Football's Return to Direct Play: A Look at Modern Tactics
As the clock winds down, the goalkeeper has the ball at his feet. Instead of passing to a defender, he opts for a long kick. The towering striker flicks it on, allowing a teammate to break through on goal.
This scenario may evoke a sense of nostalgia for football enthusiasts.
Yet, it unfolded during the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Chelsea on September 20, 2025.
With modern coaching trends increasingly favoring set-pieces and a direct style of play over possession-based strategies, it seems we are witnessing a return to an earlier era of football.
Sam Allardyce, who led Bolton Wanderers from the second tier to European competition, later managed several clubs, including Newcastle, Blackburn, and West Ham, utilizing a style that is once again becoming prevalent in the Premier League.
“We faced significant criticism at the time,” Allardyce told BBC Sport. “However, we were ahead of the curve, and many, particularly at larger clubs and in the media, were not supportive of our approach.”
So, what does ‘Big Sam’ think of the footballing landscape in 2025 seemingly adopting tactics he pioneered over two decades ago?
Play #1: Take a High Vantage Point
Last week, when Paris St-Germain commenced their Champions League defense with a victory over Atalanta, head coach Luis Enrique was notably absent from the touchline during the first half.
He wasn’t suspended; rather, he chose to observe the match from a high vantage point in the stands.
“I’ve long admired how rugby coaches analyze games from above,” Enrique stated. “I’m always open to methods that enhance our performance.”
Twenty-five years ago, Allardyce was among the few coaches who preferred watching matches from the stands.
“From up there, you gain a broader perspective,” he explained. “You’re less emotionally involved.”
Communicating with his bench via walkie-talkie, Allardyce valued the interactions with his assistants, sports scientists, physiotherapists, and fitness coaches.
“Instead of only discussing strategies in the dressing room, I could demonstrate directly to the players,” he noted. “I managed Bolton, Newcastle, and Blackburn from the stands.”
So, why did he eventually stop this practice?
“When I joined West Ham in 2011, I faced complaints about being in the stands instead of on the bench, directing the players,” Allardyce recalled. “The fans and directors questioned my absence from the sidelines.”
Such external pressures influenced his decision.
“Ultimately, I abandoned the practice. I occasionally returned to it, but not as frequently as before. If you’re facing criticism from your own supporters for not being where they expect you to be, you must create an environment that reassures them you’re doing the right thing, even if I believed otherwise.”
“It’s unfortunate how perceptions can dictate actions.”
Play #2: Send It Long to the Big Man
Allardyce has always favored having a towering striker, evident in his teams featuring players like Kevin Davies, Mark Viduka, Andy Carroll, and Christian Benteke.
This tactic emphasized a direct style of football, prioritizing forward passes from the outset.
This summer saw notable transfers, including Manchester United acquiring Benjamin Sesko (6ft 5in), Newcastle securing Nick Woltemade (6ft 6in), and Everton signing Thierno Barry (6ft 5in), while Erling Haaland (6ft 5in) continues to excel at Manchester City since his arrival in 2022.
To maximize the potential of these players, the trend of intricate passing from the back appears to be waning.
“It’s refreshing to see forwards utilized as frontmen again,” Allardyce remarked. “For the past few years, they’ve been left wondering when they would get a touch on the ball.”
“Frontmen will no longer be as disengaged as they have been recently. They thrive on being involved in the game, whether holding the ball up or making runs down the channel.”
As Manchester United and Manchester City move away from goalkeepers selected for their footwork as much as their shot-stopping abilities, is this a sign of the end of what Allardyce describes as a ‘pandemic’ of playing out from the back?
“The tide is shifting,” he asserts. “Statistics show that conceding possession in your own half often leads to goals against you, more so than if the opposition builds from their defense.”
“Perhaps the trend is returning to a more sensible approach, maximizing the skills of your team. We don’t want center-backs holding more possession than anyone else. Remember, center-backs are defenders!”
Play #3: Make the Most of Set-Pieces
In 2015, Allardyce took over a Sunderland squad languishing in 19th place with no wins in eight matches, ultimately guiding them to Premier League safety.
While having a striker like Jermain Defoe, who scored 15 goals, was beneficial, Sunderland’s secret weapon was their proficiency in set-pieces.
“Corners and free-kicks are crucial. Long throws should be utilized when appropriate,” Allardyce advised. “If a player lacks comfort, don’t use it; if they’re confident, then do.”
Excluding penalties, no team scored more than Sunderland’s 14 goals from dead-ball situations that season, helping them avoid relegation by a narrow margin of two points.
“During my tenure, our targets were to exceed the average Premier League stats,” Allardyce explained. “Defensively, we aimed to outperform the other bottom teams and score more, particularly from set-pieces.”
This season, 27.7% of non-penalty goals in the Premier League have originated from set-pieces, the highest proportion in the last 15 years.
With Arsenal emerging as the most effective side in this regard over the past two seasons, their set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, has even been honored with a fan-painted mural near the Emirates Stadium.
Allardyce views Jover and other dead-ball specialists as trendsetters.
“There are more set-play coaches than ever before,” the 70-year-old noted. “Arsenal has excelled in this area. They’ve had to adapt this year as teams have focused on countering their corner strategies.”
How can one best leverage a corner kick?
“The key lies in who delivers the ball into the box. Arsenal’s players consistently place the ball in the right areas,” Allardyce explained. “Without that quality, your set-pieces are likely to fail.”
Play #4: Have an Element of Surprise
Allardyce has never shied away from innovation, and his advice for young coaches hesitant to experiment is clear: embrace the unexpected.