The false winger-high FB dynamic in modern football: a short thread.

While open play goals from FB and WB are not unheard of, they are most famously a result of late runs from the far side to take advantage of space vacated after the opposition’s shift to the ball side. https://twitter.com/i/status/1264196588894916613

This thread will instead explore how FB/WBs are attaining opportunities to score (and assist) on the ball side, by penetrating in tandem with deep, complimentary movements from a ‘false winger’.

See two examples:

Emi Buendía drops deep. Newcastle’s FB vacates defensive line to follow. Grant Hanley aims lofted pass towards onrushing Max Aarons in the vacated space.

Serge Gnabry drops deep. Union Berlin’s FB vacates defensive line to follow. Thiago aims lofted pass towards onrushing Alphonso Davies in the vacated space.

Technical point: the attacking player is primed to make this penetrating run because of his advantageous body orientation. Not only does the defensive player lose time by checking where the ball is headed, he has to turn from a back to goal position before beginning his sprint.

All things considered, once the original defender has been sucked in by the winger's deep movement, there is little to no chance of him tracking back in time to stop an onrushing FB.

Result = one less man in the defensive line and greater space to shoot/pass or pick a pass into.

The first two examples focused on an off the ball movement by the false winger, but relied on an accurate long pass by a CB or DM.

Let's take a look at how FB/WB and false winger can combine directly to progress the ball.

Farke's Norwich and De Zerbi's Sassuolo like to use 1-2s on the touchline between deep-dropping winger and onrushing FB.

The oppo FB has left his defensive line to man-mark this one player, so it is no surprise that when the false winger makes the reception he is pressured tightly.

A slick 1-2 leaves the opposition FB trapped, (faced forwards/flat-footed) in a poor position to track the runner.

Sassuolo look to create a similar opening here but instead of attempting the 1-2, Berardi finds Obiang on the inside and Toljan becomes a third man runner.

Torino's WB follows the pass to Obiang with his eyes and Toljan darts forward on his blindside.

This idea of opposing movements can be extrapolated for use in all areas of a football pitch (most notably CF drop-SS invade) but in the most isolated/risk-free zone, out wide, it makes sense for sides to be regularly attempting a simple move that comes with such high rewards.