By Martin Keown
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After Manchester City's defeat by Ajax in the Champions League, plenty of pundits have been lining up to criticise Roberto Mancini's zonal-marking system. Zonal versus man marking is the debate that divides football.
Under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, I loved using zonal marking. Maybe I was just lucky to play with a really good group of players, but I think it is a common misconception that a zonal system is a weakness.
To make it work, though, you need players to take responsibility for the zone they are marking.
In the zone? Ajax exposed Man City's defending system to great effect
We used to have three men on the six-yard line: one in line with the near post, one with the back post and one in line with the penalty spot. That's where you would position your best headers of the ball.
On top of that you have men on each post — something I can't believe City don't do — a man in between the corner taker and the near post to cut out any low balls and someone on the edge of the box in case the ball is pulled back.
That left others free to man-mark any spare runners who weren't in the zones we were marking. It was a mixture of the two systems and worked very well.
We had some players, such as Sol Campbell when he first arrived, who were more comfortable man-marking, so they took those roles. Others marked in a zone. It is vital that the players are happy with the system they are playing.
The system has to be flexible. If you are facing Andy Carroll and he moves into a zone where you don't have one of your best headers, then you need to switch to make sure you have your best man there. If two opposition players come into your four-metre zone, you have to drag another of your players in with you to help.
If you're standing with nobody to mark in your zone, move to the edge of it to deny someone space who might later try to run in there.
Plenty to ponder: There are signs of unrest at City as Mancini's men face dropping out of the Champions League
The other huge plus about zonal marking is that you are able to watch the ball rather than focus on the man. You just have to make sure you then win it in your zone.
Another crucial rule is never to turn your back on the attacker. We used to say that if your opponent can see the number on your shirt, then you can't see him and that is dangerous.
It means he can jump over your back to head the ball too. I used to stand side-on and jump like I was doing a Fosbury Flop for maximum leap.
It worked for me and it can work for City.
P.S.
I had my only argument with an England manager over zonal marking. Near the end of my career, Sven Goran Eriksson asked me to man-mark really tight and I felt that put me at a disadvantage.
If you are tied to the striker, then you are dictated by him and his movement. So I made my feelings clear...not that it made any difference!
Bank on Barkley
Watching Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, I was hugely impressed by Ross Barkley, on loan from Everton. He is full of imagination, has an eye for a pass and is one of the best young midfielders I have seen in many years.
He is two-footed and can be the English equivalent of Santi Cazorla. He looks good enough to play in the Premier League now and I wouldn't be surprised to see him recalled in January by David Moyes.
One for the future: Barkley is showing huge promise during his loan spell at Wednesday
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