The club have just released a short youtube clip of our u18s going 2-0 up against Arsenal in 78 seconds. [video=youtube;9xQalGZwrk8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xQalGZwrk8[/video] I really think this is important because it's clear evidence that Poch's philosophy has made its way down to youth level, this is key if we want to sustain our success. The few academies that are better than ours (Ajax and Barca) play the same formation and the same tactics right the way through their youth set ups.
Wow that's great to see his tactics in action. What I don't understand is why are we the only team to adopt it for the premier league?
Don't think you can just decide to do it. Firstly you need talented and young players who don't mind damned hard work. The manager and coaches also have to understand the technique fully...it isn't just charging up the pitch...every player has to know what to do in any given situation and know what his team mates will probably do. The manager therefore has to be inspiring and a good coach. On top of that, you need confidence to carry it out....would be too easy to lose your nerve and drop back into the old system and cause chaos. It is 100% or nothing.
Because it requires intelligence, correct application of tactics and strategy in the coach and players, skill, supreme fitness, endurance, and probably a lot of other things I can't think of. Jamie Carragher has said Liverpool tried it years back with Rafa Benitez and they weren't brave enough to adopt it. It is risky because if the opposition see a weakness they can pass their way around it. The trick is to master it. Which is what the U18s are obviously trying to do.
I think this might explain why our youth sides are struggling a little this year, the high press is a very hard tactic to coach into a youth side, but it will make them far better footballers in the end!
