All across the internet, I'm certain that you've heard the terms "positional play", "juego de posicion", or "JdP". The idea, widely espoused but rarely fully understood, is a countercultural take on this very question.
It all Starts with Hopping the Fence: How to Disrupt a 4-4-2 with a 3-2-5
"Football is a game where you're always desperately trying to bring order to disorder, and to bring chaos under control, even though that's impossible." -- Wolfram Eilenberger