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Tactics

The pivot problem, solved three ways

By Arham Naeem 21 Jul 2026 8 min read

A lone holding midfielder is a wonderful thing until the press arrives. Then it is a question, and the answer decides whether the whole shape breathes or suffocates.

Option one: the full-back tucks in

The oldest fix in the modern game, and still one of the cleanest.

Build-up is not about having a spare man. It is about having the spare man in the place the pressure is not.

Option two: a centre-half steps out

Riskier, and more rewarding when the timing is right.

Arham Naeem writes on FC Barcelona for Blaugrana. Spot something he missed? That is half the fun.

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