Im confused, how did it take so long for long ball to become so irrelevant? When I watch games from 2003 every team just lobs the ball up over and over.
Im confused, how did it take so long for long ball to become so irrelevant? When I watch games from 2003 every team just lobs the ball up over and over.
I believe long balls can still be effective but playing out from the back has become way better : Some teams who had ball-playing defenders and keepers decided to play from the back. Especially, tactical choices such as the false 9 or the 4-3-3 who can heavily denfisy the midfield (improving playing out from the back) while loosing an option to play long balls became popular.
Playing out from the back is extremely rewarding if your side and your tactics is built around it while, even if you have excellent hold-up players up front, there’s still an irrevocable element of luck to long balls.
However, long balls can still be effective : Chelsea-Barcelona in 2012 is an example.