Why More Teams Should Counter-Attack | By The Numbers

Last season the Premier League saw a fairly low percentage of goals scored on the counter-attack. Using the stats, we explain why perhaps more teams should try to score on the counter.
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[HipHopGalaxyZA]

Manchester United built their dynasty on counter attacking...most people forget that

[finding_aether]

I think the proliferation of gegenpressing teams has also made counter-attacking riskier. Defenders who won the ball has to evade the initial press while moving the ball quickly into dangerous areas. Not every team has players who can do that.

[moajjem]

the stats are misleading. this is because the idea of possession based football is to control the game and attack from different outlets. it doesn't depend on your strikers having great conversion rate.

[NavF]

Show this video to Wenger!! I mean we've got Walcott Ox Sanchez Bellerin...the wonder scorpion kick from Giroud came from a counter too...I feel Arsenal could really play well if we countered more..

[JTF]

You need a lot of very quick players to counter attack regularly, makes it easier for teams likes Chelsea and Leicester. Teams like Stoke and my team Watford just don't have the same pace going forward, means it's really not viable. You'd argue that some teams could be doing more, like Southampton and Palace, but it's not as simple as 'more teams should do it'

[solankijimmy]

To counter attack, pace and stamina are secondary. The most important are positioning, awareness and decent passing. Creating 2v2s, 3v3s high up the pitch while the opponent is backing off, is just as good as breaking the offside trap using your pace and a through ball. Both will great a great chance on goal. This video is spot on when it suggests more teams should try counter attacking. Counter pressing has a negative, which is being forced to play with a higher line. If one can negotiate even one challenge in your own half, you have a decent opportunity to break. It is a risk though with great reward. Something which most managers will not try more simply because their priority is to deny a goal. Scoring comes secondary for most teams except for the ones at the top. Everyone below the top five or six teams will always take a draw over risking losing a game over a counter.

[codyteach]

what was the quote from the 1994 world cup video about the Brazilians? "Functional, not magnificent." Don't get me wrong, it's a legitimate strategy, with plenty of payoff, but there is a reason we remember Sacchi's Milan more fondly than the Catenaccio (which, by the numbers was more successful) that came before it.

[connoralsleben]

Would be quite interested to see the numbers for la liga with both Madrid sides being extremely effective on the counter but differing in their over all approach

[rooneye]

Wow! Cannot believe how few goals are actually scored from counter attacks these days, remember Arsenal with Henry, whenever I think if them scoring it's with a lightning fast counter. Even Leicester, god. Nice to see my team Boro actually leading on something in that dreadful season lol

[ComradeOgilvy]

I think it is worth asking what "counter attacking" more would entail, in terms of concrete investment of resources. Presumably it requires 2 people to rush out and mug the ball carrier while 2 fast strikers sprint in anticipation of winning the ball cleanly. That sounds fun, but it you fail to win the ball, you have 6 defenders in poor defensive shape scrambling to defend against 5-6 organized attackers.

[kdtode]

i think why it is difficult to counter is for the fact that it needs more pace and stamina.
and its not that easy having that for the whole 90mins.
its like being ready to sprint at anytime. which most players cant

[gdbyemisterA]

Interesting video, I think it is very important though to note that tactics in football go through an evolution of a tactic becoming prominent before a team finds a way to beat that and slowly things transition. Picking a random example. A high press can be beaten by a player who can accurately pass to teammates who are between the pressing line and the defensive line. The high press is altered to include a man mark on this player or to include a deep lying destroyer to make sure that the press is harder to beat. Whilst counter attacking does definitely lead to a better quality of shot, when counter attacking becomes the fashion, someone will find a way to stop it, whether it be to be more conservative in attacking or to put emphasis on efficiency in reforming a defensive shape following the turn over of possession. Good job guys.

[connor-rgfq]

Love these videos! keep up the great work

[JJaaasss]

but Opta's definition on counters or fast breaks are different from what we usually think of

[MrigankMongia]

You missed which team conceded least/most goals from counterattacks. To defend counter attacks is easy, let your back line hang low. It's why Leicester got caught this season, teams knew they rely only on counter attacks, so they defended deep against them. One of the reasons, Everton, Chelsea and Leicester won against Man City is because City persist on pressing high, almost all of the those goal were from counter attacks.

[cameronconnor]

How far up the pitch after winning the ball are you counting it as a counter attack? A high pressure team winning the ball half way in the opposition half is still a counter, be interesting to hear where you think it stops being a counter attack

[JairamWaddell]

Isn't that like saying more teams should score goals. Some teams set up for it to be a more integeral part of their game (sit deep, fast attackers etc) but it's not like teams consistently pass up quick attacking chances

[roomi_]

Can you guys please do a BY THE NUMBERS video on Andrew Robertson and why would Liverpool go for him instead of many other BETTER AVAILABLE OPTIONS.

[asphen]

I think viewing a team like Atletico who's bread and butter is counter attacking, would've been very nice. Atletico Madrid, who's players aren't exactly regarded as the best, always seems to do well, possibly due to their high defensive mindset with a lethal counter attack.