The FA should not let Pep Guardiola leave London. They should offer him the moon and the stars to keep him in England and offer him the role of FA Technical Director in charge of all Coaching Development.
Last night his team demonstrated that "knocking it high/long for the big lad to knock down for the nippy boy to run on to/hold until the midfield cavalry arrive" or the "high ball over the top for the nippy lad to chase" are just not good enough. Sure these skills work well for players who may not have the technical ability/guile to pass the ball short and move so the team can move upfield as a unit, always in possession, always frustrating the opposition. Playing percentage football doesn't guarantee success, neither does possession without opportunity but pass and move will create opportunities and, as we saw last night, when the move breaks down, if your unit has compressed the opposition into their own penalty area, they will make mistakes which can be exploited.
Other teams, other countries will see the success of the Guardiola style, which isn't that far from the philisophy of "if God had wanted us to play football in the clouds, he'd have put grass up there" espoused by the greatest manager England never had. Power and athleticism have their place but they must be harnessed to the skills demonstrated last night at Wembley. The skill to change direction midstride, to evade a challenge by the turn of an ankle and to effect a change of pace to create space for an opportunity, the one opportunity that will make a difference and to have the mental as well as physical strength to place the ball as if it was from a standing start.
The style has to be enforced at youth level so the players adopt and practice the necessary skills, so they move through the circle of competence and these skills become second nature, being demonstrated almost subconsciously. Such change can't be achieved overnight and there will be disappointments along the way but these will be minor in comparison to the riches which await.
The lesson has been given, but does football in England have the appetite to change direction, stop chasing the pot at the end of the season and work towards proper, effective player development which will build the foundations of a dynasty?
Last night his team demonstrated that "knocking it high/long for the big lad to knock down for the nippy boy to run on to/hold until the midfield cavalry arrive" or the "high ball over the top for the nippy lad to chase" are just not good enough. Sure these skills work well for players who may not have the technical ability/guile to pass the ball short and move so the team can move upfield as a unit, always in possession, always frustrating the opposition. Playing percentage football doesn't guarantee success, neither does possession without opportunity but pass and move will create opportunities and, as we saw last night, when the move breaks down, if your unit has compressed the opposition into their own penalty area, they will make mistakes which can be exploited.
Other teams, other countries will see the success of the Guardiola style, which isn't that far from the philisophy of "if God had wanted us to play football in the clouds, he'd have put grass up there" espoused by the greatest manager England never had. Power and athleticism have their place but they must be harnessed to the skills demonstrated last night at Wembley. The skill to change direction midstride, to evade a challenge by the turn of an ankle and to effect a change of pace to create space for an opportunity, the one opportunity that will make a difference and to have the mental as well as physical strength to place the ball as if it was from a standing start.
The style has to be enforced at youth level so the players adopt and practice the necessary skills, so they move through the circle of competence and these skills become second nature, being demonstrated almost subconsciously. Such change can't be achieved overnight and there will be disappointments along the way but these will be minor in comparison to the riches which await.
The lesson has been given, but does football in England have the appetite to change direction, stop chasing the pot at the end of the season and work towards proper, effective player development which will build the foundations of a dynasty?
