Patrice Gheisar – HFX Wanderers FC – Tactical Analysis

HFX Wanderers never quite got going in 2022, after an early season injury to star player Joao Morelli left them without much in the way of adequate alternatives. Stephen Hart paid the price after four seasons in charge, with Patrice Gheisar entering the frame to start a new era at the Wanderers Grounds. The Wanderers took a bit of time to find their groove at the start of the season, but Gheisar’s exciting principles of play always looked promising. Since a 2-0 loss to Atletico at the start of June, Halifax have won five of their last eight matches, pushing for a playoff spot alongside the league’s top three teams.

Here is an analysis of everything Gheisar has employed since entering the fold, and the tactics the team have used to create one of the most entertaining sides in the league.

SYSTEM OF PLAY

Before diving into the deeper minutiae behind their playing style in attack and defense, it’s worth noting all of the key performers thus far.

HFX have set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation out of possession, that quickly shapes into a 3-2-4-1 in attack. At the back end of the pitch, Yann Fillion’s enjoyed a decent start to the season in his first season in the CPL, and is backed up by a fairly formidable young defense. Cale Loughrey’s impressed since his move from Edmonton, while his Edmonton teammate Wesley Timóteo has excelled even despite greater defensive responsibilities at Wanderers ground.

Timóteo’s historically been a wing-back capable of pushing forward, even playing inside as a ’10’ due to his creativity and on-the-ball class. But after an early season injury to Ryan James, Gheisar’s stuck by his tactics and used Timóteo in that reserved position instead.

Supporting the two of them has been Daniel Nimick, one of the most exciting prospects in the league at the moment. Nimick possess an excellent vision and awareness of space, allowing his long passing composure to take full flight. But he’s also a typical hard man in defense, smartly using his body to shepherd dangerous attackers away from goal.

With the three men combining at the back end of the pitch and Nimick having occasional license to carry the ball forward, a solid midfield base has been needed to support everything else further forward. Fortunately, HFX pulled off an absolute coup prior to the start of the season in signing former PSG product Lorenzo Callegari.

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Callegari’s looked a cut-above for his incisive passing and touch of class at the centre of the park, and acts as their key game ticker in possession. Andre Rampersad and Mohamed Omar have traded places (and the armband) alongside him, helping to truly anchor down the midfield and ensure Callegari’s not on his own in breaking up the play before the back-line.

Pushing forward into the attack from defense is most often Zachary Fernandez, who always functioned best in that wing-back persona last season. Fernandez is one of the supreme crossers of the ball in the division, and his high and wide position down the right allows Aidan Daniels to float as he pleases into central channels.

Callum Watson can then float in and around the left-half-spaces, putting his phenomenal perceptions of space to use. On the left wing, Massimo Ferrin’s been another one of the smartest off-season signings coming in from Gheisar’s League 1 Ontario side Vaughan Azzurri.

A dynamic dribbler that often threatens in front of goal, Ferrin’s also been used as a ‘number 9’ to get the best out of his finishing quality and make up for that one missing piece still to be discovered in their side. Théo Collomb’s come to life from the left wing instead, and is now the side’s top scorer on four for the season.

Other key players include Riley Ferrazzo, who played the first match as an inverted fullback and has since featured as an alternative wing-back option; and now former TFC man Doneil Henry, who made his first appearance last week. It will be interesting to see where the older head of Henry fits into the puzzle, especially given the success and chemistry of their young back-line up until this point. Now with that in mind, let’s jump into Halifax’s principles of play this season so far.

ATTACKING PRINCIPLES

HFX build out from the back in a 3+2 shape. They circulate the ball primarily between their centre-backs and Lorenzo Callegari, with Daniel Nimick often used to switch play from right to left, where the team’s left winger will hug the touchline or look for gaps to exploit the far side.

Dan Nimick is an incredibly talented centre-back making his way in the CPL. Not the first time he’s assisted a goal like this 👇 https://t.co/ugwCnCrPXM

— Rhys Desmond (@DesmondRhys) July 23, 2023

Nimick’s assisted two goals now from his gifted right foot spreading the play wide, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t stop there.

Up ahead, the 3+2 shape allows the five ahead to float into different spaces, particularly Aidan Daniels and Callum Watson.

I spoke on Coast to Coast FC about how astute Watson is at seeking out space in the attacking third, and I think he’s low-key one of their most impressive performers.

He’ll often make progressive runs through the left-half-spaces, as Aidan Daniels looks to get on the ball in any pocket of space possible and drive forward. Of players with 10+ appearances, only Ayman Sellouf has assisted more goals per 90 (0.32), and only David Choineiere has made more key passes according to Wyscout data (1.14).

A super incisive passer of the ball with sublime footwork, Daniels makes for an excellent foil as Zach Fernandez gets up the wing and delivers his expert crosses into the box. Fernandez leads the team in expected assists on 0.24 per 90, providing a constant threat from the wing.

Halifax’s system works in such a way that the lack of a focal point up front has not been the greatest deal. Massimo Ferrin has played almost like a ‘False 9’ when deployed, allowing him to also pick up the ball deeper on the field and drive forward when needed.

They prioritize wing play and smart, cut-back crosses rather than needing to play up top to their striker, with the likes of Daniels and Callegari looking to control the tempo and patiently work the team into the right positions. Callegari’s 68.6 passes per 90 outshines Forge’s Manjrekar James in second place by quite some margin (60.6), and he’s been incisive in picking out the difficult passes through the thirds.

Only Gagnon-Laparé and Bekker have achieved more assists per 90 from central midfield regulars this campaign (0.24), putting Callegari in some elite CPL company on the chance creation front.

That one missing piece might be their striker up top, where Joao Morelli could still enter the fold and play that ‘False 9’ role nicely. But for the time being, the chemistry is working so well that you wouldn’t necessarily want to stop the momentum. If HFX want to go for something more bullish up top, 19-year-old Tiago Coimbra has also shown some promise in making his presence felt at the front, and will grow into his role. But a striker who can nicely link the play and push opposition defenses back will remain a smart acquisition for the off-season, and HFX should already have their eyes peeled on potential prospects.

DEFENSIVE PRINCIPLES

Key for a possession-based team, HFX have been one of the league’s top counter-pressing sides since Gheisar entered the door. Watson and Colomb have been particularly energetic in helping lead the counter-press and initial press, where HFX are quick to throw themselves into challenges and do battle. Lorenzo Callegari for example is completely unforgiving in his approach, picking up seven yellow cards already. Coimbra also has a physical edge to his game, and wants to make his presence felt at the front end of the pitch.

Players like that might occasionally cause trouble, but they can also be essential in stopping quick attacks from progressing to the place where Halifax need to fully transition into a defensive stance.

Dan Nimick’s been great at dealing with passes over the top into the vacated position of Fernandez high up the pitch, but this remains an area that opposition sides will target for their quick attacks.

When they shape up into that defensive stance, HFX will initially set-up in that 4-2-3-1 formation, with Callum Watson occasionally dropping in alongside Callegari and Rampersad in more of a 4-5-1 lower on the pitch.

The goal is often to then transition back into attack quickly, where the likes of Ferrin and Daniels love to carry the ball up the pitch at high speeds.

One particular area where HFX will need to improve is on the set-piece front, where they haven’t managed to fully command free kicks and corners against many of the league’s imposing figures.

CONCLUSION

HFX have enjoyed an impressive start to the season with an impressive style of play and an exciting young squad. Patrice Gheisar has done wonders to get everyone on-side and buying into the team’s new philosophies, with several new players being integrated seamlessly into the team.

But in addition to those excellent signings like Callegari, Nimick and Ferrin, Gheisar’s also done well to get the best out of some of HFX’s top players. He’s done particularly well with Aidan Daniels in finding a role that allows him to be that maverick for the team and explore his best self in the CPL, whilst also recognizing Zach Fernandez’s strengths as a wing-back.

Halifax will have a fight to the finish for those fourth and fifth playoff spots, but remain in a great position to continue pushing for that place. In the meantime, they can continue to be one of the most exciting teams in the league, and build upon the excellent scouting & recruitment they’ve done to this point.

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