Dribbling is a hot topic for me in coach development terms, as our conceptualization of where & when this action takes place has rendered it’s teaching largely one dimensional. What this misrepresentation has produced is a commonly held belief that dribbling only takes place on the wings or toward the end lines of the final third, a perception that is completely unconnected to what occurs in the elite game. The central dribble action is performed only slightly differently than in wide areas, yet is actually applied far more frequently. Mesut Ozil & Marco Reus are players who have built much of their game around dribbling in central areas, a function that builds a platform upon which they can set up chances for others but also take shots on goal themselves. The areas in which many of these attacks begin are in the attacking half spaces (as outlined in the diagram in the introduction page), which interlink with how they use the ball to penetrate the final third. The opponents midfield set up is fundamental in how they fashion their creative movements, especially as it relates to where they initially pick up the ball. Against single defensive screen midfield set ups players such as Ozil & Reus will drift into an advanced position to either the left or the right attacking half space, in an attempt to pull their opponents from their preferred defensive set up. Against a double defensive screen the height of their movement is slightly more withdrawn, in an effort to pull their opponent from the space in which they are positioned to protect. The creation of defensive ambiguity forces the opponent to answer who should apply primary & secondary pressure, as well as stretching the area in which the defensive team can counter press & create turnovers. Upon receiving the ball Ozil uses quick touches to assess pressure & as a defender approaches will often utilize the space behind his mark in which to find an entry route to goal. Reus does so to devastating effect when taking up high left positioning as he uses the interior space, which is vacated by an oncoming defender, to strike on goal with his right foot. Ozil displays similar tendencies however he will also attempt to push the ball past the back line completely, this in an attempt to draw pressure away from his teammates in which to cross or cut back to. Conversely when he attacks the central channel it pulls in opposition full backs like an accordion, as their back line retracts, allowing additional space for wide players to function on the flanks. Perhaps the king of central dribbles is a title that should be afforded to Andres Iniesta, as his performances over the past decade have truly transformed what we think of a central midfield figure. Much of Iniesta’s movement could be perceived as simply dropping deep to pick up the ball, however we have also saw him use this function to start a vertical dribble action within an opponents half space. When encountering a deeper lying midfield opponent he will perform this vertical dribble to draw horizontal pressure, which often opens up a pocket of space for a deep lying forward or a further midfielder to move into. This dribble therefore creates a 2v1 situation where his combination play & attacking speed allows him to arrive as the back line is in a state of flux. The flux I am referring to is their movement to step toward his give & go to tackle him, or indeed to drop off & protect the space in behind their back line. In either instance Iniesta has displayed a variety in his game that allows him to shoot on goal, perform a further combination at the top of the box or simply find a through pass for an on-rushing forward which splits the defense. One further example of Iniesta’s dribbling quality lies in his role during build up play. When performing central dribbles that are on a diagonal or horizontal axis it appears that in dragging the ball to a particular side he is also dragging collective pressure. What this action is in fact achieving is allowing the now ball side full back & winger to position themselves in accordance to pressure, a gift that a switch of play via a long pass may not afford them. As this relates to Iniesta’s Barcelona team, we often see during the buildup of play that as the ball moves to a specific side this sparks the forward movement of Dani Alves or Jordi Alba. They advance to position themselves wide & in line with the midfielders, and as this takes place the wingers, who were originally placed high & wide, can now move inside to the advanced half spaces. Once Iniesta releases the pass to the full back, who is now the team’s widest attacker, they have essentially created two lines in which their opponent has to defend (Full backs exterior line & the winger’s interior line) versus the single line that was evident beforehand. Despite the many ball side advantages this move gives Iniesta’s team, the chain reaction is an over compensation to defend the ball side from their opponent which in turn opens up further weak side possibilities to attack through a direct diagonal or switch pass.
Beginning play with full backs or indeed using deep lying wingers to receive the ball in wide areas & advance during build up phases are both becoming less utilized in the modern game, which has heralded the rise of the central midfielder who is confident in 1v1 situations. As you have saw in the few examples I have listed the action is often completed within a small area & over a short distance, however the effect of the movement has far larger implications if completed successfully. Please take a moment to look over some of the highlights I have compiled of the players listed in this article.
——-
This post was originally published on http://www.coachbainmused.com – you can also follow Ally Bain on @allybain
The Higher Tempo Press 