Nursing the final pint I'd have pre-match, my phone vibrated, bringing me the Finn Harps team news. I had a quick glance at it and noticing the lack of defenders in the side, wondered what way the team would line up for the game.
When the team lined out, It looked like a 3 at the back formation with Ryan Rainey operating as a right wing back, however, there was no left wingback partner, or even a full back.
Here is my take on the asymmetrical formation that Finn Harps used on Friday night.
Starting Line up .
This is roughly the set up that Harps kicked off with and looked to revert to throughout the game.
On paper, it looks pretty unorthodox and quite exposed in parts.
With Regan Donelon injured and no recognised left back in the side, I feel this set up provided Harps with a solid foundation rather than playing someone out of position in the left back or left wing back role.
When we take into account that Bohs lined up with Ali Coote on the right, a talented player who likes to effect the game by drifting off his wing into central areas, this move forced him to stay wide and reduced the impact that he had on the game.
On paper, it looks pretty unorthodox and quite exposed in parts.
With Regan Donelon injured and no recognised left back in the side, I feel this set up provided Harps with a solid foundation rather than playing someone out of position in the left back or left wing back role.
When we take into account that Bohs lined up with Ali Coote on the right, a talented player who likes to effect the game by drifting off his wing into central areas, this move forced him to stay wide and reduced the impact that he had on the game.
Formation Transition.
This animation shows how Harps moved between starting formation, defensive formation and attacking formation against Bohs.
The transition from a 3 at the back to a 4 would be triggered by Carillo making the move to cover the area usually occupied by the left back. When he moved, Webster and Boyle both moved with him, taking up the centre back positions and Rainey dropped back into the right back position.
It was a very effective tactic, devised by necessity likely, but made possible by the players at Ollie's disposal. Carillo's pace meant he was the perfect centre back to cover such a space, and the versatility of Boyle and Rainey allowed for the seamless transitions between positions and formation.
When in possession and looking to attack, Rainey pushed further on and depending on the space, either inside to create an overload in midfield or down the right if Hery was more central.
This overload helped Harps get a firm foothold in the midfield battle.
Defensive Formation
The obvious space down the left due to their being no left back meant that Bohs often tried to exploit that area in behind.
This though was planned for and invited by the set up, with Carillo and then Slevin on hand to clear the danger.
The benefit of this set up was that if Bohs did get Coote in behind and into a crossing position, Harps would still have three defenders in the box ready to deal with it.
With the three defenders knowing the space that they were each responsible for covering, it allowed Harps to dictate that Bohs would attack mainly up the right and comfortably defend crosses from that side.
One of the most obvious times that this scenario played out was actually Promise's goal.
One of the most obvious times that this scenario played out was actually Promise's goal.
Rainey was in the perfect position to deal with the cross but probably went with his wrong foot, his clearance took an unfortunate deflection off of Boyle and sat up nicely for the Bohs striker to finish.
It was a poor goal to give away and I'm sure Ollie will be disappointed.
In saying that, there was nothing wrong with it from a tactical point of view and aside from the goal, Bohs were limited to shots from distance, bar a late effort from Promise that Rainey cleared from the six yard box.
When in possession, Harps tried to push higher up and play a patient game across the midfield. Without any real natural winger on, they aimed to break Bohs down by playing through the middle or hitting the occasional ball up the right for Yoyo or the left for Milhajovic to chase, with the hope of pulling their defence out of position.
Harps didn't create too many chances throughout the game but any that they did create, came about as a result of having a spare man in midfield.
When in possession Rainey operated between the right wing back and central midfield area, allowing both N'Zeyi and Connolly to push up more. We saw N'Zeyi find himself as the spare man on the edge of the box in the 10th minute when his shot on goal was well blocked.
Harps goal came about from this attacking set up. McNamee and Hery had swapped sides and after some patient lateral passing, Connolly took a risk on pushing forward and got on the end of a one-two with Hery before magnificently firing the ball into the top corner.
It was a well worked goal but looking back at it, the Bohs defenders were very slow to react to Connolly's run. They seemed to be expecting a deep cross from Hery and were caught out by his clever pass instead.
It was a frustrating night for both strikers who did a lot of thankless running.
We did see the midfield overload creating opportunities just before the equaliser when the ball was overturned high up the pitch and Mahdy played Milhajovic through on goal. His touch ran away from him though and Talbot was quickly out to clear it away.
Once Harps got the equaliser, they sat a bit deeper and hit more balls out wide, looking for McWoods down the right, hoping he could exploit the tiring Bohs defence.
I think this was a highly effective tactical set up from Ollie Horgan. It's much more nuanced and thought out than he will get credit for.
Rather than just playing defensive football, Harps created a scenario where they invited Bohs onto them, dictating their attacks in a controlled manner and managed the danger.
It was certainly a very different set up from how Harps played against Dundalk, where they set up to engage a press at the halfway line and were very effective at turning the ball over and breaking to create chances in the first half.
They definitely played a more disciplined game and offered less of a goal threat, but I think it could prove to be a good point against a Bohs side who have impressed so far this season.
I must apologise for my slow start to the season.
The Friday/Monday game to start off the season caught me on the hop but I'll be aiming to have a reactionary piece of some sort to every game.
If every goalkeeper could time waste like James Talbot, I might have time to write my piece in the stands!
Obviously, some of you may disagree with my analysis of this and if you do, please let me know, or feel free to point out anything I may have missed.
I'd love to hear any thoughts or comments that any of you may have.
Many thanks for reading and roll on Friday night!
Up the Harps!
Cheers,
Harpin' on.
Attacking Formation
When in possession, Harps tried to push higher up and play a patient game across the midfield. Without any real natural winger on, they aimed to break Bohs down by playing through the middle or hitting the occasional ball up the right for Yoyo or the left for Milhajovic to chase, with the hope of pulling their defence out of position.
Harps didn't create too many chances throughout the game but any that they did create, came about as a result of having a spare man in midfield.
When in possession Rainey operated between the right wing back and central midfield area, allowing both N'Zeyi and Connolly to push up more. We saw N'Zeyi find himself as the spare man on the edge of the box in the 10th minute when his shot on goal was well blocked.
Harps goal came about from this attacking set up. McNamee and Hery had swapped sides and after some patient lateral passing, Connolly took a risk on pushing forward and got on the end of a one-two with Hery before magnificently firing the ball into the top corner.
It was a well worked goal but looking back at it, the Bohs defenders were very slow to react to Connolly's run. They seemed to be expecting a deep cross from Hery and were caught out by his clever pass instead.
It was a frustrating night for both strikers who did a lot of thankless running.
We did see the midfield overload creating opportunities just before the equaliser when the ball was overturned high up the pitch and Mahdy played Milhajovic through on goal. His touch ran away from him though and Talbot was quickly out to clear it away.
Once Harps got the equaliser, they sat a bit deeper and hit more balls out wide, looking for McWoods down the right, hoping he could exploit the tiring Bohs defence.
Conclusion
I think this was a highly effective tactical set up from Ollie Horgan. It's much more nuanced and thought out than he will get credit for.
Rather than just playing defensive football, Harps created a scenario where they invited Bohs onto them, dictating their attacks in a controlled manner and managed the danger.
It was certainly a very different set up from how Harps played against Dundalk, where they set up to engage a press at the halfway line and were very effective at turning the ball over and breaking to create chances in the first half.
They definitely played a more disciplined game and offered less of a goal threat, but I think it could prove to be a good point against a Bohs side who have impressed so far this season.
I must apologise for my slow start to the season.
The Friday/Monday game to start off the season caught me on the hop but I'll be aiming to have a reactionary piece of some sort to every game.
If every goalkeeper could time waste like James Talbot, I might have time to write my piece in the stands!
Obviously, some of you may disagree with my analysis of this and if you do, please let me know, or feel free to point out anything I may have missed.
I'd love to hear any thoughts or comments that any of you may have.
Many thanks for reading and roll on Friday night!
Up the Harps!
Cheers,
Harpin' on.
March 08, 2022
Tags :
Ballybofey
,
Bohemians
,
Bohs
,
Donegal
,
Finn Harps
,
League of Ireland
,
New Season
,
Ollie Horgan
,
Tactial analysis
Subscribe by Email
Follow Updates Articles from This Blog via Email
No Comments