Sheffield Wednesday v Brentford FC - Tactical Preview
Hillsborough Stadium - 21/10/20 - Wed 7.45pm
Thomas Frank takes his Brentford team to face Gary Monk’s Sheffield Wednesday who are making a mockery f a financial fair play points deduction.
Some tactical thoughts ahead of Brentford’s trip to Sheffield tonight #BrentfordFC #swfc: [thread]
Last time around, a Fletcher double led Wednesday to a 2-1 win pegging back Mbeumo’s headed opener from a Dasilva corner.
As discussions continue over whether Brentford come through each transfer window stronger than the last, a view of the bench for this fixture last year answers that rather emphatically.
Like a growing number of Championship teams, #swfc are now favouring a back 3 / 5 system. 352 or 3511 describes them fairly well on and off the ball.
Watching Owls in their recent 1-1 draw with QPR gives us a good footing for which to base their approach to tonight's game on.
From the front, Windass and Paterson took it in turns to dovetail single man pressing as the furthest forward player when QPR had the ball looking to build up in their own third.
The two strikers work hard to force the ball wide, staying central out of possession. Because of this depth, we get a midfield 3 + 1 of Paterson or Windass, so we’re left with a rotating diamond or box through the middle of the pitch.
Like this
Or this
Or this, their main shape intention to spring into attack from defence.
Monk’s diamond breathes, it can shrink, flatten or expand quickly. Most of all, it can outnumber teams playing 4321, or more simply, any 3 man midfield.
The system Monk has instilled is designed to block the middle of the pitch by absorbing central attacks and pushing the possession based teams out wide. Pass the ball along the back line and move wide until you come up against wingbacks Reach or Harris.
What comes through when watching Owls video is Monk screaming “shape” when teams are building up against his team. If he sees poor spacing or a receiver making a line breaking run he is demanding his 5312 locks in tight so that player on ball has difficulty threading his pass.
More things occur centrally when blocking out their half of the pitch. If the opponent has advanced up to half way, between Bannan, Luongo and Bashiru, one presses the ball, one drops deepest and man marks a central attacker, and the third watches to block the space in between.
These roles are flexibly rotated through all three midfielders depending on which attacking players has made a run and who is closest to the perceived danger. The back three can comfortably pick up a centre forward + wide forward coming off the wing with a man over.
Where we see this system get ruffled is when a team plays two strikers, something Brentford almost inexplicably never does.
Two genuine strikers confuse the system because there is no man over in the backline when a wide forward joins in. One of Bannan or his fellow midfielders are pulled deeper, Reach comes narrow trying to block the central gaps and teams make huge progress down the left or right.
Brentford fans will recognize Barbet here a dangerous place for Owls to allow the Frenchman. A pinpoint cross from the left channel comes from the midfield system collapsing in on itself as disruption in the backline allows the left centre back to patrol forward unopposed.
The system is also designed to avoid Bannan getting into headed duels or being the deepest lying midfielder when defending attacks. Above, he has been dragged backwards and it is between himself a Lees that Bonnes can head home.
Against sides playing a variation of a back 5 system, Brentford can regularly find themselves running into brick walls.
As the ball is moved wide into the feet of inverted forwards, the same attacking route can find itself running into brick walls. It can be easy to defend against without a switch to a shape or two central strikers that recognizes the opponent as having plenty of cover.
Banging on the door centrally or drifting inside where Wednesday have numerical superiority and good blockers of the goal is what Monk wants to see as Brentford are forced to give the ball away.
From here, Bannan is the player drifting to the left that takes advantage of the unstructured nature of the Wednesday front two. Whether it be Windass or Paterson, both can be targeted long as a quick turnaround to attack from.
Predictable or slow passing patterns suit Brentford's defenders. The team can regain shape and shrink into their defensive 433 block. Opponents that can soak up possession and get the ball forward quickly tend to fare better against the Bees backline.
We’re likely to see Bannan drift to the left of midfield and it is from this side of the pitch he is happy to bypass midfield pleasantries and look early for Paterson or Windass in the air before Jansson or Pinnock can get set.
It is interesting to observe Warbuton, a manager heavily regarded as having no plan-B, opt for two strikers to get something out of the game. Bonne + Dikes in the forward line was the factor that pushed a team comfortable with not having the ball into a confused state.
Thomas Frank has had many plaudits since taking the helm as head coach but one of his weaknesses is his tactical flexibility when a game is tight. Rarely do Brentford see two strikers on the pitch and it is his stubbornness to preserve with plan A ie 433 and two wide forwards that holds him back.
How will Brentford approach this? They know as usual they will see most of the ball. And most of the ball they will want as without Nørgaard the centre of the pitch will come up against a good match. We have a feeling Frank may shuffle his pack.
Due to injuries, Sergi Canos played all of the match against Coventry. Janelt made his league debut from the bench and sat deeper in the midfield giving the team height and a familiarity in shape.
A tough trip to Sheffield will need aerial matchups all over the pitch. Firstly to cope with Paterson in open play, but also Paterson’s attacking throw ins which behave more like corners.
Wednesday are a stricter team than the one ripped open at every attack during the last game at Griffin Park before football was shut down.
Ghoddos is fresh and after recent cameos could provide the variety and energy from the start that causes Wednesday to rethink their main system.
Monk is Frank about what he wants to see in his team shape. Frank is stubborn and reluctant to deviate away from his attacking system. Something needs to give.