How the game has changed

[Adi]

The game has changed quite a bit over the past 10 years.  Let's discuss some of the tactical adjustments that have occured.  Discuss the following and add on to the list.

- Less 4-4-2 and more 4-2-3-1 or other other combinations of 4-3-3. 

- More patient build up play and focus on possession - Barcelona style.

- Absence of "destroyer" and "playmaker" in midfield - no more Riquelme's and less and less Mekelele's.  Players like Aimar and De Allesandro who were groomed to be the next Riquelme or  Veron vanished overnight.-

- Well rounded midfielders with a good understanding of defending and attacking are ideal now.  Players like Xavi and Iniesta who don't fit in #10 or Makelele role are now essential.

- Attacking full backs are critical to build up play and overall success.

- Wide supporting forwards such as Ronaldo and Messi have become key scoring options.  Overlap and movement between strikers and attacking midfielders has blended the attacking midfield line with the forward line.  There are no longer 3 lines in a system (defense, midfield, forwards) -  instead we have more of a blended 5 line system or even 6 if you want to consider fullbacks as well - center backs, wing-backs, holding mids, attacking mids, and forwards.

Add on...
 

[jabarinho]

I do not know how much the game has changed because I am too young to know what it was like before . All I know is that many matches especially in the champions league and world cup are too tactical and boring. It's like watching chess lol (no offence to chess lovers )
It is refreshing to see a team like napoli doing well with a 3-5-2 system and attacking mentality. I hope when they get in the champions league next year they continue like that.

[Damiano]

Well i have only watched soccer/football seriously for about 4 years but id say that many Players sell for a much higher average than they would have 10 years ago, and probably get higher wages 2

[Sule]

Centre-Backs before only needed to know what direction they had to defend against, bit different now

Formations are less and less organised, more geared towards freeflowing etc etc Barca etc etc

Strikers score with both feet and their heads

Free-kick specialists are completely gone, IMO due to constantly changing the ball. Anyone that says Ronaldo is a FK specialists is an idiot seeing as his tactic consists of hitting the ball as hard as possible and hoping that either the wall moves or it dips at the last second (has not happened more than 5 times)

[Adi]

Yeah, Chile was fun to watch with their high pressure 3-5-2.  They didn't back up against anyone.

Player values are insane right now, just as the wages are.  It doesn't add up either.  Clubs are not turning bigger profits or bringing in that much more money than 5-10 years ago.  Look at Barca, they brought in the most money ever last season, but they still ended up loosing a few million on the season.  It's insane.

[manutd.]

You're better off to breed your own players, and then sell them off to teams like Citeh who only have cash and pay ridiculous amounts for players that have already established themselves at another club.

[Adi]

Developing your own youth can be expensive as well.  The only reason Barca has useful youth players is because they spend 10x more than anyone else in the world. 

[TheKingNut]

It's changed quite a bit the last few years. The World Cup was killed by 4231 when holding players just blocked anything possible through to the strikers. I loved the good old Premier League days of the mid 90's...3-5-2 and players like Ginola and Gillespie playing wing backs! So attacking.

Sule, what do you mean about the center backs? That they have to be more cultured? Disagree with that. Center backs are the biggest set of blocks that have ever been at the moment. How many center halfs get away with just being able to block and head? Loads...because teams defend so much deeper now. No space in behind so they haven't got to be fast. They also have 2 sitters in front of them now so little need for them to step out and play. Gone are the days of players like Frank De Boer and Sammer who came out and bossed games from defence.

[Adi]

True that.  Mertesacker actually admited he wouldn't be a pro 10-15 years ago.  He said he got lucky that the system started to change right as he hit his teen years.

[Buckwheat156]

the game will continue to change. I am sure regulations will be put on player wages because it it getting out of hand. as well as the power players have on leaving their club.

As far as centre backs I don't think they have changed to much. you still have to be big strong and smart and able to lead from the back. I never really remember pace ever being a big thing for centre backs. If they were slow they used the offside trap.

[Adi]

Unlike fashion, changes in football don't seem to go back.  They always continue to change.  Agree?

[Palgi]

My grandfather (RIP) had huge influence in Estonian football during soviet time, he pointed out, that before was only pass after pass play. Then came Maradona and Pele, and then came Brazilian football (chilled playing lots of dribbling) and German football (pass play with lots of discipline)
Nowadays it seems like best teams have united both of these. They defense like Germans, attack like Brazilians and mixed these two in play making.