"A PICTURE is worth a thousand words" refers to the notion that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single still image. 

This quote it seems is then perfect starting point at a time when ‘starting positions’ is just one of many buzz terms used by coaches in the Hyundai A-League this season. 

One such picture that conveyed this very phrase appeared in the top of the table clash between the Mariners and Wanderers on Saturday, it also proved to be the decisive moment in the game. It involves a concept I was introduced to in my early days when coaching at the Australian Institute of Sport, labeled ‘three in a line’.

What seems a fairly simple concept involves many variables that, when executed to the level of competency the Wanderers trio of La Rocca, Bridge and Haliti showed, leaves even the most organised defences in tatters.

 

As the picture above shows the starting positions of the three mentioned players allows a perfectly straight line to connect them all. This is the key component of this attacking concept; it can be used on many different passing angles and in different areas of the ground but based on the same principles is very difficult to defend due to the options it creates and its deceptive nature. 

‘Starting positions’ as discussed is a term that is being used more and more by coaches this season and in this instance it is specifically the timing and intelligent movement of Labinot Haliti to drop into the space between the Mariners defence and midfield, and at the same time into the line of the ball carrier La Rocca and Bridge who was returning to an onside position. These dual movements created the opportunity to effectively use the ‘three in a line’ concept.

From the Mariners point of view, Graham Arnold has built a team which prides itself on the organisational details in all moment of the game. Therefore, it would have irked him to see the lack of pressure on the ball in this moment, or the inability to cut the passing lane to Bridge, not to mention the distance between Sainsbury and Bojic relative to the position of the ball carrier and based on the Wanderers forwards positions. However, in a game of fine details it was these exact lapses in organisation that proved to be decisive. 

As you can see in the next picture once the ‘three in a line’ concept had been established it is the opposite movements between Bridge and Haliti that causes the moment's confusion for the Mariners defenders. At this exact moment Sainsbury was caught watching the ball with a square body that would have made it difficult for him to turn and match the already accelerating Haliti, Zwaanswijk on the other hand was moving backwards recognising the run from Haliti. These incidents left the defensive line in a state of confusion.

All this allowed Bridge to play on the line of offside and face Haliti who at the same time was now arking his run in-between the two central defenders in anticipation for the second pass. La Rocca then delivered an inch perfect pass with the correct weight to a now side-on Bridge that ensured that Haliti did not have to alter the speed of his run. Bridges wall pass was as exquisite as you will see and allowed Haliti to continue his run and face the oncoming Ryan.

At the moment of ball release by Bridges you get an exact picture above of the chaos this movement caused the Mariners' central defensive pair as they had by this stage lost their usual cohesive line. Haliti as we all know went on to finish the move to which he promptly began proving that, through a combination of football intelligence, finding the correct position based on the situation, clever movement and developing intuition within your team, even the sturdiest of defences can be unlocked.

In this game the ‘three in a line’ concept was exploited to its maximum potential and full credit has to go to Tony Popovic and his staff for the manner in which the Wanderers have so quickly become a fully functional unit, proving the idea that new teams need time to adapt and develop is a myth!

Arthur Papas
Indian U23 national team coach and former A-League assistant coach