Q: Barca, PSG out. Is possession football in decline?
A: The short answer is no.

Here is the fundamental tactical aspect that every football fan needs to understand about possession football before discussing the game: The measure that separates a good possession-based team and a bad possession-based team, above all else, is the quality and frequency of the chances on goal.

If a possession-based team's eventual attack results in:
1. a clear-cut shooting chance;
2. a free kick near goal;
3. the awarding of a penalty; or
4. the awarding of a corner
the team will ultimately be successful. This is basic.

However, if none of the above happen, the possession-based team will get countered. And against a good counter-attacking side, the possession-based team will probably be unable to adjust in time.

The reason I am discussing this is because there seems to be a general lack of understanding embodied in the OP question. How can a style be in decline when there has not been any innovation to successfully counter it? We're not talking about sweepers getting outdone by pacy wingers - this is the same possession style and the same counter-attacking style that we have seen for the best part of the last 10 years.

So what's the difference now?

I am of the opinion that the possession-based teams, PSG and Barca, did not execute their game plans correctly in the most recent games. Neither Chelsea or Atletico significantly restricted Barca or PSG to less than their usual possession.

The real difference is what Barca and PSG did with the ball, or rather, their failure to be effective with the ball. When you play possession, you have a certain level of control that can't be taken away from you. There will, undoubtedly, be times when crucial decisions have to be made as to where to pass, especially in the final third.

Now, I ask why is it that Barca, a team substantially comprised of midgets, are putting in cross after cross in the air instead of passing through Atletico's defence as they would have done under Pep? Poor coaching and poor decision-making. Tata has forgotten that basic rule I mentioned above and, as a result, most of Barca's attacks were wasted and resulted in the initiation of counter-attacks.

The same goes for Blanc and PSG, although Blanc made the crucial mistake of setting his possession-based team out defensively. That just doesn't work, because if you don't have the intent or capability to attack, you can and will get frequently caught in possession, often deep in your own half.

In summary, possession football is not in decline, but the recent execution of the possession football strategy by these 2 teams has been poor.

Suarez99 wrote:Personally i think the toughest style to beat in europe is the EPL style. They just 'park the bus' as you say and try and sneak a goal. Works against possession sides more often than not. Boring as hell though.

Would you say Dortmund are boring to watch?

Dnmac4 wrote:

Yohan Modric wrote:Actually the question is when was pure possession football ever effective? Prime Barca were the only team who played that way and won the CL twice.

UHHHHHHH, the Spanish National Team  and there youth system who win almost every tournament they enter.

I meant in the CL.

PSG hardly played any possesion football in the 2nd leg vs Chelsea.If anything they themselves tried the park the bus tactics which failed.

So why are they taken as standard for possession football?

its Time for balanced football even though to possession football fans anything that is not possession football is parking the bus

I think the main difference is now u cant just be one thing, u have to have a combination, you have to also be physical, together with the effective group pressing and playing at a very high tempo, not just with the ball, but anticipating and countering the opposition. Its shown counter attacking is important as well, since teams know how to effective park the bus or just setup so well defensively.

So pure possession football probably isnt enough anymore.

Possession football has changed during the past few years. now its more important to maintain possession but to stay in shape. that is what bayern did last year. it was what arsenal was doing in second part of last season.

This is pure possession football which barca plays currently. Yes, i think Cryffs philosophy which doesn't rely much on tactical positioning but more on ball retention is witnessing a decline. So is Barcelona.

The current scheme that is being used effectively by bayern etc is based on possession football and tactical setup, where the system is also equally important. This combination of two philosophy is the best way for possession football to succeed. In premier league, martinez follows the same philosophy but he doesn't have the players to maintain possession.

Spain

Brady2Moss wrote:

Lumiere_Blanche wrote:

Yohan Modric wrote:Bayern are still in though.

buyern wont be in it for long. mark my words. they are nowhere near what they were last season. i will be quite surprised if they can even get into final.

Bayern are actually better than they were last season. My bet is on them to win the whole thing.

Just a quote. Now after Madrid trashed them, they were worse