âPossession wins nothingâ says Steve McClaren in this BBC article. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18448190 "We have never been very good in possession - that's not our strength. The way we stay in games is by being hard to beat, maybe scoring from set-plays or on the counter-attack.â Yeh, just like Ireland last night against Spain âPeople used to criticise us a lot, saying we need to play football like Spain or Brazil. That's not possible - it takes years and years of development to achieve that." Years and years? We did it in about 4 years! British managers have been saying the same thing for about 50 years; foreigners play one way and we Brits play another. They seem stuck in the past and glorify the kick and rush, long ball, 11 men in your own penalty and scoring from set-plays or counter-attack. Sunday league, non-league and lower league teams play like that and small countries use these tactics when playing the top sides. But what way is that to build generations of skilled footballers if you regard yourself as a major footballing power? The article works on incomplete statistics of matches played so far because it says `only four of the 14 games so far have been won by the team who enjoyed most of the ball.' But look at the top teams with most possession â its no coincidence that Spain and Germany, the favourites, are there. And I expect the stats at the end of the championships to reflect this.
This is how England justifies being crap and boring to watch! (i do have a stupid feeling that they will do a chelsea in this tournament) Has anyone noticed that English commentators wont say a good word about Torres even when he scored two goals!
I hope England do well as the only home nation, but let's not get into that. (I've got Sweden in the sweepstakes btw). This article is the main reason that Jenkins will never go for merry-go-round managers like McClaren, Bruce or Allardyce. All living in the past where hoof-ball is king. England may actually do alright in this tournament but I suspect it'll be as a result of set pieces and long balls more than anything else. Hope I'm wrong and players like Rooney, Welbeck, Young and Oxlade-Chamberlain show what they can do. All very talented imo. However, nothing will change until the old guard get shipped out and new blood like Rodgers become the blueprint for British managers. Say one thing for Hodgson, even though I'm not a huge fan he seems to recognise the limitations in his team and plays to their strengths. Might be just what they need.
I hope England do well as I share the same sentiments as Knackered. I'm rooting for Italy personally as I have Italian family. As for McClaren's comments I don't think he's qualified to say that England need to continue as they have been for years to see success as he failed in most spectacular of fashion when trying to manage England. As our much loved ex manager Rodgers always said, "If you have the ball the other team can't score". Which is the foundation of the possession game and is built up through the different zones of play to create chances and score. Keeping the ball is a much surer way of winning a game of football than hoping for the best and lumping the ball up field. Holding on to possession means fate is in your own hands but lumping it up field means it's more down to luck than anything else.
I don't mind if England does well in the Euro's though this is probably the weakest English team i've seen for many a year,I had a little wager on the German's before the tournament started.
Possession won us points , neutral fans , pundit accolades & the confidence to keep playing in the greatest club league in the world .
Hi Soaring, agree with most of what you say but it did take us a little longer, 7 years, to get to play the way we do. There were also many fans who wanted us to play a more direct game along the way, and many now want more of a plan B. Times for instance under Sousa, when team and manager had a real slating. I always saw the vision though and have had faith in the various managers, the chairman and the board. I'm looking forward to another manager who will put another piece in the jigsaw and carry the club forward and further up the league, top ten this year hopefully. England seem to have taken a step backwards and set up with a 442 or a 4411 under Hodgson, though its probably because he realises their limitations and their players do seem to lack confidence on the ball. No doubt both styles of footie can get results, for me though it has to be played on the floor. Looking forward to another great season with the Swans! Win, lose or draw, STID.
Why does Steve McClaren think his views on how England should play are remotely beneficial? This is the man who failed to get the team into Euro 2008! What a tit. Swan and only, england are not going to do a chelsea at this tournament; i say that as an england fan. i think we'll draw tonight and hopefully beat ukraine (but its far from a forgone conclusion) and then we'll go out against spain in the quarters. Well said. The praise of teams like Swansea (and let's not forget Arsenal) and the English FA's new youth policies will hopefully change the system within 10 to 20 years like the German FA did - and the other home nations too (Surely the welsh FA have looked at it already?)
possession agree does not win games and we are testament to that fact, also it tends to not let the opposition score to many either, with a bit of luck under laudrup we will find a balance and play our possession in the oppositions half instead of our most of the time. hopefully we will go for a more forward possession game with more shots at goal from anyone who has the chance.....
WELCOME TO SWANSEA CITY FC MICHAEL LAUDRUP! YES! YES! YES, WELL DONE HUW JENKINS & THE BOARD!............... please log in to view this image .... please log in to view this image ... please log in to view this image .... please log in to view this image
Dai I agree with you there. Spain and Barcawansea keep the ball in the opponents half, we tend to play deeper (because it's safer, but it's also less effective). I'm REALLY looking forward to see what laudrup can do for us!
Hey Scteve McClaren he ish a football exscpert yesh?. he hash managed enngland, yesh? and off course in deutschland, und netherlands yesh? He wasch wolly with brolly too be shure, but hey heesch picked uup a nisch dutcsh accshent to be schure, and scho thish maksch him football exschpert too be schure!!!
possession football and finished 11th. some of you ppl have to wake up and smell the roses, plan b is good as well
We shall see exactly how theses 'findings' bear out this season ..... with the Swansea school of management having 3 teams playing our way in the coming Prem season! If Laudrup keeps us up and gets poached (God forbid) ... the Swansea School Of Management would represent 25% of the Prem. McLarens comments are bollocks, the revolution has begun and it all stemmed from a 'little club' in South Wales.
