New Tactics need New Faces (2)

By: wan | August 18th, 2008

Just last week I touched on Betis’s quest for a new striker and how it fitted into the new plans and tactics of coach Paco Chaparro. Now I would like to highlight the other area that the team seems to be desperate to bring in new blood: the full-backs.

As impressive as Real Betis have been in recent friendly matches, the defensive frailties that plagued the team last year seems once again to be their Archilies heel. The defensive partnership of Juanito (who won a recall back to the Spanish National team) and Arzu does not seem to be working. For the most part this is because Arzu is a defensive midfielder and his tendency to engage opposing forwards higher up the field leaves a huge gap at the back that Juanito’s age and lack of speed can no longer cover.

So you can question why Chaparro seems obsessed in buying full-backs instead? This I reckoned is because of the attacking side of things rather than defensive. In Chaparro’s new tactical world, protection of the flanks are crucial and he needs full-backs who are strong and are able to move fluidly in between defensive and especially attacking situations.

In his new 4-3-3 formation, the two flank attackers (like Gonzalez and Edu) are expected to be engaged in the last third of the field, meaning they would leave a huge gap behind them. The three midfielders are organised in a diamond formation and so are not expected to cover the space created. This means that the full-backs will need to play higher up the field than normally expected.

More than that, in order to create 2-on-1 situations where the opposition can be isolated and exploited, the full-backs for Betis needs to be able to act as auxiliary wingers to get the crosses in so that Gonzalez and Edu can move infield to support the main striker (Pavone? Jose Mari?) and create more goal threats.

Thus the shopping list calls for full-backs who are highly athletic and can move forward to support the attack a la Roberto Carlos in his prime. The names bandied around in recent weeks have been focused on UD Almeria’s pair of Mane and Bruno. They would be perfect choices, having proven themselves last season to be physically strong and capable last season.

Still Betis’ failure to get Michael Chretien from Nancy and Mane’s apparent impasse due to Betis’ lack of finances means Chaparro is now looking at Benfica’s Nelson Marcos or maybe Malaga’s Jesus Gamez for the right-back position. Nelson Marcos in particular will bring a new excitement to the Betis team with his attacking mindset.

The name though that has me the most excited has to be Ilsinho, the Brazilian left-back from Shatar Donetsk. This skilful, elegant left footer is a real quality player and he knows how to time his runs to maximum effect. For me, he would be a perfect fit for Betis – a left flank combination of Gonzalez and Ilsinho would be quite devastating.

One of my most enduring memories of Real Betis was Fernando Vega’s wonder goal against Barcelona(?) when he glided down the left before planting a superb shot past the goalkeeper. If we are to have a repeat this season with a new attacking full back, I for one am not going to complain about it.