Frank de Boer

[WilliamFyfe 1,438]

Make it happen Rangers, plz 

[PRW. 5,631]

This is a really interesting read, recommend taking the time to do so...

TACTICAL PHILOSOPHY

Attractive football through combination play and individual expression are the key elements to please the Ajax faithful. De Boer incorporates possession in addition to these key elements for most games, although he has proved to be tactically flexible in big matchups, especially away from home where he has opted for a more direct approach.

In the sense of van Gaal’s universalism, this means that every single player is available for support while attacking and in the absence of ball possession, every player presses aggressively in order to transition quickly. Cruyffian individualism is also expressed through their quick combination play to release a man and through dribbling on the wings.

De Boer is true to Ajax’s 4-3-3 with a balance of the tactical ideals of Cruyff and van Gaal. He incorporates van Gaal’s sense of detail in defensive organization and pressing, and Cruyff’s favoured ball circulation and positional interchange in build-up play. He also tends to rely on the intelligence of players to do what the game demands of them and as such his tactics form a framework more than a static system of play. This understandably leads to comparisons with the totaalvoetbal of the 1970s and the contemporary Barcelona abound, but limited finances at the club mean the reliance on youth is their best hope of continuing their domestic revival and initiating one on the continental front.

Offensive Organization: Possession and Interchange to Release the Ball to ‘Direct’ Wingers

Ajax build from the back as part of de Boer’s philosophy to play with possession. They play with positional interchange to draw the opponent out of their spaces, often with the intention of finding a pass to one of the channels. Unlike Barcelona who overload the channels to switch the point of play with their passing, de Boer often employs quick, direct wingers like Anwar El Ghazi, Ricardo Kishna and Lucas Andersen for his midfielders to release the ball to, before they take on defenders in 1v1 or 2v1 situations. This balance is necessary to please the Ajax faithful who are not fond of excessive horizontal passing with no intention to combine and penetrate on the flanks. This is also good management on de Boer’s part to find a balance in incorporating the young, tricky dribblers from the Ajax academy, without being overly direct.

Playing Wide

Direct Wingers

Offensive Transition: Vertical Penetration through the Center

When Ajax get the ball wide, for the most part they are doing one of two things – drawing the opposition out before circulating the ball in midfield to keep possession or playing directly to the wingers as stated previously. In the former case, they are likely seeing the game out against lower ranked opposition who have likely tired after pressing the Amsterdam club for most of the game. In the transition from defense to offense however, de Boer’s team play with directness and verticality to exploit the spaces left by defenders out of position. Their vertical passing allows for quick, direct combinations before playing the ball through the center towards goal.

Offensive Transition

Defensive Organization: Single Midfield Block Denying Passing Lanes

Off the ball, de Boer’s Ajax tend to defend deep, setting up a compact midfield block with five midfielders behind the ball (4-5-1). This reduces the penetration and tends to be a simpler approach compared that of other young managers like Thomas Tuchel who have variations in the shape of their defensive blocks. De Boer’s simplified approach has proven to be successful domestically, considering the youthfulness and primarily offensive mind-set of the players from the Ajax academy in the first team. The team presses in response to triggers such as pressing a receiving player who is facing his own goal, or when the receiving player is pinned to the touchline.

Defensive Organisation 

Defensive Transition: Compact Shift to One Side of the Field

When de Boer’s Ajax concede possession in midfield with numbers behind the ball, they reduce the space and passing options to form a compact block that shifts towards the channel nearest to the player in possession. If they do not have numbers behind, the striker and one of the wingers press in their attacking third while the midfielders behind them recover their shape. With the play forced to one side, the nearest defender to the ball is able to press the opposition player with the ball to reduce his options, potentially forcing the ball out of play or recovering the ball to transition or keep possession.

Defensive Transition

THREE CAREER DEFINING GAMES

A 2-1 win against Barcelona was vital to send Ajax to the Europa League after being knocked out of the Champions League in the 2013/14 season. On the night, they pressed and harried the Barcelona players off the ball, despite playing most of the second half with ten men. Goals from Thulani Serero and Danny Hoesen gave them a result that would have surely made Johan Cruyff smile.

A year before, de Boer’s Ajax played a key role in knocking Manchester City out of the Champions League and taking a Europa League spot for themselves. Beating a Manchester City team laden with riches with a young team of academy products was no mean feat by the Dutch side.

Rewinding to the 2010-11 season, de Boer capped his first season in charge with a 3-1 final day victory against defending champions FC Twente to secure the Eredivisie title for Ajax. This was Ajax’s 30th title, and securing it on his 41st birthday was a significant moment at the start of a promising managerial career.

THREE KEY PLAYERS DEVELOPED

Frank de Boer led Ajax’s youth academy in 2007, with Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur), Toby Alderweireld (Southampton on loan from Atletico Madrid), and Daley Blind (Manchester United) being some of the major beneficiaries of his tutelage then in the academy, and soon after in the first team when he took over the managerial role in 2010.

During his stint in the youth academy, de Boer spoke highly of Eriksen, “He’s always on the move. Quick thinking. He has eyes in his back. When you think he doesn’t see you, he sees you.” He believes that Daley Blind is best suited as a central midfielder for Manchester United although he began plying his trade as a full back. Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld formed a partnership with Jan Vertonghen that provided a basis for Ajax’s 2010-11 and 2011-12 title successes, but were replaced ably as de Boer’s Ajax extended their run to four consecutive Eredivisie titles.

Blending the talented individuals of Ajax with contemporary team tactics was not Martin Jol’s cup of tea and he paid the price. Discontent with the state of the first team’s affairs, Johan Cruyff pushed for changes in 2010 which resulted in Frank de Boer’s promotion from leading the youth academy to being put in charge of the first team. With the success of four consecutive Eredivisie titles and consistent third placed group finishes in the Champions League, de Boer certainly justified this choice of appointment. He will surely be looking to build on his domestic success, within the club’s limitations, to push on for European success in the coming years.

 

[PRW. 5,631]

Good video of the above actually happening. Worth a watch. 

Very possession based, like Warburton, however De Boers team seems so much quicker in moving the ball, more movement, more pressing and the wingers are more direct.

 

[ElBufalo20 7,926]

Let's hope Barcelona turn it around cos Luis Enrique won't last long.

I'll change my mind 100% on King if he makes this happen.

However if he lies to De Boer about transfer funds etc he won't stick around 

[K.A.I 36,183]

21 minutes ago, PRW. said:

This is a really interesting read, recommend taking the time to do so...

TACTICAL PHILOSOPHY

Attractive football through combination play and individual expression are the key elements to please the Ajax faithful. De Boer incorporates possession in addition to these key elements for most games, although he has proved to be tactically flexible in big matchups, especially away from home where he has opted for a more direct approach.

In the sense of van Gaal’s universalism, this means that every single player is available for support while attacking and in the absence of ball possession, every player presses aggressively in order to transition quickly. Cruyffian individualism is also expressed through their quick combination play to release a man and through dribbling on the wings.

De Boer is true to Ajax’s 4-3-3 with a balance of the tactical ideals of Cruyff and van Gaal. He incorporates van Gaal’s sense of detail in defensive organization and pressing, and Cruyff’s favoured ball circulation and positional interchange in build-up play. He also tends to rely on the intelligence of players to do what the game demands of them and as such his tactics form a framework more than a static system of play. This understandably leads to comparisons with the totaalvoetbal of the 1970s and the contemporary Barcelona abound, but limited finances at the club mean the reliance on youth is their best hope of continuing their domestic revival and initiating one on the continental front.

Offensive Organization: Possession and Interchange to Release the Ball to ‘Direct’ Wingers

Ajax build from the back as part of de Boer’s philosophy to play with possession. They play with positional interchange to draw the opponent out of their spaces, often with the intention of finding a pass to one of the channels. Unlike Barcelona who overload the channels to switch the point of play with their passing, de Boer often employs quick, direct wingers like Anwar El Ghazi, Ricardo Kishna and Lucas Andersen for his midfielders to release the ball to, before they take on defenders in 1v1 or 2v1 situations. This balance is necessary to please the Ajax faithful who are not fond of excessive horizontal passing with no intention to combine and penetrate on the flanks. This is also good management on de Boer’s part to find a balance in incorporating the young, tricky dribblers from the Ajax academy, without being overly direct.

Playing Wide

Direct Wingers

Offensive Transition: Vertical Penetration through the Center

When Ajax get the ball wide, for the most part they are doing one of two things – drawing the opposition out before circulating the ball in midfield to keep possession or playing directly to the wingers as stated previously. In the former case, they are likely seeing the game out against lower ranked opposition who have likely tired after pressing the Amsterdam club for most of the game. In the transition from defense to offense however, de Boer’s team play with directness and verticality to exploit the spaces left by defenders out of position. Their vertical passing allows for quick, direct combinations before playing the ball through the center towards goal.

Offensive Transition

Defensive Organization: Single Midfield Block Denying Passing Lanes

Off the ball, de Boer’s Ajax tend to defend deep, setting up a compact midfield block with five midfielders behind the ball (4-5-1). This reduces the penetration and tends to be a simpler approach compared that of other young managers like Thomas Tuchel who have variations in the shape of their defensive blocks. De Boer’s simplified approach has proven to be successful domestically, considering the youthfulness and primarily offensive mind-set of the players from the Ajax academy in the first team. The team presses in response to triggers such as pressing a receiving player who is facing his own goal, or when the receiving player is pinned to the touchline.

Defensive Organisation 

Defensive Transition: Compact Shift to One Side of the Field

When de Boer’s Ajax concede possession in midfield with numbers behind the ball, they reduce the space and passing options to form a compact block that shifts towards the channel nearest to the player in possession. If they do not have numbers behind, the striker and one of the wingers press in their attacking third while the midfielders behind them recover their shape. With the play forced to one side, the nearest defender to the ball is able to press the opposition player with the ball to reduce his options, potentially forcing the ball out of play or recovering the ball to transition or keep possession.

Defensive Transition

THREE CAREER DEFINING GAMES

A 2-1 win against Barcelona was vital to send Ajax to the Europa League after being knocked out of the Champions League in the 2013/14 season. On the night, they pressed and harried the Barcelona players off the ball, despite playing most of the second half with ten men. Goals from Thulani Serero and Danny Hoesen gave them a result that would have surely made Johan Cruyff smile.

A year before, de Boer’s Ajax played a key role in knocking Manchester City out of the Champions League and taking a Europa League spot for themselves. Beating a Manchester City team laden with riches with a young team of academy products was no mean feat by the Dutch side.

Rewinding to the 2010-11 season, de Boer capped his first season in charge with a 3-1 final day victory against defending champions FC Twente to secure the Eredivisie title for Ajax. This was Ajax’s 30th title, and securing it on his 41st birthday was a significant moment at the start of a promising managerial career.

THREE KEY PLAYERS DEVELOPED

Frank de Boer led Ajax’s youth academy in 2007, with Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur), Toby Alderweireld (Southampton on loan from Atletico Madrid), and Daley Blind (Manchester United) being some of the major beneficiaries of his tutelage then in the academy, and soon after in the first team when he took over the managerial role in 2010.

During his stint in the youth academy, de Boer spoke highly of Eriksen, “He’s always on the move. Quick thinking. He has eyes in his back. When you think he doesn’t see you, he sees you.” He believes that Daley Blind is best suited as a central midfielder for Manchester United although he began plying his trade as a full back. Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld formed a partnership with Jan Vertonghen that provided a basis for Ajax’s 2010-11 and 2011-12 title successes, but were replaced ably as de Boer’s Ajax extended their run to four consecutive Eredivisie titles.

Blending the talented individuals of Ajax with contemporary team tactics was not Martin Jol’s cup of tea and he paid the price. Discontent with the state of the first team’s affairs, Johan Cruyff pushed for changes in 2010 which resulted in Frank de Boer’s promotion from leading the youth academy to being put in charge of the first team. With the success of four consecutive Eredivisie titles and consistent third placed group finishes in the Champions League, de Boer certainly justified this choice of appointment. He will surely be looking to build on his domestic success, within the club’s limitations, to push on for European success in the coming years.

 

Fuck sake very good the tarriers know his tactics now ??

[Guest Lloyd72]

Tactics and possession are all great like but can his teams defend a set piece?

[BridgeIsBlue 66,627]

9 minutes ago, Lloyd72 said:

Tactics and possession are all great like but can his teams defend a set piece?

He's been in the game all his days so I'd imagine he knows how to build a team.

(From the back).

[Guest Lloyd72]

2 minutes ago, BridgeIsBlue said:

He's been in the game all his days so I'd imagine he knows how to build a team.

(From the back).

Let's hope so, a lot of Dutch managers like Zonal marking tho.

[johanhentze 14,290]

32 minutes ago, PRW. said:

Good video of the above actually happening. Worth a watch. 

Very possession based, like Warburton, however De Boers team seems so much quicker in moving the ball, more movement, more pressing and the wingers are more direct.

 

They are better at it, because they are brought up in this style and are far superior players to what we have. We could be doing this in a few years time, hopefully.

[RFC55 109,541]

7 hours ago, PRW. said:

Thats Ronald, Frank and his agent all given interviews on it in the past couple of days...

Put it this way, its definitely not pie in the sky stuff. 

It's obvious they are all in on trying to shift season tickets

[LaudrupsPatrickBoots 13,540]

6 hours ago, BridgeIsBlue said:

He's been in the game all his days so I'd imagine he knows how to build a team.

(From the back).

Like Davie Weir?

[one55 1,510]

Get De Boer and his agent over to have a wee word with King. I am still skeptical and don't have much faith in the board but if they get him it will go a long way to convincing me they are serious. Need to sell them season tickets so he can't pick some wee dafty manager.

Cmon King you know what to do...

[jackrfc95 4,255]

Did de Boer work under a DoF at Ajax or Inter?

[Prso's headband 35,694]

Old man still doesn't believe me. 

The tims would go into meltdown if we got De Boer and spent £10 million before July

[STEPPS BOY 74,475]

Time to crack open the EBT's and make FDB an offer he cant refuse..

[geneva_ger 9,380]

I do get very depressed when I hear McInnes, Davis and some of the other fuds being mentioned. We are Glasgow Rangers and need a top 10 management team. Look at the riches available to the rattlers of late and this will be ours if only King or another custodian could invest now, for riches a few years down the line. I'm not entirely convinced that it will be De Boer.

[Amato 3,029]

I'm not going to get carried away here, it sounds as though Fdb will give some thought to coming here but will it materialise? It's difficult to say. You need to take into account various factors, firstly:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.... Ah fuck it, who am I kidding!

 

[Bruno's Manbun 2,631]

8 hours ago, K.A.I said:

Reading between the lines that's his agent actually saying come and get him. 

Make it happen, Rangers.

This board can restore a lot of faith in them if they grab him.

Exactly my thoughts as I was reading

[jackrfc95 4,255]

Just now, 55Bear said:

Exactly my thoughts as I was reading

My thoughts were its a come and get me but not just Rangers, other teams come and get me as well.

[PRW. 5,631]

42 minutes ago, jackrfc95 said:

Did de Boer work under a DoF at Ajax or Inter?

Aye, at both clubs.

[jackrfc95 4,255]

Just now, PRW. said:

Aye, at both clubs.

Good news I guess.

[Smile 26,621]

Season ticket name nothing more.

[gazza27 15,321]

Just now, Smile said:

Season ticket name nothing more.

Aye and a pretty good manager/coach by the looks of things,just what we need going forward 

[KWBear 1,640]

1 minute ago, Smile said:

Season ticket name nothing more.

I do get what you mean.. but is there any coach out there at all who we could realistically get that you'd be happy with?

[writingranger 1,425]

don't show me this stuff. It makes me think it might happen and then I'll not appreciate just how fantastic Billy Davies is when he arrives?