Inverting The Pyramid: The History of Soccer Tactics Paperback – November 5, 2013

So interesting. I never considered the importance of the starting formation and how it has changed over the years juxtaposed with the talent of players and the flow of the game.

This is the fascinating long history of the Great Game, from the tactical perspectives and the philosophies that come with them.The book began right from where it all started: the meeting organised by H.C. Malden of Godalming, Surrey, in his Cambridge rooms in 1848, which summons university representatives of Harrow, Eaton, Shrewsbury, Winchester, Rugby, and 2 non-public schoolboys, to create the first unified Laws of the Game, the "Cambridge Rules." The rules then spread around the world in the next few decades via British men of various occupations, blended in with the local culture and create distinctively local style of play, until it became a truly global phenomenon in the 20th century.The title of the book brilliantly captures this phenomenon, through the evolution of its formation from the pyramid-like shape 2-3-5 in the early days, to 3-2-5, 4-2-4, 4-4-2 to the inverted pyramid shape 4-5-1 and even 4-6-0 that several teams use today, complete with all the advantages-disadvantages, blank spots, and all the major incidents that colour the many transformations.Within this long tactical evolution the author, Jonathan Wilson, demonstrates a very thorough research down to the smallest incidents on any match played, such as a big match in 1890 or 1953 when there weren't even a television coverage. And he can describe the socio-cultural influences of every team thoughout history. For instance, the style of play of a football team is apparently largely influenced by the contemporary political system and economic condition, like in Italy and Spain in 1930s and Argentina in 1960s when they were under military dictatorship they played a tough, muscular, and pragmatic football.The book also delightfully gives small trivial facts every now and then, such as the first man to be caught offside after the 1866 law change was Charles W. Alcock. Or how the father of modern football, Viktor Maslov, was the first to use 4-4-2 formation. Or that time Louis Van Gaal dropped his troussers in Bayern Munich's dressing room, to literally show that he "has the balls" to drop star names.As football evolves, so do the chapters in the book. And we'll move forward from the likes of the day rugby separated itself from football to the most exciting part for me, the tactics that differentiates modern football from the old: pressing.And this is where it really gets down to business. The book gives the technical explanations of a lot of matches and team set-up, a lot of which gives a whole new angle on the matches we thought we knew when we watch them. Such as how Greece can (deservedly) won Euro 2004, by controling matches without even controling the ball. Why Sergio Busquet was the most vital player in Guardiola's Barcelona. And why Arrigo Sacchi had to instruct Carlo Anchelotti to train an hour early with the youth team to make sure his playmaker understands his specific tactics.Jonathan Wilson declared right in the beginning that he loves Bielsa-esque style of play, with high speed passings and high pressure. And it shows. The discussion of modern football evolve mainly on the style of Bielsa, Sacchi and Cruyff and their descendants like Guardiola and Van Gaal, and not so much on the style applied, for example, by Alex Ferguson, Marcello Lippi, or Jose Mourinho, although their styles (and many more modern managers' styles) are still analysed albeit not as thorough.Just like when watching these fast-paced footballing style, reading the analysis of the tactics, in almost scientific approach, is just downright exhilarating. It gives a bright shining light on how the modern game is really constructed, and makes Marcelo Bielsa in particular - and his protégés - looks nothing short of a genius. A very enjoyable reading!

This is a very interesting and awesome book I’ve learned a lot so far but it is a very long read so be prepared for that!

"Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics" was written by British sports journalist Jonathan Wilson. Wilson charts the history of football tactics from the 1870s to the present day. Over time teams became more cautious and defensive as winning took priority.The book is an entertaining account of the evolution of football tactics around the world. It starts with the original 1-2-7 line-up favoured by England in 1872. By 1884, England was using a 2-3-5 formation. Over time teams added defenders and used fewer forwards. The initial pyramid formations (2-3-5) ended with being inverted (4-4-2) as time moved on.Wilson discusses many of the great sides and the tactical innovations they introduced. Wilson starts in Britain in the 19th century. Scotland had an early reputation for slick, passing football with quick, skillful players, in marked contrast to England's more direct and pragmatic style. The English considered `passing' to be unmanly.The game grew as British expats took the game to South America and continental Europe. Wilson describes how the game developed in different parts of the world. Wilson analyzes the boring, anti-football pf the Italian teams of the 1960s. The exciting Brazilian teams of the 1950s and 1960s. The "Total Football" of the Dutch in the 1970s. He does not spend much time discussing German football, which is a pity.Wilson describes the sometimes eccentric coaches who built successful teams. Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman introduced the W-M system (3-2-2-3) in the 1920s. This system was used in England until the 1960s. Chapman is also credited with introducing the numbers on player's shirts. Gustav Sebes, who pioneered the 4-2-4 formation, was the coach of the fabulous Hungarian team of the 1950's. His ideas were taken to Brazil by his protégé Bela Guttman. The 4-2-4 formation was popular until 1966, when England won the World Cup playing 4-1-3-2.The book discusses the innovations of Scotsmen Bill Shankly (Liverpool) and Matt Busby (Manchester United) who changed the face of the English game in the 1960s. He also writes about Valeriy Lobanovsky (Dynamo Kiev), Arrigo Sacchi (AC Milan), Helenio Herrera (Inter), Rinus Michels (Ajax) and many others. The author debunks the theories of Charles Reep and Charles Hughes, and their pseudo-scientific justification of direct football. Hughes claimed the Dutch and Brazilians were playing football the wrong way.Today, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-2-1, and 4-3-3 are popular formations in the English Premier League. Many professional teams are flexible enough to change their formation during games. Inverting the Pyramid is an enjoyable and engrossing read. I would recommended it to anyone interested in understanding the tactical history of the game.

Amazing. Even if you have watched soccer all of your life, this book will teach you more than any soccer t.v. show. At least in Mexico there are only a few people interested in discussing tactics and soccer. I'm grateful I've found them and thanks to one of them, Martin Del Palacio I've found this book. He has a good book about his experiences as a journalist in Spain and interviewing Messi and Cristiano.

Great book. Very detailed and an enjoyable read for any football nerd!

The book is well written, but in a way that cites too many names of soccer players thus making it hard to follow if one is not familiar with those names. Besides that, it focuses more on English soccer, although it gives a general view of soccer in general, including South America. It is worth reading, mainly to understand the development of football tactics, but, it is not the kind of book which makes one eager to read the next chapter.

狙いは大げさなものです。１００年以上のサッカーの歴史を各国に振り返りそこに戦術、もっとはっきり言えば、システムの変化を探ろうとするものです。最初のシステムが、２−３−５だとすると、そのピラミッドをひっくり返して逆さにしたのが、５−３−２、もしくは４−５−１、並びにそのヴァリエーションだというわけです。これがこの書物の題の解題といわけです。この転倒への到達に１００年のサッカーの戦術の発展がたどられます。著者は、この転倒という現象の発現形態の現れ方に各国のサッカーの特殊性と価値観を見出します。取り上げられる国は、多岐にわたります。wembleyで初めてイングランドを破ったハンガリーからロシア（プレシングの発祥）、イタリア（カテナチオとゾーンプレス）、アルゼンチン（メノッティとビジャルドの対立）、ブラジル（４−２−４）、イングランド（４−４−２）、そしてswedenまでもが取り上げられます。どの国にも存在した勝利と美との間の対立とそこから生み出される戦術の発展（システムの応用と微調整）が焦点となりますが、転倒というわけですので、基本的にはデフェンシヴな戦術への変化が焦点となります。戦術とシステムの発展は、永遠と思われたDF、MFとFWの区分すら曖昧なものにしており、古典的なウィングというポジションが消滅したように、CFというポジションすら、その変化の後には消滅してしまう可能性があることが示唆されます。もっとも消滅というよりは発展的な解消といった方がいいのかもしれませんが。たしかに見事にシステムの発展がたどられますが、見たこともないそして映像も残っていない５０年以上前のシステムがきれいに文の上で整理されてしまうのは、後知恵の成せる業という印象は否めません。 4‐2‐3‐1―サッカーを戦術から理解する (光文社新書) との併読を勧めます。 4‐2‐3‐1―サッカーを戦術から理解する (光文社新書)

Livro muito interessante para os adeptos do futebol, sua história e táticas.