As the PSL enters a break for international football, we look at seven sides’ tactics so far this season and how they are getting an advantage over opponents by making key tactical tweaks.
This season, Chiefs have been much more settled in terms of team shape, starting with a diamond in midfield for all but one game so far. Against Cape Town City, Chiefs were blown away in the first half using a 4-3-3 shape but switched to the narrow midfield four for the second half and turned the game on its head.
The key player tactically has been Bernard Parker. Under Middendorp last season, he was usually seen towards the right touchline as part of the German coach’s “split striker” system. However, after the arrivals of Samir Nurkovic and Lazarous Kambole, a change of position has been required for the 33-year-old.
He has largely played on the left of the diamond in a highly-demanding shuttler role which asks him to both track opposition fullbacks and tuck-in to supplement central midfield. However, in two recent matches where Chiefs have been chasing the game, Parker has dropped into an attacking fullback role.
ALSO READ: WHY CHIEFS A REAL PSL TITLE CONTENDERS
ALSO READ: KHUNE AT A CROSSROADS
Against Cape Town City, he moved to left-back after 65 minutes and just 15 minutes later, Chiefs had turned a 0-1 deficit into a 2-1 lead, with Parker’s deep cross finding Nurkovic and leading to the winner. Against AmaZulu, he moved to right-back after 75 minutes and Amakhosi scored twice in the final 15 odd minutes to win 2-0.
Against Polokwane City, he also dropped to left-back but Chiefs could not turn around the result and lost 1-0. Although Parker’s displays this season have not set any matches alight, and some of his shooting from range has been wild, his versatility and great attitude have been crucial to Chiefs’ strong start.
This season, Sundowns have alternated between 4-2-3-1 and 4-2-2-2 shape. This always features two deep midfielders to receive off the central defenders and find teammates further forward. As Kekana heads towards his 35th birthday, there have been certain games where Sibusiso Vilakazi has dropped deep to help the build-up play, allowing Kekana to conserve energy further forward.
Pitso Mosimane explained the change by saying:
“We are pushing Kekana more forward to play the number 8 role because he can shoot and he has an eye for the pass. I also moved ‘Vila’ closer to Kekana in the middle to take some of the load off him. Vila is the guy to come and get the ball from Rivaldo.”
This has worked very well for Sundowns, making the side even harder to press with the positional interchange. Having Vilakazi deeper has also allowed Gaston Sirino to play as one of the front two when the 4-2-2-2 is used, whilst Jose Ali Meza has also been used in attack for his pace and work-rate.
ALSO READ: CAN SUNDOWNS MAKE IT 3 PSL TITLE IN A ROW?
ALSO READ: HOW THE ‘CBD” HELPED SUNDOWNS TO A PSL POINTS RECORD
The arrival of Thamsanqa Gabuza at Matsatsantsa meant that Kaitano Tembo had a problem to solve – where to play Bradley Grobler. The obvious answer is to pair him in a front two with the former Orlando Pirates target man, but that meant Evans Rusike would have to play on the flank in a midfield four and therefore take on ill-suited defensive duties.
Tembo has found the answer by having Gabuza lead the line, Grobler playing slightly deeper and to the left, and Rusike playing as an advanced right-winger. The trio rarely drops into defensive positions, whilst a midfield three controls proceedings behind them. This can leave the side exposed defensively on the flanks, but it does ask questions of opponents who feel obliged to leave at least four men back.
This solution was stumbled-upon by the coach due to Aubrey Modiba’s early-season hamstring injury. Now that the latter has returned, he has covered at left-back for the suspended Onismor Bhasera, giving yet another attacking weapon to the side when he gets forward. Once Bhasera returns, Modiba could either replace one of the front three or play in central midfield. It’s a good dilemma to have.
ALSO READ: FOREIGN COACHES IN THE PSL
ALSO READ: PSL TEAM OF THE MONTH SEPTEMBER