Best Soccer Formations: The Philosophy, History, Pros and Cons Behind the Numbers
Take a look at the best soccer formations that are synonymous with the sport and have marked entire eras.
If ever there was doubt as to why Erik Ten Hag is one of the most sought-after managers in the modern game, they can be made to rest with the latest milestone his Ajax passed. In the 185th game in charge of the Amsterdam club, his players scored the 500th goal and went going to the 504th, at the expense of Waalwijk.
Ten Hag has a 73% win rate as he draws 25 and recorded as many defeats. His goal scoring ratio is at 2.7 per game, while his side conceded 157 goals in 185 matches, a rate of 0.85 per 90 minutes. In this Eredivisie season, Ajax scored 42 goals in 13 games, conceding only two goals!
Yet, the 5:0 win came after Ajax recorded two goalless draws in the Dutch league and Ten Hag was aware of the issues at hand.
"I knew very quickly after Heracles and Go Ahead where the problems lay. If players are not willing to run and get into the zone where you hurt the opponent, then we're stopped. That's necessary when the opponent is very compact. Then you have to create spaces by covering many meters and sacrifice yourself with running actions. Cooperation is very important then," explained the Dutchman.
Ten Hag is now mentioned as the man to take the Manchester United job yet he dismissed those rumours by revealing a principle he acts on.
"I'm working on this team. We have a very nice selection, we want to achieve a lot and that's what I'm focusing on. That's where all the concentration is, the rest just distracts. I expect my players to be at Ajax, so I have to lead by example. I don't know anything, I haven't heard anything, so I don't have to worry about that at all. I only focus on Ajax."
Yet, as United stated they are only looking for an interim manager, this could be a signal they are trying to get Ten Hag in the summer, as he surely wouldn't leave Ajax mid-season.
