di_kezio 2:31 Thu Jul 26
What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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I've just read an article about how the position of Sweeper declined during the 1980's, and how Terry Butcher played as Sweeper in a back 5 during the 1990 world cup. But not being old enough to remember teams playing with a Sweeper, I don't fully understand the role.
Did they play behind the back 4? How would they integrate with the offside trap, or defensive line? Would they stay back when others go forward, or is the Sweeper more likely to link up with midfield?
And what about the role of Sweeper in the modern game. Surely it was useful at one point, so why doesn't it work now?
Are there a generation of players, of Tomkins' age, that have as little experience and knowledge of the role as I do?
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Replies - Newest Posts First ( Show In Chronological Order)
Lily Hammer
1:26 Fri Jul 27
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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Thanks, Russ. He had the broom up his arse, though, when Dicksie and the lads ran rings round his defense that sunny day in 92.
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Russ of the BML
1:18 Fri Jul 27
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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It was Swindon. Hoddle was Player / Manager.
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Lily Hammer
1:15 Fri Jul 27
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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theaxeman 9:58 Thu Jul 26
Just saw your post. Maybe it was just at Swindon that Hoddle played sweeper. Did he for England as well sometimes?
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Lily Hammer
1:13 Fri Jul 27
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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Ince played sweeper for us sometimes.
It wasn't just to sweep up and kick it into row z, like most bog standard central defenders would, but to also have the skill to move back up field with the ball and start the next attack by feeding the midfield.
Am I imaginging it, or did England try Hoddle in that role a few times?
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Alex V
12:56 Fri Jul 27
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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Nice thread.
De Rossi played as a sweeper for Italy in Euro 2012 (superbly imo), for the first game against Spain which they drew. Perhaps they should have played that system in the final also.
I think the sweeper has died out essentially because they are fulfilling a role that a good modern centre-back should be capable of playing anyway. And as someone said sweepers invite pressure and are a bit pointless if an opposition packs the midfield.
Although Rio was hailed as a sweeper in his early days, as far as I'm concerned he never really played that role. Sure he covered behind Ruddock (and Pearce), as any pacey covering defender would, but he very rarely stepped into midfield with any conviction.
With attacking teams like Arsenal and Man City around, maybe it's time to reintroduce the sweeper role, or some adaptation of it.
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pdbis
9:55 Fri Jul 27
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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I remember seeing a Broome riding a horse many years ago.
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Russ of the BML
9:23 Fri Jul 27
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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BTW we played that way for the rest of the year and moved from 5th to 2nd in four weeks. Only missed out on winning the league by 2 points.
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Russ of the BML
9:21 Fri Jul 27
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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Back in my playing days was playing for one of my better teams and we came up against a side in the cup. They had two up front one of which was a little midget who was very fast and in the first half he kept getting in behind our CB's and they just pushed it through to him. He scored once and we were lucky to only go in 1-0 down at half time. Our keeper played a blinder to keep us in it.
Our CB's were a tall, strong guy who was great in the air and another who was shorter, strong tackler and quicker. We were playing
4-4-2 but I suggested our CB's play one behind the other. LIke a three at the back with a sweeper. The taller guy cutting anything over the top and the shorter guy intercepting anything on the floor.
We gave it a try and it worked a bloody treat. Early on the tried knocking through on the floor and our sweeper was now coming onto the ball and cut everything out.
When they tried going over the top our tall guy cut that out and anything that got over him our sweeper picked up.
It also gave our sweeper more time on the ball in defence so their midfeild started pushing on to pressure. That then gave our midfield space to turn when they got the ball.
It was a great second half and we ended up winning 2-1. They were a bit of a one man team and this midget had scored goals for fun all season. But we totally eliminated him the second half.
I always remind my pals of my tactical nous in the pub. They are well bored of it as are you reading this probably.
But, just goes to show, if you don't try anything new you will never know.
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theaxeman
9:58 Thu Jul 26
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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Hoddle also played sweeper when he was player/manager at Swindon and i think Stimac played it for us at times or maybe it was he was just lazy!
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theaxeman
9:54 Thu Jul 26
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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The Germans often played with a sweeper notably Beckenbaur, far from being defensive he often carried the ball into midfield and created an extra man there as in 70 mexico against England. Matteus and Sammer also played the role.
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WSM Hammer
8:51 Thu Jul 26
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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Was Paul Brush a sweeper?
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Gentile
8:25 Thu Jul 26
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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Just thinking about what players West Ham have had bar Moore that could play Libero.
Rio is an obvious one but I think Stewart Robson would have made a fantastic Libero. Tactically intelligent, quick, robust in the challenge but he loved bursting forward and had good technique and vision.
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Timmy Breacker
7:21 Thu Jul 26
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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Back to the opening post, it was actually Mark Wright that played sweeper in Italia 90.
I always thought Koeman was a great sweeper.
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franksfat&slow&wank
7:20 Thu Jul 26
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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players behind the 2 centre halfs and wing backs....needs shit hot pace and a shit hot reader of the game
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norwaytips
7:15 Thu Jul 26
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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Quote from Jeff Powell's book on Bobby Moore. Attributed to Ron Greenwood.
''I used him at West Ham as a sweeper, which was then an unknown position. He played loose behind the defence and he thrived there." This was in 1961.
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Jasnik
7:07 Thu Jul 26
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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The Americans love a sweeper role .
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WHU(Exeter)
6:51 Thu Jul 26
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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Gentile - good post.
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norwaytips
6:48 Thu Jul 26
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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Comma. So was I there. (At all 3) I always heard him referred to; and thought of him, as a sweeper and top professionals of his day, called him the best sweeper of his time. The term was definitely in use during the 60's.
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,
6:14 Thu Jul 26
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helenio_Herrera
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Gentile
6:07 Thu Jul 26
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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Baresi was the best Libero I've seen play in my life. Scirea was by all accounts better and if you watch the later stages of Italy in 1982 World Cup he was immense V Argentina, Brazil and Germany in the final.
Catenaccio was always played with a Libero. In 1982 it was Scirea for Italy, later came Baresi. The system is best understood by phases of play. When defending the two CBs will man mark or if Vs one up front one will drop a little deeper. The two wingbacks will tuck in to make a four. The Libero will operate behind the two CBs and across the whole back line for and balls over the top or into the channels. Two CMs will protect the space in front of the two CBs and the third midfielder, a Trequartista, will operate in a free role playing in the space between the oppositions midfield and back four. Two forwards will constantly close down the wide areas, creating a 'Bolt'. Not many teams managed to pull a game back when one nil down against Catenaccio played properly. Greece won Euro 2004 playing it very well.
Back to the Libero, the key to this role is not just anticipation but this player needs to be as good as your most creative midfielder when on the ball. This is critical because when the Libero intercepts they need to be able to quickly get the attacking phase in place. The great Liberos would not only end up playing 35 yard pin point passes from deep, but also be comfortable pouring forward at the right opportunity, making them leathal.
Have a look at this video or Baresi. Around the 1 min mark you will notice him scoring and getting forward at pace. This is what a world class Libero could do in the right formation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUrTtivG-ks&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Better still, check out the below video of the 1982 Final. From around 1 minute look at the build up to Tardellis wonder goal. It starts with the Libero Scirea, and it his pass all the way up the other end of the pitch to set up Tardelli.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUYD4joNuvs&feature=youtube_gdata_player
People think Catenaccio is ultra defensive, it is, but when played properly the attacking phase is almost non playable as many players pour forward in that system.
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,
5:58 Thu Jul 26
Re: What is a 'Sweeper' in football?
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tips, I was at the 1966 WC final and our two finals prior to that. At no time did I or anyone I knew refer to Moore as a sweeper. He played alongside the centre half and the term sweeper was not used in the UK.
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