STILL LYING. AND STILL TAKING US FOR IDIOTS

A few days ago, when I made the previous post, I dind't think about making a sequel. In fact, I overlooked to mention the "journalists" because I thought that  they did not deserve a half line. I still think the same, but the degree of cynicism and servitude that I detect (and I 'm not the only one), is so outrageous that maybe they do deserve something more than good night and have fun .

They are still lying and, also they are still taking us for idiots. They have lied, by action or omission, when they do not explain everything that happens. If you do not know, do not say anything, but do not throw the stone and hide the hand. Because the first thing they do with this is to degrade and denigrate their work. Their first job is to report and then give opinions, if that is the case. But there are a lotr that just give opinions, withou giving any information. And, this is not right .

They are still lying and, also they are still taking us for idiots (by action), when they want us to believe that we play as always, and, if not, it is because they had to do a transition that the "Demon" in Munich didn't do. And I wonder: Was it raised to the Board? Did they let him to do that? If you know, say so, but do not say things by halves. Are you sure everything will be fixed when Messi is back again ?

They are still lying and, also they are still taking us for idiots  (by omission), when there is no a half line of concern about the actual cost of the signing of Neymar  The clauses do not care. The money difference between what the Clubs says and what is said in Brazil do not care. What kind of " journalism " is not investigating this? Was the issue of Neymar's Foundation in the deal? We know nothing. Thank you.

They are still lying and, also they are still taking us for idiots (by action) when now is dangerous that you have children without ticket into the Stadium. A few months ago, were all congratulations at the match against Getafe . Now, they say this is dangerous. Because there is a Regulation. Regulation that existed that day. Not new two months ago.

They are still lying and, also they are still taking us for idiots ( by omission), if they say nothing about "Viagogos" and the established parallel resellers. Is this not important for the "share-holder" that they defend with such spirit? That we don't have to know where it goes all that money?

They are still lying and, also they are still taking us for idiots (by omissions), for not to report about the agreements on advertising on the shirt and the stadium. The Board said that it explained at the time the General Assembly. May be they weren't there that day , because we read/watched/ heard very little about it, if anything.

They are still lying and, also they are still taking us for idiots (by action and omission), when they talk about potential signings and players leaving. From the famous cover of Valdés, they have signed a handful of goalies, some of them for the simple fact that they played well against Barca. Now, it seems to be one determined to come. What is the reason behind? To be their friend? Or someone tells them to do advertising for all we believe is the ideal? (And I do not get into any assessment of him. It is not the case) Why no articles calling minutes for the youth players of the squad? Or, to say that they do not deserve it, if that's the case? Why are there so few reviews about the campaign of Barça B?

They are still lying and, also they are still taking us for idiots (by action and omission), when they talk about building a new stadium. How you can let out one of these saying that "if San Mamés was demolished, you can also do it with the Camp Nou "? What argument is that? Is it time to defend a new stadium because the Board says it? Investigative journalism.

They are still lying and, also they are still taking us for idiots (by action and omission) , when they say that nothing happens with Messi. Nobody has missed the rise of Juanjo Brau. Paulorrosso is in Argentina and nobody asks why. Is not he the responsible for the physical preparation of the team? Why is he leaving? Is it true that Messi is upset because Neymar gets more money than him? Is it true that he does not want to leave, but with everything that happens is he in doubt ?

They are still lying and, also they are still taking us for idiots (by omission) when they blame the LFP schedules. Clubs (their Boards) have sold their rights and have failed to negotiate this issue. Look at England, Italy or Germany. They get more money and have better schedules. But no, the fault is not theirs. Like the "FIFA virus" . The Clubs are the ones who decide in each Federation and these Associations that decide on FIFA. If 150 Federations choose to say the same thing  (whatever), and make it public, I shall count and what will come out when the song takes FIFA.

They are still lying and, also they are still taking us for idiots ( by action, by omission, and all together), because they have to explain what is happening and not what the Board says. We, the share-holders, are Club's owners and we deserve respect from their part, because we are (everyday less, and there must be a reason ), consumers of their product. If the Board does well, they must say it; if wrong, too. Not to silence the wrong things, because, in the end, we end knowing everything .

Do not continue lying. And do not continue thinking we're idiots .

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

THEY ARE LIYING. AND THEY TAKE US FOR IDIOTS

They are lying and, also, they take us for idiots. Between what they say and what goes in newspapers, television, etc. it seems that the redemption of our sins is getting closer. And, it's not true.

They are lying and, also, they take us for idiots, when we are led to believe that the way of playing that made the team by the now "demonized" was boring. 14 out of 19 with unanimity around the world, from China to the United States and from Finland to South Africa is boring? The same "Demon" that has made Jurgen Klopp, the latest victim, to say that he does not want to coach the best team. He says he now coaches to beat the best team.

They are lying and, also, they take us for idiots, when we say that the way of playing is not important. What matters are the titles. It has nothing to do one thing with the other. We always want to win. Always. But we always want them to play well. And of course, we all accept that you can play poorly and win someday. It is clear. Perfection does not exist. Now, get closed in the back playing at Nou Camp against a Granada with 10 players to go on the counter ... What can I say.

They are lying and, also, they take us for idiots, when there are 40M€ (about 6,600M pesetas, to get an idea ), for the signing of Neymar that nobody knows where they are. Confidentiality clauses, they tell us. Commissions, they tell us. Everything is very clear. The problem is that in Brazil they say something different. Santos has gained 17.5 M€ and the club has paid 57.5 M€. 40M€ confidential?

They are lying and, also, they take us for idiots, when they say it's dangerous to have children without entry at Camp Nou. This has always happened. Now, it may be that the Holy Spirit has appeared and, therefore, there has never been any disgrace. It shall be unlawful, sure, because there is a law that says so. Illegal is not the same as dangerous.

They are lying and, also, they take us for idiots, when they say they do not know how to stop the "official" resale (not talking about the one on the street), of " Viagogos " and similar. How can it be that there are no tickets in the "Seient lliure" (Free seat system), and there are in these places ? How can it be that these people is selling tickets within not know how many games ? How can it be that a "Tribune seat" that costs 150€ or 180€ is sold for 1000€?

They are lying and, also, they take us for idiots, with all the mess of advertising on the shirt and the stadium. When did they said that there would be a private company on the shirt ? When did they say that the company logo would be put on the seats of the North Stand? When did they say that the mural gallery with all Club players would disappear to make way for advertising of the sponsor of the shirt?

They are lying and, also, they take us for idiots, when we say that everything is going well and that the Technical Secretariat is doing a great job . Why is Valdés leaving? Why is being so long the renewal of Iniesta? Why Bartra and Montoya are they thinking about it? Why Sergi Roberto wants to leave in January? Why Sanabria not want to renew? Why Muniesa left, or Thiago? Will Deulofeu return? Why the signing of  so "old" players for the  "B" team, when it should be used to promote youngsters?

They are lying and, also, they take us for idiots, when they talk about building a new stadium. One of the officials goes saying to media that there are no specific studies, but that a new venue would generate 30-40% more revenue than the current one. How do you know if you have not made ​​any study (this is what the same official said)? Why is not good now the " Foster" project (which, if I remember correctly, was ordered when when Rosell was Vice President)? Didn't they have seen Stadiums in Europe? Allianz, Dragao, Alvalade XXI, Galatasaray, etc. All of them, with structures very similar to the Camp Nou. Both inside and outside. Why is it so important ? Who's going put the name? One thing is clear: if a stadium can cost 1000M€  and it's free for the members ("socis"), there is something else.

They are lying and, also, they take us for idiots, when they say that nothing happens with Messi. In summer there were 2% of people who were dissatisfied with the Argentine star. Now, it's a rare day that there is something that praises Neymar (which is fine,  do not confuse things), but at the expense of Messi. That if the "megaoffer" of Adidas, that if Juanjo Brau, if this, if that.  They have to explain what is, if anything, and if there is nothing, they have also to say , because he is a player of the Club. And the best in the world.

They are lying and, also, they take us for idiots, when we say that these are the timetable for the matches and nothing else can be done. What if the Chinese, Japanese or American market. They deserve all the respect in the world. The ones that go to the stadium are much closer and also deserve respect. Rain, cold or heat, rain or snow trips, morning or late at night. And we are the ones that went to Basel, Seville, Wembley, etc. by bus, car, plane, losing hours of study and work. Or to Geneva or Paris to attend the basketball "Final -Four". To return with the tail between the legs, but thinking to be back next year.

They are lying and, also, they take us for idiots, because the owners of the Club are we, the partners ("socis"). Those on the Board is because they have been chosen for that. They haven't bought anything . And as much they think and they believe it, they can't buy are "shares". We have no shares. Barçaa is not a Corporation. As much as we are anonymous and we aren't  in newspapers or television.

Stop lying. And stop thinking we're idiots.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

ORTHODOXY

The original of this entry can be found in the following link:

http://www.martiperarnau.com/tactica/la-ortodoxia/

Thanks to @martiperarnau

ORTHODOXY
A few days ago, following an article by Martí Ayats (@martíayats) on "Control", he, Martí Perarnau (@martíperarnau), and myself, we had a little debate on twitter about the subject of orthodoxy in football and, if IT was well regarded . Martí Perarnau asked me if I was able  to write an article and, here.
Today it seems that, to write about whatever topic, you have to look for difficult words or award different namesto things that already have one. If you don't do so, it seems that your are "old" and that your ideas are outdated.
Many of us have been using, in Coaching Course, the books by Mariano Moreno when he was the Director of the Coaches School of the RFEF. You can liket it more or less, but the truth is that the books include a definition of Principles of Football (Offensive and Defensive) and, a Terminology, which is lacking in many countries. In England and in the United States, there are many differences between what some consider principles and for others not. This, as is often said, is neither good nor bad. This is true. From there, sure you can open a debate about if what you have there improved or renamed, and sure it can be.
Guardiola's Barça received compliments and congratulations from around the world of football by playing so showy, which obviously accompanied the results. If not, hardly, they have reached such a high degree of unanimity. Beyond the "positional play" , the "false 9", the "lavolpiana" building-up and a whole lot more, for me, in the strict sense as Coach, what characterized this team was the application stricter of the Principles of Football that we talked about before.
We saw the "delay" of Xavi , saw "uncheck" (breaking, with Villa getting behind the defense to receive a pass from Iniesta, and support, with Messi "falling" to join Xavi and Iniesta to have a 3v2) , we saw "support" with Busquets dropping between the Center Backs for playing form the back with the ball, but also what we were saying about Messi. We saw "ball conservation" (Of course!). We saw "changes of direction " (from right to left and vice versa) and "spaces" and "walls" ( hundreds of them) (N.A: wall is 1-2 combo).
And this, in attack. In defense, we saw the "pressing " (And what a pressing!), the "cover" and "swittching" between Alves and Pedro or, between Pique and Puyol, we saw the "anticipation" and, together with it, the "interception" (How many balls per game stolen?) . The "delay" (also defensive). We saw "charges" and "tackles" (Mascherano, Keita and Yaya Toure scraping balls is a "classic") .
We saw all that in that team. And much more. All this I just put are Principles of Football. Those which are explained in the textbooks of Coaching Courses in Spain .
I keep putting some stuff, literally, of these books :
- Switching between retention and accelerated ball game. The hability to change the pace is an important factor for the effectiveness of a team.- Although the game of attack must always be oriented in depth, in no way excludes lateral and backward passes, to open gaps within the opposing defense .- Pressure and speed is one of the essential principles of an effective attack .
I could spend hours putting more things from these books. I don't think it's needed. In the same way, I don't  think anyone should hide to follow, and use, these principles. You can be great or creative doing things in a "regulated" way. Does the winger comes in and the full-back overlaps him? Well, okay. Does the full-back go inside and the winger outside? Also worth. 1 central midfielder. A double pivot. A "big" center forward. A "false 9" . Three "Shorties" in midfield. A Center Back with 1.75m. Classic wingers. Wingers with "switched side". Anything goes, as long as we apply the concepts, except to have the team split in two, while we know what to do with and without the ball .
All this (which Pep did at Barca) is pure orthodoxy. It's what the books say. No more. No less. That is already a lot.
Let no one be afraid to be orthodox, to follow the canons. Cruyff said the hardest thing was to make things easy. And I think that he was quite right. Invent what we want, that creativity is always good, of course, but do not confuse the terms (N.A. literal translation is "to mix bacon with speed") or orthodoxy with immobility, which are different things.
I just hope that if one day Guardiola read these lines, he forgives me for calling him orthodox. The geniuses, geniuses are.
Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

THE DEBATE

It was enough that Piqué said that Barça, basically at Guardiola’s era, was "slave of tiki-taka" to ignited the debate about the club's playing style. Pautasso (Gerardo Martino's assistant), said in the previous of Rayo-Barça on Saturday that sometimes you didn’t have to be so offensive, that if Barça was leading 2-0 against Sevilla, you could be more or less close at the back and go to the counter. What's more, Barça, after a lot of official matches, had less possession than his rival, precisely against Rayo.

First consideration: has anyone explained to Mr. Pautasso in which Club is he? What do the members and fans of the club want? Has anyone said him that here is not enough to win, much less at the Camp Nou ?

Second consideration: precisely those media that have been more considerate "Barça" (ie, very close to the current Board), are the ones that have given more reason to Piqué, that it is enough of such possession and passing game, that you need to play in another way. Interestingly, those media that charged more against Pep Guardiola at that time. Coincidence? I do not think so. And the nonsense I'm reading lately on the newspapers is confirming that many talks for not being silent and that many write because they have to fill pages, no matter what they say.

Third consideration: the "tiki -taka" was born with Maguregui, as I have said more than once and he referred, ridiculing, this game touching and passing. The current problem is that many of those who criticize this kind of game do not even know what it is and, above all, how it is worked (trained). It is not to touch for the sake of touching, or to pass for the sake of passing. The first thing to consider is what Cruyff said: If I have the ball and you do not have it, and you have two problems to score a goal. The first one is to have the ball The second thing to consider is what Guardiola said : Do not touch (pass), if you are not pressed . That is, FIRST running with the ball than passing.

Fourth consideration: the basic for the possession game is the position, but not the position of the players. It is the team's position. It is that the team keeps the shape wherever you have the ball and whoever the player who has it, and it is what Guardiola said also, that I have said many times: The ball give us order. Depending on where it is, the players have to be. Whatever you do, whether playing with "false 9”, either the cross comes from the full-back or the winger, either you have one or two players arriving from second line, etc. everything depends on the positioning of the players. Whether players are poorly positioned, the attack is bad and causes the turnover many more options for the opponents. Maybe people should start looking at this, before we talk about changing the style.

Fifth consideration: Any Club must have a structure where everyone plays the same idea. The same game is impossible, since players are not the same and, therefore, every team will have variants depending on the type of players. There are not two equal right full-backs, or not two equal central midfielders, and there are no two Messi. It's that simple.

Sixth consideration: With everything I've said before, it can be a debate about the style, obviously. Now, this debate has to be clearly about football ideas, and not poisoned with "politic ideas" on the issue (the newspapers are full on this and other: just remember that cover about Valdes saying "leaves us on the floor" or Racionero’s writings about Valdés or, what Vehils said on Iniesta about selling the “cracks" or, everything that has been said about this "change of style" ), and that is a debate that affects the way FC Barcelona plays. All teams, not the first team. Why to make the left back of U -14 or U -16 to play in one way if, when they arrive to the first team they play in a different way? Does anyone see any sense on this ?

Final consideration: Barça has got the respect and admiration of football’s world because how they won in previous years. About this, no debate.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

JELOU, MAI NEIM IS ANN

(NA: Spanish pronunciation for “Hello, my name is Ann”)

For various reasons I have been many days without putting anything in the blog. I wanted to talk about different things, but I’ve found this as the one that I think it deserves some thought now.

Like many people, yesterday I saw how Tokyo was chosen to host the 2020 Olympics. Like many people, I saw how they said “NO” to Madrid, for the third time. If you watch the Spanish press (newspapers, TV, Radio, whatever), Madrid's bid was the best, the one that offered more, the one that did better presentation, the one that...

IOC members, however, are a bunch of corrupts, who think only about their interests, that have no idea and therefore they didn’t chose Madrid. Some media said that the candidacy of Madrid had secured 50 votes (that means absolute majority on the first ballot). Suddenly, just 26. What about the others 24? Have they been bought by the enemy? Have they added wrongly?

Well, let this aside, which is not the subject of this article. Beyond Spain's economic problems, beyond not to be strong enough with the issue of doping, beyond that many structures of sport in Spain must be removed, I am with something else: The first thing to change is the Spanish educational system. To see the Prime Minister how he only spoke Spanish and to see the level of English of the Mayor of Madrid suggests that something is wrong. When traveling through Europe, you see children 11-12 years with a level of English unthinkable in Spain. Most children can have a more than acceptable conversation in English at that age. And they learn it at school. No private academies. Spanish children, a little bit more than "Good morning" and "My name is...". And, later, of course, it happens what it happens. At 18 there is no one who is able to have a conversation in English, except those who have studied on their own. Those who have studied it at school, nothing at all. And, many of these are then going to be later the country's ruling class. And they have to go abroad to negotiate, whatever. Of all the Presidents of government that has been in Spain since democracy, I think that Calvo Sotelo was the only able to speak English. The others, nothing, zero. Neither Suarez, nor Gonzalez, and Aznar (unless he does it in private, as he does with Catalan, according to him, of course), nor Zapatero and nor, obviously, Rajoy. They leave home with a translator, because they can not ask for "café con leche" (NA: coffee with milk), as Ana Botella said yesterday (which, for those who do not know is the wife of Aznar) . Let them say whatever they want, but it is not acceptable. In any way. I felt embarrassed listening to them. And I did not understand anything she said. From what I've seen, more than one member of the IOC didn’t understand anything neither.

I remembered that Louis de Funes movie, "The Gendarme in New York", where the group received English lessons. The pronunciation was obviously horrible. Like yesterday. To do this, it is better to make the speech in Spanish: it’s bad, but no one laughs at you. And we're talking about the person who runs 5 or 6 million people, many more than those who live in many countries. Then, the usual talk about that if there is a “mania” against the Spanish, if they are not wanted in the world, if this, if that. How do you want to be loved if they do not understand what you say?

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

AND GUARDIOLA TALKS

The “thing” was relatively quiet, with the usual rumors as all summers, whether this player goes here or there, whether or not that manager will start the season, about the millions this or that club is spending when, suddenly, all went crazy.

Pep Guardiola, now Bayern’s coach, during the pre-season the team is doing in Italy answered to a question from a journalist on the statements of Vice-President of Club Santos. It seemed like it would not be a complicated answer and suddenly, Guardiola was about 5 minutes talking, breaking faces right and left, accusing the Board of Sandro Rosell of not getting him along.

Guardiola reminded us that press conference at the Bernabéu Stadium, before the Champions League match against Real Madrid, where he made famous the phrase "fucking boss". Angry, but without losing his composure, said everything that was hurting him, or at least, all he said was hurting him.

At another point, he was asked about Thiago Alcantara, and he confirmed that he had said Bayern to do everything possible to sign him. Much has been talked so far this season on Thiago’s buyout clause. Until August 1st, it is 18M€. Given what has been paid for some players, it looks like a cheap player, seeing its enormous potential. And, to be clear, I personally think that Thiago should remain at Barça.

Well, with these two things, the mess we have now is amazing. All the “usual” have come to give their opinion. And the feeling I get is that everyone is very nervous, too much nervous. Sandro Rosell plans tomorrow (Monday), to go to a TV station, which is supposed to discuss the issue and tell his.

Until now, it was that if Manchester United or Real Madrid wanted Thiago, that was fine. If Bayern (Guardiola) wants him, this is not good. Guardiola said he was not going to sign players under contract at Barça. Right. But it turns out that the player, for whatever reason, that I will not comment, as it is not my idea here, wants to leave. And it appears Guardiola, who knows him well and says he wants him. And everybody beat him from everywhere. I do not understand. What is the difference between these clubs? Those do not take advantage of circumstances and this one (Bayern) does? Depending on who do things, they are lawful and correct and, depending on who do, these are not?

At the time, a newspaper from Barcelona put in the cover that Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova had not seen each other in New York when the latter disease. Guardiola was very clear and explicit. Yes, they did. This same newspaper on Friday harshly criticized what Guardiola had said the day before, asking for clarity in their "accusations". Need more light? Still? Because the question and the answer were in Catalan. That is, there are no problems of bad translations and/or interpretations. And something that must be very clear: The Club is NOT the Board. Barça is a club owned by more than 160,000 people and the members elect the Directors. And, many times, if someone has disagreements with the Board (without addressing if he's right or not), seems to mean attacking the Club. And that's not true. In any way.

The most important, however, in my point of view, was when Guardiola said that if any of what he said was not true, it had to be told, but as he said, not through intermediaries or friends. Come those involved and say if it's a lie. Will it happen?

Guardiola never let one indifferent. You like more or less what he says and how he says it, but always thought provoking. And the other day I think everything was understood everything, or almost everything. Guardiola talks. The "fucking boss" is back.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

TIKI-TAKA: THE ORIGIN

The "tiki-taka" is back in fashion, if it ever ceased to be in recent years. Pep Guardiola's return to the bench, in particular to Bayern, has made a return to speak with strength about this concept and even some German media have already renamed "Tikki-Takken". Now, where this "tiki-taka" comes from?

Well, the first thing to say is that the name "original" is "tiqui-taca" and is, although not enough, a derogatory term to refer to this style of play where the players touch and touch the ball, according to some, so boring.

In Spain, many people think that the origin is in the journalist who died a while, Andrés Montes. Montes became very popular, first as a commentator of NBA games for Canal+. A different style of storytelling and clever use of certain phrases as well as giving nicknames to the players made him very famous. Later he commented football in "La Sexta", starting at the World Cup in Germany. The truth is that Montes made popular the term "tiqui-taca" (or tiki-taka), but the origin is much older.

Other people attribute this word to the coach Javier Clemente. Clemente, like others, also referred (or is referring actually), so derogatory to this type of game. From Clemente are sentences like "The best attack is a good defense." No comments.

The truth is that the first I heard this word is Jose Mari Maguregui (the "Magu"), former player and former coach in many teams. As a player he was basically at Ath. Bilbao, although he was in Sevilla, Espanyol and Huelva. As a coach at Racing Santander, Espanyol, Celta, At. Madrid and Almeria, among others, and in some of them, 2 or 3 times.

From the time at Espanyol, (1980-1983), is the "tiki-taka". Maguregui did a television interview where talking about different ways to play the game referred “possession” in this derogatory manner. Maguregui, like many at the time, defended a very direct game based on physical strength of the players, not the technical qualities. In the cAt Barça, there were players like Schuster, Landáburu, "Tente" Sanchez, Rubio or Estella, and Maradona would come a few years later. Although not as much as it is now, the Barça’s style has always been a style of touch and not about “power” (see the players mentioned) and Maguregui referred to them in this way, in the sense that "touch" and "touch" was boring. Hence the "tiki-taka": touching-touching.

The truth is, it was originally written "tiqui-taca" and no one else remembered it until Montes, as we have said before made it again popular from 2006. This also coincides with the "Champions" won by Barça in Paris against Arsenal. They were Xavi and Iniesta and Messi missed it because an injury. All this and, above all, from the EURO 2008, made the term popular worldwide. As "tiqui" was pretty hard to pronounce for those who do not have the sound "qu" appeared "tiki" like spelling pronunciation. The rest of the story is well known by everybody.

As the saying goes, "to Caesar what is Caesar's" and "to Magu what is Magu’s".

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP 

CREATIVITY AND MISTAKES

For the past few years, there is much talk about creativity in football. It is said that there are no creative players as before. That so many tactics at younger ages is not good. That we have the players to do by their own on the pitch and to "experience" with mistakes. I very much like this. But, we have to distinguish, because I think there are too much mixed concepts.

On one hand, it seems that creativity is only to do 1v1 anywhere. And, it is much more than this, adding that this action can be wrong many times. Creativity can be a 40-meter pass that no one expects to switch the orientation of the game. Creativity can be to make a bicycle shot from the edge of the box. Creativity can be delaying the game to wait for your teammates to arrive. Creativity can be many different things. The problem, as always, is when to be creative. Going out from the back dribbling when you have teammates better placed to receive a pass and get out of the pressure, is it to be creative? Make a 40-meter pass, from side to side of field, when a 10-meter vertical pass makes a partner to be alone in front of the goalkeeper, is it to be creative? Making a clearance, using a bicycle, when you are alone inside the box and you can control the ball, is it to be creative? Making a heel’s pass, not knowing if there is any partner to receive, is it to be creative?

And, with a misunderstood creativity, mistakes are coming. And, when I talk about mistakes, I mean unforced errors, which could be avoided: incorrect passes, unnecessary dribbles, all these types. Let me give an example. Imagine a 12 year old who wants to pass, the pass is intercepted by an opponent and finishes in a goal. It is a mistake, many will say, we must let them to make mistakes. But, which is the mistake? Could he make another pass easier? Did he choose the wrong pass to make? Did he kick the ball with proper surface? Did he check that there were no opponents who could intercept the ball? The child has made a mistake, yes. But which of these that we have said? Are you sure the child knows what is wrong? Because, if you do not have in mind all the variables, are you sure that he will know how to correct the mistake?

A few years ago I watched on television an international competition for youngster (U20). The left Full-back of one team always wanted to go out dribbling. Finally, he lost the ball, was forced to foul and, also, he was booked. As he had one card, he was sent off. His team was down to 10 players and lost the match. Is this creativity? Are you sure? For me it's something else.

And the one million dollars question comes. Who has to make the player to see what is wrong? The coach, right? And here comes most of the problems. There are many coaches who defend this "creativity" and these "mistakes" because they do not know what the mistakes are. It looks good to say "I give the kids freedom" when in reality, you do not know what to “fix”. The guided discovery and the trial/error process, so fashionable actually, are often confused with a lack of knowledge. And, this is often linked with that about "our time (coaches’) is in practice, the match is the time for the players." I strongly disagree with this statement. Always is "our time" (for players and coaches). Football is a team game, not only, 11 individuals on the pitch. It is one team. And, we are coaches of a team from Monday to Sunday and players are team players from Monday to Sunday. And do not confuse this with training individuals. It has nothing to do one thing with the other.

One of the classic mistakes, as coaches, is to think that the systems (formations), are what makes the way of playing of a team. It’s just the opposite. It is from the way you play (the style or model of playing), that you will choose one system or another. And the way you play is worked, as everything has to be worked. If we think that putting the players on the pitch in a certain way, we’ll play in a certain way, we are completely wrong. If we do not have clear this, how can we be clear about the mistakes of our players?

What the players must know are the different options they have and, from there, choose the one that can be better. How is this achieved? Working in practices. Not doing so is a big mistake.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

THE ENGLISH PROBLEM

The elimination, once again, of a National Team of England, in this case, in the European Under-21 played in Israel reopens, if ever it was closed, the debate about football in England.

As possible causes of this new defeat, different options are considered:

1) The level of the coaches is very low and, therefore, the educational level of the players is too.

2) Player’s salaries are so high that foreign players come at the expense of local players.

3) The typical system of play in the Islands (the famous 1-4-4-2), is not suitable to the current time.

It can be a bit of this and, perhaps, other things, though, the issue of wages does not seem to serve as an excuse. If a player is good, you will want him and you will pay him well, regardless of nationality. Perhaps, we should look at the problem in reverse: Why there is almost no English players and no English coaches outside the Islands? Is it possible that the fact of being quite well paid make them not to want to go outside? Or, maybe, there are other reasons.

And, the issue of the "system", is not convincing anybody. You know that I'm an advocate of "styles" and for me, the "systems" (formations), are just players put on the pitch in a certain way when the game begins. The most important thing is how you play.

The first thing you see when you watch the matches of the English selections is that the "A" team plays one way and the rest, in a different way. If you look at Spain, Germany, Holland and Italy (to give some examples), we find that everyone plays the same. From the U-16 to the “A” team, the style and the system ("formation") are almost identical. In England, it does not happen. I do not value what way is better. I consider that they are different. How do you want to succeed in a Club/National Team if every team plays differently? Sorry, but I do not understand it.

What also surprises me about England is the lack of competition. Competition in the sense understood in Spain. That is, any team can be champion of Spain at U-19 or U-16. In England Elite competitions are only between what is known as "Academies" which are the most important teams. In Spain and, more specifically, in Catalunya, which is the case I know best, any child of 15 years may have the option to play against Barça and Espanyol, regardless of the category where the 1st team is. A team may play 1st Catalan Division (5th Division), but U-16 team can play the Championship of Catalonia as any. That is, the competitiveness is very high. In England, "B" teams play Reserve League. In Spain, any "B" team can play in the 2nd Division (I mean sporting merit, obviously). It is true that Latins are very competitive by nature, but, the fact of playing in a league every week, knowing that you can have, as a bonus, to play the following year against one of the "big", it sure helps. Moreover, to improve, you have to play against people who are better than you. If you always play against people worse than you, hardly you get better.

Coaches are good and bad everywhere. In England, Spain, Germany, Holland and Italy. Moreover, today, it’s very easy to exchange/share information (Internet, Training Courses worldwide, etc.), Access to ideas, training methods, etc. is very broad.. This blog has followers of more than 50 countries across the 5 continents. So, to say that in England Coaching Courses are not good and, therefore, that the knowledge of coaches is not adequate is, at best, a half truth. One can get his badges and then continue their training and learning without leaving home, with a simple "click" on the computer. And coaches who believe they already know everything once they have the badge, there are everywhere.

Competition is the key to success. Competing players. Competing coaches. And, do not confuse to compete with winning at any cost, which are two completely different things. I personally want to win always. I do not like to lose even when playing alone. But I don’t want to win using any way.

Jordi Pascual

You can  follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

I'M OUTRAGED

I am outraged, really outraged. This morning I woke up and I found a message from a friend saying that he had seen an old blog of my own ("Pensant sobre futbol", "Thinking about football"), in which I spoke about building up a style of playing, copied, point by point, on the website of a regional federation of Australia.

When I could, I have gone to check it and, my surprise has been a major one. It was a simple "copy and paste". Not even corrected the grammar and spelling errors. Not that. The saddest thing is that there was no mention of the source. Yes, there were sentence from Mourinho or Guilherme Oliveira whom mention was made.

What’s that? That I'm not famous or well known and there’s no need to quote me? Only the "cracks" can do good things? Because obviously, the document in question is a normal document. Is the "Technical Development Plan" of the federation. For the avoidance of doubt, the federation is the "Football NSW Southern Branch" of Australia and the responsible for this invention, Mr. James Muir. I contacted them, of course, asking for explanations about the fact and that's the answer I received:

" Hi Jordi,

Thank you for your e-mail.

The technical document is a draft document just for our local club coaches to help them with their teams and is not being sold or for profit. The document was not meant to be put online and was just for discussion and to show how we are trying to plan our club philosophy with content coming from a wide range of sources that is in line with Australia’s National Curriculum.

We do use Academy Soccer Coaches as well as other programs such as Soccer Tutor.

Once we get sufficient feedback we will acknowledge all sources and will not be using any original material, as this is just meant to start discussion.

I apologise for any inconvenience and have asked for it to be taken down.

Regards"

Fair enough, but I wonder: If it doesn’t have to be on-line, why is it? If it is a starting point for discussion, why not quote the author as it’s done with others? Could it be because, as I said, I'm not famous or known and no one will find the origin of the document? Why? Why? Why?

Make it clear that, from the moment that I have a blog on the internet is to share ideas and knowledge. So, I'm not worried, instead, thank you to the people who like my stuff, because it means that I don’t do it so badly. I, like everyone, take stuff from other blogs and websites for my work. Clubs, coaches and football lovers. Now, to copy 24 straight pages without mentioning the source and post it on the web it seems too much.

But it is what I said before. Since I'm not known, nor train neither trained at any “big” team I guess they think that they can act with impunity. At the end of the day, they think that no one will believe this person if he ever says he is the author of this writing.

And so, I am outraged.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP