Minority Report - Talking Tactics (4)

Are we in danger of over-complicating what is a simple? game. Half of our team have to stop the other team scoring whilst our other half (roughly) has to get the ball in the opposing teams goal.
Too much emphasis on tactics and formation can well stifle a player's natural flair/creativity and can lead to boring football.
Is this what happened at B'ham when I gather (I didn't go) we didn't have a shot on target?

 

To be honest I don’t think there was a lot that Stendel could’ve done tactically to change things. With Moore gone & Woodrow injured we didn’t have much at all up front. He tried Chaplin on his own initially & for most of the game Thiam alongside him & then threw on Schmidt & Halme as strikers late on but we had no one who could hold on to the ball & it was easy work for Roberts, Dean & Pederson.

The one thing I’d have preferred Stendel to do is start Cavare but even if he would’ve started it’s hard to see our strikers been able to get goal side & beat the Birmingham centre backs to any crosses he put in

 

I'm sure he could have played Wilks up front.His preferred position is lone striker (evidently) it was Doncaster who played him out wide.

 

Personally, I think that you are under-complicating a very complex game involving the creation and denial of space in key areas of the pitch. Of course, we can all watch the game at our own levels of understanding and complexity. We can all get something from watching the game at that level, and very much enjoy doing so. However, there is definitely more to it than you allude to, particularly if you are paid large sums of money to win games.

 

Oh dear! Pass the popcorn!

 

Yeah, Pep Guardiola sits at home eating tapas all week, and then just tells his lads to give it to Kevin de Bruyne.

 

Good point!

 

......but interestingly, in listening to Crossley talking about Clough, he says that there were never any tactical briefings from Unlcle Brian. It was 442 every game with no tactics talks......and I seem to remember him winning a European Cup with that approach!!

 

In 1980.

 

I sometimes walk to games with an ex Barnsley player, a player that I used to watch from the terraces in my youth. He does not like talking tactics either. What he said that was interesting though was the shock that he describes when the 4-4-2 system was introduced along with overlapping full backs. Until then, when his team did not have the ball, he waited around patiently until one of the defenders won it back and gave it to him (he was a winger). The game is totally different now as compared to how it was in my youth. There is no point in comparing then to now.

 

I was being light hearted. I understand the importance of tactics. Similarly I also understand the importance of fitness motivation and confidence.
Is that player Lee Lea?

 

sorry Les Lea.
Leslie Lea

 

Yes.

 

Remember him well. My dad used to watch him for Blackpool in the 60's.

 

He has very fond memories of his time at Blackpool.

 

I know Les and he's a pleasure to be with and to talk with. A lovely lovely human being. I remember him joining us (with Norman Dean) and I have told him many times I used to love watchin him play. It's great being able to chat with a boyhood hero about his playing days.
Top man is Lee.

 

Les!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sausage fingers and predictive text....not a good combo!!

 

Wasn't it Frank Sharp that he joined with?

 

Les Lea joined us with Frank Sharp, for a then record fee of £20,000. Norman Dean had joined us two years earlier.
Like you, I loved watching Les play, such a gifted, talented footballer. I'd go as far as to say Les was one of the most skilful footballers I saw play for Barnsley during the first ten years I watched us.

 

Football was never meant to be an intensely complex game.
Tomorrow I shall settle down (West Stand) at 3.00 o'clock with my programme - look at team selection and enjoy the game. I never criticise team selection and I never criticise individual players.
As for trying to work out tactics or formation - for me a waste of time.
For 90 minutes all the players have my support - all I ask is that they give of their best - and if we get more goals (that's the point of the game) than Luton I'll be happy!
COYR.