Styles of soccer

[reality]

Someone on another thread questioned the connotations that are associated with the labels used to describe a team's style of play. This is a fair question. I think the best teams have the technical ability to adjust their tactics to suite the needs of specific games, or even stages of a game. A good debate about this very issue was on the old touchline. I think the topic was entitled something like 'when in doubt, kick it out'. The argument was whether it is ever appropriate to instruct players to just kick it out of bounds? The obvious answer is of course it is, but defenders too often fall back on the old adage in situations in which they should challenge an opponent or simply relieve the pressure by passing back to the keeper. Same is true for direct soccer. It is very effective and if you have a target forward or middie there is nothing wrong with playing a 35 yard through ball to create an opportunity for that player (have you ever watched a Man U game?). To get to the point of the long ball often takes a lot more control and possession than one might expect or appreciate.

Re: Styles of soccer

Someone on another thread questioned the connotations that are associated with the labels used to describe a team's style of play. This is a fair question. I think the best teams have the technical ability to adjust their tactics to suite the needs of specific games, or even stages of a game. A good debate about this very issue was on the old touchline. I think the topic was entitled something like 'when in doubt, kick it out'. The argument was whether it is ever appropriate to instruct players to just kick it out of bounds? The obvious answer is of course it is, but defenders too often fall back on the old adage in situations in which they should challenge an opponent or simply relieve the pressure by passing back to the keeper. Same is true for direct soccer. It is very effective and if you have a target forward or middie there is nothing wrong with playing a 35 yard through ball to create an opportunity for that player (have you ever watched a Man U game?). To get to the point of the long ball often takes a lot more control and possession than one might expect or appreciate.

There is a huge difference in just kicking it long and chasing the ball looking for mistakes and playing quickly to a forward or mid in an advanced position. Most parents see a ball going long and don't know the difference. How many times do you hear parents cheer when a player just kicks the ball long? Ignorance is bliss