Watching a match around Guus Til makes for a rather disorienting experience. While the rest of the Feyenoord side under Arne Slot swirl about, harassing opponents and probing for openings, Til seems a spectator at times, walking and observing the play as it develops around him. Yet Til’s ability to oversee the play and take action at the right moment has become an important component of Feyenoord’s play so far under Arne Slot, whose decision to use Til in a free role has paid off.
Observing Til during last weekend’s fixture against RKC Waalwijk, what stood out most was the way in which he lurked just outside the play, like a stork watching its prey before swooping in to dispossesses an opponent. Til managed to disrupt RKC’s build-up play on several occasions last Saturday, taking the ball off the holding midfielder and winning back possession in the final third. Til enjoys making life uncomfortable for defenders and defensive midfielders in possession, and given the tactical freedom afforded him in Feyenoord’s setup he is able to assist the press without needing to worry about marking a specific player. When Til joins in the press, one almost gets the impression that Feyenoord have an extra man on the pitch; this is also the case when Til makes one of his frequent runs from deep, catching the opposition defence unawares.
For the purposes of this writer, Til also represents the ideal half-space player, not always involved in the heart of the play but skilled at interpreting the action around him, and with a distinct role on the pitch to which he is well-suited. Perhaps this sounds daft, but the role carried out by Til on the pitch is rather similar to the role in the journalistic landscape which this site looks to fill.
Inthehalfspace 