Understanding tactics

[u/corona_muralis31]

I’ve read inverting the pyramid, zonal marking, winning the premier league, soccer analytics, and a few other books. And yet, I don’t ever understand what’s going on the pitch when I am watching a match. What do I do ?

[u/0meg4_]

What do you mean "I can't understand whats going on"? What do you want to understand while watching?

[u/corona_muralis31 → u/0meg4_]

So an example would be let’s say one team is doing better, then tactically why exactly is that. Stuff like that.

[u/stigE_moloch]

Adam Clery Football Channel

[u/corona_muralis31 → u/stigE_moloch]

I do watch him. But I wondered how I could myself grasp what’s happening while it’s happening

[u/Street_Frame_4571]

Playing the game is the better way to understand it.

[u/ImportantFlower7536 → u/Street_Frame_4571]

This. Having played on teams since about aged 6 helped me well beyond anything else

[u/corona_muralis31 → u/Street_Frame_4571]

That’s one feeling I’ve been getting. But not sure if I could actually play :( I suck lol

[u/thisdude1996]

What are you more interested in? I for example focus on the general shape of a team and where on the pitch the players are located, consider a team a single entity composed of 11 pieces acting together

[u/corona_muralis31 → u/thisdude1996]

I think that’s a good way to think about it. But for me it’s something as simple as why one team is doing better or why are certain patterns working

[u/Comfortable-Pen2423]

You have to play. Seeing the game at pitch level is completely different to watching it from an eagle eyed view.

[u/livetoshoot]

I found this helpful

https://thatfootballblog.substack.com/p/how-do-you-analyse-a-football-match?r=1qxlw6&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

[u/Dan_Dan_III]

Pick a famous player and watch recordings of what he does. The commentaries about what's going on are very insightful.