“By now, you’ll probably have seen the clips of Brighton & Hove Albion’s press against Arsenal. They make for compelling viewing. Of course, it’s hard not to be impressed by sequences of well-choreographed pressing. There is something exhilarating about any complex action that requires a level of collaboration from multiple agents in order for it to come off. We see it in nature in the murmurations of starlings or the communal behaviour of a shoal of fish. On top of this, a well-worked press also fulfils one of the primary requirements for any football fan watching their team: the impression of effort. There is nothing a fan enjoys more than the players of their team exerting themselves around a football pitch. Just ask Gary Neville after Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage. …”
NYT/ATH (Video)