There's a word that always seems to crop up in a lot of in possession analysis, especially for teams that make it a little bit harder for us to identify what exactly they are doing. In the era of positional football, zone occupation and structural dependency, these teams have become outliers, their spontaneity, autonomy and control of game momentum is what helps them navigate the game. This quality makes teams stand out from the rest, the word I'm referring to is dynamism.
What does it mean to be dynamic in a footballing context? What does it look like in the micro, macro, meso scales? How many types of dynamics are there? I see different ones mentioned all the time- Dynamic advantage/superiority, Dynamic occupation, Dynamic affordances, Dynamic rotations/triangles, Dynamic couplings- yet I've seen little analysis on them specifically and what dynamism has to do with any of them.
For example a lot of analysis about dynamism commonly talks about positional rotations rather than describe what dynamism or dynamic advantages actually are, creating a flawed discourse on the subject- like we've seen with relations. The idea of this article is to address this given the emergence of more player led solutions being needed to cope with a rise in man to man marking, less rigid positional approaches and an increased interest in analysis on player interactions opposed to structures.
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Dynamism is about subtle connections, to be able to appreciate the perceptions of other players from new angles and irregular vantage points, not all progressions have to be clean, a numerically inferior or equal situation can be more dangerous than a plus one or two overload if chemistry is present. This is where we must attune ourselves to the importance of emergence and synergies, to understand dynamism we must first understand how players interact- psychology is always present in attacking football.
Football teams are examples of a complex adaptive system, a living interactional system, each moment of play represents a transient alignment of agents, intentions, perceptions and environmental constraints. Combinations are not repeatable patterns but emergent co-ordinations, they arise through interaction not prescription. Interactions are collaborations, an exchange of information, no two exchanges - or possessions- can't be the same, each one is a new solution that is born in the act.
Footballers interact non linear with the playing environment. As Juanma Lillo said whilst manager of Nacional in Columbia- '' When we talk about something as complex as the interactions between human beings, there is no process that is linear in its ascendency, nothing in life is, even ourselves. We depend on our own frame mind, everything flows up and down, what's important is it trends mostly up''.
Players must adjust their behaviour in response to one another and the playing environment, interactions are directional, they have duration and history- shared intentionality. These interactions are non linear, small changes in timing, angle or emotional state can produce entirely different outcomes. This sensitivity to conditions makes football unpredictable and irreparable. Improvisation is often seen as a flaw by coaches, where in reality it is a functional property that facilitates creativity and adaptability (Kelso 1995).
I'm going to explain different paradigms in which we can understand an interaction between two footballers, concepts that help players navigate the complex and dynamic nature of the game, based on a model devised by Louis Campos. Interactions and resonance with teammate, task, ball and environment are always the starting point.
These interactions that I'm about to explain can also be described as 'dynamic couplings' - how does changes in dynamics affect associations?
LINGUISTIC INTERACTIONS
Linguistic interaction doesn't prescribe specific actions, instead it shapes how players understand what is happening and how to solve it- player led solutions. Players often communicate through shared terminology and conceptual concepts personal to their shared understanding of the game, culture/upbringing, interpretation of language and societal norms. They have a shared alignment that enables co-ordination without constant verbal communication during play.
Linguistic interactions help players match appropriate pairings to game problems in certain game contexts, game logic becomes embodied knowledge, perceiving the game through a shared lens. The theory of situated cognition says knowledge is embedded in action rather than abstract representation (Suchman 1987). For example- when a player shouts 'over' to leave the ball for a player who can receive the ball orientated in a better position.
When language doesn't align there can be problems, in languages such as Spanish, Portuguese or Italian they use the word 'depth' (profondidad, profondidade, profondità) to convey a pass/ attack in behind the opposition defence- in other words directional attack moving towards goal. Alternatively, in English we'd associate 'depth' with dropping towards the ball and away from goal. These linguistic alignments shape and ultimately govern interactions by structuring our perceptions, helping teams with establishing player negotiated collective intentions.
INTERPERSONAL INTERACTIONS
Football is not defined by ones individual abilities but the quality of relationships between those abilities, interdependent within a collective system. Interpersonal interactions are commonly non verbal, players communicate through positioning, movement and trajectory of attack- enabling players to go beyond anticipation and into near telepathy. This creates conditions for realised dynamic advantages and fluidity- essential in complex adaptive systems- Davids et al 2013.
I love what Pierre Yves Bodineau has written on Linked-in- ''Improving player perception is not a mere detail, it is a form of pedagogy in its own right''. Coaches often isolate perception away from technique, a big flaw of frameworks such as the four corner model, scanning is developed by getting players to see other teammates around them- thats not enough.
According to the studies carried out by Karl Aksum, players notice colours, movements and cues as primary information, players have to continuously identify and re-evaluate information in the environment to give the game continuity. Each touch of the ball changes the trajectory of an attack. A lot of training exercises fail to replicate this, for example the ones where a coach calls a colour and the player turns or angles off and passes into an empty target goal.
Football is about a series of interconnected and dynamic networks, meandering with the ebbs and flows of the game's momentum. Intelligence between teammates is emergent and relational, organising without central control. Who occupies the blindside and how attacks it.
As Campos describes in his framework, Basic level players are able to anticipate the ball and opposition pressure. The next level of player perceives ball, local affordances, teammate and opposition interference- not just pressure. The next level of player perceives the ball, local and far away affordances - over, around and through- teammates, spatial advantages and opposition. Extremely competent players have an understanding of empathy, pattern recognition, opposition and ball manipulation.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
There are three essential aspects of emotional intelligence; self regulation, empathy and situational awareness- all of which can be translated to how footballers interact.
Self regulation allows players to maintain control under opponent pressure, avoid impulsive decisions and managing emotions, focus and motivations to their desired outcomes. Being able to commit players, having the willingness to play on the knife edge and invent from the improbable.
Empathy (Empathic resonance) , a key aspect of socio- affective advantage, aligns players emotionally to each other, fostering a synchronisation for intentions and timing- ''they play on the same wave length those guys''. I love the work that Argentinian journalist Roberto Parrottino has written on this subject- '' there are players that make you better, they aren't necessarily the most notable or famous ones but when you see them you know that they give you more possibilities to play well''.
Empathic resonance is an example of a mental structure, how players feel are built on how they relate, it's an accumulation of possibilities to interact. Without empathic resonance those interrelation combinations won't be present, empathy is trust, risk regulation and intuition. Think of Totti and Cassano, Modric and Kroos, Vialli and Mancini.
Situational awareness helps players detect emotional and behavioural patterns, allowing players to be proactive rather than reactively in combination play. Situational awareness helps players perceive the games dynamic elements- exploiting gaps on the oppositions blindside, changes in rhythm. and solving problems through perception-action coupling.
Marcelo's goal for Fluminense in 2024, using 10 and the striker as a wall- tabela - for back to back combinations before rifling a shot into the top corner.
RHYTHM
Timing, co-ordination and pausa.
Slowing play down allows time for players to realign with the ball carrier to then accelerate the attack when the opposition becomes disorganised. Rhythm in this sense acts as a non verbal regulatory system within an interactional one, when timing aligns interactions become pre visible without loosing its unpredictability to opponents, invitations to act coupled with empathic resonance- this is refereed to as co-ordination dynamics.
Paul McGuinness' Matador skills creates great imagery for this, changes of rhythm and speed, the disguise of small late movements to cause deception, enticing and committing defenders to the ball carrier. The rhythm is established by securing the opposition's attention, when the rhythm compromises the oppositions defensive intentions they rush to reorganise. When interactions are timed correctly in relation to each other, the action becomes fluent, rather than comparing it to momentum, rhythm is a tool of environmental control.
Establishing the rhythm, changing the rhythm and accelerating the rhythm.
ADAPTABILITY
Adaptability reflects a players capacity to respond to the dynamic changes of the game. The footballing environment is unstable, a players attention requires constant adjustment. Ecological dynamics emphasises that players adapt by attuning to affordances-action possibilities that emerge in the environment - Gibson 1979.
Adaptability ensures the functionality of interactions when intentions are disrupted, combinations evolve instead of collapsing. Players with the highest technical/tactical empathy don't choose from a criteria of pre planned actions, they are able to perceive new possibilities as the constraints change. An adaptive team doesn't have fixed positions as its main way of optimising attacking output, instead it is the chemistry between players that`has the capacity to allow them to open and enter spaces, when somebody makes a move the whole team makes the breakthrough.
BODY SHAPE & VISUAL PERCEPTION
Football is a visual and perceptual task, technical and tactical execution is a byproduct of what is perceived- which is structured by a players body orientation. A players body orientation is an invitation to combine, it determines which information is accessible and what actions are immediately possible, body shape is a tactical intention.
An open body shape gives a player 360 perceptual access maximising visual information, enabling early recognition and awareness of space, teammates and opposition. This information is crucial for determining the speed of interactions, when a pair launch a combination how quickly can they get into a position where they can finish the action.
A pair look to achieve interactional fluency, an increased perceptual view of the playing area allows the receptors to obtain as much information about the playing environment as possible. Visual cues such as posture, movement rhythm and eye co-ordination form a layered system of communicating, players act on intention and readiness. Body shape marries individual capability and collective co-ordination, it's not about how a player receives but how they enter an interaction.
As I spoke about in my article 'the art of diagonals', one of the biggest advantages of facing the ball diagonally is that a player is able to access the opposition blindspots. Diagonal positioning in relation to the ball carrier creates an asymmetry, the defender can't fully see the attackers full intentions therefore he has to defend multiple potential actions at once. The possessor perceives; passing lanes diagonally, opportunities to turn and the opportune moment to accelerate before the defender can reach him, it's impossible for the defender to cover all options.
Liverpool Salah - football can be analysed as a series of active (and inactive) diagonals, though not spotted with the naked eye, the changes in body orientation creates the potential of several emergent outcomes. The slightest flick, scooped pass or dummy to change the flow. Diagonals and relations revolve around football's dynamic nature. We often tell players to play what you see, sometimes it's better to play what you don't see.
Dynamic advantage is the ability to maximise a pre existing advantage - Positional, numerical, socio-affective- at the optimal moment before the opposition can react. The player must read the pre-superiority and turn it into a dynamic advantage through co-ordination, going against the shift to create advantage where there wasn't one previously.
Dynamic advantage often gets overlooked in coaching frameworks, despite being one of the 5 recognised types of superiorities, coaches rather focus on attuning players how to occupy rather than exploit changes in space or manipulation of defensive structures. As Bernat Mosquera writes, ''in fast paced games with limited space or time , the ability to seamlessly occupy spaces while advancing the attack whilst not disrupting flow and pace is a critical edge''.
Dynamics are not static, a positional superiority becomes dynamic when the execution time is shorter than the opponents reaction time. Where most teams create superiorities frequently in their attacking play, there are few opportunities in a game where players know how to activate them with immediate action. The goal is to connect intentions in attacking play.
In the run in to the 2023 Champions League final, Guardiola talked about returning to simple principles and feelings. The idea of emotions being central to a tactical framework gets overlooked in rigid analysis, yet Guardiola openly talks about orientating play to individual capabilities and group dynamics- '' doing simple things well and being active in the movement, when the sympathy is correct when one attacks inside, the other attacks outside it creates moments that only Kevin (De Bryune) can exploit''.
The phenomenon of emergence allows systems to develop collective intelligence and shared intentions without central control. Dynamic teams prioritise the development and strengthening of relational bonds- chemistry- synergies- within the sphere of local influence. Sharing intentions enables players to anticipate beyond reacting to game information, adaptive players that share strong logical intelligence recognise the dynamic nature of the game, they self organise and provide solutions as the momentum shifts. These players elevate the game around them. Arrive into spaces, not occupy them.
A player's local sphere of influence is defined by their role in the team and the dynamic interactions with nearby teammates, opponents and the ball. These spheres are highly adaptive and shift dynamically, relational teams align individual autonomy with collective synchronisation. Tactical concepts will always be an important lens of coaching and analysis , but synergies shape interactions. Dynamism is to be decisive.
The problem with dynamism in mainstream analysis, people end up mistaking positional rotations as relational. As Meia Armador wrote after PSG's Champions League win last summer- ''people struggle to analyse a more dynamic positional approaches and end up calling it not positional''. This is the problem with analysis frameworks, they are too structure dependent and the idea that space is concrete and fixed, neither meets the needs of the modern game.
Rotations are a good paradigm to study paradigm through because it can help us address a lot of misconceptions seen in the positional and relational games. Arsenal under Arteta often puts his defenders in between the lines with his midfielders occupying the base positions in the 3-2 structure. In my interpretation of dynamism this constitutes as just a rotation to cause an imbalance, beyond the initial movements there's little else to comment on.
Positional freedom is akin to futsal's universal roles, it has as much to do as awareness, anticipation and self regulation as it does freedom, pass and move, rotate, fill positions. Those basic concepts can equate to some dynamic and attractive football, yet a lot of what of teams do in the final third is dull and uninspiring. Arsenal players don't self organise or use emerging information to find solutions, attacking play is by the most part restricted to their own pre designed criteria, if a player moves its a mechanism- a pre ordered act- not a spontaneous one.
Inter under Inzaghi did exactly the same thing, Barella and Calhanoglu would often drop into the first line with Acerbi/Pavard , Di Marco and De Vrij going in to the interior positions in Inter's 3-1-6. I do like the concept, going back to my point about universal roles, the idea of putting your best ball players in the first line with the goalkeeper at a build up situation allows them to see the full pitch in front of them, maximise the space they can operate in and potentially drag marking away leaving space for them to advance or create space for those higher up.
Where my opinion differs is when it comes to final and middle third attacks. Admittedly, it's cool the first few times you see it, but after the initial fascination wears off you begin to realise a positional rotation is just a positional rotation- even if more than one happens at a given time. Putting 3 defenders in slots that should be occupied by creative attacking players is simply not worth it, I believe dynamism can be achieved without this.
What I consider to be dynamic is when a player who starts on the right side- a right back, centre back or winger moves to a position on the opposite side of the pitch to where he plays. In a Tim Walter or Thiago Motta Bologna type build up for example where the far side centre back makes a run beyond the ball during the build up to drag a marker or receive free or when the ball side defender does the same after initiating the give and go.
The idea of build up is often considered a static entity, many believe that the structure is what creates the advantage to break pressure. The intention is to find separation from a marker, a moment that freezes and unlocks the whole game state- finding a moment to exit. The most beautiful football there is will always be the one that involves you interacting with a teammate whilst moving forward. Coaches that want their players to have positional freedom shouldn't align themselves with such a traditional framework, structure can exist but can be negotiated with the need for mutation.
Tim Walter's dynamic use of his centre backs are interesting, they didn't start the build up to occupy or fix opponents, instead his role changes with the opportunities that arise from the time-space conditions. In this move he starts in the base of the build up, he notices a midfielder drops into the base so he moves ahead to draw the marker away, another pressing player jumps and the CB attacks the space on his blindside once the ball goes wide. He ends up receiving the ball inside to attack the defence, this is not a rotation this is recognising and manipulating changes in momentum.
Credit- Nyul Krisztian
In larger spaces, to be mobile teams create space by playing back into baiting the the pressing trigger to then escape through dynamic solutions, committing midfielders into the first line to create density. In the dynamic lens the third man exists but its not contingent to every attacking interaction. With close proximity attacks teams create higher tempo dynamic exchanges towards the path of goal, players organise themselves around the ball and when a player invites a combination they subsequently break the positional structure to surpass the block.
This idea of dynamism focuses more on the interaction between players in a way that fluctuates, rather than is of a static and a predictable entity like most actions that happen within a positional structure. Dynamism is the moment where the players take control of the game, predictability and coach designed criteria vanishes allowing players to orientate the game to resonance.
Returning to Motta's Bologna side, there's a great example from this game vs Roma where the full back exploits the diagonal corridor where Zirkzee makes a run from the RW position to inside with an aggressive forward run from Furgerson into the ST position. Here Zirkzee gestures that the pass goes inside and receives whilst being able to utilise his 360 degree body shape to overcome the pressure despite starting from a frontal position, the run from midfield drags the marker allowing Zirkzee access to the switch out to the far side.
Mikel Arteta has spoken about dynamic winger movement before, he describes here whilst doing his UEFA A assessment in Wales, that it's important for the winger to align himself with the intention of the full back whilst pinning the opposition full back outside the pitch. If Zirkzee in this example was to stay as the width holder and receive to the feet he would be unable to turn and face the play as the defender can control him due to his frontal body shape, where he gestures inside he breaks the frontal marking.
Credit- Piotr Foot on Youtube
Do you get the feeling every time you watch a Premier league game that the attacks look predictable? I've felt that for a while.
There must be variation before consistency, if every attack looks as if it was a prototype then were overlooking the potential that each new situation can bring. The game requires dynamic and nouvelle solutions, even if a game model focuses on penetration and the three player it shouldn't be achieved at all costs and definitely not generated in the same way. A third man combination could be resembled or interpreted in several forms based on the information that the players collectively receive, context is omnipresent.
Not all third mans are the same- the supporting run could be underneath the pass from the 1st or 2nd line, it could be across the passing lane, the third man could receive on the blindside or drive at the space, the pass could be frontal, diagonal - in to out or out to in. Football is a complex game that can't be simplified for aesthetic benefit, the goal is not to prepare for every situation but coach players to be adaptive in recognising that concepts often mutate and take on different forms.
Dynamic triangles
The benefit of the triangle is that it gives a team good options for a third man progression and to receive behind a static line of pressure. Analysis models often claim that most triangles are dynamic in nature, accounts like TactX often talk about a concept called '3 triangles and a striker'- I refer to this as an advanced pivot. The play in these 3 player triangles shift frequently with the central attacking player being a sole reference. I like this interpretation as it enriches the conversations about group tactic solutions and the importance of triangulation as a self organising entity.
Arteta has been doing this with the use of Odegaard, Zubimendi and Rice- with the midfield three constantly shifting base the shape of the triangle changes. Odegaard starts in the centre then moves the tip of the triangle wide with one of Rice or Zubimendi pushing up into the last line and the other into the deepest line. Guardiola has also implemented this in a less dynamic way, although Cherki is given licence to 'stretch and reshape' these triangles. Bielsa also prioritised these triangles at Leeds with Ayling being the one who 'reshaped' the triangles with aggressive inside movements.
Triangles shouldn't be fixed in nature, they allow a situation of control can turn into chaos within seconds. Relationships between players give the triangulation another dimension, they are not fixed, the player aims to move to wherever he feels he can best help the progression of the ball and perceive the game. Triangulations are tools for navigating tactical traffic jams. The affordances within these 3v3 situations, no matter where they are located on the pitch, are dynamic.
Dynamic affordances, derived from Gibson's ecological theory, describes an action opportunity that changes within the real time context of the game. Players adapt to these shifting invitations to act, if no two possessions are identical and players interact non linear with the environment, then adaptability comes before predictability. We can't pre plan the attack, players are sensitive to empathy driven movements. The game, nor spaces, are fixed in nature, tactical theory is centred around exploiting what we predict will happen, this often reduces and simplifies the complex nature of football.
This is described by Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti - ''I always say that there is no longer space between the lines, before against a 442 (block) we'd try to find a midpoint, spaces to hide and look for the free man in between the lines. This space no longer exists, the space is now between the opponents themselves not the structure''
Dynamic affordances with triangulation amplify associative concepts like toco y me voy or shadow play- as being shown with Spalletti's Juventus side recently. Teams that play with high mobility are unpredictable, this can. be achieved in a larger or reduced space. They give teams the opportunity to attack in behind or launch directional combinations in towards the advanced pivot, moving into the next shifting triangle.
Juventus have brought this concept to life in a very short time they've become one of the most entertaining sides in Europe following Spalletti's mid season arrival. As the lines get closer and closer together players and coaches have to adapt, the goal against Benfica is a perfect example of these ideas in action. Wall passes/ tabela's, shadow play, 360 and dynamic affordances, Spalletti's side are rewriting a new footballing language in Turin.
There is no need to restrict our attacks on the outside of defensive pressure - that we must expand the pitch- quick combinations allow for pressure resistant football, they keep the ball locally and choose when to accelerate the rhythm with a forward diagonal movement. Attacking play is identified by these shifting dynamics and rhythms, not concrete space, the players decide which concepts should be brought to life, they find comfort amongst the intensity.
Spalletti added in his speech at the FIGC- ''when we play against a low block the width is important because we can open the defensive line- to create more space and attack in behind, we have to bring the ball there as quickly as possible. Depending on the tactical set up, some teams prioritise exploiting the opposite half space''
Here the Italian hints at the importance of diagonality within these dynamic game affordances, attacking the opposite half space against an opponent is essential to opening 'the golden zone' - the space around the penalty area where most goals come from- via through ball, cut back /cross etc. Why is this important if the lines are no longer there? Because the pressure is more man orientated the pressure is more frontal, exploiting the diagonal axis gives teams a better access to the blindside- allowing teams to surpass man to man orientations.
Teams should make more efforts to prioritise self organising attacks, the exchange of information allows players to connect, forming structures and conditions that facilitate dynamic associations. Loose structure means more structural interchanges, information is exchanged at high tempo for unpredictable combinations and the exploration of dynamic affordances. I believe it'll result in a higher quality of attacking play.
Baracas Central away to Newells Old Boys- they combine dynamic triangulation with high mobility in large space, they use a lot of forward movements after the release of the pass, they actively search for solutions from the result of the triangles, making them very hard to defend.
Dynamic occupation is a term that's often mentioned in discourse, a lot of these definitions are left open to interpretation, to me dynamic occupation is best seen when teams position a player or overload players in one area of the pitch on different lines, creating numerous opportunities to launch a progression or attack the behind the next line. The concept of collaborating to connect to exploit.
For example, when a striker positions himself in between the far side centre back and full back to the balls location, so if a defender jumps he has a clear diagonal run in behind to exploit the space. Dynamic occupation is a key aspect of Seriul-lo's phase spaces, those staying away from the ball have to try to influence the next phase space, their movement must be explosive and ready to counteract the shift in phase spaces.
Double width can be a good example of dynamic occupation, this involves two players in the wide area that can be used to attack inside and/or outside the block. The lines between defensive units have disappeared, either because they are too compact or because they follow the man. Plenty of interactions can occur on both sides of the defender; an overlap or a parallel, a curtain (like seen in futsal), a give and go or a diagonal pass plus third man or corta luz.
I was recently sent videos of Argentinian side Barracas Central from 2022, then managed by Radolfo de Paoli, I could identify a lot of dynamic and associative actions within their attacking play. we can see how double width and dynamic occupation allow them to create directional dynamic actions towards the centre, from the diagonal pass we see shadow play being the concept used to link- to realise the dynamic advantage. The play is incredibly fluent and associative, players united by intentions, a shared language, continuous knowledge exchange and collaboration. They are on the same wavelength.
To conclude, the most effective teams in world football orientate around co-designed attacking actions, dynamism is at the heart of this conceptualisation of attacking affordances, it won't be long before analysis attempts to address this. It's important that discourse around the variation of attacking tools is used to shape interactions, game momentum and associations between players in both the macro and micro game- beyond traditional analysis exclusive to structural imbalance.
Football sits on the eve of a new era, we are undergoing a renaissance of attacking football after years in obscurity, it will not be important whether a team is relational or positional, but how well they can interact. Teams that are brave to combine, find creative solutions and play through the lens of their teammates will have the opportunity to change the footballing landscape. All admirers of the game will relish this, we await the next generation of coaches who will put these notions in action.
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