“Creation is an action where at least one player reacts with his teammate(s) to reach a superior position.” – Me
It can be done through any type of action on a football pitch.
To understand creation we must breakdown whether or not the term is absolute or subjective.
First class creation can come as a pass that exploits a weakness in the oppositions defence. It is an act from the player exercising his acknowledgement of his own capabilities (which is the sum of the opposition)
Pre – creating through passing can come from less obvious but equally credible spaces and it is done through a player acknowledging a beneficiary position in a large zone, or a beneficiary exercise of passing movement that can follow up the initial pass played. Examples – deep midfielder beating the first presser to start a very dangerous attack/a full back switching the play to find an overload/an attacker initiating a penetrating triangle of passes in the opposition box.
HOWEVER, it is important to understand the different types of pre creation, and the value of each:
First we have, a pass that instantly creates a high chance of goal scoring for the team.
Then, we have a pass that creates a largely superior position that benefits the chance of creating a goal by a lot (from a roughly equal position in this example).
Then, a pass that creates a slightly superior position (from roughly equal also).
However, the ultimate determination of the superiority of the position after the pass is played is the receivers capabilities on the opposite end of the ball. By analysing this we can differentiate which type of pass is played and the effects of it.
A deep midfielders capabilities (in a creation point of view) are in direct correlation with the individuals receiving and acting on the pass played. The importance of both a creator and a finisher is paramount to achieving a strong attack.
A pre creator must typically be:
+ Very aware of a huge amount of space – huge acknowledgement of individual positioning/small and large distance movements from them in relation to the open space available
+ The technical capabilities to match the awareness – find these players with accurate passes to benefit the position of his team, maintain the ball at his feet at the correct moment, astute dribbling skills to manoeuvre away from pressing opposition, timing to react to surroundings (overall accurate decision making in terms of passing)
In summary with comment to the deep midfielders technical play; he/she must be in command of local space (far space is governed by teammates first and foremost) and attempt to disrupt opposition block in conjunction with teammates movements in dangerous space.
– Commandeering of local space + technical capabilities to find teammates in dangerous areas
Dangerous areas are governed through the deep midfielders positioning & technical actions also
EXAMPLE OF HOW A DANGEROUS AREA CAN BE DICTATED BY A DEEP MIDFIELDER
– A ‘six’ possesses the ball against a 2×4 block and receives off his CBs. His positioning leads to instant opposition marking leaving space free for a passing triangle concluding in the vacant ten zone in between the lines.
Dangers of a zone are always related to the ball carrier first and foremost, and how they react in conjunction with their teammates and opposition.
Deepest midfielder – impact on the game is enormous due the game specific qualities required in modern football.
CREATION THROUGH BODY MOVEMENT
Body movement can be defined in summary through –
Depth (receiving to finalise an attack)
Diverge (either to receive to finalise or to decoy marker)
Receive (movement to receive to start an attack)
Body angling (to adjust to a game specific question)
A highly skilled creator will be able to perform efficient movement at a consistent rate throughout the game.
The best creators will always be highly efficient at initiating a play despite seemingly unlikely circumstances – as they can perform a higher standard by breaking the mould of play. (De Bruyne)
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES:
Action (creation) can occur by a primary reaction from a runner assessing the ball carriers potential for a certain manouevre
There is a clear link between individuals and how they affect the nearby zone characteristics (energy between players). This is called balance
Creation from a dribbling viewpoint can excel in space (offensive transitions) when combined with pace.
Accuracy from positioning is defined as a player acquiring space that directly compliments his skills as a player (Cristiano Ronaldo’s movement in the box)
Creation is an action through at least one player reacts with his teammate to reach a superior position
Sean MCBride 