Method
The Theseus method: change the planks, keep the ship
If you replace one plank at a time, is it still the same ship? A team stays the same when the same tasks and relationships between players remain, not the same names.
Task map: tap a zone, change the moment
↑ Direction of attack
The same space asks for different tasks depending on the moment. Who carries them out can change: that is what keeps the team itself.
Tasks by zone and moment
In possession
- Defensive third, centre: Offers close to the ball carrier for a short passing line; One player stays behind the ball as a safe option; A player receiving on the half-turn tries to beat the first line of pressure
- Defensive third, flanks: Moves wide to stretch the opponent's first press; Comes closer to the ball if the teammate is closed down; Holds the line so no space opens behind
- Middle third, centre: Receives between the lines, between the opponent's midfield and defence; Moves close to the ball carrier to create an overload near the ball; Players not involved cover space in case the ball is lost
- Middle third, flanks: Gives width to stretch the opponent's line; Swaps positions with the player coming short; Offers a wide option to switch play
- Final third, centre: Attacks depth behind the defence; Fills the box: near post, far post, penalty spot; One player stays outside the box for the second ball
- Final third, flanks: Takes on the defender one-on-one when the side is isolated; Overlap or underlap from the nearest teammate; Looks for the low cross or the cut-back
Ball lost
- Defensive third, centre: The nearest player presses the ball carrier immediately; The others close the centre and protect the goal; Distances between the lines shrink
- Defensive third, flanks: Tucks inside to cover depth; Blocks the cross or shows the carrier outside; Calls out the free player
- Middle third, centre: Immediate first press on the ball carrier; Central passing lines are closed; Players further away recover below the line of the ball
- Middle third, flanks: Closes the passing line to the weak side; Shows the carrier towards the touchline; Recovers position quickly if the press is beaten
- Final third, centre: Counter-press by whoever lost the ball; Cuts the exit pass into the centre; If the press fails, the team drops back compact
- Final third, flanks: Presses inward to close the safe exit; Prevents the switch of play; Tracks back to restore numbers in midfield
Ball won
- Defensive third, centre: First pass to the free player, not the marked one; If there is space, carries the ball to draw an opponent; Secures the ball if the pressure is high
- Defensive third, flanks: Moves wide at once to give a side exit; Attacks the space the opponent left; Offers support to get out of the recovery area
- Middle third, centre: First pass forward if a teammate is running in behind; The nearest player breaks free to offer an exit; The others support the move so nobody is isolated
- Middle third, flanks: Runs in behind on the side left open; Stretches the pitch for the counter; Offers a reference point for the switch
- Final third, centre: Attacks the goal at once, before the defence is set; Players arriving from behind fill the box; Quick decision: shoot, final pass or keep the ball
- Final third, flanks: Drives diagonally at goal; Cuts inside to open the lane for a runner; Keeps it simple if the overload has gone
Illustrative example with generic relational-football tasks. It does not describe a real team and contains no data.
The problem
When a team loses a player, the usual search is for someone in the same role. But a role describes a position on the whiteboard, not what the player actually did on the pitch.
Relational football: from role to zone task
In relational football players do not hold fixed roles: they carry out tasks by zone and context. Who moves close to the ball carrier, who gives width, who attacks depth, who covers the lost ball. A team's identity lives in this network of tasks.
The method in four steps
- Map a team's tasks by zone and moment, from video and event data.
- Describe the outgoing player as a set of tasks, not a role.
- Look for candidates who perform those tasks in similar contexts, including Italian Serie C and amateur football, starting from public sources.
- The coach validates: data proposes, the pitch decides.
Limits, stated up front
- Public sources are incomplete and sometimes wrong.
- Context matters: the same action means different things in different teams.
- None of these tools replaces the person watching the match. They help them watch better.
Next step: an example on open public event data, with dataset, match ID and public scripts, so every step can be reproduced. In preparation.