Go long!
Paul Cox was today appointed as the new manager of Torquay United. Not massive news but it caught my eye, mainly because I'm quite curious about the process clubs undertake in their search for a new man at the helm - it says an awful lot about the club, what it aspires to and how it wants the football "process" to work.
When Roberto Martinez was appointed to his role at Everton, I took that to be a statement from the football club of it's intentions to build something, a culture, based on a style of football quite different to what had preceded Martinez's tenure during the David Moyes years. That approach requires patience, a longer term vision and a football staff completely bought on to a style of play and a way of developing the players and teams who deliver it.
Has this approach worked at Everton? I guess many Everton fans would say the jury's out given that Martinez's second season was largely a damp squib after a first season full of promise. I would say many would argue that Moyes' approach was more effective and delivered better results in terms of points and league positions.
As you go down the leagues, the percentage of teams that "get it down and play" reduces more and more. I'd say League 2 and the top two tiers of non league football are the pinnacle of direct play - and whilst there's probably more passing football played now than there was 10 years ago, it's still rare to see a side play out from the back and play patient possession football throughout the pitch.
Paul Cox has enjoyed a very successful career in management so far, both at Eastwood Town and more notably, Mansfield Town. I had a quick look around at Cox's record and history earlier and found the following transcript from a fans forum Cox and some of his staff did with the Mansfield fans - it's quite a revealing piece in terms of Cox's approach and style of play;
http://www.stagsnet.net/news/newsdetails.php?newsid=6729
It appears all was not well at the time, and Cox was clearly under pressure, with many fans and perhaps staff at the club questioning his style of play.
Fast forward 6 months from that evening and Cox had delivered Mansfield back to the promised land, after an outstanding run of form post Christmas saw Cox's charges storm to the Conference title.
I actually found it quite refreshing to read Cox's words. Not saying it's my way (I don't have "a way" as it happens), but given that the large majority of coaches, armchair viewers of Monday Night Football, journalists etc these days are highly critical of such methods, it feels like anyone who does deploy these tactics has to be rather apologetic for them, almost acknowledging the part they play in "the English problem".
The reality of competitive, professional football is that most managers don't "try to play" much at all. Playing the percentages is deemed to be the best approach. The thinking often appears to be either "everyone else plays that way and you'll get murdered if you can't meet fire with fire" or "this is the real world and we can't take risks by trying to play pretty football".
To develop a Martinez esque style of play takes patience, lots of it. It also requires technical ability from the playing and coaching staff. It requires a tolerance of mistakes near to your own goal, a collective belief that is developed over time and a club environment where everyone buys in.
In my experience, whilst many clubs claim to have some or all of the above, most don't.
The game today is all about the short term, resources at most clubs are limited as are many of the players. I'd argue that managers like Cox find it easier to get their players very fit, very strong and very focussed on a simple game plan. Torquay have just disbanded their academy - a sad reflection on the financial reality of running a football club - if it was like most pro clubs' academies it will have produced little for the first team anyway as talented young players not capable of cutting it in physical terms at 1st team level repeatedly fall by the wayside.
Modern coaches can complain all they want about the aesthetics or lack thereof but until some of the underlying fundamentals change - managers like Paul Cox will feel their best chance of success is still to go long.
When Roberto Martinez was appointed to his role at Everton, I took that to be a statement from the football club of it's intentions to build something, a culture, based on a style of football quite different to what had preceded Martinez's tenure during the David Moyes years. That approach requires patience, a longer term vision and a football staff completely bought on to a style of play and a way of developing the players and teams who deliver it.
Has this approach worked at Everton? I guess many Everton fans would say the jury's out given that Martinez's second season was largely a damp squib after a first season full of promise. I would say many would argue that Moyes' approach was more effective and delivered better results in terms of points and league positions.
As you go down the leagues, the percentage of teams that "get it down and play" reduces more and more. I'd say League 2 and the top two tiers of non league football are the pinnacle of direct play - and whilst there's probably more passing football played now than there was 10 years ago, it's still rare to see a side play out from the back and play patient possession football throughout the pitch.
Paul Cox has enjoyed a very successful career in management so far, both at Eastwood Town and more notably, Mansfield Town. I had a quick look around at Cox's record and history earlier and found the following transcript from a fans forum Cox and some of his staff did with the Mansfield fans - it's quite a revealing piece in terms of Cox's approach and style of play;
http://www.stagsnet.net/news/newsdetails.php?newsid=6729
It appears all was not well at the time, and Cox was clearly under pressure, with many fans and perhaps staff at the club questioning his style of play.
Fast forward 6 months from that evening and Cox had delivered Mansfield back to the promised land, after an outstanding run of form post Christmas saw Cox's charges storm to the Conference title.
I actually found it quite refreshing to read Cox's words. Not saying it's my way (I don't have "a way" as it happens), but given that the large majority of coaches, armchair viewers of Monday Night Football, journalists etc these days are highly critical of such methods, it feels like anyone who does deploy these tactics has to be rather apologetic for them, almost acknowledging the part they play in "the English problem".
The reality of competitive, professional football is that most managers don't "try to play" much at all. Playing the percentages is deemed to be the best approach. The thinking often appears to be either "everyone else plays that way and you'll get murdered if you can't meet fire with fire" or "this is the real world and we can't take risks by trying to play pretty football".
To develop a Martinez esque style of play takes patience, lots of it. It also requires technical ability from the playing and coaching staff. It requires a tolerance of mistakes near to your own goal, a collective belief that is developed over time and a club environment where everyone buys in.
In my experience, whilst many clubs claim to have some or all of the above, most don't.
The game today is all about the short term, resources at most clubs are limited as are many of the players. I'd argue that managers like Cox find it easier to get their players very fit, very strong and very focussed on a simple game plan. Torquay have just disbanded their academy - a sad reflection on the financial reality of running a football club - if it was like most pro clubs' academies it will have produced little for the first team anyway as talented young players not capable of cutting it in physical terms at 1st team level repeatedly fall by the wayside.
Modern coaches can complain all they want about the aesthetics or lack thereof but until some of the underlying fundamentals change - managers like Paul Cox will feel their best chance of success is still to go long.
Great article from an interesting perspective. Speaking as a Millwall supporter who has watched down the years different managers with different styles the main thing i think missing from your article was the question of the manager making the best use of the resources available.
ReplyDeleteWith managers tenures so short can a coach change a team from long ball to passing game that easily. At Everton you would hope that the quality of players available has made that possible for Martinez. That luxury is not available further down the leagues.
I have seen teams styles transformed from one manager to another but have only really seen it work where the talent has already been there and it was supplemented by a few key signings.
The biggest frustration as a supporter is watching a team play a passing game that does not result in chances being created. I think Everton at times this season suffered from this, my team definitely did. Sitting high in the stands you sometimes spot an early ball that could be played up front quickly. The players seem to be coached not to play it and then the passing leads to nothing. On the occasion the early ball is played and results in a chance or goal you can't help wondering why don't they play that ball more often.
It's great watching a good passing team. But it is equally great to watch a more direct attacking team that creates load of chances. There is a lot to be said for 2 flying wingers and a couple of dynamic centre forwards.
Thanks for your comments - I agree with your points.
DeleteIf I had a way it would sound something like "start with the players you have and work from there". It's the most important factor to consider, much more than what you're own ideals are as a coach. Pulis couldn't go to Barca and turn them into a route 1 just as Pep would struggle to make Mansfield an expansive, fluent passing team.
You're right, all about the players and resources at your disposal!