Magnus Steinkelsson - Odin’s Helmet

Odin’s Helmet

Steinkelsson has opted to use the classic Italian-style 3-5-2 as the foundation for Odin’s Helmet. Taking into consideration the save will be with Salerno based side Salernitana it was only right that he took Italian tactics into consideration. In Odin’s Helmet Steinkelsson demands an aggressive regista to distribute the passes widely all over the pitch from a deeply laying position on the midfield. Two additional midfielders working both ways, roaming and splitting the structure of the opposite team in combination with two strikers working closely together and creating room for each other. Defensively three defenders (two ball playing) secures a rock solid defence.

The 3-5-2 features three centre-backs and out on the wings are a pair of wing-backs, who replace the full-backs of a back 4, pushing up to support the midfield and largely relieved of defensive duties. It was the vision of this core unit with the wing-backs bombing forward which drew inspiration from Odin and his helmet. A three-man central midfield will generally line up in some variant of a triangle, behind a pair of forwards.

Defensively the 3-5-2 matches up particularly well against the open 4-4-2, which I have previously analysed in this column, neutralising the two strikers and the wingers. Suddenly the two strikers are confronted with three men who always have a spare to mop up danger, there’s no space for the winger and the two central midfielders will always be outnumbered.

A modern tactic, often practiced by Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, is to play a 3-5-2 when in possession, while switching back to a standard four at the back when the other team has the ball. A defensive midfielder drops between the centre-backs to start off the attack and distribute the ball, while the full-backs temporarily become wing-backs, providing passing options.

The tactic is heavily dependent on the physical attributes of the wingbacks, though strong physics and work rates, seems to counterbalance poorer technical skills this year. Technical attributes concerned around passes are paramount for the regista to work and a sweeper keeper with decent pace is necessary. Since the keeper now can play-out within the penalty area, the passing skills of even the sweeper keeper are less important this year.


In order to see the full tactic and player characteristics click here: https://semprelazio1900.com/2019/12/05/fm20-odinshelmet/