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Style Wars
Written by Edmunds5 on Wednesday, 10th Apr 2013 09:58

This blog examines the differences in views with regard to the more aggressive/direct style of play in comparison to the more patient short-game approach in relation to the modern game. I will also talk about how I think the contrasting styles can impact at international level.

“The objective in football is to score more goals that the opposition, and if you can do that within the rules of the game then no one can argue with the outcome,” or something similar, not exactly a cliché but the natural response to the question, a response that is factually correct and cannot be disputed.

Some people will say that’s the damning truth and as far as the debate goes, but for other lovers of the beautiful game, whether that is purists or the more old school types, the argument deepens.

For some, direct football is part of British football’s heritage and portrays all the characteristics that make football the game it is.

The feisty challenges, the aeriel battles that may involve the odd flying elbow and bloodied head and just the general robust approach only provokes passion and engrossment in the sport. This then leads to heated atmospheres and a mentality of unmatched willingness to win.

For some this brand of football is a dying art and feel put off by the modern game and many aspects of the way it’s played. Some label ‘tika taka’ football as boring and believe the game lacks tempo because of this approach.

This is furthered by the increased amount of diving present which again leads to a stop-start feel. Emphasised by the commonly-used phrase ‘back in my day’ a symbol of how the game has become with the idea that the key principles that were previously associated with football have somewere become lost.

And that the qualities formerly embodied in the game cannot be illustrated with all the pretty football and petulance associated with today’s game.

Of course there are those that will argue this, people who I described earlier as purists. People who feels that the short game style exemplified in recent times by Barcelona and the Spanish national side is how football should be played and go along with notion that "if God wanted us to play football in the air, then he would have built a pitch in the clouds".

These people find a great deal of joy in seeing Andres Iniesta find a killer pass after a flowing 22-pass move and believe it presents the ‘beautiful game’ at its beautiful best.

And will also argue that the nitty and gritty traits of football still exist but in a more updated fashion. Illustrated by the pressing game where the opposition are hassled very quickly in possession and require great shape and defensive discipline.

I understand the counter argument for all of this will be that the short-game approach isn’t a new concept; most notably displayed by Barcelona in times gone by as-well as the Brazilian national team and many others on a smaller level.

Likewise the direct approach isn’t entirely a thing of the past an example of the latter being Stoke City and their rather uncompromising style of play.

West Ham are another team often associated with the ‘long-ball’ label, where they often look to feed off the front man quickly or get the ball into wide areas and frequently get the ball into the box.

But you cannot say it has not worked for both those sides, with Stoke becoming an established Premier League side and West Ham looking stable in the Premier League after gaining immediate promotion from the Championship.

Both teams have solid defences and great organisation which are things that are vital for a successful football team and should be given credit for that. The Wimbledon sides of the past, labelled the ‘Crazy Gang’ also used direct football effectively.

However, the general consensus is that this fails to entertain either neutrals or fans of that team. Of course, there will be others who are entertained and feel that the all-action style and constant pinball gets you of your seat as opposed to the likes of Swansea whose football focuses on ball retention and can be seen as tedious.

People could also say that football is a results business and you cannot complain about the style of football if your team gets the results and especially in a business where results are so important with the threat of managers getting the sack always lingering.

But then fans will say they pay hard earned money and want to see entertaining football, end to end with goals scored and at a fast tempo.

Maybe the whole debate is simply over-hyped, the satisfaction people feel when sneaking a 1-0 win is massive and is described as determined and spirited where as if the same game ended 0-0 fans say the performance was dire and lethargic.

Of course there is then the majority who will say the likes of Swansea or ‘Swanselona’ as the Jacks like to call their club, play attractive football and that their probing style is great to watch.

Not only is it arguably more pleasing on the eye, but they have also seen their team achieve success through it and take a sense of pride from how they play their football.

But what are the effects of the two contrasting styles on a wider scale? I’m talking internationally; we have seen a highly rated Spain squad triumph at Euro 2012 playing a very short game where at times they didn’t even feel the need to use a central striker.

Was this only possible because of the array of talent at their disposal? Or are they being rewarded for their bravery and is just a result of intense coaching based on technique. Alternatively we witnessed a rather lacklustre England team focus more on their resolve and tried to be difficult to break down.

Yes, they had little preparation under new manager Roy Hodgson and so he maybe couldn’t implement the ideas he wanted to, and yes in knock-out football this can prove a successful strategy but what does it say about us as a footballing country?

It seems most of the players shining in the Premier League are not from this country. Many of them also seem technically gifted too, Luis Suarez, David Silva, Juan Mata are all lighting up the Premier League.

What does this say in terms of just how far behind we are in terms of technicians? Players are plying their trade in our league and outclassing us. I’m not getting ahead of myself, we are not Spain, not even close, but they’re the countries we have to chase and so you have to compare.

Do our top players in the country not have it in them to play a more expansive game with players who are comfortable on the ball and can work the opposition? Perhaps it all stems from grassroots. There always seems to be more emphasis on fitness and physicality rather than technical ability.

The difference between certain players making the grade and certain players not seems to often be based on the physique of the player not the intelligence. The flaw for me is that those judging younger players have been bought up in an era where football was more blood, sweat and tears.

And as a result have possibly been influenced by the gritty nature of the game and so look more towards a players physical attributes without being willing to change their own perspective on the game, and don’t conform to the ways in which it has changed.

Every training session for youngsters seems to consist of constant running around pitches and in and out of cones to the point where training sessions become overly disciplined and show a lack of variation.

I’m not suggesting everyone have an orange to themselves for an hour and a half and pretend to be Pele, nor should too much information be thrown at kids at early ages.

But just how do we expect to compete with the best teams in the world if our players are given a limited insight into how to use the ball effectively in possession and so find it difficult to adjust at a higher level? The likes of Italy and Germany may be excellent in terms of discipline but they can all pass and look dominant in possession.

People may say yes but we haven’t got enough technically gifted players to play like the likes of Spain, but why? Surely we have a big enough pool to be able to find more Wilsheres and Gascoignes, if not, where are they?

Or maybe it’s the opposite and we just don’t have a dominant centre forward with physical presence such as Alan Shearer was, fellow Geordie Andy Carroll is probably our nearest to that type and so we cannot play a more direct style effectively.

One of the most important points for me is that whilst the short game, pressing style will no doubt become more popular, much is about personal preference in this country. I fear we will never be technically as gifted because there is little emphasis towards it.

Winning games of football any which way possible will always be the norm with such pressures on managers, going away from home and playing a defensive formation and on the counter attack shows this, and I am struggling to see a structure in place as to how things will change.




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DanLyles added 13:49 - Apr 10
Some interesting points. I have lost count of the number of times that I have watched England give away possession to the opposition and leave our defence to perform heroics as we are camped in our own half. The likes of Jack Wilshere and Tom Cleverley show signs of being able to implement a more 'continental' style focused on ball retention, however, we need more of these technicians and perhaps the new centre at Burton will eventually aid this evolution.

Ipswich too have to work on the above. MM deserves huge credit for installing a belief and organisation to our defence and midfield. The next stage of our development is to keep the ball better and add some players who can create more openings. I'm hoping Taylor (ability to beat a man with pace) and Wordsworth (passing and long range shooting) will add these to our side when they return. There are also players like Chris Burke available on free transfers; while David Cotterill at Doncaster (one year left on his contract) has had a fantastic season too: 10 goals and 21 assists from the right wing.
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Edmunds5 added 14:21 - Apr 10
Thanks for the comment @DanLyles and agree with that, in terms of Ipswich we can't keep being reliant on the defensive because they will not always keep clean sheets, as you said hopefully Wordsworth and Taylor can make us more of a force going forward next season but Mick knows this is an area that needs improving. Coterill has certainly done well, whether he is great in League 1 but not quite at it in the Championship I don't know but he may not want to stay in League 1 if Donny fail to go up.

I'm not completeley convinced by Cleverley but both him and particularly Wilshere are showing the benefits of working under a manager who believes in playing passing football but can't be relied upon because they're still young players. I'm struggling to see many others though who can play like this though and I feel something needs to be in place, whether that be coaching, facilities I'm not sure but we should be producing players who are more confident in possession than we do.
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Fatcatevans added 16:19 - Apr 10
Good article. Glad you mentioned Jack Wilshere as he is the only English player who would look comfortable playing in the Spanish national side or Barcelona. The rest just cannot keep the ball. As for Stoke City I feel they are now being found out fortunately! Swansea under Laudrup have carried on Rogers good work and as stats prove modified their passing game so that most of it happens in the last two thirds of the pitch. Theirs should be the role model
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Pessimistic added 10:10 - Apr 11
A well considered argument and I am pleased to see that Fatcatevens reads all of these blogs. We have had our differences from time to time but one thing is for sure and that is he always speaks his mind. Greetings my man!
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