Stumbled upon this footage of Franco Baresi in the 94 World Cup final. Obviously we all know about the penalty miss, but it struck me as another great example of how lost the art of defending is today in many players. Baresi had exemplary timing of tackles and an uncanny knack of reading and anticipating play. Notice how often he is able to step into midfield and overload as well – a starter of moves as well as a stopper of them. He was also 34 at the time of the 94 World Cup and had missed most of the tournament with a knee injury!
The job of Manager to the England football team has been a ‘Poison Chalice’ to almost all of those who have taken on the role. Perhaps the problem stems from the title, England Manager, for isn’t it a Coach we should be seeking? The job requires so much more than a personality, presently having a successful period in Management at club level. The role should include the control of English Football from junior to senior level with the appointee providing a self-designated playing method along with a re-design of the coaching and development infrastructure here.
Growing up I was a street player, I was raised in a quiet cul de sac that led to an entrance of a Junior School, so when school was finished for the day the road was virtually deserted. We played 3v3, 4v4, 5v5 or whatever we had at our disposal with the fencing all around used as goals and a rebound surface.
Those games were fantastic, we learnt to deal with the ball and understood the importance of hitting the target when shooting (the fence was a nightmare to climb) and all of the kids in the road were good players and competition was fierce, just how we liked it.
That cul de sac was our own little Wembley, to such an extent that none of us played for clubs until we were 13-14years of age, the occasional school game was all we played.
Everything we do in life concerns decisions on distance (time and space); the ‘how long / how far/ ifs/ what’s/ where/ when’ etc. decisions we make occur continuously every day of our lives. Can one imagine the possible disasters that could happen should our decision-making on distance be incorrect?
By Mark Fogarty
Over the last 16years I have worked at many Professional clubs and in many capacities, from Dev coach, 9-16′s coach, youth team coach, Academy recruitment, first team recruitment etc.
I have met and watched many different coaches and observed many sessions, some good and some bad. During this time I also worked firstly as a coach Educator for the FA and then over the last 10 years, a Coach Educator for Premier Skills, founded by John Cartwright and Roger Wilkinson.
By Adam Murray
Is winning important? This is a question that I believe a lot of us have varied opinions on and can open up a big can of worms. As a professional footballer for 14 years at different levels there has been one thing that has not changed, the IMPORTANCE of winning.
If you are winning you are being successful! Now hands up who enjoys being successful? I imagine most of us have our hands up.
By Roger Wilkinson
I remember John Cartwright making the point to always remember that players, no matter what their level or experience, come to training with expectations, hopes, ambitions and trusting that the coach is going to inspire, teach and improve them. Those sentiments were thrust in to the forefront of my mind when I recently watched an age group women’s international team work in one of the countries we were running courses in.
My Dictionary refers to Individuality as; ‘different from all other things, and interesting and noticeable’. I suppose that, like everything else in life, there are levels of individuality with ‘Genius’, I assume, ranked by mankind as the highest level of human accomplishment. But learning never ends and, although a person may achieve such a status in his/her profession to be called a genius, those who reach such heights must continually seek to go beyond their present ability to keep at the forefront of their profession. How does a Genius regard those who don’t possess a similar level of knowledge or ability as him/herself? Do they ignore them or combine with them? Well, I suppose individuality to the point of Genius, produces both types of response and relates to the character of the person in question.
I remember my school days with real clarity, not the lessons or the teachers but the almost daily PE lessons and the fantastic playground football which we played at every opportunity! Those were the good old days.
Now I am a coach and PE teacher I really hope that in ten or twenty years time the players and children that I come into contact with can look back and remember the sessions/lessons with fond memories.
In an age where so much emphasis is placed on physical capabilities and the art of tackling seems to be lost, Bobby Moore reminds us that defending like all aspects of the game is a skill! Despite lacking pace his awareness and anticipation more than made up for it. With the likes of David Luiz commanding transfers fees in the 20`s of millions it makes you wonder how much a defender that had mastered the art of tackling would go for today?????
