By Tony Tannous
August 25th 2009 @ 1:47am
Related coverage
Advanced wing-backs are key in Bleiberg’s 2-4-2-2
Gold Coast United FC head coach and director of football, Miron Bleiberg (centre) celebrates with Football Federation Australia (FFA) CEO Ben Buckley (right) and Gold Coast United CEO Clive Mensink (left) at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008. The Gold Coast's bid to enter the national A-League competition in 2009/10 was today given the long-awaited approval by the FFA. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
When Fox Sports’ tactical formation caption came up ahead of the Gold Coast United’s A-League opener against Brisbane, you could have been forgiven for thinking Miron Bleiberg had pulled one over the Fox producer. It showed the new club shaping up in a rather outrageous looking 2-4-2-2 in front of Scott Higgins.
It featured stoppers van den Brink and Thwaite in the last line, then a four-pronged third line of Osman, Griffiths, Robson and Piorkowski. In front of them were the two “creators”, Culina and Minniecon, with Smeltz and Porter in the first line.
Seemingly, Bleiberg was using a bit of managerial license by insisting the right and left backs, Osman and Piorkowski, would player higher up the formation.
Surely it was one for the caption, a move designed the paint an impression of an attacking formation.
Surely, when the teams actually shaped up, on the pitch, logic would have Osman and Piorkowski tucked in alongside van den Brink and Thwaite in what ostensibly would be another variation on the 4-4-2.
Certainly, commentator Andy Harper wasn’t convinced Bleiberg was telling Fox the entire truth.
Perhaps it was a lack of understanding from Piorkowski on the left, but there was no real evidence in the first round of how important the fullbacks are to Gold Coast’s template.
Perhaps we should have read more into Culina’s berating of Piorkowski for not being in a more advanced position midway through the first half. You’ll remember he was replaced at the break, with Thwaite shifting out to left back and Rees coming in at centre back.
Even Osman, ostensibly a defensive player, failed to offer any significant forward thrust to suggest Bleiberg was about to transform the way we think about a “back-four”.
But in the past fortnight, with Steve Fitzsimmons and Adama Traore summoned into the right and left wing-back spots respectively, the formation has indeed looked a true 2-4-2-2.
Even at kick-off that is the shape, with Fitzsimmons and Traore advanced of the two central defenders, nowadays van den Brink and Rees.
Indeed, often they are found driving forward beyond this third line, which appears to be the starting point. With Gold Coast controlling games and on the front foot, rarely have the two wing-backs been relied on in a traditional fullback sense.
Instead they have been used to provide the width, to break-forward quickly and link with the likes of Culina, Caravella, Smeltz and Porter.
Traore has been quite the revelation, seeing and playing things early, doing in one touch what it might take others two or three touches to do.
Fitzsimmons, hitherto a bit-part player, has also caught the eye with his ability to jink and link, and on Friday he gave Jamieson his second working over in as many weeks. Not to mention an assist and a goal.
By local standards, this has been quite a revolutionary piece of tactical tinkering from Bleiberg, but even when measured against the world it is cutting-edge.
Even for the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Barcelona and Liverpool, known for fielding offensive fullbacks, you will often find the likes of Evra, Bosingwa, Alves and Clichy starting alongside their centre-backs, and often dropping back into that shape when their team coughs up the ball.
Radical? Revolutionary? Crazy?
Perhaps it’s just Bleiberg’s way of keeping up with the Jones’s.
It’s certainly a world-wide trend for fullbacks to be used as the key plank in a team’s penetrative template.
Recently Liverpool spent an outrageous amount on England right back Glen Johnson, but against Stoke, last Thursday morning our time, it was easy to see why.
While he shaped up in a back-four in the pre-game caption, Rafael Benitez essentially used a back three, with Johnson given license to stay as high up the pitch as he liked. He had a blinder, scoring spectacularly, assisting, and all the rest.
Carragher covered the right, Insua bombed on down the left, and Liverpool controlled it all.
Control is certainly a key component of the Gold Coast way, and with Pantelidis and Thwaite providing the muscle and a surprising degree of subtlety on the ball, as well as drive into the box, this team sure looks easy on the eye.
Indeed, in three rounds they have dished up best football yet seen in the A-League’s short history, and I, for one, look forward to getting out and seeing it live.
Tony’s team of round 3 (4-3-3, manager of the week, Ricki Herbert)
———————-Bolton——————
————————————————-
Fitzsimmons—–Keller—-Leijer—-Traore
—————————————————
———————Hutchinson—————
————–Srhoj———–Caravella——
—————————————————
Henrique——————————–Sikora
———————–Porter———————-
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(46)
albe said | August 25th 2009 @ 4:51am | Report comment
nice write up…
i like coaches who have a set system but also the nous to adapt as the match requires. They’re getting good at shifting from their attacking philosophy to maintain control of matches.
As great as GCU is, whats better is the effect it’ll have on the other clubs to keep up. While they do have a couple of the best players in the league (Culina, Smeltz, etc), many of the players are pick-ups from other clubs and not that far ahead of the rest on talent.
Its their approach from the coaching staff to players thats making the difference. Over to the rest of the league to match it now.
Gaz said | August 25th 2009 @ 7:08am | Report comment
Good write up, Tony. But OTOH it’s only what Gold Coast have been telling everyone for a long time. Bleiberg’s made no secret of how he wants to play, neither has Culina.
It’s gotta be good for the A-League if other clubs are forced to come out and play attacking football against us. Look at the crowds in Turkey, where attacking is the norm. People love it, and why wouldn’t you?
WARNING: It’s harder than it looks. For starters, you have to be super fit, coz you will be covering a lot of ground. Then you have to know exactly where to be at all times, as the shape of play changes around you. And then you need the technical skills to play one-touch end-to-end, not to mention finishing.
midfield general said | August 25th 2009 @ 7:59am | Report comment
I think this is how Brazil set their team up, isn’t it
sam.gilbert said | September 18th 2009 @ 2:09am | Report comment
yes i believe so, but only one of theyre fulllbacks are given the license to bomb very far forward. usually dani/maicon. they tend to play the 4-2-2-2 system, with two deefensive midfielders and two creative midfielders, out of josue, gilberto silva, felipe melo, hernanes, diego, kaka, robinho, elano blumer and ronaldinho.
Pippinu said | August 25th 2009 @ 8:49am | Report comment
To be honest – is there any difference between a wing-back and an attacking full back?
If there is, it’s pretty marginal.
Tony Tannous said | August 25th 2009 @ 11:06am | Report comment
In the case of Gold Coast, the subtle difference is their starting position (ie. where they shape up). It is never in the final line.
AndyRoo said | August 25th 2009 @ 9:46am | Report comment
I agree with Pip, I dont think a wingback going forward really justifys Bleiberg saying he only has 2 defenders
Porter has yet to get on the scoresheet compared to Smeltz with 6 but he is going well. There a great combination to watch.
Porter, Cullina and Smeltz vs Allsop, Thompson and Hernandez is going to be great.
DiCanio said | August 25th 2009 @ 1:43pm | Report comment
Henrique, Van Dijk, Miller
Danning, Aloisi, Brosque
Realfootball said | August 25th 2009 @ 10:43am | Report comment
The role of GCU’s superb fitness levels has been underrated. They ran Adelaide off the park, quite apart from anything else. Shots of Dodd and Jameson looking exhausted abounded. You can’t kick GCU off the park, though McKinna may strong, because physically they can match it with anyone. There is steel inside that velvet glove. You see it in the tackles right across the park. No team in the League tackles harder or faster than GCU.
DiCanio said | August 25th 2009 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
Thats funny cause Im pretty sure Adelaide were running all over them from 60-90 minutes
I think you confuse tactical discipline with fitness
Tony Tannous said | August 25th 2009 @ 11:08am | Report comment
They wonderfully organised Realfootball, and press as a unit.
Wilba said | August 25th 2009 @ 11:22am | Report comment
Great analysis again Mr T,
At the moment GCU are blowing teams off the park with their early intensity and movement. The width that you are talking about, combined with the way Culina creates an extra man coming out of defence, in the mid-field and in the final third, means that GCU have so much space to play in. There is also a great deal of positional discipline. Then you have some classy finishing and you can see why no team has really pushed them (sorry Roar). On the weekend, by the time AU started to push on it was late in the second half, 2-0 and GCU had closed up shop.
Even as a GCU fan I am interested is seeing a team works out what they are doing and starts to counter it. Mr T. I would be happy to hear how you think that could be done.
I do think they have the steel and versatility to overcome this when it happens.
I have a big MV fan as a boss who reckons that they have just peaked too early (along with a number of other conspiracy theories). I think they are only going to get better.
Ryan Steele said | August 25th 2009 @ 11:38am | Report comment
the formations in this season’s A-League are interesting.
As a player (based on experience in all positions, particularly a box-to-box creative midfielder), I prefer what Aurelio Vidmar’s trying to achieve (in a mixture of 4-5-1 and 4-4-2, which looks soon to become a static 4-4-2, and perhaps a 4-4-1-1).
As a coach (who looks to do some weird things, at times), I appreciate and am actually somewhat inspired by Bleiberg’s tactics, which can only be pulled off by the right mix of players, and led by the right captain (Culina looking right the the job, obviously). In reality, the formation is somewhere between six defenders, and six midfielders, or four attackers. Bleiberg’s aim, from what I’ve seen so far, is to have every player on the park adapt to multiple positions, and allow the formation to constantly evolve throughout the game, which is why it’s caused so much havoc.
It can be anything from the claimed 2-4-2-2, to a 4-2-2-2, 0-6-4-0, a classic 4-4-2, or even a 2-4-4. Ideally, with all the movement created by the players, the formation as a whole is actually a 6-6-6, which is what makes it so devastating.
Note: I didn’t think, until after I finished typing that line, that I had typed “666″ and “devastating” in the same sentence. You’ll have to forgive the unintended pun.
Of course, as has already been said by others, Bleiberg’s team requires a great amount of fitness (though perhaps not as much as the team chasing the ball)… but with the likes of Culina setting the pace, it’s not that difficult to have everyone at a certain standard.
Tony Tannous said | August 25th 2009 @ 9:37pm | Report comment
What you’re really talking about there is the fluidity of the formation Ryan, and I agree. Plenty of men in forward transition, it all looks seamless.
Wilba said | August 25th 2009 @ 11:48am | Report comment
6-6-6 is a good call Ryan, it must feel like that for the opposition. It is a bit like the Hawthorne’s rolling defensive zone.
Positional disipline becomes really important because you have to trust that the holes will be covered if you push too far forward. I think that this is the best movement I have seen from and A-league team. Happy to be corrected.
Con Stamocostas said | August 25th 2009 @ 11:51am | Report comment
You are the tactics king.
Great insights.
What happens when Culina and Smetlz get injured?
Pippinu said | August 25th 2009 @ 12:05pm | Report comment
They rely on rejects like Panta, Rees and Thwaite.
Vicentin said | August 25th 2009 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
Have to say that Thwaite didn’t look at all like the donkey he did when playing for Victory last season. He was probably struggling to stay awake though last season!
Nice work Tony, and very nice work Miron and everyone involved with GCU. Best A-League football I’ve seen and great to hear Vidmar give due credit in the numerous after game interviews.
Now if only Sydney would play more like this – I really thought they would given the pre-season games I saw but frankly the introduction of Keller in central defence (great defender but woeful distributor) and Corica back in central midfield after recovering from injuiries for most of the preseason just isn’t working…..yet. With some tweaking to the formation and some amended instructions from Lavicka, I retain my optimism but they’ll have to play at their best to keep CCU in their sights. Cheers.
Tony Tannous said | August 25th 2009 @ 9:52pm | Report comment
Been amazed by how well Caravella, Fitz, Thwaite and Panta have done. Great to see.
Agree Vincentin, Sydney were average against Central Coast.
Keller has been solid alongside Colosimo in the main, but his long ball strategy is a mystery…his way or the managers way?
Ryan Steele said | August 25th 2009 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
That’s actually an interesting situation. Smeltz is by far their most potent striker, and with that loss, the formation could be changed to something along the lines of a 2-4-1-2-1 (in Bleiberg-speak), providing a spear-headed attack, with two additional strikers playing either behind or on the wings, pulsing back and forth between the midfield and attack (to be either 2-4-3-1 or 2-4-1-3). Minniecon would probably play one of those wings, and perhaps Milson along the other. There would obviously be a bit of a personnel shift to accommodate it all.
As for Culina getting injured, that would a huge blow (any team losing their captain would have trouble). This one, I’m not too sure about, because it would also depend on who Miron believes is suitable to take the captaincy in Culina’s stead. I do have a feeling, though, that it would be Smeltz (unless they were both injured), and Robson would possibly move into Culina’s position for the time Jason is out of action. It probably wouldn’t move quite as fluidly without him, though.
If they were both injured, however, the formation would probably see a huge change…
DiCanio said | August 25th 2009 @ 1:48pm | Report comment
Remove Culina and it all falls apart
All the others are flattered by his workrate
Realfootball said | August 25th 2009 @ 1:57pm | Report comment
Minniecon, Robson, and Jeffeson get their chance.
Tony Tannous said | August 25th 2009 @ 9:48pm | Report comment
Cheers Con.
First Miron stresses, then Clive goes shopping…
On a serious note, let’s hope it doesn’t happen, but it would be a good test of their contingencies and a test of their overall depth.
For the record, I don’t think there’s another player that can step in for Culina, he is the heart-beat of the side. Any other player would change the dynamic.
Tony Tannous said | August 25th 2009 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
Wilba, thanks for the comment, and lucky you. Do you live on the Gold Coast? If so, make sure you get out and watch them.
Who knows? Teams might work it out, but right now it’s enjoyable to watch – I’d suggest even non-GC fans should get out and watch them.
The noises coming from the other managers, things like “they’ll win it by 15 points”, suggests they know how hard it is to produce the type of football GC are at the moment. They’re in awe at the moment, but don’t worry, they’d privately be planning to knock them off their pedestal.
I’m really looking forward to seeing how teams try and do this.
My first obvious thought would be to deploy two out and out wingers with the notion of pinning back Traore and Fitzsimmons.
Adelaide tried it unsuccessfully with Dodd and Pantelis, who were left chasing shadows.
Because they have 4 in central midfield, GC tend to dominate possession, and suffiocate the opposition, so teams never get the ball long enough to use the flanks.
That way, Traore and Fitzsimmons are invariably on the front foot, asking the questions, rather than having questions asked of them…
The other thing teams can try is to play two up front, which then has the capacity to tie up both VDB and Thwaite, and force Bleiberg to find a spare man, be that one of his wing-backs or holding mids…either way, it forces an adjustment from Miron.
Adelaide showed in the 2nd half, in creating a few half-chances, that going long, getting it forward to Owusu and playing off him might work in bits, but not sure it’s a long term solution to unlocking GC.
I’m sure the other Culina, Branko, a bright tactician in his own mind, will be up to the challenge of finding a solution for Sunday, but does he have the cattle? and is it too early in his life at Newcastle?
Tony Tannous said | August 25th 2009 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
sorry, what i meant to say was “a bright tactican himself” rather than “in his own mind”…
Koala Bear said | August 25th 2009 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
Tony,
I wrote a comment some time back about how the top teams line up, and it was an observation of mine that Barca and AC Milan play with a double sweeper behind a back three… I still believe it to be the case and that this has gone unnoticed here on the Roar… When anyone here discusses a system they always start with a back four … What a lot of hogwash that is … the best teams nowadays play with a double sweeper behind a back three which allows the outside wing backs to go forward in attack, as wingers, from deep defensive positions… and when possession is lost, they immediately fall back to a defensive wing back position…
Effectively I see all the good modern teams like Barca take up a 2—3—3—2 formation… I’m absolutely positive that the GCU play this formation introduced by no other than “Paul Okon” from his experience and knowledge of Italian Football… I believe that Paul Okon is the real mastermind behind the success of GCU not Miron Bleiberg… But they are indeed having a wonderful marriage for the moment… I hope it continues… I live on the Gold Coast and look forward to many wonderful home games this season at “Fortress Miron”….
~~~~~~~
KB
Tony Tannous said | August 25th 2009 @ 9:58pm | Report comment
Interesting thoughts re Okon KB. I know what you mean about the back two, but in most instances around the world the teams actually shape up as a four, with the fullbacks encouraged to push on when they have the ball.
And get out there and enjoy it KB, it’s enjoyable on the box, would be even better live.
Realfootball said | August 25th 2009 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
We will see how GCU go without Culina weekend after next against Sydney, because he will be with the Socceroos. My guess is that it will not impact as much as some people might think. At 22, Robson is an extraordinarily gifted young player, as we saw against the Roar. Bleiberg will simply bring in Robson for Culina. The psychological effect of his absence may be greater than his physical absence. We shall see. My tip is that GCU will beat Sydney without Culina. There is simply too much depth and quality across the park.
Art Sapphire said | August 25th 2009 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
My guess is that it will call come unstuck against MVFC on AFL Grand Final day.
As a home team I expect GCU to push up the park and leave their flanks exposed to quick counters.
If Archie has his shooting boots on and our defending solid, we will walk away with a result.
Also Thwaite, Pants and Piorkowski will remind themselves they are playing for an inferior team which will result in one of them scoring an own goal
Koala Bear said | August 25th 2009 @ 3:19pm | Report comment
Interesting strategy from Merrick (the Scottish one)… Organising an away game for MV playing at “Fortress Miron” on Grooky Grand Final Day… As no one will notice in Melbourne of the 6-0 thumping with all Melburnians watching the Grooky Grand Final at the G… The Scottish one is a real Fox when it comes to potential embarrassing defeats… Quotes will be kept to a few profound words in the Melb Herald “Damn those Jacobites … sons of bitches”
~~~~~~~~~
KB
Wilba said | August 25th 2009 @ 3:20pm | Report comment
Thanks Mr T for your views, Melbourne could prove a problem with two pretty mobile stikers and the ability of ‘el zorro’ to work in tight spaces but I am not sure if they use their width enough to combate GCU. Sydney have also lacked the width in the past but I haven’t really watch much from Sydney this year.
Re: living on the gc, I am a gc local but I now live in Melbourne. I have family up there and plan to get along at some stage. I am really enjoying the ammunition that GCU are giving me every Monday morning.
FIsher Price said | August 25th 2009 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
Good article,
but
Liverpool: known for fielding offensive fullbacks?
Hahahahahahahaha…
Tony Tannous said | August 25th 2009 @ 10:04pm | Report comment
Haha Fisher…
Before last season I would have agreed totally, but finally Rafa discovered the value of asking his fullbacks to bomb on, something ManU, Arsenal and Chelsea have been doing for years. Arbeloa and Aurelio were revelations in the way they got fwd last season, and Rafa appears to have been even more adventurous this season. Insua looks the goods on the left, I rate him.
FIsher Price said | August 26th 2009 @ 4:48pm | Report comment
Fair enough, though that didn’t seem to do Arbeloa any favours in Rafa’s eyes. Never one to to take risks, I suspect that Benitez has compensated by employing more conservative players in other positions. He’s a defensive, cheque-book manager to a fault.
AndyRoo said | August 25th 2009 @ 3:35pm | Report comment
Well for 18 million quid he better be able to play in both halves of the field
Gaz said | August 25th 2009 @ 9:28pm | Report comment
Tony, I think you might see Zenon Caravella slot into Culina’s spot quite easily. He was playing much the same role in pre-season before Culina arrived, and often looked the best player on the park. Robson is not a bad alternative, and we haven’t seen much of him, but I think the shape would change, whereas Zenon could slot right in as a “mini-Jason”.
We still haven’t seen much of the other Brazilians either: expect Milson to surprise a few people when he gets a good run. And Jefferson and James Brown will be back from injury soon. Brown looks very good on the wing… Lots of excitement to come, folks! BWAAHAHAHA!
Tony Tannous said | August 25th 2009 @ 10:10pm | Report comment
Caravella has been brilliant the past two weeks Gaz – good movement, excellent technique. Had heard he was doing well pre-season, but I’m one of those who prefers to see things for my own eyes.
Was really really impressed by Robson round 1, so look forward to seeing more from that front.
Midfielder said | August 25th 2009 @ 10:03pm | Report comment
Papa
Dare I say it .. but I dare … Brilliant bit of thinking that 2 sweeper with 3 full backs …I will watch out for it…
Tony I will comment more I am still recovering from a weekend of over extending myself … but well picked up .. maybe stole from the French constant moving 4 – 4 – 2 … of the 98 WC..
Tony Tannous said | August 25th 2009 @ 10:25pm | Report comment
Was it Thuram and Lizarazu on the flanks? Remember Thuram in the semi against Croatia?
That team was also built around a string-puller in Zidane (read Culina), but for me, I’ll never forget the defensive steel offered by that side, from Desially and Lebeouf at the back to twin screeners in Deschamp and Manu Petit. Often it was three defensive mids with Karmabeu slotting in.
Add the creators, Zidane and Djorkaeff, and they had this amazing ability to control games in all the thirds.
What that side often had though was only one striker, Guivarch or Dugarry.
But many similarities. I loved watching that side.
Robbos said | August 25th 2009 @ 10:32pm | Report comment
Cullina has been great, but that was sort of expected.
But for me the big surprise in the GC side is Joel Porter. He’s exciting, he’s got skills, though he has been outshoned by Cullina & Smeltz in the media. Reminds me of Peter Beardsley of Newcastle, Liverpool & England fame.
Don’t know what happen to Twaite last year, but I have always rated him.
Tony Tannous said | August 25th 2009 @ 10:44pm | Report comment
Robbos, I was thinking, watching Porter on the weekend, wouldn’t he be a great fit for Pim’s single-striker system?…better in my mind in that target-man, Viduka-esque role than anything we’ve seen in the A-League, including Simon and Djite…
Really, he’s picked up where he left off in ther NSL, where I thought he was an excellent striker – could finish, could link, but was just a little raw.
Haven’t seen the finishing yet, but last seasons goals tally stands out, and his time in Europe looks to have added some more calm, skill and football smarts to his game. His left foot is a gem.
He didn’t score on the weekend, but he had to be in my TOTW.
If he keeps it up, Pim will come-a-knocking.
Robbos said | August 26th 2009 @ 6:39am | Report comment
Tony, his link play was outstanding & his goalscoring record in England proves he can score. Despite Smeltz getting 4 goals against Fury, Miron gave Porter MOM, which surprised, which ensured I watched him closer last week, very impressed.
David V. said | August 25th 2009 @ 10:53pm | Report comment
Porter showed his quality at Hartlepool, and he is showing it here. I’m sure he’ll be missed over there. Maybe Andy Monkhouse, a talented left winger at Hartlepool, should also be looked at.
Ahhh Beardsley. Everton got 2 quality years out of him
Realfootball said | August 26th 2009 @ 4:14am | Report comment
What I don’t understand, having seen him play now, is how Porter ended up down at the lower end of the English divisions. He looks much better than that.
Gaz said | August 26th 2009 @ 6:06am | Report comment
He WAS better than that, which is why he top-scored for Hartlepool last season, and could easily have moved to a “better” UK Div One or even Championship club this season rather than coming home. Aren’t we lucky to have him?
Mick of Newie said | August 26th 2009 @ 10:09am | Report comment
What is fascinating about GCU at this stage is how, despite what Aurelio might say, about half their team (and almost all of their defence) are pretty much A league rejects (Higgins, Rees, Piorkowski, Fitzsimmons, Osman, Pantelidis).
Good coaching I suspect.