{"id":14351,"date":"2017-07-25T10:30:20","date_gmt":"2017-07-25T09:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thehighertempopress.com\/?p=14351"},"modified":"2017-07-24T20:31:24","modified_gmt":"2017-07-24T19:31:24","slug":"disciples-rafalution-roles-fullbacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thehighertempopress.com\/2017\/07\/disciples-rafalution-roles-fullbacks\/","title":{"rendered":"Disciples of the Rafalution: The Roles of the Fullbacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rafa Benitez & his tactical approaches demand a lot from his players. A cautious man, he seeks to build a solid spine & defensive foundation before looking to put together his attacking exploits. No greater a case to be seen is the first signings of Liverpool\u2019s Rafalution<\/em>. Antonio Nunez (a part exchange transfer from Real Madrid in the Michael Owen deal) & Josemi (from Malaga) both clocked up minutes in the Red of Merseyside at right back, such was Benitez\u2019s distrust of Steve Finnan to meet the demands he would place on him. However, Finnan impressed himself, while John Arne Riise did on the opposite side, though in Liverpool\u2019s domestic peak season under the Spaniard, both of these fullbacks had moved on to pastures new. So when it comes to fullbacks, what was it that Benitez demanded?<\/p>\n

If we look to the 2008\/09 season, Alvaro Arbeloa & Fabio Aurelio were the first choice fullbacks for Benitez. Arbeloa arrived from Deportivo La Coruna in January 2007, initially taking his place at left back before switching to the right. Arbeloa was a defensively minded full back, well aware his strengths lay more in the defensive third of the pitch than in the final third, like his successor Glen Johnson. Fabio Aurelio was a more attacking minded player. Capable in the defensive third, Aurelio\u2019s sweet strike with his left foot set him up for deep crosses & set pieces, not committing to the byline as his predecessor John Arne Riise inclined to do.<\/p>\n

In translating this to an FM sense, how would these roles be set up in the team? Well, first you must consider the bigger picture & the players further up the flanks. Arbeloa\u2019s defensive mindedness suited the Liverpool shape, especially when Dirk Kuyt lined up on the right wing. Kuyt\u2019s move from the central forward role to the wings added attributes to the wing we would normally see in either a Raumdeuter or Wide Target Man. As a result Arbeloa would be a Defensive Full Back\/Full Back with a Defend duty. His role was simple. Sit narrow, deep in the defensive structure & support the attack in-line with the defence without over-committing. However, if this movement resulted in Arbeloa moving to an Overlap\/Inside run, defensive midfielders would cover in the event of a counter.<\/p>\n

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Alternatively, when Yossi Benayoun lined up in the right wing role, he would be more of a Wide Playmaker, often drifting inside with the ball or as a passing option. In this case, it would not be unusual to see Arbeloa as a Full Back on Support, providing a wide option to the team should Benayoun tuck in to narrow the midfield.<\/p>\n\r\n