Offensive defenders tactic
What is it?
Offensive defenders tactic (also called Norwegian tactic) concentrates on boosting midfield and/or attack at expense of defence. The idea behind this tactics is simple as inequality: 5 > (10-6), meaning: if you'll get 6 out of 10 chances there are in every match, and you will score from at least 5 of them, you will win the match even if your opponent scores from every chance he gets. In other words, if your possesion is big enough to get you 6 chances in a match and your attacks are good enough to convert those chances into goals, you need no defence at all. So if giving up defence will give you such midfield and attacks, then it is a logical thing to do.
Why is it also called "Norwegian tactic" ?
The name of this tactic derives from famous final match (MatchID: 14287675) of World Cup IV, played on 29.02.2004, in which Norway beat Sweden 4-2 (it was the only World Cup not won by Sweden so far). Norwegian NT coach Snylte used the following line-up:
| Norway gold medal line-up | |||
| GK | |||
| WB off | CD off | CD off | exIM |
| W off | IM off | IM off | WTM |
| FO | FO | ||
The first offensive defenders tactic matches catalogued so far were played on 29.10.2003 (friendly, MatchID: 9958212) and 12.11.2003 (cup, MatchID: 12860969) - 4 months before the World Cup final - and there are probably even older ones (please submit them if you find them).
Offensive defenders tactic vs. all out tactic
Offensive defenders tactic is often mistaken with "classic" all out tactic, which concentrates on boosting midfield (possesion), even at expense of attack (for example playing both wingers toward middle), but they're really not the same. The following table summerises the differences between them.
| Offensive defenders tactic | All out tactic | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose |
|
| ||
| The idea | If you score 5 goals while opponent can only score 4, you need no defence, you'll win anyway. | If you gain all the chances in the game the opponent won't score and with so many chances you must score something even with weak attack. | ||
| Means used | Possesion >59% Attacks (at least central attack or both wings) equal or stronger than opponent's defences. |
Extremely high midfield. | ||
| Lineups used | 3-5-2, 3-4-3, (2-5-3) | 3-5-2, (2-5-3) | ||
| Tactics used | AIM, AOW, normal | AIM | ||
| Players used | Two or three inner midfielders Two or three forwards Wingers offensive or towards middle One or two offensive central defenders One or two offensive wing backs |
Three inner midfielders Two forwards Two wingers towards middle Two offensive central defenders (Wingbacks don't really matter) | ||
| Counter tactics |
|
Boosting central defence, CA and/or possesion >39%. |
Effectiveness
While the changes in the game engine that increased the importance of defence - especially the introduction of CA and defensive coaches - severely hindered the effective use of all out tactic, the Offensive defenders tactic is still successfuly used by many managers.
