To take a deep dive into any tactical philosophy requires a basic understanding of tactics and the definition of a few key terms. No two coaches see the game the same, so what follows represents a perspective developed over twenty-seven years of playing and coaching, largely without the benefit or hindrance of formal training.
Only one sport on the planet prevents the players from using their hands and arms, making soccer unique. Players cannot possess the ball the way basketball, football, and rugby players do. Possession in soccer means control of the next touch. Teammates without the ball can position themselves to control spaces around the field. If the ball enters that space, they can control the next touch. Team possession occurs when the ball moves into spaces controlled by teammates.
Defenders attempt to close off spaces, either by positioning themselves to take away space from the team in control or by closing down a player with the ball. Everything on offense involves movements that manipulate the control of space; feinting with the ball, runs off the ball, and passes all change the space dynamics. Dribbling is nothing more than a series of passes to oneself.
Coaches develop tactical systems so players can coordinate and anticipate their movements together. The team in control gains an advantage by dictating space dynamics before the defenders can react. In general, the offensive team creates and controls increasingly dangerous spaces with runs off the ball that force defenders to move; this moves the ball quickly and advances it forward, resulting in a shot on goal.
All systems begin with a defensive shape — the positioning of players in relation to each other — that forces the opponent out of any goal-dangerous spaces. Formations have become the standard way of talking about these shapes, 4-4-2, 3-5-2, etc. However, players think about responsibilities, a combination of controlling certain spaces, and neutralizing players in the vicinity.
In the St. Louis game, Chris Mavinga saw a space and advanced forward to control it, ignoring the positioning of Maya Yoshida and Miki Yamane, who held a deeper line. Mavinga then closed space on the advancing attacker and attempted and missed a tackle. Throughout the play he exposed goal-dangerous spaces that St. Louis immediately exploited.
Mavinga exhibits this tendency to prioritize closing space on the player with the ball over controlling dangerous spaces. His athleticism enables him to recover, so he keeps making the same mistakes. Emergency defending means granting the opponent goal dangerous spaces and desperately attempting to prevent a goal.
Greg Vanney favors a possession game to control where the game will be played, prevent the opponent from controlling the ball by forcing them to defend continuously, and by out-numbering opponents in areas of the field to create and exploit goal-dangerous spaces. As long as the team moves the ball more quickly than the defense can adjust, overloads can be created.
As they move, the players must maintain enough defensive shape to respond when the opponent wins the ball, putting immediate pressure on the ball and controlling the most dangerous spaces. Vanney calls this managing transitions. In 2023 the Galaxy repeatedly failed to manage transitions to the tune of 67 goals allowed.
However, history reveals that Vanney also wants to quickly take advantage of goal dangerous spaces. He sees that Riqui Puig creates these opportunities every time he gets the ball and wants his players to attack in numbers. With the exception of Tyler Boyd, no other Galaxy player possessed the instincts to effectively attack goal-dangerous spaces behind opposing defenses in 2023.
New signing Gabriel Pec and target Joseph Paintsil both possess these instincts essential to Vanney Ball. It remains to be seen if these players can also maintain defensive shape while attacking to prevent counterattacks.
In the next installment, we’ll look at what it takes for Vanney Ball to succeed.