Marco Silva

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http://outsideoftheboot.com/2017/02/16/tactical-philosophy-marco-silva/

While at Olympiakos and Estoril, Silva adopted the 4-2-3-1 in the lion’s share of his games in charge. The defensive structure allows the midfield to almost spring-load, allowing for a quick transition in to attack when the team regain possession. The formation allows the collective to unite as a stronger unit than relying on one or two players more adept at filing the role. At Sporting, however, Silva was known to deploy the 4-1-4-1 defensive formation as an attacking formation, since William Carvalho was available to play the holding role. With a great array of talent on hand, Silva was able to add a further player to the attack, knowing that Carvalho could handle himself alone during the time it took for the midfielders to drop back in to a defensive shape when dispossessed.

Silva’s Defensive Approach

With the team operating in a 4-1-4-1 in defence, the key for Silva is to fill space and cut out options for his opponents. The wingers drop back to help cover the wing backs, stepping in and out of the centre of the pitch depending on which way the opponent is attempting to go to break the side down. That said, wingers never step far in-field, as that of course is the domain of the two central midfielders and their deeper defensive midfielder.

A pressing game is of course implemented here, but not to the level of a Mauricio Pochettino or a Johan Cruyff. Players are encouraged to get harry opponents and push them further back, sometimes hunting in packs, but swiftly returning to their positions as to shut down space. Players shadow the ball as it crosses the field, pressing where possible to force errors and push the player further back. As mentioned earlier, the midfield is spring-loaded in this sense for the high paced counter attack. With players willing to break from their positions to win the ball back, the momentum is behind them and against the player dispossessed when the ball finally returns to Silva’s side.

The defensive midfielder shadows the play behind his midfield four, adding an extra body to cut out space to creative outlets. His pressing game is not restricted to the zone behind his midfield – straying further would leave too many gaps behind, and that sort of over-commitment could be the difference between a clean sheet and a goal. The key for the players here is using their own initiative; Hull centre back Curtis Davies reports that Marco Silva physically moves his players in to the positions he wishes them to fill during phases of play, working meticulously to show his team where to be and when to decide to be there. As a game develops, players take these lessons and apply them on the fly – “where would Marco put me if we were training?”, if you will. These sorts of perfectionist details, coupled with the faith Silva puts in his troops and freedom he allows them to make their own choices, breeds a confidence and assurance amongst his team in defence that has immaculately highlighted by Hull’s revitalised defensive shape.

Hull-defence-Chelsea.png

– In their 2-0 defeat away to Chelsea, Hull protect their box with Evandro pressing the ball as it progresses across the field. Huddlestone remains between the two banks of four as an extra body, as Clucas, previously aiding the full back Robertson, runs to fill the space ahead, where Diego Costa is attempting to bend a run.

Hull-City-countered.png

– Hull track back as Chelsea counter – Huddlestone, as the deepest midfielder, follows the play back between the back line and the retreating front four, cutting out inside options. Meyler returns to the defence with him, with the four defenders well positioned during their attack to be available to fall back in to their defensive shape quickly.

Silva’s Offensive Approach

Just as defending is about cutting out options for their opponents, attack is all about creating options for themselves. Counter attacking football follows the same tried and true formula – organise well, win the ball back, spring out of the traps and attack direct. Knowing that direct running isn’t always going to win the day, Silva seeks to pack the dangerous areas with players to create options for his side to play through and pull the opposition around.

One of the two primarily holding midfielders joins the attack, supporting from deeper and acting as an insurance policy to slow play down or out-right win the ball back should a counter attack break down. He is the defensive midfielder’s last line of defence, as it were, but also an outlet with a wide passing range should a counter attack slow and require a new angle. Ahead of him, the three attacking midfielders offer options on both wings and through the middle, stepping a little closer to one another than perhaps other managers may advocate. This, again, is to create options; players out of possession need to be thinking two or three passes ahead, and how best to make themselves available for their nearest team mate should they be next on the ball. The real width is created by the full backs, who dart in to space out wide, available as both an option for a play-switching long pass, or a short option on the overlap should their nearest winger come in to possession.

Up front, the lone striker dovetails into space and nearer the ball to offer options both short and long. Wingers pull in closer to them, drop out wider, whichever option offers the most use at the time. The constant movement and body-overload for the opposition defence makes deciding who to mark far trickier, with options developing and changing all around.

Hull-City-counter.png

– In the 0-0 away league draw against Manchester United, Hull begin a counter attack, with Huddlestone remaining deepest, four midfielders joining the attack, creating options for their nearest team mate. Niasse drops deep to offer himself as a give-and-go option with Lazar Markovic, or perhaps to pivot the play back inside to on-rushing midfielders.

Hull-City-high-pressure.png

– Although the attack has broken down, the screenshot above showcases the bodies available and options created by Silva’s counter attacking style. Huddlestone again remains deepest, with three attacking midfielders, a wing back, and central midfielder and a striker all ahead, pressing the ball and available to provide options on the counter, occupying large spaces and remaining close to potential ball-winning allies.
Who are you expecting him to make use of in this first team squad of ours? Can you see Klaassen playing a Cleverely role? Where would he make use of Davies?
 
Who are you expecting him to make use of in this first team squad of ours? Can you see Klaassen playing a Cleverely role? Where would he make use of Davies?

Iceland will take the TC role.

I would make use of Davies at Crewe or somewhere.

Klaassen, if he ever becomes a footballer in this league, would fit wonderfully well into Silvas midfield.

We 100% need a Left back, Baines, whilst I love him deeply, does not have the legs to get up and down like Silva expects of his fullbacks, everybody else, whilst some are clearly not the required standard, would be able to adapt to his tactics, after they sweat their summer kebabs out in pre-season.

We would need some quality in certain places, but I think Marco could make use of some of them with a sprinkling of 2 or 3 quality additions.

Im pretty sure Brands remit is to bin off about 20 players and buy 3 of real quality, then probably 2-3 yoot punts.
 

My main issues is this.

Silva employs a heavy, heavy press, Koeman attempted to get this same group of players to press and they all, to a man, didnt even bother, thats the danger sadly, whilst some of the players have the required skillset to play a heavy pressing technical game, none of them, bar 1 or 2, have the heart or desire to play at a high tempo.

As Big Ron would say, they are all lazy

I think we should all expect a 12 month bedding in period, give Brands 3 windows to shed the dross and make quality additions.

In an ideal world Silva gets a free pass in his first season, but this isnt an ideal world, its modern football sadly.
 
If we end up signing that left back fabra, who we’ve been linked with for a good while, then I would think that is all the evidence we need to realise brands and silva have known for months that the jobs were theirs
 

http://outsideoftheboot.com/2017/02/16/tactical-philosophy-marco-silva/

While at Olympiakos and Estoril, Silva adopted the 4-2-3-1 in the lion’s share of his games in charge. The defensive structure allows the midfield to almost spring-load, allowing for a quick transition in to attack when the team regain possession. The formation allows the collective to unite as a stronger unit than relying on one or two players more adept at filing the role. At Sporting, however, Silva was known to deploy the 4-1-4-1 defensive formation as an attacking formation, since William Carvalho was available to play the holding role. With a great array of talent on hand, Silva was able to add a further player to the attack, knowing that Carvalho could handle himself alone during the time it took for the midfielders to drop back in to a defensive shape when dispossessed.

Silva’s Defensive Approach

With the team operating in a 4-1-4-1 in defence, the key for Silva is to fill space and cut out options for his opponents. The wingers drop back to help cover the wing backs, stepping in and out of the centre of the pitch depending on which way the opponent is attempting to go to break the side down. That said, wingers never step far in-field, as that of course is the domain of the two central midfielders and their deeper defensive midfielder.

A pressing game is of course implemented here, but not to the level of a Mauricio Pochettino or a Johan Cruyff. Players are encouraged to get harry opponents and push them further back, sometimes hunting in packs, but swiftly returning to their positions as to shut down space. Players shadow the ball as it crosses the field, pressing where possible to force errors and push the player further back. As mentioned earlier, the midfield is spring-loaded in this sense for the high paced counter attack. With players willing to break from their positions to win the ball back, the momentum is behind them and against the player dispossessed when the ball finally returns to Silva’s side.

The defensive midfielder shadows the play behind his midfield four, adding an extra body to cut out space to creative outlets. His pressing game is not restricted to the zone behind his midfield – straying further would leave too many gaps behind, and that sort of over-commitment could be the difference between a clean sheet and a goal. The key for the players here is using their own initiative; Hull centre back Curtis Davies reports that Marco Silva physically moves his players in to the positions he wishes them to fill during phases of play, working meticulously to show his team where to be and when to decide to be there. As a game develops, players take these lessons and apply them on the fly – “where would Marco put me if we were training?”, if you will. These sorts of perfectionist details, coupled with the faith Silva puts in his troops and freedom he allows them to make their own choices, breeds a confidence and assurance amongst his team in defence that has immaculately highlighted by Hull’s revitalised defensive shape.

Hull-defence-Chelsea.png

– In their 2-0 defeat away to Chelsea, Hull protect their box with Evandro pressing the ball as it progresses across the field. Huddlestone remains between the two banks of four as an extra body, as Clucas, previously aiding the full back Robertson, runs to fill the space ahead, where Diego Costa is attempting to bend a run.

Hull-City-countered.png

– Hull track back as Chelsea counter – Huddlestone, as the deepest midfielder, follows the play back between the back line and the retreating front four, cutting out inside options. Meyler returns to the defence with him, with the four defenders well positioned during their attack to be available to fall back in to their defensive shape quickly.

Silva’s Offensive Approach

Just as defending is about cutting out options for their opponents, attack is all about creating options for themselves. Counter attacking football follows the same tried and true formula – organise well, win the ball back, spring out of the traps and attack direct. Knowing that direct running isn’t always going to win the day, Silva seeks to pack the dangerous areas with players to create options for his side to play through and pull the opposition around.

One of the two primarily holding midfielders joins the attack, supporting from deeper and acting as an insurance policy to slow play down or out-right win the ball back should a counter attack break down. He is the defensive midfielder’s last line of defence, as it were, but also an outlet with a wide passing range should a counter attack slow and require a new angle. Ahead of him, the three attacking midfielders offer options on both wings and through the middle, stepping a little closer to one another than perhaps other managers may advocate. This, again, is to create options; players out of possession need to be thinking two or three passes ahead, and how best to make themselves available for their nearest team mate should they be next on the ball. The real width is created by the full backs, who dart in to space out wide, available as both an option for a play-switching long pass, or a short option on the overlap should their nearest winger come in to possession.

Up front, the lone striker dovetails into space and nearer the ball to offer options both short and long. Wingers pull in closer to them, drop out wider, whichever option offers the most use at the time. The constant movement and body-overload for the opposition defence makes deciding who to mark far trickier, with options developing and changing all around.

Hull-City-counter.png

– In the 0-0 away league draw against Manchester United, Hull begin a counter attack, with Huddlestone remaining deepest, four midfielders joining the attack, creating options for their nearest team mate. Niasse drops deep to offer himself as a give-and-go option with Lazar Markovic, or perhaps to pivot the play back inside to on-rushing midfielders.

Hull-City-high-pressure.png

– Although the attack has broken down, the screenshot above showcases the bodies available and options created by Silva’s counter attacking style. Huddlestone again remains deepest, with three attacking midfielders, a wing back, and central midfielder and a striker all ahead, pressing the ball and available to provide options on the counter, occupying large spaces and remaining close to potential ball-winning allies.
An actual system? Wow Everton have already improved from Koeman.
 
I said he was a gamble- but Sam's football was crap ten men behind the ball and HOOFBALL!
hence sacked!
It was the ‘anything is better than Sam’ I was responding too. I dont want Sam any more then the next guy, but Id rather Sam than relegation.
 
My main issues is this.

Silva employs a heavy, heavy press, Koeman attempted to get this same group of players to press and they all, to a man, didnt even bother, thats the danger sadly, whilst some of the players have the required skillset to play a heavy pressing technical game, none of them, bar 1 or 2, have the heart or desire to play at a high tempo.

As Big Ron would say, they are all lazy

I think we should all expect a 12 month bedding in period, give Brands 3 windows to shed the dross and make quality additions.

In an ideal world Silva gets a free pass in his first season, but this isnt an ideal world, its modern football sadly.

I think it’s clear that we bought players that’s not good at pressing and plays them at position that needs constant pressing.

How do you expect a midfield trio or Schneiderlin, Rooney and Klassen to press? One of then can’t be bother, the other one doesn’t have the legs and the last one simply does not believe pressing is a necessity part of his game.

Silva plays with 2 defensive midfield. One of them will be Gana for sure, the other will be given to any one of the midfielder who press and run more than others. I think it will be besic or siggy.
 
I think it’s clear that we bought players that’s not good at pressing and plays them at position that needs constant pressing.

How do you expect a midfield trio or Schneiderlin, Rooney and Klassen to press? One of then can’t be bother, the other one don’t have the legs and the last one simply does not believe pressing is a necessity part of his game.

Silva plays with 2 defensive midfield. One of them will be Gana for sure, the other will be given to any one of the midfielder who press and run more than others. I think it will be besic or siggy.

Iceland will play here :

GK
RB - CB - CB - LB
DM - CM
W -- Iceland -- W
S

GK
RB - CB - CB - LB
CM - DM - Iceland
W- S - W
Besic and Klaassen will both be very interesting, both will fit superbly into Silvas system, if they can prove they have what it takes, at their very best, both are superb players, just sadly neither plays at their very best for long or often.
 

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