total football is the epitome of football. it condemns formation to mere numbers.
but because it is the pinnacle, it is not easily achieved, hence the need for formations, for a system, for some discreet organisation of the game.
consider a team of people who seldom play and one solitary player who plays often. under such circumstances, that one player has to inject some form of organisation into the team. in other words, he has to guide the team along.
the only time when we can play without such interference is when the team has reached such a peak of understanding, of chemistry that they know instinctively how to move, where to move, when to move. it is not that there is no system, just that the system has become...internalised. such that it is no longer the thing you focus on, but rather, the individuals.
football is simple only at the highest level, when everyone has gained sufficient understanding of the game.
that is also why, a perfect team is not the team with perfect technique or whatsoever, but the team with the perfect chemistry. tactics can stop technique. but if u think about it, if you consider the entire game, maybe it isnt so. it depends on your definition of stop. if it hinges on only one encounter, then tactics can definitely stop technique. but technique only requires 1 chance. 1 moment of magic. it is all that it requires to defeat tactics. so in a way, technique can defeat tactics, but mostly tactics is the one way to stop technique. gifted players can be kept quiet for most of the game with tactics. of course if they produce that one moment of genius, that is another story. in any case, the one thing that can beat tactics is understanding. understanding comes from within. it is something special, very hard to be explained. tactics is explained. tactics cannot prepare for that unknown. to counter the unexpected, you are on your own. so in a way, understanding is like 9 moments of magic, compared to technique's 1. that is why understanding is what a great team is about.
and on where the best player should play. it is often argued that the best player should be played at the back, where he can control the game. true to a certain extent. especially when the playing area is bigger. but in small areas, and when the team has many defensive players, the best player must play upfront. otherwise, you are never going to score. the idea is to defend in numbers, in an unglamorous manner, and loft the ball up, hoping to get it to that player to do his magic. he may be surrounded, but you have to believe in him, in his ability to produce that one moment of brilliance to beat the opposition.
last wednesday, i came to this conclusion.
but because it is the pinnacle, it is not easily achieved, hence the need for formations, for a system, for some discreet organisation of the game.
consider a team of people who seldom play and one solitary player who plays often. under such circumstances, that one player has to inject some form of organisation into the team. in other words, he has to guide the team along.
the only time when we can play without such interference is when the team has reached such a peak of understanding, of chemistry that they know instinctively how to move, where to move, when to move. it is not that there is no system, just that the system has become...internalised. such that it is no longer the thing you focus on, but rather, the individuals.
football is simple only at the highest level, when everyone has gained sufficient understanding of the game.
that is also why, a perfect team is not the team with perfect technique or whatsoever, but the team with the perfect chemistry. tactics can stop technique. but if u think about it, if you consider the entire game, maybe it isnt so. it depends on your definition of stop. if it hinges on only one encounter, then tactics can definitely stop technique. but technique only requires 1 chance. 1 moment of magic. it is all that it requires to defeat tactics. so in a way, technique can defeat tactics, but mostly tactics is the one way to stop technique. gifted players can be kept quiet for most of the game with tactics. of course if they produce that one moment of genius, that is another story. in any case, the one thing that can beat tactics is understanding. understanding comes from within. it is something special, very hard to be explained. tactics is explained. tactics cannot prepare for that unknown. to counter the unexpected, you are on your own. so in a way, understanding is like 9 moments of magic, compared to technique's 1. that is why understanding is what a great team is about.
and on where the best player should play. it is often argued that the best player should be played at the back, where he can control the game. true to a certain extent. especially when the playing area is bigger. but in small areas, and when the team has many defensive players, the best player must play upfront. otherwise, you are never going to score. the idea is to defend in numbers, in an unglamorous manner, and loft the ball up, hoping to get it to that player to do his magic. he may be surrounded, but you have to believe in him, in his ability to produce that one moment of brilliance to beat the opposition.
last wednesday, i came to this conclusion.
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