What is a Mezzala? | Naby Keita’s Role in Klopp’s Liverpool Explained
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.ย. 2018
- ► SUBSCRIBE to STATMAN DAVE: bit.ly/StatmanDaveTH-cam
What is a Mezzala? Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have started the season in fine form, sitting at the top of the Premier League table with a 100% win record. Klopp has refined his system this year, not only dominating possession but breaking down teams that primarily sit in a deep defensive block. This success has been in large part down to Klopp’s deployment of a Mezzala, a central midfielder that likes to attack the number 10 area from deep.
In Italian, Mezzala means ‘inside forward’. In modern football, a Mezzala best operates in midfield threes or diamonds due to their general lack of defensive awareness. A Mezzala will look to enter the half spaces after starting in a deep position, before getting on the ball and looking to either dribble past a player, play a forward pass or through ball, or get a shot on target.
The role of a Mezzala originated in the 1930s with Vittorio Pozzo’s Italy. Pozzo created a new system that would allow the Italians to dominate possession when facing the traditional formation of the time, the 2-3-5. Pozzo had his inside forwards, who usually operated near the centre forward, drop into midfield to grant his side numerical superiority in the middle third. These inside forwards were technically gifted players, capable of spotting a pass and able to dribble past opponents with ease. Pozzo’s tactical ingenuity allowed Italy to dominate World football, winning the World Cup back to back in 1934 and 1938.
Arguably the greatest Mezzala to grace the game played in Pozzo’s system, Giuseppe Meazza. Often operating on the right Meazza was notorious for being the king of the dribble, frequently taking on multiple opponents before rounding the goalkeeper and finishing in an empty net. Moving forward, the greatest modern day Mezzala would graduate from Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy. Andres Iniesta was one of the star players in Barcelona’s famous 2011 side who went on to win a famous 6 trophies in the year and is regarded by some as the greatest club side in footballing history. Whilst Iniesta relied on his passing range and movement to excel as a Mezzala, at the time, Juventus’ Paul Pogba used his shooting ability and physicality to great effect. Dominating football matches with his athleticism before scoring incredible goals from distance. Whilst his shooting ability was proficient, he was an equally impressive passer. Creating more goals than he scored in his time at Juventus. His all round ability earned Pogba a return to Manchester United in 2016, for a then world record, £89 million. Finally, fellow Premier League star, Naby Keita is the latest Mezzala that could take Europe by storm. Jurgen Klopp has partnered his Mezzala in midfield with shuttler, James Milner, and deep-lying playmaker, Georginio Wjnaldum. If Keita can maintain his early season form he will surely be another to add to the growing list of great Mezzalas.
► CHECK OUT MY PATREON PAGE: bit.ly/SDPatreon
By bringing Keita to Anfield, Jurgen Klopp has allowed Sadio Mane to move into a more central area more frequently. With Andy Robertson offering width on the overlap, Keita is free to act as a playmaker from the left half-space and Mane is able to get into more dangerous goalscoring areas more frequently, as shown by this season’s goal return.
Let me know what you think in the comments below, will the Mezzala continue to grow in popularity?
#Liverpool #Klopp #PremierLeague - กีฬา
I've known quite a bit about football but this guy has just poured soooo much football knowledge into my head. I see games differently, which is better.
Thanks man
👊👊👊
Some say Dave is the second coming of Christ himself.
Agreed. The depth is amazing.
Feel like I’m watching a uni lecture except I’m actually listening. Can you please do a video on Bielsa’s Leeds.
It could be on the cards.
Statman Dave that’d be an amazing video idea. If possible speak about his 3331 formation (even though I don’t think he’s using that at Leeds)! :)
Check out Tifo’s whiteboard football too
Might be the only United fan I'd listen to. Great vid mate.
As a united fan idk how u guys deal with our annoyance
@@iidir.20 it's easy, we win the league :)
@@qualityzz lol
Chicken tikka mezzala?
Lol.
ahahahahhaha i thought about the same thing as soon as i heard mezzala lol
Chicken tikka mosalah
oh jeez, he makes it sound the same isn't he??
unfortunately the guy pronounces it very badly. the italian double Z is not pronounced like that and Mezzala doesn't sounds like Masala.
Underrated youtuber. I love this guy
Football knowledge just went up a level. Thanks Statman Dave 💪🏾
👍👍👍
The 2-3-2-3 is like a modern 4-3-3
@@sneezylasagne8534 true tbh, but in the premier league dont you think in a false 9 the striker will get tooo isolated
@@Trossgames Firmino seems to get on just fine
thats why left wing foward and right wing foward is needed, so centre striker can drop as support to those foward wingers
Johan cruyf is a mezalq
@@Trossgames tell that to peps city of 20/21
These videos are really helping me. I'm looking to go into football coaching or analytics and these videos have really helped me to better understand player roles. Keep 'em coming Dave!!!🤘🏿
Cheers Isaac. 😋😋😋
I'm absolutely loving the contents you've been coming up with recently. Let's get this party started!!!!!
The party is definitely getting started.
Phenomenal analysis as usual. Keep it up mate! 🙌👌
Amazing vid as always Dave
Knowledgeable video.. this man understands football
Another awesome video mr statman dave starting to understand these positions that bit more better now, i just need to get better at when watching manchester united for example yes i know were not great at the moment, but really want to get better at understanding tactics in football, and with your videos its really helping out. so keep up the great videos mate
Quality stuff. I was actually thinking when you were talking about the history if managers would ever use that educate their own players. See what type of position they play and give them a book or link to a renowned player in that position to learn from. Again, quality video.
Absolutely love this. Cheers from America.
Love these videos
Thanks man.
Loved it Mr Statman
Great video. Explains the role brilliantly 👍
Thanks Paidi
Dave please keeping making more videos like this linking historical tactics and how they correlate to modern day interpretations, it's much like reading inverting the pyramid!
😎😎😎 Will do.
Statman Dave back at it again with another banger
This might be your best video so far.
Thanks Erik.
Great video Dave
This is a very interesting video, learnt quite a lot.
WoW this video is incredible! Thanks mate!
Cheers Bas. 😀😀😀
quality video i love you dave love you long time
Excellent video! I would be happy to make videos for all position ! That's I wanted to understand with which position can combine and which system
I always like your analyses I learned alot from you Dave
Mezzala in italy are the two midfielders who play in a 3 players midfield next to the playmaker, for example in 433
Dave, that was absolutely fantastic! 😉
Thanks man.
Nice video, Dave! Could you maybe do a tactical guide for some potential CL dark horses like Ajax, Lokomotiv, Lyon etc.?
Misha Sybrandy Ajax!!
Already subbed great channel!
Absolutely loved this
This video got me thinking of Pirlo and Kaka back with Milan, great vid mate
It's amazing how many Stats Dave can get in 1 vid . Didnt even know about this role
You’re a tactical genius mate
Fantastic Video
Please for the love of god... SaDIO not saido Mane. Great vid
Naqash Liaqat I cringe every time.
Srsly, why the fuck are you all so deaf?!
He's saying 'Sadio,' not 'Saido' - he's just using the long vowel /eɪ/ sound. Or, if you like, Say-dio rather than Sah-dio.
Every goddamn video.
Yeah, he might be pronouncing it incorrectly, but none of you are correcting him... correctly.
Fix your complaining.
Dio = God in italian.
I would love to see you do a video like this on an old school sweeper. Apologies if you've already done one but I think it would be interesting to see your take on a largely obsolete position/role.
You are absolutely treatful to watch n hear.
Luv from India.❤
Thanks buddy 👍👍
Video idea - This modern narrow 4-3-3 midfield explained, e.g. what is a shuttler? and what is the role of the centre forward in this specific set up
Also please something on Nglolo Kante
Great vid Dave, please do a Carillero next time 😉
That’s definitely in the hat.
I’m a new sub
Nice video
Great video Statman Daddy :) . Could you make a video on how a proper false 9 plays, for example the role that messi played for barcelona and what Firmino plays for LFC is complete different. I would like to know as to is a false 9 a player in the no 10 position or is he still a no 9.
I'm an aspiring football manager and your video help me learn a lot. I see the games differently. Thanks a lot :)
This was very interesting.
Wow. Thank you.
Would love to see a tactical video on how you would set up Valencia
Oooooo
I am in holiday atm maybe when I get back.
Watching Keita at RBL I felt he was more of a Box-to-Box rather than Mezzala.
My favourite mezzala is chicken tikka :)
Please do a detailed tactical analysis of UCL quarter final between Barca and Roma ( 2nd leg) where Roma went for a 3 men defence and routed Barca.
Love the videos keep it up dave !
Nice video @statman dave can you do a video on "what is a hybrid left back?"
Let’s get this party started
Can you do one on other central midfield roles like shuttler and deep lying it’s really helpful to know all about these
Feel like this is a harder role to understand than regista
What software are you using bro?
Great video btw👍👍
Real interesting video, you could potentially be a manager maybe for some TH-cam team
Shit! Glass shattering, mate.. Watched Naby again.. Perfect 👌
They still haven’t announced Arsenal’s CL group.
😂😂😂
Hahahhhah
We'd love a shuttler and/or destroyer tactical video!
Wasn't Coutinho a mezzala towards the end of his Liverpool career too?
Also, great content Dave. Absolutely loving your work.
Can you do one on inverted full backs? Guardiola has Mendy and Walker dropping into midfield sometimes. Would love a tactical analysis on it.
Would say so. Inverted full backs 😍😍😍
Statman Dave let’s have that goddamn video! 😎👌🏼
sounds a bit like Jesse Ligard at England more than United.
Jesse loves the half space.
Lingard could be world class with his playstyle and hard work, but he needs end product
@@StatmanDave Jesse lingard is essentially Mr. Linkup. Would be a great wingman for Rashford
Lingard isnt a Mezzala
Paul Pogba should definitely be used as a mezzala, Coutinho I think is a mezzala, Milner is kind of a mezzala mixed with a shuttler in my opinion, Nainggolan is another example and of course Iniesta in his prime was a mezzala but transitioned to a deeper role in the last few years
👊👊👊 Top tactics.
Liverpool essentially play with 2 mezzalas, and a regista
Bri10 pretty much yeah
@@StatmanDave I know I'm late to the party but what about players like David Silva, Isco, asensio(?), or Forsberg? Depends on the tactics of the manager I guess, but still
Coutinho is more of an advanced playmaker
Here's a sub
Plz, do a video on how to play on a 4-2-4-0
can u do a video on all the roles in modern football, i think its really interesting...
Statman Dave! You need to apply for the United job...;) So informative....kudus to you! Scholes was our best Mezzala I guess??
i wish FIFA would allow you to create tactics like this , great video!
Well done
Thanks to Statman Dave, this is stuff I'd never heard before. However mezzala has a double 'z' and zz in Italian is pronounced either ts as in pizza (peetsa) and mozzarella (motsarella) or dz as in razzo (radzo). I think the latter is correct for mezzala
You should do videos on other roles such as shuttlers and ball winning midfielders
Defo.
Great video mate.
Just wondering what the difference if between an Advanced Playermaker and an Attacking Midfielder in the 4-2-3-1
Playmaker is more likely to create and be on the ball more. An attacking midfielder usually scores or plays the final pass in the move.
Is it just me who is completely amaze while watching his videos
always wondered wtf a trequartista is. According to fm Welbeck is one. Do that next please. Another great video this
Think Totti. 👍
More of these tactics pls
Is there anywhere I can see a list of players with the type of player they are (Mezzala, Regista etc)?
Could you do a video on a shuttler or generally more midfielder roles and also could pogba playas a mezzala in a 4-3-3 If the inside forward in the front 3 takes up his space?
Liam Smith funnily enough its actually what he did this season
3:22 the characteristics of modern day mezzala. hazard resembles so many of the qualities. even he starts his runs form deep, then dribbles forward or passes. after getting into the final third maybe in half space or in the wide areas he usually creates chances. he had the most chances created from open play last season in epl. the only thing he lacks is not being selfish enough but I guess he is improving in this aspect under sarri
but he isn't a cm obviously😂
Its a role in a position. Not a way to measure a player. Mezzala meant half winger, of course Hazard resembles it a lot but he's not one.
You should do a scout report on preslav borukov he’s a Bulgarian striker at wednesday academy and has looked good
Yo Dave, will you do Burnley vs United review? And maybe compare it to what happened vs Spurs.
I reckon Kovacic and Barkley are mezzalas at Chelsea. Nice video!
You should analyze Kante - Jorginho - Kovacic role under Sarri's Chelsea.
Brilliant video , can't help but laugh about how you told us how to pronounce Mezzala then continued to say Manzala 😂😂
Great work Dave 😏😏😏
Your description meets Kovacic as well
For your next great strategy video: How to implement the top 3 most interesting and deadly tactics into FIFA (game) effectively.
Dave could you do a video on what a destroyer is?
Great vid that mate.....On Pogba i thought he played with Pirlo at Juve or was that just his 1st season there?
More of a Mezzala in his last season.
At 1:39 you've mislabeled the left sided midfield as a mezalla Destra. According to earlier in the video, destra means right. Hope that helps you fix it :)
Hey Can you please tell me which software do you use to create these tactical board
would love hearing you talk about False 9's, Shuttlers (are those what we call 50-50?) and what happened to the classic Midfield Axe (Gattuso the prime example)? Last and not least, what makes Kante the most gifted defensive midfielder in history?
Great video Statman Dave!
As a Chelsea fan, would you have Ruben Loftus-Cheek down as a Mezzala?
I feel like he can play like Pogba/Iniesta when healthy and given an opportunity.
What's your thoughts on Ruben Loftus-Cheek?
Great video as always. I really fucking hate international breaks
Please do a similar video with the carrilero
i think Dave forgot to include Coutninho as a modern day Mezzala. I am sure that is why Barcelona were so eager to sign him because he is the natural heir to Iniesta. Coutinho is more dangerous though because of his eye for a worldy long ranger.
Compared to other mezzala type players, such as iniesta, is keita one of the more 'complete' players, as his defensive numbers are also solid which isnt really a major feature of the role? Not sure though would love to hear your opinions. Keep up the good work 👍 love the videos.
Also, was pogba as good with pirlo and vidal, rather than marchisio and khedira, again not sure but i remember he worked very well.
Plz make video on PreQuirista
So does that mean Mezzala was the terminology for (back then when Liverpool played) Coutinho on central midfield before he went to Barca?
Watford are currently joint top of the league, what are the tactics behind this and do they have a shot at keeping it up to win/compete for the title.
Lol.. You just made me understand how to apply it to FM! Thanks Dave! What then is the difference between a roaming playmaker and a mezzala? Also on another topic, what's the difference between a box to box midfielder and a carrilero? I get box to box midfielders go up and down the pitch length wise and a carrilero is responsible more for the width. Does that mean that the player doesn't get up and down the field as much? Thanks.
Box-to-box is a more attacking role. A carrilero or shuttler is in the side to balance the defence. E.g. Shuttler out to the wing to cover a more attacking player.
@@StatmanDave So in terms of balance, how would that work then? If you use your example in the video and have a 3 man midfield, a dlp (Depp lying playmaker), a mezzala and a carrilero, how would you cover that hole in the middle of the park? If the mezzala as you mentioned plays in between the gaps and even goes out wide to let the winger move into the middle, and the carrilero covers the more attacking winger in his side by going out wide, wouldn't there be a huge hole where the carrilero and mezzala are if they suddenly lose possession?
@@StatmanDave Furthermore, you mentioned that you think Pogba played as a mezzala at Juventus. Do you think it would be possible to implement a similar system here at Utd? Also, did we see some of Pogba's mezzala role so to speak against Burnley when he was drifting all over the place?
Dave, do you think Sarri should use Fabregas as a Mazzala to utilize the creative craft of cesc and freeing up Hazard more?
i have a question: when Coutinho played LCM or CM for LFC was he a Mezzala?