Taylor, Rodgers and Inverting

On the most recent episode of the Huddle Breakdown podcast we had an excellent guest Dominic Wells. Dominic is a data analyst and supporter of Leicester City. He was highly knowledgeable and balanced about Brendan Rodgers time at the club.

Dominic revealed that in the last season under Rodgers in 2022-23, the manager had introduced inverted full backs for the first time in his reign. He explained that this was only seen in around a dozen matches because the full backs who were deemed most suitable to playing this way (James Justin and Ricardo Perreira) were injured (another recurring theme!). Consequently, Leicester reverted to a back three for much of the season.

It will be fascinating to see if Rodgers considers the current Celtic full backs up to this task. None are truly two footed in the way Dominic describes yet there is clear evidence of adaptability with Greg Taylor in particular.

Greg Taylor

Compare and contrast Taylor’s heat maps, courtesy of Sofascore, for SPFL matches over the last two seasons:

2021-22

2022-23

This shows a clear willingness to move more centrally and create overloads (and central cover) further up the pitch.

Taylor’s pack passing data (forward passes that take opponents out the game) has shown year on year improvement:

His ability to play passes through the inside of full backs onto e.g. Daizen Maeda became a real feature throughout the season.

Overall, though there is a trade off by playing the inverted role.

His expected assist rate has fallen year on year from 0.35 in 2020-21 to 0.18 lasty season. He is creating less chances – 1.39 versus 1.97 in 2020-21. And he is attempting less crosses – 2.46 to 5.39 under Neil Lennon.

None of the above is a criticism. It is to highlight the trade off involved by inverting your full backs. Let them bomb up the line and get more crosses and chances created.

Invert and get more penetration through the opposition and more central solidity against counter attacks.

A proponent of inverting full backs would argue better to have your forward players on the ball in wide areas than your full backs.

Summary

In many respects Taylor does not seem a Rodgers “power and pace” type player. He is certainly very different to the buccaneering Kieran Tierney of the managers first stint.

However, if Rodgers wishes to play with inverted full backs, like his predecessor, Taylor is an able and willing adapter.