Aus Tactics
@aus-tactics.bsky.social
➡️ Tactical insights and analysis from the beautiful game, down under
💻 Opposition & Academy Analyst
✉️ tactics.aus@gmail.com
𝕏 https://x.com/aus_tactics
💻 Opposition & Academy Analyst
✉️ tactics.aus@gmail.com
𝕏 https://x.com/aus_tactics
Another example came not long after, when Arsenal moved the ball backwards before progressing against the momentum of the Forest midfield.
September 14, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Another example came not long after, when Arsenal moved the ball backwards before progressing against the momentum of the Forest midfield.
Tough first assignment for Ange, but it's already evident that his Forest team will be more aggressive out of possession compared to what he inherited from Nuno.
September 14, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Tough first assignment for Ange, but it's already evident that his Forest team will be more aggressive out of possession compared to what he inherited from Nuno.
With the ball in these areas, Heidelberg should be looking to exploit the space vacated by Brimmer jumping to Aidara (#6 > #6), as it leaves Gallegos isolated.
August 30, 2025 at 10:17 AM
With the ball in these areas, Heidelberg should be looking to exploit the space vacated by Brimmer jumping to Aidara (#6 > #6), as it leaves Gallegos isolated.
Or, like other set-piece scenarios, take it before the opponent has time to get into shape.
No offsides from goal kicks.
No offsides from goal kicks.
August 30, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Or, like other set-piece scenarios, take it before the opponent has time to get into shape.
No offsides from goal kicks.
No offsides from goal kicks.
Wouldn't mind seeing a bit more experimentation this season with the 'bunch and launch' goal kick.
Sacrifice a second-ball scrapper to occupy a wider area for a quick third-ball release, most likely a winger who can cover ground quickly.
The opponent sends a fullback to cover? Great, send two.
Sacrifice a second-ball scrapper to occupy a wider area for a quick third-ball release, most likely a winger who can cover ground quickly.
The opponent sends a fullback to cover? Great, send two.
August 30, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Wouldn't mind seeing a bit more experimentation this season with the 'bunch and launch' goal kick.
Sacrifice a second-ball scrapper to occupy a wider area for a quick third-ball release, most likely a winger who can cover ground quickly.
The opponent sends a fullback to cover? Great, send two.
Sacrifice a second-ball scrapper to occupy a wider area for a quick third-ball release, most likely a winger who can cover ground quickly.
The opponent sends a fullback to cover? Great, send two.
— Pin/invert (fullbacks)
— Stretch (centre-backs)
— Dictate (#6/#8)
Ball-players in central areas facing forwards, dictating progression.
— Stretch (centre-backs)
— Dictate (#6/#8)
Ball-players in central areas facing forwards, dictating progression.
August 27, 2025 at 10:02 AM
— Pin/invert (fullbacks)
— Stretch (centre-backs)
— Dictate (#6/#8)
Ball-players in central areas facing forwards, dictating progression.
— Stretch (centre-backs)
— Dictate (#6/#8)
Ball-players in central areas facing forwards, dictating progression.
Defensive pressure can be simplified into:
→ everyone goes
OR
→ everyone stays
→ everyone goes
OR
→ everyone stays
August 21, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Defensive pressure can be simplified into:
→ everyone goes
OR
→ everyone stays
→ everyone goes
OR
→ everyone stays
John Anastasiadis has his Heidelberg side locked in.
11 seconds after a turnover and an unsuccessful counter-press, they are back in their compact mid-block, nullifying any transitional threat.
Sprinting, aggressiveness, fulfilling individual roles and collective principles.
11 seconds after a turnover and an unsuccessful counter-press, they are back in their compact mid-block, nullifying any transitional threat.
Sprinting, aggressiveness, fulfilling individual roles and collective principles.
August 20, 2025 at 10:36 AM
John Anastasiadis has his Heidelberg side locked in.
11 seconds after a turnover and an unsuccessful counter-press, they are back in their compact mid-block, nullifying any transitional threat.
Sprinting, aggressiveness, fulfilling individual roles and collective principles.
11 seconds after a turnover and an unsuccessful counter-press, they are back in their compact mid-block, nullifying any transitional threat.
Sprinting, aggressiveness, fulfilling individual roles and collective principles.
4-5-1 out of possession shape can be an effective mid/low-block strategy against teams that box their midfield, or just dual #10's in general.
It allows 2 central midfielders to block the half-space lane into the #10's, while the central #6 prevents any access directly into the #9.
It allows 2 central midfielders to block the half-space lane into the #10's, while the central #6 prevents any access directly into the #9.
August 20, 2025 at 9:43 AM
When doubling/tripling up in wide areas, the far side #6 needs to have the awareness to cover the half-space, while the more advanced far side players drop and shift across accordingly.
August 16, 2025 at 10:19 AM
When doubling/tripling up in wide areas, the far side #6 needs to have the awareness to cover the half-space, while the more advanced far side players drop and shift across accordingly.
— Drop and drag
— Play between or play beyond
— Play between or play beyond
August 15, 2025 at 10:36 AM
— Drop and drag
— Play between or play beyond
— Play between or play beyond
Auckland can be a bit braver in breaking through the midfield line(s), especially against NPL opposition.
Against a 4-1-4-1, when the advanced midfielders are drawn higher, the single #6 can become isolated centrally or create gaps when covering the wide channels like in this moment.
Against a 4-1-4-1, when the advanced midfielders are drawn higher, the single #6 can become isolated centrally or create gaps when covering the wide channels like in this moment.
August 13, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Auckland can be a bit braver in breaking through the midfield line(s), especially against NPL opposition.
Against a 4-1-4-1, when the advanced midfielders are drawn higher, the single #6 can become isolated centrally or create gaps when covering the wide channels like in this moment.
Against a 4-1-4-1, when the advanced midfielders are drawn higher, the single #6 can become isolated centrally or create gaps when covering the wide channels like in this moment.
WSW will need a tighter high and mid-block this season to protect key areas, to reliably get pressure on the ball in these moments, and also to help the attacking transition phase.
· small [THREAD] 📄
· small [THREAD] 📄
August 13, 2025 at 1:14 AM
WSW will need a tighter high and mid-block this season to protect key areas, to reliably get pressure on the ball in these moments, and also to help the attacking transition phase.
· small [THREAD] 📄
· small [THREAD] 📄
On this occasion while playing short, it also creates a shorter pass from the GK > 6, and then a simple bounce pass from 6 > CB, utilising the space behind where the pressing action came from.
August 12, 2025 at 11:38 AM
On this occasion while playing short, it also creates a shorter pass from the GK > 6, and then a simple bounce pass from 6 > CB, utilising the space behind where the pressing action came from.
Sydney FC's #6's use dynamic dropping movements in low build-up and from goal kicks.
The movement is triggered once the GK controls the ball, not when the goal kick is first taken.
The movement is triggered once the GK controls the ball, not when the goal kick is first taken.
August 12, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Sydney FC's #6's use dynamic dropping movements in low build-up and from goal kicks.
The movement is triggered once the GK controls the ball, not when the goal kick is first taken.
The movement is triggered once the GK controls the ball, not when the goal kick is first taken.
· in space → isolated.
· find the free man → or create the conditions to play through pressure.
· find the free man → or create the conditions to play through pressure.
August 12, 2025 at 11:15 AM
· in space → isolated.
· find the free man → or create the conditions to play through pressure.
· find the free man → or create the conditions to play through pressure.
More of this 👏🏼
High to low movement from Barbarouses to find a passing lane from the CB, while also attracting the opposing midfielder → support underneath → 4th man receives facing forward.
High to low movement from Barbarouses to find a passing lane from the CB, while also attracting the opposing midfielder → support underneath → 4th man receives facing forward.
August 12, 2025 at 10:59 AM
More of this 👏🏼
High to low movement from Barbarouses to find a passing lane from the CB, while also attracting the opposing midfielder → support underneath → 4th man receives facing forward.
High to low movement from Barbarouses to find a passing lane from the CB, while also attracting the opposing midfielder → support underneath → 4th man receives facing forward.
Despite dominating possession so far, WSW's static last line occupation and distances from the ball carrier has forced them to either play over or around Heidelberg's block.
August 12, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Despite dominating possession so far, WSW's static last line occupation and distances from the ball carrier has forced them to either play over or around Heidelberg's block.
Passing sequences like this are also more achievable.
Watch how Grant consistently makes himself available as a passing option, before timing his overlapping run.
Pressure is attracted, then the space behind the pressure is exploited.
Watch how Grant consistently makes himself available as a passing option, before timing his overlapping run.
Pressure is attracted, then the space behind the pressure is exploited.
August 10, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Passing sequences like this are also more achievable.
Watch how Grant consistently makes himself available as a passing option, before timing his overlapping run.
Pressure is attracted, then the space behind the pressure is exploited.
Watch how Grant consistently makes himself available as a passing option, before timing his overlapping run.
Pressure is attracted, then the space behind the pressure is exploited.
Low fullbacks in second phase build-up, sensible.
If Sydney United applied pressure to Grant (RB) and King (LB), space opens up into the front players.
If they sit off, Sydney FC maintain control of the ball and connect through short passes.
If Sydney United applied pressure to Grant (RB) and King (LB), space opens up into the front players.
If they sit off, Sydney FC maintain control of the ball and connect through short passes.
August 10, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Low fullbacks in second phase build-up, sensible.
If Sydney United applied pressure to Grant (RB) and King (LB), space opens up into the front players.
If they sit off, Sydney FC maintain control of the ball and connect through short passes.
If Sydney United applied pressure to Grant (RB) and King (LB), space opens up into the front players.
If they sit off, Sydney FC maintain control of the ball and connect through short passes.
· left-footed angles
Not only will more angles open up when progressing the ball in the left half of the pitch, but it also makes passes like this possible. It’s subtle, but it's that slight difference which creates new avenues for ball progression.
Not only will more angles open up when progressing the ball in the left half of the pitch, but it also makes passes like this possible. It’s subtle, but it's that slight difference which creates new avenues for ball progression.
August 10, 2025 at 7:40 AM
· left-footed angles
Not only will more angles open up when progressing the ball in the left half of the pitch, but it also makes passes like this possible. It’s subtle, but it's that slight difference which creates new avenues for ball progression.
Not only will more angles open up when progressing the ball in the left half of the pitch, but it also makes passes like this possible. It’s subtle, but it's that slight difference which creates new avenues for ball progression.
Perth are still a bit erratic in their out of possession behaviours. It feels as though players are instructed to maintain a certain level of intensity, which is at the expense of calculated pressure on the ball and block compactness.
August 9, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Perth are still a bit erratic in their out of possession behaviours. It feels as though players are instructed to maintain a certain level of intensity, which is at the expense of calculated pressure on the ball and block compactness.
This ensures the passing lane remains open before the opponent has time to cover the vacated space, while utilising the area underneath the pressing action.
Subtle movements — tactical intelligence.
Subtle movements — tactical intelligence.
August 9, 2025 at 2:48 AM
This ensures the passing lane remains open before the opponent has time to cover the vacated space, while utilising the area underneath the pressing action.
Subtle movements — tactical intelligence.
Subtle movements — tactical intelligence.
We consistently see third-man combinations used to play through and around the opposition, but at times it also requires the third player to follow the pressure → instead of statically occupying their position.
August 9, 2025 at 2:48 AM
We consistently see third-man combinations used to play through and around the opposition, but at times it also requires the third player to follow the pressure → instead of statically occupying their position.