With highly organised in possession structures the norm, it is tough to distinguish different strategic approaches.
3 philosophies have stood out though:
➡️ Pinball Possession (Slot)
➡️ Prescribed Possession (Pep/Arteta)
➡️ Specialised Possession (Maresca)
A Thread 🧵

Pinball possession is where there’s a swarm of players who seem to partake in fast paced possession, feels relationist - distances seem small but the intensity is high and intent to get the ball forward quickly without resorting to long balls.
Risks are taken in build up play, to get the ball forward quickly along the ground, sucking in the press and playing it through the lines with speed is key.
This can look chaotic and requires a high level of technique especially in deeper areas as there is nowhere to hide in possession.
Slot and Ange Postecoglou fall into this category for me. Can be beautiful to watch and feels relentless but also reckless.

Prescribed Possession - is a very methodical risk free approach to possession. It is surgical in its approach, nothing is left to chance and it’s all about getting the right players in the right place at the right time and then unleashing the risky pass or shot. Rotations are calculated to the nth degree.
Arteta and Pep fall into this category.

Specialised Possession is for me where the coach relies on individuals to take on seminal roles within the possession structure and it feels less hive mind and places a lot of trust in individuals to execute albeit in a organised team structure.
Deep lying playmakers for instance, big personality 10s, and specialist wide men - there’s not much rotations and everyone kind of stays in their lane to a degree.
Maresca for me falls into this category, he likes having players with proper roles in the build up and stationed in certain areas. Less emphasis on generalists in certain areas.

Let me know if there’s other standout possession structures that still come under JDP but have their own unique style.
Less about what is the right or wrong way, just interesting to see if there’s different ways of stamping unique characteristics in what seems a homogeneous era