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All open-play threat in football can be essentially divided into two categories: threat in front of the defensive line and threat in behind the defensive line. Regardless of whether it’s a front four or front five, an elite team that can scale against various opponents and styles needs two of each at a minimum. Even the best players, who can provide both to an extent, end up specialising towards one, as did Messi and Cristiano. This is the fundamental basis of achieving balance in any attacking unit. If you skew towards one side, you become vulnerable to certain styles of opponents accordingly. Generally, not enough in-behind threat leads to struggles against high-pressing teams, while not enough in-front threat leads to struggles against deeper zonal teams. Although opposition teams can have hybrid elements, that’s why it is even more important to have a balance of both. The great 2011 Barcelona team had Villa and Pedro providing in-behind threat, while Messi and Iniesta provided in-front threat. Through this model, you can also understand most attacking inefficiencies. For example, the front four Arsenal started against Bournemouth had no specialists providing threat in front of the defensive line. Newcastle infamously do well against bigger teams who press and struggle against weaker zonal teams. Their squad has a severe lack of threat in front of the defensive line. Both feed into each other; the better threat you have in front of the defensive line, the more effective your threat becomes behind the defensive line, and likewise the other way around. Written by @MeiaArmador__