Going longGoal kicks that suddenly go long
- 04 · The number tenWhere does the ten start?
- 05 · The man-markerFind the player following one opponent
- 06 · The back fiveCount the back line without the ball
- 07 · Tucked inLook how narrow the wingers start
- 08 · One sideWatch which flank the ball goes to
01 · The full-back
Does the full-back still overlap?
- What you see
- When the team has the ball, the full-back stays level with the centre-backs instead of running past the winger in front of them.
- How the team does it
- The full-back holds a position level with the centre-backs and stays with the opposition forward rather than following play forward. The winger in front keeps the width on their own.
- Why the team does it
- To add cover behind the ball. You often see it when a team is protecting a lead, or when the opponent leaves a quick forward high up the pitch.
- What is the benefit
- If possession is lost, there is an extra player between the ball and the goal, so counter-attacks are slowed before they start.
Dashed: where they started.
02 · The drop
Check who drops into the back line
- What you see
- In possession, a central midfielder moves between or alongside the centre-backs. The centre-backs split wider and the full-backs push higher.
- How the team does it
- The midfielder drops into the line as the team builds up. The centre-backs move wider, towards the edges of the box, and the full-backs push on to give width higher up.
- Why the team does it
- Against a front two, two centre-backs are matched player for player. A third player in that line gives the team a spare passer.
- What is the benefit
- One of the three always has time on the ball, so the team can carry it forward or pass through the press instead of going long.
03 · Going long
Goal kicks that suddenly go long
- What you see
- The centre-backs stop splitting either side of the box to offer a short pass and push up the pitch instead. The goalkeeper kicks long.
- How the team does it
- The centre-backs push up instead of splitting wide. Teammates move forward to compete for the first header and gather where the ball will land, ready to win the second ball.
- Why the team does it
- To skip a press that has been winning the ball high up, to aim for a strong target forward, or to move the game into the opponent's half.
- What is the benefit
- The ball is moved away from danger. If the team wins the first or second contact, it starts its attack far higher up the pitch.
04 · The number ten
Where does the ten start?
- What you see
- Without the ball, the number ten now starts level with the striker instead of behind them.
- How the team does it
- Without the ball, the ten moves up alongside the striker. The two agree who goes to which centre-back and press in a way that blocks the pass into midfield.
- Why the team does it
- Two players at the front can press both centre-backs. A team chasing a goal may also want more players near the opponent's box.
- What is the benefit
- The opponent has less time at the back and is pushed towards long balls or the touchline, where the ball is easier to win back.
05 · The man-marker
Find the player following one opponent
- What you see
- One midfielder now tracks the same opponent wherever they go, even into wide areas or deep in their own half.
- How the team does it
- One midfielder is given a single opponent to follow, wherever they go. Teammates shift across to cover the space the marker leaves behind.
- Why the team does it
- To reduce the time and space a key opponent has on the ball.
- What is the benefit
- The opponent's most influential player sees less of the ball and has less time on it, so their team has to find another way to play.
06 · The back five
Count the back line without the ball
- What you see
- A winger drops into the defensive line when the team does not have the ball, turning a back four into a back five.
- How the team does it
- When the ball is lost, the winger drops into the defensive line beside the full-back. The centre-backs hold a narrower line and the five move across together.
- Why the team does it
- Five defenders can cover the full width of the pitch. Teams often do it to protect a lead or to deal with a strong threat out wide.
- What is the benefit
- The opponent's wingers and overlapping full-backs are always met, and crosses tend to come from deeper, with defenders already in the box.
07 · Tucked in
Look how narrow the wingers start
- What you see
- The wingers start inside the full-backs, nearer the centre of the pitch.
- How the team does it
- The wingers start inside the full-backs, between the opponent's lines. The full-backs push forward to hold the width.
- Why the team does it
- To add numbers in the middle, to outnumber the opponent's midfield or to receive between their lines.
- What is the benefit
- More passing options through the centre, and wingers who can receive facing goal in spaces the opponent finds hard to cover.
08 · One side
Watch which flank the ball goes to
- What you see
- The ball keeps going down the same side of the pitch.
- How the team does it
- Passes are directed towards one flank. Players on that side combine quickly, and teammates shift across to support them.
- Why the team does it
- Often to target a matchup the team is winning, such as a fast winger against a slower full-back, or to avoid a strong press on the other side.
- What is the benefit
- The team keeps using its strongest one-against-one, and drawing the opponent across can leave space on the far side for a switch of play.
09
Put it into practice
Next time you watch a match, take your reference points early and write down the time whenever you see one of these signs. You do not need to explain it straight away. Note what changed, then keep watching to see whether it lasts.
When you have a change you are confident in, explain it with the framework in What? How? Why?: what changed, how the team did it, and why it helped them, or did not.