The Half-Spaces by Rene Maric

[Hoof the ball]

The following article was recommended within The Athletic's article, What's so special about the half-spaces (with help from Rene Maric).
Here is the Athletic article for those who have a subscription to that.
https://theathletic.com/2968882/202...ut-the-half-spaces-with-help-from-rene-maric/

The main article, however, was written in a blog piece back in 2014 when he was just that. A blogger. You'll know him now as assistant manager at Dortmund.
https://spielverlagerung.com/2014/09/16/the-half-spaces/

He wrote a long post for Spielverlagerung on what made these two extra zones worth paying attention to. It’s worth reading the whole thing, but the gist is that the half-spaces combine the advantage of the centre — getting away from the sideline, where movement is limited, and closer to goal — with a natural angle that helps spatial awareness and encourages dangerous diagonal passes. Maric was especially interested in how the half-spaces could be strategically useful in dragging defences out of position.

It's worth reading this article, not least of all because it was the one which caught the eye of Thomas Tuchel and Marco Rose, but also because if you're trying to understand what Rangnick is about, this goes a long way to clarifying important precepts he believes in. Also delves into geometry and the favourability of half-spaces as improving spacial awareness.

 

[ivaldo]

Oh.

 

[Bubz27]

Oh.

And we wonder why the FF is shite now.

 

[Blackwidow]

You should maybe put in the Spielverlagerung article for Gegenpressing, too: https://spielverlagerung.com/2014/10/07/counter-or-gegenpressing/

Written by Rene Maric, too.

 

[adexkola]

And we wonder why the FF is shite now.

Indeed.

 

[Tincanalley]

Grealish is fecked. Now I understand that glassy look in his eyes. I saw it in kids in algebra class who wanted to be outside climbing trees.

 

[Tincanalley]

The other thought: Messi, Xabi and Iniesta. And this strategic model in their heads. We all remember the effect on the field, like a well-oiled and elegant machine. Terrifying. Must watch some of these matches again.

 

[Harry190]

You think

And we wonder why the FF is shite now.

What is that? Fantastic Four?