I found this on another forum and found it interesting..
Milan's victory over United exposes the great Premier League myth
Craig Foster
May 6, 2007
original article:
http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2007/05/05/1177788468573.html
Here's a question: how important is tempo in a game of football? At the top club and international level, where Australia need to aim, it is everything.
Although the ability to control the tempo is important, far more critical is the ability to vary it.
To be able to slow down the match when needed, to take advantage of a situation and attack with speed when necessary, to read the phases of the game as momentum swings and flows and to apply the perfect strategy at the perfect moment.
Tempo is important because it is a corollary of possession. Whoever is able to keep the ball can apply their own tactical strategy to the match, and whoever controls the ball controls the game.
Mind you, they don't always win it, as a game of football is still a competitive contest that is always subject to the swings of fortune.
But history says the world's best football nations keep and control the ball. More importantly, they all vary the tempo of their play, which requires outstanding technical players and a greater depth of tactical flexibility.
The results of the 2006 World Cup and the Champions League last week again bear this out and both involve Italy, the world's second most successful football country.
The Italians showed exceptional tactical understanding and variation to win the World Cup, and so did their finest club, AC Milan, in the semi-final of the Champions League.
Milan played perfect football against Manchester United and demonstrated the importance of being able to adapt tactics and speed of play to the flow of the game.
Above all, they were able to keep the ball, a phrase which should be tattooed on the forehead of every youth coach in this country.
On the other hand, United proved why the style of football in the Premier League remains a hindrance to England's international fortunes; because tactically it is one-dimensional and produces teams who can only play at one speed.
And what did Alex Ferguson say after his team had been mauled? "We have to learn to keep the ball."
That's an admission that they had no idea how to adapt to a team at a higher tactical level.
When he first arrived, Guus Hiddink said Australia couldn't keep the ball, which was not surprising since our understanding has been built on an outdated reliance on British coaches.
Two European champions stand out over the past decade - Real Madrid with three wins between 1998 and 2002, and AC Milan who are in their third final in five years.
Two intelligent football cultures, Spain and Italy, with very high technical levels and great tactical depth.
Six of the eight teams in European semis last week played football, but two played unsophisticated long ball football. Both were from England.
Watching Milan play United was like masters against students, experts against the uninitiated.
Milan were always in control of the speed of play, sometimes attacking with intent, other times holding the play to build their attack intelligently.
And in disposing so comfortably of the English champions-elect, they exposed the myth that the English Premier League is the world's best.
It's a hologram based on millions of dollars of marketing expenditure, on great atmosphere and greater television production values.
____________________________
Interesting article, however the author looks far too much into the performances of Milan to prove a point. Although I agree with him... the Premier League style of play is not conducive of success for their National Team. Not to mention the fact that the Premiership is essentially owned and managed by foreignors, which in my opinion sort of stunts their growth in the international game.
The best teams in the game know how to hold the ball and use possession effectively, something most English teams seem to disregard.
However, in terms of the power of big clubs, the Prem is probably the best league in the world at the moment. But that certainly doesn't mean the league has the best football.
Milan's victory over United exposes the great Premier League myth
Craig Foster
May 6, 2007
original article:
http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2007/05/05/1177788468573.html
Here's a question: how important is tempo in a game of football? At the top club and international level, where Australia need to aim, it is everything.
Although the ability to control the tempo is important, far more critical is the ability to vary it.
To be able to slow down the match when needed, to take advantage of a situation and attack with speed when necessary, to read the phases of the game as momentum swings and flows and to apply the perfect strategy at the perfect moment.
Tempo is important because it is a corollary of possession. Whoever is able to keep the ball can apply their own tactical strategy to the match, and whoever controls the ball controls the game.
Mind you, they don't always win it, as a game of football is still a competitive contest that is always subject to the swings of fortune.
But history says the world's best football nations keep and control the ball. More importantly, they all vary the tempo of their play, which requires outstanding technical players and a greater depth of tactical flexibility.
The results of the 2006 World Cup and the Champions League last week again bear this out and both involve Italy, the world's second most successful football country.
The Italians showed exceptional tactical understanding and variation to win the World Cup, and so did their finest club, AC Milan, in the semi-final of the Champions League.
Milan played perfect football against Manchester United and demonstrated the importance of being able to adapt tactics and speed of play to the flow of the game.
Above all, they were able to keep the ball, a phrase which should be tattooed on the forehead of every youth coach in this country.
On the other hand, United proved why the style of football in the Premier League remains a hindrance to England's international fortunes; because tactically it is one-dimensional and produces teams who can only play at one speed.
And what did Alex Ferguson say after his team had been mauled? "We have to learn to keep the ball."
That's an admission that they had no idea how to adapt to a team at a higher tactical level.
When he first arrived, Guus Hiddink said Australia couldn't keep the ball, which was not surprising since our understanding has been built on an outdated reliance on British coaches.
Two European champions stand out over the past decade - Real Madrid with three wins between 1998 and 2002, and AC Milan who are in their third final in five years.
Two intelligent football cultures, Spain and Italy, with very high technical levels and great tactical depth.
Six of the eight teams in European semis last week played football, but two played unsophisticated long ball football. Both were from England.
Watching Milan play United was like masters against students, experts against the uninitiated.
Milan were always in control of the speed of play, sometimes attacking with intent, other times holding the play to build their attack intelligently.
And in disposing so comfortably of the English champions-elect, they exposed the myth that the English Premier League is the world's best.
It's a hologram based on millions of dollars of marketing expenditure, on great atmosphere and greater television production values.
____________________________
Interesting article, however the author looks far too much into the performances of Milan to prove a point. Although I agree with him... the Premier League style of play is not conducive of success for their National Team. Not to mention the fact that the Premiership is essentially owned and managed by foreignors, which in my opinion sort of stunts their growth in the international game.
The best teams in the game know how to hold the ball and use possession effectively, something most English teams seem to disregard.
However, in terms of the power of big clubs, the Prem is probably the best league in the world at the moment. But that certainly doesn't mean the league has the best football.
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