IT IS NOT THAT (III) (2)

It is said that, as you train, as you play. I favor the reverse: As you play, as you train. I mean, if you want to play in a certain way, you have to train THIS particular way. Translated: if you want to play POSITIONAL game with ball possession, this is what should be the basis of our training.

To understand each other, we must know the difference between "Rondos" and "Possession games". "Rondos" are outnumbered games (4v2, 6V3, etc.), where the holders of the ball are basically at the outside and those who want to recover, inside, as shown in the following figure (4v2):

"Possession games" are based on the numerical equality or light superiority of holders, usually with the help of "jokers" (Neutral players), ie players that go with the team that has possession of the ball. Players do not always have "positions", although there may be so, as the jokers.

This example is 4v4+3​​C, that means, 2 teams of 4 players, with 3 players going with the team that has the ball.

Traditionally, "Rondos" have been associated with warm-ups and similar. However, if we look at the previous 4v2 we can assume that player at the bottom is the Goalkeeper; there are two out, the Center Backs and, at the top of the Central Midfielder. But we can think that the one at the bottom is the CM, with the Attacking Midfielders at his, and above, the Striker. More options? So Left Winger (top) Left Back (left), Left AM (right) and CM (bottom). A different one? Right AM (top), Right FB (right), Right CB (bottom) and CM (left). And so, we could be putting players and positions. So, starting with a "Rondo", we'll have many situations that can happen in a game. As simpll as this. Similar to this, but with all the players we have another:

This is 6+4+6v4. The team with possession works with 10 players in the classic arrangement of 1-4-3-3; the defending team makes only 6 players, with a 1-4-2-3-1 formation, without the 4 defenders. When the yellow team gets the ball, they have to  look for pass to the 4 players who are out to put them in play and at the same time, make the 4 red team defenses have to leave, to return to have 10v6.

Something that characterizes this type of game is the number of touches. If what you want the ball go fast at matches, this must be done in training. And the "Rondos" are based on playing 1 or 2 touches  No more. Speed ​​and ball speed. And, this involves concentration and intensity. If this does not exist, the opponent recovers the ball and, you get to run after the ball to recover it.

Let's go the "Possession games". What we have put before (4v4+3C), is a "classic" when you are working at 1-4-3-3 formation. Each team has 2 FB and 2 AM; the 3 jokers represent 2 FB and the CM. So, the team that has the ball has 4 Defenders and 3 Midfielders. The FBs can not enter the playing area. They are to support whoever has the ball. Here, the game is already free of touches and players can pass or run with the ball depending on the situation. We are in a 4v4 situation with the three supports (1 inside and 2 outside).

Other widely used game is this:

This 6V4+4. Red players always play inside. The 4 yellow players inside players must recover the ball. When they do, they have 4 external support. This allows for width and depth, while serving as a game for "recovery" at the moment the ball is recovered, I have to play immediately with 1 outside player. With this, what you do is get the ball out of the danger zone when it is recovered.

There are other options, such as games of 4v4 (or 5v5)+2GK. Why these? A very simple reason. Most plays in a game includes 4-5 players per team directly involved in the play. The rest of the attacking team usually gives balance and the rest of the defense is not involved, in either case for being away from the ball.

Such games allow many variations: play a certain number of touches, make a minimum of passes before you can shoot, have jokers on the wings for crossing or support, etc.

There are many variations of both "Rondos" (3v1, 4v2, 5v2, 5v3, 6v3, 8v2, etc.), as for "Possession Games" (4v2+2, 6v3+3 , 5v5+2C, 4v4+4C, SSG as 4v4+2GK, etc.). All these activities (or similar), have been done in "La Masia" for many years and, as far as I know, they still do. What I don't know is if the 1st team continues to do so and therefore will play differently.

But, it is very possible that it is not that, comrades, it is not that.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

IT IS NOT THAT (III) (1)

The "positional play", often called "tiki-taka" incorrectly is based on two main ideas: quick ball movement and mobility of players. The important thing, with this mobility, is not to lose the "positions", i.e. if a player moves to another place, someone must fill that empty space created, or, the other players must move so that this space is covered, ie , what we'll need is to have a permanent, and flexible enough structure, that allows these adaptations.

As strengths of this style of play, we can highlight:

• It is played very close to the opposing goal
• High mobility of players
• Constant exchange of positions as a result of the previous
• Creation of superiority with little movement of players
• Few (or no) risky passes at the zone of creation
• Simplicity in passes

The weaknesses we have:

• It is played far from the own goal, with a risk of counterattack for the opponents
• Players need to have good ability of the vision of the game
• Risk of becoming predictable because the lack of mobility
• Agglomeration of players in tight spaces (own players plus opponent's)
• Need of players able to dribble contraries in short spaces

All this goes far beyond the system (formation) used. Systems indicate absolutely nothing in the way of playing, and if not, remember that the system used by Mourinho at Inter or Chelsea, the one often used by Ancelotti, the one of Guardiola or the most usual with Martino: all are 1-4-3-3. All them. And here the similarities end between them. Because every coach plays it differently. The following figure shows this arrangement.

At the time, Guardiola maximized the strengths and minimized the weaknesses and, every time it seemed that opponents found a way to stop it, a tactical variation appeared. But, always, keeping what is considered the basic points of the " positional play": Order and compactness ( "together"). Do not confuse these basics with what I said on quick ball movement and mobility.

The latter do not exist without the previous ones. The ball can go as fast as we want, but if we are badly placed, this will be useful for nothing, and if players are not close to each other, the passes will not be easy. For the same reasons, when players are nearby, it is easy to switch positions and sometimes only with the movement of a player, there may be 2 or 3 players changing the position. We had seen as Alves or Abidal finishing the plays because Toure or Busquets, or whoever, kept those positions. The team was swinging from one side to another to support and be balanced.

The figure shows how the team has been to the right, to give support, because the play is at that flank. They had moved, but the structure is retained. The crosser could be Alves, or Pedro, or Messi himself. The finisher, either. There was always someone somewhere. And this led to many recoveries. Beyond the high pressure, which was the natural consequence of where the players were (why do we have to go back to recover if we are already there?), the main point was that they were well placed and therefore, if a player could dribble the first player pressing, automatically appeared behind him the one that was covering. More. This pressure prevented long passes to the contrary, that were easily stopped by the defenders. Now all that is gone. The opponents can make a long, accurate pass and as there is too much space between the lines, it is easy to run with the ball and face the defenders. And of course, we concede a lot of goals because of the defense. Are you sure that only then are to blame? Before the 4 defenders had 3 players at 10-15m. They are now 25m away. Do you mean there is no relation between these things?

Do you remember the "15 passes rule"? It said that an attack could not begin if there weren't completed 15 passes. The reason? Very simple. This allowed all the players to be in the position to start. Have you ever seen a game of handball? When the defensive team gets the ball, if there is no counterattack, substitutions of players are done and everyone goes to his position. Until they are all,  the attack does not start. This was the same in the "old" Barça. And then the "pass and move" began. And Xavi was going to the right, Messi left. Pedro the middle. Piqué, up. Busquets, down. And so, with the ball moving at breakneck speed between players who came and went from the point of action just in time to play the ball, until the moment to find the "hole" to make that pass that was half a goal. Because the aim was not to move the ball. This was the medium used. This was the trap. The magic trick. Everyone looked at the ball without realizing where the Barça players were, nor, as the defenders were moving from place. Because this was the goal: Move the ball to move the players. Nothing more than that. Do you remember what Van Bommel said about Barca when they crushed Bayern 4-0 at the Nou Camp when asked why they had not made fouls? The answer was clear: When we arrived, there was nobody, not ball or player. It is like chasing shadows.

What do we have of all this now? Little. It is seen just in few moments. The ball goes quickly from side to side of the field. The game has gone from "positional" to be "transitional". But many people still have not understood it. And keep talking about % ball possession and the number of passes made and the % of success in these passes. As if this was sufficient to say if they played better or worse, as if this is what defines the style.

And, of course, it is not this, comrades, it is not this.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

P. S. As you can see, still a whole section fot to exercises. This second part will come in a few days.

IT IS NOT THAT (II)

I spoke in the previous entry of certain tactical aspects of the Barça game. I said I would speak about the Sports Management and certain issues related to it and what it entails.

Part one. Three examples that come quickly to my mind. The first one is the injury Jorquera playing with the Catalan National Team in December 2006. There was no provision on the subject (published in the newspapers, said by the same people at Barça). Speechless. The second example is Chigrinskiy. Beyond that if it was valid or not, the fact is that there was no report or note about him in the Office of the Camp Nou when Barça played against Shakhtar Donetsk. How is it possible that there is no information on Champions League rivals? The third case is Lewandoski. He was playing in Poland yet, when former player José Mari Bakero Club spent reporting on it (Bakero was coaching in the League in that country, I do not remember, but if it was the time of Poland or Lech Poznan), but no one took the disturbing of travelling and/or look a match of this player. The result is that Lewandoski ended where he ended and now he is worth what he is (much more than then).

Part two. At the end of the season, under the umbrella of UEFA, 2,000 games are played. Of these, 300 (rising to 400 or 500 if the new competitions U-16 and U-18 are in place), are with players between 15 and 21 years. The question is: How many of these games are observed by "scouts" of Clubs at the highest level? The answer is very, very few. And except for the U-21, the system is the same: a first phase where they make groups of 4 teams playing their matches in the course of 6 days. A second phase, with the same format, and a final phase similar. We're talking about 40 tournaments of this style every year. There are certainly quite coincidences on time among tournaments, but with a good organization, you could include almost everyone. We're talking about 106 selections (53 for each age group, now with the addition of Gibraltar, 54), which means around 2,000! players (18 per team). Clearly, for the smaller clubs, it is impossible to attend any of these competitions, except if they are played next to your house, but for the big clubs, with millions of Euros in budget, this should not be a big effort, considering that many of them have people all over Europe, or at least people covering specific geographical areas.

If we put together the first part and the second, I say I do not understand many things. There are specialized websites that have data on players, especially for Agents, Clubs and similar (history, matches, contract duration, agent, etc.), costing around 500€/year. And the data are fairly accurate. Clearly, young people have no data, unless they are already playing in the First Division of his country. But when you go to a tournament I've said before, you get all the information (Name, Club, Age, etc.). And these data are given to all scouts who register. I know some cases of players I've seen in these tournaments that moved to another team at the end of the season. And, it is that someone was watching him from the stands.

All this leads me to say that something is not right. But not now. I detect this for many years. It seems that they only go to the Final Stages of these competitions (which, they have almost everyone there) or, they only see players in these tournaments organized by multinationals and similat. And the big clubs should work and move and, more Barca (as it touches me as a member ("soci"), and supporter); it gives the impression that "as we are who we are, they will come to us" and, increasingly, people is moving this way and that way.

Returning to the first part. Is it so hard to see all league matches in Norway, Greece, Brazil, Argentina or South Africa? A good satellite dish, decoder and a good computer/laptop or tablet. With this, you can watch many matches. If you are a big club, you will have more dishes, more computers and more subscription cards to different platforms offering games. And that's the point: to see games and writing about the features of players. On television and in the fields. And they appear. To play in the First, or Second Division. As a future option. As a player that comes from an unexpected injury. As you wish. Because obviously, any 8 year old kid can sign Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, etc. The trick is to sign a player who is not known by anyone for 4 dollars and sell it for 30 million. There are Clubs experts in this Club: Porto is one of them; Sevilla other.

I read that to sign Ter Stegen there were 12! reports. If European of this, if World Cup of that, if Bundesliga. Travellling up and down that I will never understand. Because when you take a plane and go to the other side of Europe should be very clear why you go: Yes or No. I remember one day those of National Teams matches with12! Barça scouts, but in pairs! Can not they go, where appropriate, to 12 different places? If you send someone, is supposed to have enough criteria and, in any case, there will be a video of the game, to finally conclude. The fact is that among the 12 passengers, no player came to the Club. That can happen, of course. But I do not see it .

I finish. Clearly there are many players in the world and it costs make the wheat from the chaff; but even so, there is something wrong. I do not know whether the criteria the scouts have are different, if the instructions are the same for everyone, if they only look at those who appears in the news or social networks. I do not know. But I am very clear for many years that Barça does not get any of these players with very high quality and very good price, as they do many other European clubs.

By the way, if you know someone who does scout ask him if he earns 400,000€/year. I know you will have asked because I will hear how he laughs from my house. Ah! And they are the same that are talking about "market prices" for reforming the Camp Nou.

I repeat: It is not this, comrades, is not this.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

P. S. This is the second part of the trilogy. The third, in a few days, will be the post on Positional Play I promised.

IT IS NOT THAT (I)

It is not this, comrades, it is not this, the song says. It is not what they had told us, or what we had anticipated. Barca was eliminated from the Champions League by Atletico Madrid. This was something that could happen. It could also be that everything was settled by one goal difference, given the equality we had seen in previous clashes. Now, I do not think anyone imagined that we would see that first part not ended 3-0 if not the posts, because opportunities, hunger and football Atletico put it. We just looked at it.

"I will forgive the lack of success, but not the lack of effort", said one who will now be in a Champions League semifinal. The problem is that he will leading Bayern. Anyone want to bet that if he was here things would be very different? Not better (although it is very possible), or worse (I think not ), but different, very different (this, for sure).

This Barça plays differently as it did so. Except four games, interestingly, those that have been resolved in a more effective way, where the team has returned to take the old manual, there are many points of disagreement between the current Barca and the one that made ​​history.

The thing, but, is that much of the blame are the players. If Xavi is old, if Alves does not cross well the ball and defends worse, if Cesc is still in London, so ... ,and Valdes, blame Valdes. And Messi.

About Valdes I do not think it is worthwhile to talk a lot. But I will do. It is justice. They have ignored and mistreated him here and there. It is the best goalkeeper in the club's history, with permission from Ramallets. He has 3 Champions Leagues, several Leagues, "Zamora's" Awards and whatever you want. And, until the injury we had saved a good number of matches by him. But no. A journalist recalls the error against Valencia. Can not remember, but, how many done goals have been missed in front of goal. Neither remembers all the points he has given us in all the years he has been the keeper for Barça. Another journalist said that among the guilty (meaning those who are not having a good season), are Valdés... and Bartra! Disgrace for Marc, who has played less than me. And he is pointing him as responsible for what happens. A third, more a plagiarist than a journalist, is chasing Valdés for a lot of years. No comments. Not worth it.

Let's go the players:

Has anyone thought that Xavi is a player to make run the ball and not to run cahsing the ball? Think about it.

Has anyone thought that Alves is a very attacking full-back, which ahs to  be covered to allow their arrivals? Before, he had the cover 10m. away from him. Now it's 30. Think about it.

Has anyone thought that Messi needs the ball on the foot, to "partner" with Xavi and Iniesta and create superiority? He doesn't need space to run. He needs the ball to play and someone will create space. Or he'll do . But with the ball. Think about it.

Has anyone thought that Busquets is the man who gives balance and the first pass out of the opposing pressure and is not the man who simply destroys the opponents game? How many balls, before, did he recoverto 15-20m. from the opponent's box? How many now? Think about it.

Has anyone thought that Cesc is not Xavi or Iniesta? And, therefore, he plays very differently to these two? Cesc can do many things. He has the play, he has goals. But it is different. Very different. He does not have the "tempo" of Xavi, or the "magic" of Iniesta. But he has many other things. Does anyone know how to take advantage? Think about it.

Has anyone thought that Pedro needs room to run and that Alexis needs opponents to dribble? Think about it.

Has anybody thought about the role of Neymar? Must be the new Messi? Should be the second "crack" after Messi? Can he play as a "9" ? As a "false 9"? Has he more from Ronaldinho than from Iniesta? Think about it.

Has anyone thought that the problem is not high pressure, but the pressure on the ball? Decide where and how. Remember Mourinho and Inter at San Siro. Pressure on on Xavi as he crossed the halfway line. Pressure at the flanks 15-20m. after midfield. The pressure is made with the team close together (NA: player to player). Here or there, but together. Think about it.

Has anyone thought that the defenders are not only the 4 at the back? That defenders are all the players? And, if they are lost and often "sold" the fault is not only themselves, but by a general mismatch? Think about it.

Has anyone thought that you can work the intensity and the concentration? And, it is worked with intensity and concentration. Think about it.

This is not just a criticism on Martino, which it is too. It is a criticism on all the players, who often seems not remember what shirt they are wearing. On Manager and Technical Staff, who seem to have no solutions when things go wrong and are unable to fix on the fly. On Sports Management, which has no solutions for the problems of injuries, etc and seems not to know what is their job (that, I will discuss in the next post). On the Board, iwhich seems that the main concern is just having a stadium with the best hospitality in the world. On, us, members ("socis") and supporters, who often only see the player making the goal and we see nothing in the process to make this goal. And I speak in plural, because it also happens to me sometimes. And the environment, the famous environemnt. Those who write in newspapers or talk on radio and television and can not distinguish an "off-side" from a "penalty" , not a "full-back" from a "winger" and, speak about Laws and Regulations without having read any.

I've said it before: It is not this, comrades, is not this.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP

P. S. This post is the first part of a trilogy. At the second part I will talk about the Sport Management Organization (applicable to any Club), and the third one is the post on Positional Game that I said some days I would do.

WE HAVE ALREADY VOTED

Finally, yesterday, on Saturday, April 5th, the "socis" (members/owners), of the club voted in the referendum for the reform of Camp Nou. Some considerations:

1) Democracy is the government of the majority. Therefore, the final result ( 72%-25%) in favor of YES clearly states what is the thinking of the majority who went to vote.

2 ) Democracy, but, is also to respect minorities. An important group of voters (about 10,000), disagreed. Must be taken into account. And those who have done so have not had the means (or economic or propaganda), to do so. Reflect on the issue, because if they had been, it is possible (not sure if probable), that the result would not have been with so much difference, at least.

3) That said, the Board must make a thought: Why vote only 38,000 people when there were 81,000 at the match? Except for those regulatory issues (age, seniority as members), or those who bought tickets, I'm sure there were a large number of people who did not vote. Why?

4) The Board should also think about those members residing away from Barcelona (wherever they are ), to participate in these acts, whether voting by mail , electronically. For many people, unable to do so, means they only pay, but do not decide. In fact, they have said they are working on it. The sooner they fix issue , the better for all.

5 ) The Board should be clear that many of those who voted YES disagree with the last movements/facts of the Club, especially with the FIFA case.

6) With this, I think there could be people who is interested in that certain things at certain times are known. I do not know if the hand is white, black or only has four fingers. But what is certain is that from the Club, nothing has been refused from what was said . And, we have Club and/or officials punished and/or imputed, both for Civil and Sport Justice. And that, for those who love the Club, we do not like it. Absolutely nothing.

7) It is also true that many of those who voted NO,  did it as a "punishment voting" against the way of acting of  the Board. In fact, many of these, among whom I count myself, believe that we must reform the Camp Nou, but not in the way that has been raised around. And if according to some media, yesterday's referendum was plebiscitary referendum, well, many will have to consider why there is such a large group of malcontents.

8) Remember that Vice-President Faus said there was a Project and Measurements where made and architects contesting to the International Competition should comply with it. We'll see what happens.

9) "La Masia is not touched" I think we have it all very clear. The banner at the Camp Nou yesterday left over, especially when it seems that no one in FIFA has said anything about it. What Barca should do is go hand in hand with Real Madrid, Bayern, Chelsea, Milan, etc. to  ECA (European Club Association), and talk to UEFA and FIFA about the adequacy of the Regulations. But for all. Request preferential treatment for being Barça when there are many clubs (and football as itself), that can have a proffit , I think is, at least, overly prepotent.

10) I did not understand the role of potential candidates for future elections. Except Agustí Benedito, and this one just three days before voting, the other " possible future candidates" have not shown signs of life, except something in social networks. I suppose someday we will explain. They have to do well, but, because I do not think this is the best way to win votes in the future.

11) Finally, nobody has to think that there will be no support for the team and that we want it to lose. To be critical with the way to play several days, as to be critical with the Board, does not mean to be against as "modus operandi ". Although many interpret in that way. We want Barca to win, because it is our feeling.

And, as I have said many times, with feelings you do NOT play.

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP