<div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-85437" title="zonal-marking" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2013/10/zonal-marking-500x281.webp" alt="" width="500" height="281" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"></figure></div>
<p>In England, it’s not uncommon to hear the saying that “Zonal marking is not defending.” But, what the fact that these pundits often ignore is that goals are scored even when defenders are man marking. It’s not that man marking is the be all and end all of defending. It’s the system that leaks goals.</p>
<p>So what exactly is the difference between these two types of marking?</p>
<p><strong>Zonal Marking</strong></p>
<p>In this type of defending (see image below), each player is given an area or zone to mark relative to their team mates. It is advised by the manager or the coach that whenever the ball enters their zone, you attack it and try to win the ball. Zonal defending doesn’t require fast players or great stamina like man-to-man defenses do, and it’s usually employed by top flight managers where they ask the midfielders and attackers to defend when the opposing team counters and tries to break them down. With zonal marking, whenever the team defends from set pieces, the six yard box will be divided into two or three zones for players to attack. If one player sees the ball entering this zone, he gets rid of it.</p>
<p><a href="http://tamojitontactics.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/1.png"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://tamojitontactics.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/1.png" alt="1" width="517" height="281"></figure></div></a></p>
<p><strong>Man Marking</strong></p>
<p>In this type of marking, each player is assigned an opponent to mark for the whole of the ninety minutes. Whether it’s defending from set pieces or open play, the defenders chase down the opposing players they are marking, not allowing them even an inch of space. This requires great stamina, high match fitness and picking your man to mark right from the very start of the game.</p>
<p><a href="http://tamojitontactics.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/2.png"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://tamojitontactics.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/2.png" alt="2" width="359" height="195"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>We as soccer fans clench our fists and go into a frenzy whenever our beloved team hits the back of the opposition’s net. We appreciate silky touches, dazzling footwork, nimble nutmegs and glittering dribbles. However there is a lot more to the game than just scoring. Great managers and coaches have always stressed the importance of fixing defensive problems if the team is to win the title and/or a knockout tournament. We have often seen the team with perhaps the best defensive record go on to win the title at the expense of a team that might have a better goal scoring record but an inferior defensive discipline.</p>
<p>Zonal defending is more practical and efficient than strict man-to-man marking, although individual marking assignments often complement zonal organizations. A zonal defense can be implemented with any attacking formation. However tactics change according to in-game situations like defending set pieces, taking the risk when the team is in a knockout match or has fewer players on the field due to a red card. Man marking might be a boon to grind our results, but against teams that use a rotation policy to keep the team fresh, deploying zonal marking would be the better option since it’s easier to slot players in and out of this system.</p>
<p><a href="http://tamojitontactics.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/3.png"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://tamojitontactics.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/3.png" alt="3" width="628" height="434"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>Having said that, it’s the set of players who win you the match, and whichever policy best suits the players should be considered the best bet by managers.</p>
<p>The major advantage of zonal defending is that it allows the team to be proactive, not allowing the opposition to settle, not getting outrun by the opposition and leaving too much time for recovery runs. For example, if one player fails to attack his zone, another player takes his place — meaning the players are not drawn out of position. This however, requires efficient training, the courage to take the criticism and willingness to succeed.</p>
<p><a href="http://tamojitontactics.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/4.png"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://tamojitontactics.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/4.png" alt="4" width="628" height="336"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>In the above image, you can see Liverpool using a successful mixed zonal marking system when dealing from the corner. With four defenders defending zonally (marked by Z) and three defenders man marking (marked by M). When either of these players wins the ball, the player (identified by ‘S’) is free to attack down the pitch, while the players marked M counter quickly thus changing from defense to attack in a matter of seconds.</p>
<p>Against set pieces, managers prefer to use a man marking system with three of the better defenders on the team marking the best headers of the opposing team. The defenders try to win the ball the first time and clear away the danger. When it comes to zonal marking in set pieces, there lies a perennial problem. If the ball is not won first time, the ball can drop into zones and players might get confused on their zones to attack and the attacking team can pounce on this opportunity.</p>
<p><a href="http://tamojitontactics.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/5.png"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://tamojitontactics.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/5.png" alt="5" width="514" height="248"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>If a team concedes a goal, pundits will often ask “Who was picking that man up?” &nbsp;The answer is often obvious. No one. However, zonal marking – if employed tactically — judiciously and sensibly garners rich dividends. Just ask Rafa Benitez. The Spaniard who is hailed as a tactical genius used zonal marking wisely in his tenure at Liverpool. Under his regime, Liverpool conceded the fewest goals at home, which is a testament to the success that zonal marking, if effectively deployed, can lead to. Benitez was always ready to listen to criticism and was ready to face the stick from pundits and experts. In his six years at Anfield, he proved everyone wrong. Still some people never learn.</p>
<p>Nowadays, most managers deploy a new method of marking, which is called the mixed zonal marking. Here the team defends the ball using zonal marking, while two or three of the best defenders take care of the most dangerous attackers of the attacking team.</p>
<p>Either system requires enormous coordination, good communication and high level of concentration throughout the game coupled with being proactive when dealing with the ball.</p>
<p><a href="http://tamojitontactics.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/6.png"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://tamojitontactics.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/6.png" alt="6" width="628" height="266"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>In the above screengrab, we see Manchester City with four defenders marketing zonally in the final third (marked by yellow circle). The other three defenders, who are better headers of the ball, man mark their respective players. If any of these three defenders who are man marking fail to win the ball in the first attempt, the defenders who are marking zonally will get rid of the ball thus protecting their goal.</p>
<p>Let’s look at a different scenario in the screengrab below.</p>
<p><a href="http://tamojitontactics.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/7.png"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://tamojitontactics.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/7.png" alt="7" width="619" height="300"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>The corner comes from the right top corner of the screengrab. If Abou Diaby or Per Mertesacker (marked by red circles) fail to head the ball first time, it’s curtains for City as Yaya Toure or Joleon Lescott will pounce on the loose ball to slot it home.</p>
<p>So whatever the system is, defenders need to be on their toes and ready to clear the ball away. Whether it’s zonal marking, man marking or mixed zonal marking, it’s down to the set of defenders to make sure their system works.</p>


Analyzing Zonal Marking, Man Marking and Mixed Zonal Marking

Analyzing Zonal Marking, Man Marking and Mixed Zonal Marking - World Soccer Talk

<p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2012/09/22/premier-league-saturday-gameweek-5-match-highlights-video/number-5-shirt/" rel="attachment wp-att-47074"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-47074" title="number-5-shirt" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2012/09/number-5-shirt-500x333.webp" alt="" width="500" height="333" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"></figure></div></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">This weekend, it all begins. We are set to lift the lid on nine months of excruciating, jaw dropping extravagant football in the Premier League. There will moments of absolute madness, redemption and compelling story lines among the most entertaining football on this planet. Over the course of the campaign, the top 20 teams of England’s Premier League elite will battle it out for the title.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Here are my list of top five strikers who I believe could leave an everlasting impression this campaign:</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/07/19/watch-all-31-of-swanseas-new-striker-wilfried-bonys-goals-from-last-season-video/wilfried-bony-3/" rel="attachment wp-att-79555"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-79555" title="wilfried-bony" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2013/07/wilfried-bony2-600x399-600x399.webp" alt="" width="600" height="399" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></figure></div></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>5. Wilfried Bony:</strong> Swansea City went all out to sneak a deal for this Ivorian with a £12million cash splurge from Dutch Club, Vitesse Arnhem. Last season, Bony scored an astonishing 31 times from 30 starts, which was nothing short of prolific in the goalscoring charts. In preseason, Bony has already developed an understanding with Michu and this might just be the beginning of the Swansea partnership that will pay them dividends this year. If both Michu and Bony are on form this season, expect the Swansea flag to be soaring high above the Liberty Stadium.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/08/12/west-bromwich-albion-close-to-agreeing-loan-deal-for-udinese-striker-matej-vydra-daily-soccer-report/matej-vydra/" rel="attachment wp-att-81441"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-81441" title="Matej Vydra" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2013/08/Matej-Vydra-500x375.webp" alt="" width="500" height="375" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"></figure></div></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>4. Matej Vydra:</strong> West Bromwich Albion performed out of their skin last campaign and much of that credit goes to manager Steve Clarke for handling the team that was thin in terms of squad strength, but not short of firepower up front. Romelu Lukaku, on loan from Chelsea last season, was a massive success and singlehandedly revamped the Baggies frontline. In Matej Vydra, West Brom won’t get what Lukaku offered but Clarke knows best. This Czech youngster has speed to burn, is phenomenal on the turn and possesses superb vision. Expect him to light up the season. And if West Brom are to emulate their exploits from last campaign, expect Vydra to be in the thick of things.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/07/19/stevan-jovetic-signs-for-manchester-city-official-photos/stevan-jovetic-manchester-city/" rel="attachment wp-att-79609"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-79609" title="stevan-jovetic-manchester-city" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2013/07/stevan-jovetic-manchester-city-600x337-600x337.webp" alt="" width="600" height="337" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></figure></div></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p style="text-align: left;"><strong>3. Stevan Jovetic:</strong> It was expected that Manchester City would splash the cash and break the bank to avenge their lost title from Manchester United. This former Fiorentina striker cost Manchester City £22million, but he is worth every penny. It’s expected that he will play on the left behind Alvaro Negredo or Sergio Aguero in City’s attack. He will certainly fill the holes left by the departures of Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/07/09/american-striker-jozy-altidore-joins-sunderland-on-4-year-deal/jozy-altidore-5/" rel="attachment wp-att-78800"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-78800" title="jozy-altidore" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2013/07/jozy-altidore3-600x337-600x337.webp" alt="" width="600" height="337" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></figure></div></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>2. Jozy Altidore:</strong> Sunderland have bought themselves a goal machine. The American failed to make an impact in the 2009-10 season with Hull City, so he’ll be looking for redemption under Italian manager Paolo Di Canio. He comes on the brink of a splendid season with AZ Alkmaar. There is a lot of expectation on his shoulders both in Sunderland and across the pond.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/08/14/5-strikers-to-watch-out-for-in-the-2013-14-premier-league-season/ricky-van-wolfswinkel/" rel="attachment wp-att-81614"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-81614" title="ricky-van-wolfswinkel" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2013/08/ricky-van-wolfswinkel-500x265.webp" alt="" width="500" height="265" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"></figure></div></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>1. Ricky Van Wolfswinkel:</strong> Norwich City have had a tremendous splurge in the transfer market this summer, adding the likes of Van Wolfswinkel and Gary Hooper to bolster the side’s attacking prowess. Expect Norwich City to make a statement of intent this season with the Dutch pairing of Leroy Fer and Wolfswinkel.</p>


5 Strikers to Watch Out For in the 2013-14 Premier League Season

5 Strikers to Watch Out For in the 2013-14 Premier League Season - World Soccer Talk

<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/07/28/swansea-city-are-ready-to-scale-new-heights-in-third-season-in-premier-league/angel-rangel-2/" rel="attachment wp-att-80268"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-80268" title="angel-rangel" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2013/07/angel-rangel-500x379.webp" alt="" width="500" height="379" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>Tailor-made suits, an air of confidence beaming with a lustrous mane, Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup could easily be mistaken for soccer’s very own 007 James Bond.</p>
<p>Laudrup’s verve and experience dates back to his playing days with Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Denmark. Laudrup remains one of the hottest prospect of the beautiful game, even years after he last kicked a ball in a competitive match.</p>
<p>The Swansea manager has spent the last few weeks quashing speculation linking him to the previous managerial vacancies at Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.</p>
<p>Swansea’s catapult to the Premier League is nothing short of a fairytale. Flashback ten years ago and they were lying in the obscurity of the third division thanks to the bankruptcy they found themselves in. Next week however they will be playing in one of the highest echelons rubbing shoulders with the big boys of European Football. The Swans play Malmo in the Europa League on Thursday. How times change.</p>
<p>With Laudrup in charge, the Welsh side stepped up to find another gear last season, playing dazzling football with eye catching moves and flashes of brilliance overall.</p>
<p>Now with the addition of Ivory Coast striker <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/07/09/wilfried-bony-agrees-12million-deal-to-sign-for-swansea-city-photo/">Wilfried Bony</a>, who signed from Vitesse Arnhem for a club record £12m, the Swans have a perfect player to complement Michu. While <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/07/15/jonjo-shelvey-may-thrive-at-swansea-under-michael-laudrup-and-less-expectations/">Jonjo Shelvey</a> can be considered as a superb signing for £5m, Jonathan De Guzman’s yet another <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/06/29/jonathan-de-guzman-agrees-new-season-loan-deal-at-swansea-daily-soccer-report/">season-long loan has also been confirmed</a>.</p>
<p>Laudrup, however, says he wants to add another chunk in his armor up front. With Bony and Michu taking up the attack, a different kind of a goal poacher up front would decisively turn matches on its head when required. Someone like a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2011/10/21/is-shane-long-the-premier-leagues-bargain-of-the-season/">Shane Long</a> who has good movement off the ball and pace on the turn would be a brilliant addition. Having said that though, Long isn’t the best of finishers. Twenty-one year old Northern Irish striker&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2012/01/03/5-new-reasons-to-be-optimistic-about-swanseas-chances-of-staying-up/">Rory Donnelly</a>, who has impressed greatly in this summer’s preseason matches,&nbsp;might be used as an option from the squad. Udinese’s striker Matej Vydra might be a prospect for Laudrup’s loan bid and this would be an absolute steal given the Czech’s attacking prowess.</p>
<p>Last season, the Swansea flourished thanks to a superb cutting edge and ruthlessness in front of goal. While the wing backs were allowed to utilize spaces in and around the wingers, Michu as a false nine was used to great effect. De Guzman and Ki were superb in central midfield and this season with Shelvey in the mix, expect the Swans to play like Barcelona in a look-alike Real Madrid shirt. Pre season has been great as well, with a 5-1 win followed by a 2-0 stroll in the park against Exeter City. Nathan Dyer looks sharp already as the new signings look to grow familiar in Laudrup’s effective system. Reports also claim that the Dane is planning a £7m swoop for top Mexican&nbsp;centre-half&nbsp;Hector Moreno from cash strapped Espanyol.</p>
<p>Laudrup is the best asset that the Welsh side have in the current set up. He will not ask someone to play like a Messi or a Ronaldo, but he would ask to play a ten yard pass and that if mastered can lead to the optimum success as far the Swans are concerned.</p>
<p>So what to expect from Swansea this season? As far as I can figure out this could be the starting line up in a classic 4-2-3-1 formation:</p>
<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/07/28/swansea-city-are-ready-to-scale-new-heights-in-third-season-in-premier-league/swansea-formation/" rel="attachment wp-att-80267"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-80267" title="swansea-formation" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2013/07/swansea-formation-463x582.webp" alt="" width="463" height="582" sizes="(max-width: 463px) 100vw, 463px"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>I would love to see Swansea carry off from where they left from last season. Laudrup is expected to field a 4-2-3-1 formation with two wing backs, two central midfielders in the mould of Shelvey and De Guzman. Dyer and Pablo Hernandez are expected to man the wings (with Wayne Routledge available as depth) with Michu will play in the hole behind Wilfried “Daddy Cool”&nbsp;Bony.</p>
<p>Shelvey and De Guzman in midfield will provide the much needed solidity and crux of the team. Shelvey is more than a good passer of the ball and his ability to be in the right position at the right time will be hugely beneficial for the Swans. De Guzman however loves to stray here and there, making his feet do the talking.</p>
<p>Wilfred Bony is a clinical finisher and possesses great aerial threat. Even though he might not be the fastest, he has an eye for the goal with two strong feet and ferocious ball striking ability. Michu, as we saw from the last season, loves to play narrow and prefers to be in the central areas of the pitch making runs behind the opposition defense. This benefits the Laudrup system as the Dane wants his wingers to be narrow and to help with the ball retention. This will free up Michu and Bony up front. Michu’s winning headers could also be used to set up players up front, while the build up play is definitely expected to improve. This is evident from the following heat map of Michu against Manchester United last season.</p>
<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2013/07/28/swansea-city-are-ready-to-scale-new-heights-in-third-season-in-premier-league/michu-heat-map/" rel="attachment wp-att-80266"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-80266" title="michu-heat-map" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2013/07/michu-heat-map-600x320-600x320.webp" alt="" width="600" height="320" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>Now comes the dirty and the strenuous work, winning back possession. Last season we saw in quite a few matches that all of the eleven Swansea players were in their own half to win back the ball and make intelligent runs off the ball to quell the opposition threat. This means whenever the Swans had the ball back again, they were quick off their blocks and a quick counter attack was on in a matter of seconds.</p>
<p>When all is said and done, I can’t wait until August 17 when Swansea City kicks off their third-consecutive Premier League season with a home match against Manchester United. Subduing this well-balanced Swansea side will take quite a job this campaign.</p>
<p>Playing in the Europa League will be a different ball game altogether, as the exertion from making long trips to various corners of the continent may stretch the squad to the limit, but with the canny head of Laudrup, Swansea can find the right balance and rightly establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with, both domestically and in Europe.</p>
<p>As the saying goes, “It’s easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top.” A moment of truth awaits the Welsh side and it looks that failures are far, far away.</p>


Swansea City Are Ready to Scale New Heights In Third Season in Premier League

Swansea City Are Ready to Scale New Heights In Third Season in Premier League - World Soccer Talk

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Tamojit Chakraborty

latest articles by Tamojit Chakraborty

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