The Western Sydney Wanderers seem to experience a squad overhaul every off-season, despite having only been in existence for four years.
In spite of their success as A-League Premiership and Asian Champions League winners, Tony Popovic has had to continually refresh and reformat his side, particularly in attack. The most dramatic transformation occurred last season, when he switched from the direct, high-tempo pressing style that characterised their initial years, to a Spanish-flavoured possession approach based upon fluent build-up play from the back and fluid attacking movement in the final third.
The key figurehead of this stylistic revolution going forward was Mitch Nichols. This season, while there have been inevitable changes in personnel around him, Nichols has been the familiar face. That consistency has paid dividends for both him and his club, as he has gradually become one of the league’s complete playmakers. He is the players that knits the Wanderers attack together.
In spite of the style changes, Popovic has always been devoted to his 4-2-3-1 formation. In the current system, Nichols plays as the #10. However, his role is more complex than that.
The wide players, Nico Martinez and Jumpei Kusukami, are encouraged to drift inside into the pockets, with Nichols instructed to make forward runs into the channels. This serves two purposes: it pushes opposition defences back, creating space between the lines, and it pushes opposition defences wide, creating space between defenders.
Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Central Coast Mariners was a commanding example of Nichols’ outstanding movement. With Paul Okon setting his side out in a 4-3-3 formation, the Mariners matched up man-for-man against the Wanderers midfield triangle. Okon instructed Blake Powell and George Berry to push forward and press the Wanderers deep midfielders, Dimas and Bruno Pinatores.
However, with Dimas and Bruno dropping into deep positions, drawing their direct opponents up the pitch, this created space to either side of holding midfielder Liam Rose.
This was especially problematic because both Jumpei and Martinez drifted into those zones, with Nichols vacating his position to fill the space created in wider areas by this inverted movement. The Wanderers were able to play through the press, find either of the wingers between the lines, who could then drive forward on the ball or play Nichols in space out wide.
This pattern was most evident and most successful in the build up to their second goal.
Nichols’ movement to get in behind is critical to creating the space for the other attackers to receive passes between the lines. Jumpei and Martinez are the Wanderers equivalent of Milos Ninkovic, Brett Holman and Guilherme Finkler, playmakers who tend to drop deeper, towards the play. Nichols is more similar stylistically to Alex Brosque or James Troisi, in the way he darts forward from a #10 position.
Unlike Brosque or Troisi, however, Nichols is yet to score a goal this season, as his role has been as provider. Racking up four assists already, he has also made more crosses than any other Wanderers player this season, able to deliver early, low balls in behind the opposition backline, or clever, driven cutbacks from the byline in front of the opposition backline.
Nichols does score goals, though, boasting great quality from long distances. He was second by a solitary strike behind Brendan Santalab last season in the club’s goalscoring charts, and has recorded more shots than any other his teammates this season.
Goals would be welcome this season, but his teammates appreciate the work he does off the ball to make the side tick. Argentine Martinez was effervescent in his praise, describing Nichols as ‘like a horse in the Melbourne Cup.”
“He runs the 90 minutes, amazing, this guy… He knows what he’s going to do before he receives the ball… he’s a very clever guy with a very good technique, actually, I think he’s a very complete player – and he runs.”
Nichols certainly runs – not only in attack, but also defensively. Popovic places a great emphasis on organised, collective defensive pressure, which Martinez also alludes to. “He allows us freedom to play,” says the Argentine, “but when we don’t have the ball, we have to be in our position, defend, press… that’s what we work on during the week.”
Nichols again is key. Moving up alongside the striker to create a 4-4-2 block, Nichols works with his partner to block passes into central midfield positions and force play wide. Importantly, he leads the pressure, watching for triggers such as a slow pass or a sloppy backwards ball, upon which he moves forward to apply pressure. This is the cue for the entire defensive block to step forward and maintain pressure on the ball – if the Wanderers don’t win it back, they’ll drop back into their block. Nichols is not just the attacking fulcrum; he is also the defensive leader.
That is the benefit of staying and working under Popovic, despite interest from overseas after his good start to last season. Now, Nichols has clearly become the centrepiece of this Wanderers side, and one of the league’s more underappreciated but most talented attackers.
Post_hoc
Guest
Happy Days, oh Happy Days
marron
Guest
Video here (although the original I saw also had a bit on the kop style home end) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yMxFj_Tpbk
AZ_RBB
Guest
..
AZ_RBB
Guest
State Govt has today announced the new Parramatta Stadium. Lendlease has won the tender and will be constructing a design submitted by world-renowned stadium architect Populous. The basic details are much the same as before. 30k capacity to be completed in 2019. - confirmed that it will have the steepest stands of any stadium in Aus - 3000 VIP seats, 50 or so private suites - 4 changerooms - Wifi (lolz) Some of the design - http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/6e4b0397b36d66ff1698e70861385bb4?width=1024 The outside - http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/e6ec1b0a2310c3d79b9a8c418ecafb24?width=650 From above - http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/733b6aacede1bfba44553fdcb751415a?width=650 Steeper than Lang Park - http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/578f575a7bf2fec1892115d6fd106e35?width=650
Lionheart
Guest
Silly them Midfielder. Interesting though, the other codes simply don't employ tactics or game plans anything like this.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Clisby is much better with his crossing than Neville. But inferior ball skills and lack of pace make it harder for him create such opportunities. On the other hand Neville is constantly getting in behind the defence. But his crossing is woeful. It's often not much more than a gentle lob into the box or a miscued ball into the second row (that's an achievement at Spotless). From a purely defensive point of view, I'm quite happy with our back 4 but MVFC caused us some serious grief last time around. Let's see how we go this time.
Jeff Williamson
Roar Pro
I agree Brandon O'Neill is doing well. A good holding midfielder. An energetic player.
punter
Guest
Jeff, I have been very impressed with Brillante this year, this is a special player, if he continues his good form, would love to see him involved with the Socceroos next year. I watched hom very closely this year, he is aware of his position at all times, always looking for the best options. Dimitrivevic has hardly played this year, O'Neill is the other of the trio of the SFC midfield, he too is very good.
Jeff Williamson
Roar Pro
Thanks for some excellent analysis. Nichols is definitely maturing into a very good player. Mooy was a standout in midfield last season for Melbourne City. This season I am impressed with Sydney FC combination - Brillante, Dimitruevic, and Ninkovic. Unfortunately, only one of that trio can play for the Socceroos.
josh
Guest
I can't see that happening anytime soon, cost us a trophy last season but no one has learned from it.
punter
Guest
Thanks AZ for your analysis, I've been a Nichols fan ever since in Brisbane Roar days, he has the right quality, but never having played for my team I haven't had the opportunity to watch him close up either at game or TV. So good to hear the view from WSW & BR fans on him. Attitude, inconsistency & lack of ability to step into higher quality the main 3 reasons. Hence why he is not a Socceroo regular.
Post_hoc
Guest
Great article and all, I enjoyed it, and as a junior coach it is very educational to read the breakdown like this. In reply to AZ_RBB, I agree on the Mitch being nullified issue, what I am eager to see is if Melbourne does do this (I expect they will) how Wanderers respond. I am hoping the response is Mitch continues to draw wide dragging his players with him, and Nico and/or Jumpei moving inside to fill the holes. I am no fan of Bulut, but his movement off the ball (even offside frustrations) could be hugely important for this game. I suspect The back 4 and screens will have problems with this movement. Having said that, Victory at the other end will be causing no end of headaches for our backs. I think the keys for this game will be the 6 and 8's. How well they screen and then transition. What isn't being said is the passing of Dimas, his stats this year are 658 passes with an accuracy of 85% That is hugely important for the Wanderers.
Kaks
Roar Guru
One thing this article fails to mention is how we have struggled this season when we come up against an organised defence due to the lack of width. Having Nichols as a 10 with the floating wingers looks great against un-organized teams, but once we go up against any team that fills the holes in the centre of the park, we struggle. The wing-backs bombarding forward dont do enough to stretch the defense, especially when their final ball is so poor that the defenders just hang off them inviting them to whip the ball in. That said, Clisby has surprised me the last few games, he has been excellent in attack and defence.
Fadida
Guest
Great article. I'm really enjoying the growing number of strategic articles
AZ_RBB
Guest
Great stuff. A lot being said about Nichols' inconsistency. I won't say too much about his performances for other clubs but I've found in this time at WSW often his performance can be dependent on the attention he gets from the opposition. I find the teams with a stronger defensive structure can nullify him easily especially if he has 2 players following him around. Unlike the truly elite midfielders he struggles to adjust to this level of attention. But in any game where the opposition aren't as capable or willing to keep up with him he can run rampant and it's a joy to watch. He has the workhorse qualities you want in any players but he mixes that perfectly with some solid technical and tactical ability. I expect MVFC to put a lot of effort into keeping him quiet on Saturday night. That might leave Jumpei and Martinez to cause some damage. But will they be as effective if Nichols isn't on his game? We have a poor record at bigger grounds and bigger crowds but I think we'll be far more competitive than we were at Docklands a few weeks ago. And I know it's not always just about the crowds but I would like to see a big walk up crowd on Saturday night. MVFC are a very strong outfit and genuine contenders for trophies this season. WSW have been a mixed bag but we're showing signs we can mix it with the best. Temps will be in the low 20s, perfect for some high tempo entertaining football.
Midfielder
Guest
Josh all you need is a decent striker ...
Realfootball
Guest
Such is life, Mid. Sadly, we live in the age where clickbait journalism rules. Thank you, Tim, for some quality football journalism.
j binnie
Guest
Real - I agree with everything you saId about Nicholl's Roar sojourn and his "turn offs" used to bug me no end but after a few moves around he settled at WSW and last year his form was a revelation, he was contributing all around the park and I think, at the time, I commented on this factor, giving Popovic some credit. This season he has started somewhat slower,not in speed but in influence,and I put that down to comparisons that can be made with his "new" partners,Martinez and Jumpeii. It is evident these 2 have played the game at a higher level and it is to be hoped Mitch will "latch on to their tails" and get back to the form he showed last season. Cheers jb.
Midfielder
Guest
LH Whats sad as I see it, this is a well researched article about the game and a key player, the style of a leading coach, and everyone is off posting and arguing on a code war thread about who has the real right to use the term Football...
Lionheart
Guest
Thanks for this article Tim Palmer. It's great for a novice like me to help understanding the game.