Talking Tactics: Amber Whiteley’s Formation Change Has Unleashed Olivia Smith
The Liverpool FC Women’s interim manager has changed formation to a 4-3-3 in her first three matches in charge, all of which have been wins for the Reds.
The Liverpool FC Women made the surprising choice to sack manager Matt Beard coming out of the February international break, naming Amber Whiteley as interim manager for the second time in her career. While the timing may have caught many off guard, the style of play and results under Beard this season were a far cry from the cohesive squad that finished fourth in the WSL last season.
The change in leadership prompted a change in formation on the pitch. The changes made by Whiteley have been key factors in Liverpool winning their first three matches under her management, including wins over Arsenal and Manchester United.
Under Beard, Liverpool primarily played in a 3-5-2 formation. The wing backs were the main outlets to receive and progress the ball out of the defensive half. It also lead to an emphasis on diagonal balls from the wing backs into the channels for forwards to chase, or for crosses from deep into the box in search of the head of Sophie Roman Haug (whether she was playing or not).
While the 3-5-2 provided bodies in the center of defense, it also provided gaps behind the wing backs that were exploited by many teams. As Liverpool center backs would step out to cover the space, it left channels open for through balls as well. The formation also did not make best use of the attacking talents of Olivia Smith. The speedy attacker was often played through the channel with a long diagonal, leaving her with several defenders ahead of her and no support close to her. If she came deep to receive the ball, she was frequently surrounded by defenders as she would receive the ball with her back to goal near midfield.
While Liverpool typically managed to limit easy chances under Beard, they were able to be opened up on the counter. The side also struggled to generate consistent attacking output, often being limited to lower-percentage chances from outside the box as the main shooting location.
Whiteley’s change to a 4-3-3 formation has seen a couple of significant changes in the style of play. The outside backs are staying more at home, leaving the wide attackers as the main outlets. Olivia Smith and Cornelia Kapocs have stayed wide near the midfield area to receive balls to their feet or be played through depending on the shape of the defense.
Olivia Smith in particular has stayed wide, with chalk on her heels to receive the ball. This has had two main effects. It has allowed her to be isolated in 1v1 situations, which the Canadian thrives in. It has also has Smith receiving the ball with the ability to see what her options are, with the ability to carry or combine. She has looked much more confident and involved since the switch, and has been devastating with the ball at her feet and with her movement off the ball. While no stats are available for the cup match versus Arsenal, Smith had 10 shot creating actions between the Crystal Palace and Manchester United. That’s two more per 90 minutes than her season average thus far.
The change in formation has also led to better spacing with the attackers and the midfield, allowing for players to get forward in the middle to provide support for the wide attackers as they drive forward with the ball. While Smith has taken most of the plaudits for her dynamic and thrilling play, Cornelia Kapocs has quietly been a ball progression monster on the opposite flank. She has done very well to bring others into play after getting the ball into the attacking half.
Whether a feature of the new formation or just a point of emphasis, Liverpool have been getting the ball into the box while in possession with more frequency rather than lumping in crosses or shooting from distance. The control of the ball in the box has set up better scoring opportunities on a more frequent basis.
The final feature of the 4-3-3 has been the fullbacks staying more at home until Liverpool are in possession in the attacking half. This has helped to keep a more compact back line and left less space to be exploited on the counter. It has meant that the wide forwards have had to track back quite a bit, which they have done. As Smith and Kapocs drop deep, one of the midfielder, typically Ceri Holland, has pushed high through the middle to serve almost as a second central forward in more of a 4-4-2 so there is still good options and spacing.
It is still early days under Amber Whiteley, and a small sample size, but the signs towards a style of play that suits the players in the squad are there. Olivia Smith herself stated after the Manchester United match, in which she scored two goals, that the new formation has brought out the best in her skillset.
“[I]n this new formation, I get to bring out my qualities.”
She said the squad as a whole has taken to the change in style of play, and it has upped the level of competition in training.
“Now we’re in a new formation and it allows us to bring our different qualities. We all feel good, the competition in training is really good.”
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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