Earlier this year, I published the below. Where are you now?
Where are you on the Rafa-Ometer? (I have amended elements of the punctuation of the original letter)
0= Rafa is the best manager ever. We love him, and should name the new stadium after him.
1= As always, I am concentrating on supporting our manager and team.
2= He's doing just fine. We don't have as much cash as others, you know!
3= What's all the fuss about? Didn't he win the Champions League in his first season? Relax, people!
4= We'll probably win the league next year, and possibly (possibly is a relative concept - ed) the Champions League this year! Not to worry!
5= Thank you for asking my opinion. I am withholding judgement for the moment, thanks.
6= This season is threatening to end extremely disapointingly, I'm afraid!
7= Things will have to improve, and soon.
8= I appreciate his dedication, but I would like Rafa to go at the end of the season.
9= RAFA OUT NOW!
10= I'm going on Ryanair.com right now! I'm booking a flight to Liverpool and I'm gonna stand outside his house until he comes out and fights me!
RCM
Monday, 9 November 2009
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Scotland and Clairefontaine
I've written a number of times about youth development in Scotland and what needs to change if Scotland want to turn out world-class players more routinely. I don't intend to go into depth on this issue but I thought it was only right to link to this story from a few days ago seeing as it is a recurring theme on the blog. (The wikipedia article on Clairefontaine here) and more thoughts from me here and here).
Interesting. The will seems to be here in Scotland to make real changes - will it happen is the big question?
A reader sent me an email about this piece and asked if I could cover the way football handles homosexuality (in terms of abuse on the terraces and the total lack of gay players). I may do so but, in the meantime, here is an interesting piece from David James.
Later in the week, I hope to do my ''E Team'', a profile on Vikash Dhorasoo and a Blast From The Past.
RCM
Interesting. The will seems to be here in Scotland to make real changes - will it happen is the big question?
A reader sent me an email about this piece and asked if I could cover the way football handles homosexuality (in terms of abuse on the terraces and the total lack of gay players). I may do so but, in the meantime, here is an interesting piece from David James.
Later in the week, I hope to do my ''E Team'', a profile on Vikash Dhorasoo and a Blast From The Past.
RCM
Remembrance Sunday
Rarely do I stray from the comfortable fields of football geekery. However, it is worth stopping, pondering and remembering the sacrifice that so many have made for the citizens of this country and around the world - it is truly humbling.
It wouldn't be a LB In The Changing Room post without switching onto football and it is appropriate, sitting in Edinburgh, to link to what the club itself describes as 'the proudest moment in a proud club's history'. This piece here from Alex Massie gives a lot of detail behind the story of the Heart of Midlothian team that signed up to fight in the 1st World War. It is well worth reading both links.
RCM
It wouldn't be a LB In The Changing Room post without switching onto football and it is appropriate, sitting in Edinburgh, to link to what the club itself describes as 'the proudest moment in a proud club's history'. This piece here from Alex Massie gives a lot of detail behind the story of the Heart of Midlothian team that signed up to fight in the 1st World War. It is well worth reading both links.
RCM
Thursday, 5 November 2009
The Richest Picket Line In History
Over the summer, a number of articles suggested that Britain's relatively oppressive new tax laws were forcing gifted footballers out of the land. Xabi Alonso himself said as much in late June.
Kaka, Benzema and Ronaldo leaving clubs in Italy, France and Spain to Real; Chygrynskiy and Ibrahimovic from Ukraine and Italy to Barcelona seemed to suggest that the best players wanted to move to Spain (possibly for the first time in some while... especially looking at the number of top-notch Spanish players in the English league in recent years). Added to that the likes of Alonso and Arbeloa returning to Spain, Real's burgeoning budgets and Barcelona's excellence (totally outclassing United in the Champions League Final).
Alonso, of course, wouldn't benefit from Beckham Law but he suggests that he would be better off anyway in Spain due to their tax situation anyway.
As you may know, in Spain, ''The Beckham Law'' means that foreign footballers earning over 600,000 Euros pay 24% tax (roughly half of what an equivalent player would pay in the UK). However, there are proposals to do away with Beckham Law and the Spanish league may well go on strike if it does.
The strike may have a massive impact on the Spanish League (especially in a World Cup season) and their Champions League hopes. I'd guess the Spanish FA, in the build-up to the World Cup, would do everything they could to stop fixture congestion towards the end of the season.
The change wouldn't affect the likes of Ronaldo et al but it almost certainly would affect Barcelona and Real Madrid's ability to buy players from overseas, especially if the likes of Bayern, Lyon and Milan can offer more money. The likes of Gerrard, Rooney, Drogba, Pato etc would think twice about joining a Spanish club in the future - if they can earn more in England, Italy, Germany or, at some point, the increasingly wealthy clubs of Russia and Ukraine.
Incentives change how people, including footballers, act. If a country wanted to get lots of top players into their league low taxes may be the best way to entice them. Are you listening, Mr. McLeish?
RCM
PS - Incidentally, didn't Pablo Aimar look great when he came on against Everton this evening. Here's an interesting article on the man and here's some Youtube action. Great to see him on song again!
Kaka, Benzema and Ronaldo leaving clubs in Italy, France and Spain to Real; Chygrynskiy and Ibrahimovic from Ukraine and Italy to Barcelona seemed to suggest that the best players wanted to move to Spain (possibly for the first time in some while... especially looking at the number of top-notch Spanish players in the English league in recent years). Added to that the likes of Alonso and Arbeloa returning to Spain, Real's burgeoning budgets and Barcelona's excellence (totally outclassing United in the Champions League Final).
Alonso, of course, wouldn't benefit from Beckham Law but he suggests that he would be better off anyway in Spain due to their tax situation anyway.
As you may know, in Spain, ''The Beckham Law'' means that foreign footballers earning over 600,000 Euros pay 24% tax (roughly half of what an equivalent player would pay in the UK). However, there are proposals to do away with Beckham Law and the Spanish league may well go on strike if it does.
The strike may have a massive impact on the Spanish League (especially in a World Cup season) and their Champions League hopes. I'd guess the Spanish FA, in the build-up to the World Cup, would do everything they could to stop fixture congestion towards the end of the season.
The change wouldn't affect the likes of Ronaldo et al but it almost certainly would affect Barcelona and Real Madrid's ability to buy players from overseas, especially if the likes of Bayern, Lyon and Milan can offer more money. The likes of Gerrard, Rooney, Drogba, Pato etc would think twice about joining a Spanish club in the future - if they can earn more in England, Italy, Germany or, at some point, the increasingly wealthy clubs of Russia and Ukraine.
Incentives change how people, including footballers, act. If a country wanted to get lots of top players into their league low taxes may be the best way to entice them. Are you listening, Mr. McLeish?
RCM
PS - Incidentally, didn't Pablo Aimar look great when he came on against Everton this evening. Here's an interesting article on the man and here's some Youtube action. Great to see him on song again!
A newly discovered blog
A blog I've just come across called Futfanatico. I particularly like this piece (and the pieces in the series - at the bottom).
Go and have a look around!
RCM
Go and have a look around!
RCM
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
An overlooked gem?
Imagine if I told you about the following player...
He is one of the most successful Scottish players of all time. During a lengthy career, he won four English league titles, a European Cup (and was runner-up on another occasion). He won three FA Cups and was part of a double-winning team. He is one of only 8 Scots to win the FWA Footballer of the Year. As a player, he played under Paisley, Ferguson, Dalglish and Stein and represented Scotland at the World Cup. He was a gem in one of the best sides ever to play in the English league and could play in nearly every position.
As a manger he's been in charge of a successful side in a leading footballing country* for 7 years. He has guided them to winning the country's equivalent of the FA Cup. As the country operates a play-off system it is difficult to talk about league placings but on four occasions he has guided them to runners-up in the play-off game.
In 2008, he guided his team to winning the Champions League equivalent of his continent. Although, admittedly, there are only three nations involved...
This is the sort of guy we'd normally be running over hot coals to consider. The last odds I saw didn't list odds for my candidate but did for the likes of Souness, Davies, Jordan, John Collins and even Stuart Baxter.
So why, when we talk about the next manager of Scotland, do we talk about Collins, McGhee, Souness and Jordan... but not about Steve Nicol?
If anyone disrespected him... I'm sure he'd allow them to look at his medal collection?
RCM
PS - I may not agree with his politics (here and here) but what about this for a save from Gigi Buffon! Of course, it may well be that by the time you look at it UEFA have taken it down.
* Currently ranked 11th...
He is one of the most successful Scottish players of all time. During a lengthy career, he won four English league titles, a European Cup (and was runner-up on another occasion). He won three FA Cups and was part of a double-winning team. He is one of only 8 Scots to win the FWA Footballer of the Year. As a player, he played under Paisley, Ferguson, Dalglish and Stein and represented Scotland at the World Cup. He was a gem in one of the best sides ever to play in the English league and could play in nearly every position.
As a manger he's been in charge of a successful side in a leading footballing country* for 7 years. He has guided them to winning the country's equivalent of the FA Cup. As the country operates a play-off system it is difficult to talk about league placings but on four occasions he has guided them to runners-up in the play-off game.
In 2008, he guided his team to winning the Champions League equivalent of his continent. Although, admittedly, there are only three nations involved...
This is the sort of guy we'd normally be running over hot coals to consider. The last odds I saw didn't list odds for my candidate but did for the likes of Souness, Davies, Jordan, John Collins and even Stuart Baxter.
So why, when we talk about the next manager of Scotland, do we talk about Collins, McGhee, Souness and Jordan... but not about Steve Nicol?
If anyone disrespected him... I'm sure he'd allow them to look at his medal collection?
RCM
PS - I may not agree with his politics (here and here) but what about this for a save from Gigi Buffon! Of course, it may well be that by the time you look at it UEFA have taken it down.
* Currently ranked 11th...
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Scottish Navel Gazing #438
I recently was speaking to a team-mate in Teuchters bar earlier in the year and he complained that my blog was too English Premier League focused. I admit I was slightly pleased that someone thought I was organised enough in my blogging to have a focus. Anyway, he thought that I should make it more Scottish-based.
Over the last few months, I've tried to analyse some of the issues affecting (here, here and here). In one of those links, I posed a series of questions. One I didn't consider is the one consider is the idea of a summer season.
I'll post properly on this later in the week.
RCM
Over the last few months, I've tried to analyse some of the issues affecting (here, here and here). In one of those links, I posed a series of questions. One I didn't consider is the one consider is the idea of a summer season.
I'll post properly on this later in the week.
RCM
Idan Ravin
Not sure if any readers have come across Idan Ravin before? I saw a large article about him in Sports Illustrated. A quick google search and I found another decent article in the Wall Street Journal. Here is his own website and an interview with him here.
Other than the work of people like the visionary Simon Clifford who, despite his undoubted brilliance, seems to be viewed skeptically in football especially at the highest level, I can't think of any skills coach working in such a way (especially one who works with a number of top-players at the same time).
Any thoughts?
RCM
PS - James - I've linked to you as I thought this is the sort of thing you might be interested in?
PPS - I'm intending to buy this book this week. Will review as and when.
Other than the work of people like the visionary Simon Clifford who, despite his undoubted brilliance, seems to be viewed skeptically in football especially at the highest level, I can't think of any skills coach working in such a way (especially one who works with a number of top-players at the same time).
Any thoughts?
RCM
PS - James - I've linked to you as I thought this is the sort of thing you might be interested in?
PPS - I'm intending to buy this book this week. Will review as and when.
Denmark
A quick link to a story from a couple of weeks ago (yes, cutting edge stuff here at LB...). A great article on the Denmark team of 1986. It is a very long article but a very fine one. As a commentator on my Facebook version of this post said 'why don't we have sports writing like this in Scotland?'. His blog, as it happens, can be found here. Happy Birthday.
Two related posts from me: On the dichotomy of winning or playing beautifully and on greatness. As ever, please do comment - I'd love to hear your thoughts. Also, please do let me know if there are any things you'd like to see on the blog - I'll do my best to assist.
RCM
Two related posts from me: On the dichotomy of winning or playing beautifully and on greatness. As ever, please do comment - I'd love to hear your thoughts. Also, please do let me know if there are any things you'd like to see on the blog - I'll do my best to assist.
RCM
Friday, 30 October 2009
The False 9
A fascinating piece by the excellent Jonathan Wilson. I agree with a lot of his comment here and have often wondered how best to counter the False 9 (which is a good name but not one that will stick as it isn't, well, sticky enough). In his wonderful book ‘Inverting The Pyramid’ and elsewhere.
That said... Look at the players he picks out. Ronaldo, Tevez, Messi, Totti, Bergkamp, Zola, Cantona. All fantastic players. A good British example is Gerrard who has become something akin to the role of a False 9 and was at his most effective in the game against United where Ferdinand and Vidic simply didn't know whether to stay with him and drift into midfield (leaving lots of space) or allow him lots of space in central midfield to ping passes around. In the end, Ferdinand tended to go with Gerrard leaving Torres up against Vidic... the ideal combination as Torres + Space + Vidic = goals.
A question that Wilson does not ask is this: Why don't bad teams utilise the False 9 more often? Surely, if it causes the disruption that he suspects that it does surely teams lower down the divisions would be best served by introducing it?
Perhaps, the system only works with excellent players? Or, perhaps, it only works when there is excellence around them - the Barcelona system worked so well last season not because of the False 9 but because of Xavi's brilliance. Bergkamp was feeding Henry, Cantona had Fergie's Fledglings around him and so on.
I think it might be a little bit of all of these factors that make bad teams not adopt the strategy and, furthermore, the fear that False 9s don't tend to score as many goals as, well, 9s. We should also note that none of the False 9s Wilson mentions are British. I think Gerrard, Rooney and, occasionally, Joe Cole could fill the role but these are all exceptional players.
Other than these three I can't think of any and certainly not outside the ''Big Four''.
Why don't we produce more of them and why don't teams like the system? I’d guess that it is a combination of tactical naivety throughout the youth system and the focus on speed and strength rather than ball control and thinking.
From a young age we in the UK are told that 4-4-2 is the only possible formation to play and, therefore, no one grows up playing as a False 9. Our focus on speed, strength and stamina over technique, ability and insight (Note that Ajax have long focused on TIPS) which, again, doesn’t facilitate the development of False 9s. You need exceptional ball control and insight to be a good False 9... our players don't tend to do insight. Wilson is right that England's rigid and simplistic structure, and dogmatic adherence to 4-4-2, that means False 9s can excel in the game against us.
On, how to stop the the False 9, I disagree with Wilson. I think the best way is to play a 4-2-3-1 and detail a midfielder to man-mark the False 9 (this doesn't need to be a deep-lying midfielder). Fabrice Muamba was excellent against Liverpool (until his sending off) and totally nullified Gerrard. Indeed, playing a 4-2-3-1 gives teams that option. If one of the '2' becomes roving, the team still has a lot of solidity in defence.
Of course, a lot of Wilson's argument is obvious and goes back to a very simple premise about football - the team that manipulates space better will usually win.
His point about the False 9 (or floating 9, which sees a striker play in a multi-position role during the game) highlights a wider development in recent years of players who can play in multiple positions in the same game.
Now, admittedly, this is not a new thing (all roads in footballing excellence lead back to the Dutch Total Football Team of 1974 where players could switch into almost all positions at will ) but players like Sergio Ramos and Dani Alves are so skilful and fit that they can, essentially, become both the full-back and wingers at the same time. Madrid, for a while, didn’t play with a right-sided midfielder because Ramos could fill both roles. This meant that Beckham, on the right-wing, could play there or drift in-field to become a ''quarterback''. Those two links go into greater depth (please do read).
Elsewhere, Dirk Kuyt seems to do the work the work of a winger, midfielder or (in old-fashioned lingo) inside-right.
I think this is the future of football. Players who can swap positions and who can adequately play a number of roles - strikers or wingers like Kuyt and Rooney who can tackle and track back, midfielders like Essien who can also be surging wing-backs or centre backs when needs be, central defenders like Agger who can score goals and pass the ball beautifully and the likes of Ramos and Alves who can dominate games from the full-back position.
RCM
That said... Look at the players he picks out. Ronaldo, Tevez, Messi, Totti, Bergkamp, Zola, Cantona. All fantastic players. A good British example is Gerrard who has become something akin to the role of a False 9 and was at his most effective in the game against United where Ferdinand and Vidic simply didn't know whether to stay with him and drift into midfield (leaving lots of space) or allow him lots of space in central midfield to ping passes around. In the end, Ferdinand tended to go with Gerrard leaving Torres up against Vidic... the ideal combination as Torres + Space + Vidic = goals.
A question that Wilson does not ask is this: Why don't bad teams utilise the False 9 more often? Surely, if it causes the disruption that he suspects that it does surely teams lower down the divisions would be best served by introducing it?
Perhaps, the system only works with excellent players? Or, perhaps, it only works when there is excellence around them - the Barcelona system worked so well last season not because of the False 9 but because of Xavi's brilliance. Bergkamp was feeding Henry, Cantona had Fergie's Fledglings around him and so on.
I think it might be a little bit of all of these factors that make bad teams not adopt the strategy and, furthermore, the fear that False 9s don't tend to score as many goals as, well, 9s. We should also note that none of the False 9s Wilson mentions are British. I think Gerrard, Rooney and, occasionally, Joe Cole could fill the role but these are all exceptional players.
Other than these three I can't think of any and certainly not outside the ''Big Four''.
Why don't we produce more of them and why don't teams like the system? I’d guess that it is a combination of tactical naivety throughout the youth system and the focus on speed and strength rather than ball control and thinking.
From a young age we in the UK are told that 4-4-2 is the only possible formation to play and, therefore, no one grows up playing as a False 9. Our focus on speed, strength and stamina over technique, ability and insight (Note that Ajax have long focused on TIPS) which, again, doesn’t facilitate the development of False 9s. You need exceptional ball control and insight to be a good False 9... our players don't tend to do insight. Wilson is right that England's rigid and simplistic structure, and dogmatic adherence to 4-4-2, that means False 9s can excel in the game against us.
On, how to stop the the False 9, I disagree with Wilson. I think the best way is to play a 4-2-3-1 and detail a midfielder to man-mark the False 9 (this doesn't need to be a deep-lying midfielder). Fabrice Muamba was excellent against Liverpool (until his sending off) and totally nullified Gerrard. Indeed, playing a 4-2-3-1 gives teams that option. If one of the '2' becomes roving, the team still has a lot of solidity in defence.
Of course, a lot of Wilson's argument is obvious and goes back to a very simple premise about football - the team that manipulates space better will usually win.
His point about the False 9 (or floating 9, which sees a striker play in a multi-position role during the game) highlights a wider development in recent years of players who can play in multiple positions in the same game.
Now, admittedly, this is not a new thing (all roads in footballing excellence lead back to the Dutch Total Football Team of 1974 where players could switch into almost all positions at will ) but players like Sergio Ramos and Dani Alves are so skilful and fit that they can, essentially, become both the full-back and wingers at the same time. Madrid, for a while, didn’t play with a right-sided midfielder because Ramos could fill both roles. This meant that Beckham, on the right-wing, could play there or drift in-field to become a ''quarterback''. Those two links go into greater depth (please do read).
Elsewhere, Dirk Kuyt seems to do the work the work of a winger, midfielder or (in old-fashioned lingo) inside-right.
I think this is the future of football. Players who can swap positions and who can adequately play a number of roles - strikers or wingers like Kuyt and Rooney who can tackle and track back, midfielders like Essien who can also be surging wing-backs or centre backs when needs be, central defenders like Agger who can score goals and pass the ball beautifully and the likes of Ramos and Alves who can dominate games from the full-back position.
RCM
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