The core of the approach is to assess the efficiency of team play in offensive actions in terms of offensive stages and define the ways for increasing efficiency

1. Approach for assessment of offensive oganization
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Done by Chulkov Peter
chulkov.petr@gmail.com

2. Description
The aim of the research – assess the efficiency of team play in offense in the context of phases of
offensive phases and define the ways for increasing efficiency
Tasks:
1. Assessment of team play in the context of the following offensive phases:
•
Delivering ball to the attacking third (35 meters from the goal of the opponent)*
•
Play in the attacking third and delivering the ball to the penalty box
•
Play in the penalty box**
2. Define the reasons of low efficiency in the defined offensive phase and find out the ways for increasing
the efficiency
* Assists are often performed from the attacking third (not more than 35 meters from the opponent’s goal)
** in average 85% goals are scored from the penalty box; the elite teams have 17-20 episodes of play in the penalty box
of the opponent in match
(B. Chirva «The conception of technical and tactical preparation in football»)
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3. Rules of calculation
1. An attack – the episode of play if the team did 2 passes at least after getting the ball or the episode
of play which starts from the goal kick
2. If the team won the ball in the attacking third it’s calculated as the successful delivering to the
attacking third
3. The play in the attacking is calculated as successful if:
•
The ball was delivered into the penalty box (pass or dribbling)
•
The player did shot at goal
•
The team got free-kick or indirect free-kick or corner kick
4. The play in the penalty box is successful if the team shot at the goal after:
•
the ball was delivered into the penalty box using pass or dribbling in play or
•
after set-plays (corner kick, indirect and direct free-kick, throw-in)
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4. Main indicators
Efficiency of delivering the ball to
=
the attacking third
Efficiency of play in the
attacking third
Efficiency of play in the
penalty box
=
=
# of episodes when the ball was delivered to
the attacking third
Total # of attacks
# of successful episodes of play in the
attacking third
Total # of plays in the attacking third
# of successful episodes of play in the
penalty box
Total # of plays in the penalty box
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* 100%
* 100%
* 100%
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5. Assessment of team offensive actions in the match vs Bulgaria*
19%
58%
40%
Total # of attacks: 101
Shots at goal: 4
Shots on target: 2
Efficiency of:
•
delivering the ball in the attacking third = 40% (40 times from 101 attacks the ball was delivered to
the attacking third)
•
play in the attacking third = 58% (in 23 times from 40 the play in the attacking third was successful)
•
play in the penalty box = 19% (4 episodes from 21 in the penalty box was finished with shot at goal)
* The research was done as the example for the National Team of the Republic of Armenia
(it based on the following matches – vs Bulgaria (11/09/2012) & vs Italy (12/10/2012)
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6. Assessment of team offensive actions in the match vs Italy
13%
68%
Total # of attacks: 90
42%
Shots at goal: 8
Shots on target: 6
Efficiency of:
•
delivering the ball to the attacking third = 42% (38 times from 90 attacks the ball was delivered)
•
play in the attacking thirdигры в зоне атаки = 58% (26 episodes from 38 the play in the attacking
third was successful)
•
play in the penalty box = 19% (4 episodes from 30 in the penalty box was finished with shot at goal)
Summary: the actions in the delivering the ball to the attacking third and in the penalty box
have the lowest efficiency. These offensive phases were analyzed in details.
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7. Analysis of low efficiency in delivering the ball to the attacking third
(1/3)
Vs Bulgaria
3
1
1
2
4
6
reasons of unsuccessful plays in delivering the ball
to the attacking third
1. The ball was lost under rival's pressing on own half
2. The team lost 1st ball or 2nd ball
3. Losses in offensive organization on flanks
4. Losses in offensive organization through centre
5. Unsuccessful dribbling on flank
6. The ball was sent to far from the goal kick
# of episodes
13
12
11
6
5
3
Other (tech errors)
1
11
5
The zones of the losses are reflected on schemes
(acc to # of reason in tables)
Vs Italy
2
1
6
1
3
4
5
reasons of unsuccessful plays in delivering the ball
to the attacking third
1. The ball was lost under rival's pressing on own half
2. Losses in offensive organization on flanks
3. Losses in offensive organization through centre
4. The team lost 1st ball or 2nd ball
5. The ball was sent to far from the goal kick
6. Not accurate pass behind the defense in off transition
others (tech errors and so on)
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# of episodes
14
9
8
6
5
4
6
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8. Analysis of low efficiency in delivering the ball to the attacking third (2/3)
All the above mentioned reasons can be combined in the following groups:
1. Long build-up
Long balls (often in taking the goal kick) towards to central forward often led to ball losses due to the
following reasons (or its combination):
- Forward lost aerial challenge for the ball;
- The team lost 2nd ball (lack of players in the zone of flick-on; errors in positons of holding midfielders
who tried to challenge for 2nd ball)
- The goalkeeper sent the ball too far from the goal-kick (in fact the ball was given back to the opponent
without struggles).
2. The ball was lost under rival’s pressing in the 1st phase of offensive organization
High pressing was successful tactics for the opponent due to following:
а) positions and movements of players in the 1st phase of offensive organization;
б) absence of drilled ways for overcoming opponent’s pressing.
The team didn’t create space (wide field) in the 1st phase of offensive organization. The positions of the
defenders were not wide. Holding midfielders were rather passive in movements for support defenders
and create space for getting the ball. Finally, the passes from defenders were intercepted by the
opponents’ players.
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9. Analysis of low efficiency in delivering the ball to the attacking third
(3/3)
In the match vs Bulgaria the defenders rarely used the goalkeeper for changing the angle of attack on flank
with more free space. More often they played the ball to the goalkeeper in the match vs Italy. The
goalkeeper is not good at passing and receiving the ball he preferred play long ball.
In fact, the only move allowed overcoming opponent's pressing: the attacking midfielder moved deep for
collecting the ball. But it decreased the speed of offense and decreased possible ways for offense
development (attacks became more predictable).
Moreover, left defender (A.A) seems to be psychologically struggled under pressing - committed most
number of inaccurate passes under pressing.
3. Loss of balls in offensive organization on flanks (lack of support from central midfielders)
Flank players were not supported by central midfielders in offensive organization on flanks. Wide
midfielders were restricted in ways for continuation of offensive organization. Often they chose dribbling
(mostly lost balls) or made to play ball back to defenders but those were marked.
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10. Analysis of unsuccessful plays in the penalty box
Most often reasons of unsuccessful play in the penalty box (in analyzed games):
1. Low numbers of players who can finish cross in the penalty box (1 -2 players usually) [nine episodes
in 2 games]
The team is good at playing the ball into the penalty box. But in most cases the only player could finish
the cross in the penalty box. The team performed good combination - when forward shuffled on flank,
get the ball behind the defenders. But only the attacking midfielder runs into the penalty box to attack
the ball in the box. As wide midfielders on weak flank joined him -> the shot at goal.
2. Low efficiency in corner-kicks
The team didn't take any shot at goal when the ball was swing to the penalty box in both games (14
attempts). The team was more dangerous if the corner-kick was played with fast short passes.
Other reasons: unsuccessful dribbling; challenges lost; off target cross.
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11. Possible ways for increasing efficiency (1/2)
DELIVERING THE BALL INTO THE ATTACKING THIRD
1. The alternative way for long balls in build-up is flanks (instead of centre). In case the forward lost 1st ball
it's easier and more productive to initiate challenge for the 2nd and then pressing.
2 а. Abovementioned way can be used as means for overcoming high pressing of the opponent - play the
ball to the goalkeeper who sends long ball to designated flanks. The team will shift to that flank in advance
and have numerous advantages for 2nd ball challenge & pressing.
2 b. The following maneuver of holding midfielders in the 1st
phase of offensive organization is proposed for consideration:
the holding midfielder who is near the fullback with the ball, moves
up. The furthest holding midfielder moves down (see the scheme).
Н
КП
КП
АП
As a result the team has support on the flank where the offensive
ОП
actions are developed. Secondly, it will easier to change the angle
of attacks without involving the goalkeeper (he is not good at
passing). Moreover if the team lost the ball on the flank, the
position of the furthest holding midfielder gives more security to
ОП
КЗ
КЗ
ЦЗ
ЦЗ
ВР
the defense when the opponent will play diagonals after winning
the ball.
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12. Possible ways for increasing efficiency (2/2)
3. The team could use moving the attacking midfielder to the flank.
First of all he would distract the fullback and allow wide midfielder getting free from marking. Secondly
the wide midfielder would have additional option for pass and continuation of attack.
PLAY IN THE PENALTY BOX
1. Drill the cases when wide midfielder from weak flank make timely run into the penalty box to finish
the cross
2. Review the possibility to play the corner kicks with short passes (transition to possession). The team is
rather efficient in delivering ball to the penalty area in play, but has not players who are good at heading
skills.
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