Brentford Football Club has been on the cutting edge, deploying long throw-ins and utilizing them as a dangerous tactical weapon. They highlight a smart strategy that gives them several different outs on their key plays. In a recent goal against Chelsea, none other than Kevin Schade dribbled the ball deftly into the net. This cutting edge strategy was testament to the strength of Brentford’s master plan. The strategic long throw focus is more than just throwing it far. An important aspect to highlight is how it connects very closely with the team’s overarching concepts for dead ball situations and open play.
Like many in their position, Brentford is constantly working on improving its methods. The long throw preparation shows that the coaching staff and players alike are putting a premium on versatility. As throw-in specialist Thomas Gronnemark told us, the key to being unpredictable is always making sure you have different options that can keep opponents on their toes. This multi-pronged strategy has helped Brentford keep a constant fear factor, even when direct outcomes don’t come right away.
The Importance of Versatility
Gronnemark emphasizes that multiple throwers with different techniques is essential for the execution of Brentford’s long throw tactic. And there are long throw strategy or tactics – and you need to have many different options,” he insists. He proposes that teams should not require a full complement of pitchers, an over-the-top long list of hurlers. They should at least have three or four better informed and more competent choices.
Brentford’s squad is loaded with throw specialists, each adding their own individual flare and spice to the team’s deep tactics. As an example, Ethan Pinnock provides a height-and-reach advantage, whereas Schade possesses the superior speed and agility. Rounding out the quartet is Mathias Jensen, who brings his own long throw specialist cred to the mix. Combining this range of talents means that opposition teams are greatly challenged in anticipating or defending against Brentford’s set pieces.
“If you can have three, four good headers on your team and one of them is not throwing, you already have a quite good advantage.” – Thomas Gronnemark
This tactical depth gives Brentford an advantage to be overwhelming during set pieces making them an incredibly dangerous team no matter the phase of play.
Effective Execution Against Chelsea
The success of Brentford’s long throw tactic was evident in their recent match against Chelsea. On that play, Schade used his long throw as a weapon. He took advantage of the moment during the disorder and netted a huge equalizer. This case exemplifies how Brentford’s strategy goes beyond the first-phase throw. It is much more about the overall environment of second-phase play.
Esteban, perhaps the most important player in the attacking unit, will tell you that the second phase of the throw-in is crucial. “It’s about how you occupy the spaces for second balls and the second phase, because usually it’s hard to score from a first contact in this type of situations in a long throw,” he explains. The emphasis on aggression and crowding areas where the ball is likely to land enables Brentford to maximize scoring opportunities.
In addition, Esteban points out that consistency is central to their long throw philosophy. “Let’s say in a game we have 10 long throws, and we don’t create any chances we know in the next game, we’re still going to do it because in the long run, we’re aware of how much it gives to us,” he reveals. This ruthless dedication to their values is a testament to Brentford’s faith in their tactical structure.
A Legacy of Tactical Innovation
Our friends at Brentford are well known for their long throw curiosities. This strategy is a natural evolution of tactics that have long been embedded into the club’s DNA. Keith Andrews to unpack how these tactics are central to Brentford’s ethos. They allow the attacker and defender to use physicality with an added element of precision. The team’s deep commitment to these strategies stretches back decades. Over the years, they’ve transformed into an integral aspect of their present-day mechanics.
The success of this tactic isn’t limited to Brentford for example. Their sibling club, FC Midtjylland, has similarly gotten on board with these tactics, scoring 11 goals off long throws this season. This shared philosophy between clubs goes to show just how dangerous this tactical approach can be when done the right way.
Gronnemark reinforces the significance of training players in this area: “I normally say if you can throw approximately 34 meters (37 yards) in a test where it lands on the ground, then it’s world-class,” he states. This benchmark shows the incredible standards that are expected from throwers in Brentford’s line of throwers.
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