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'Total
Football'
5/17/12
By: Author Unknown
The following article can be viewed where it was originality published
by clicking here.
'Total Football' and its attacking pressure are very spectacular. It
places great demands on individual and team tactical excellence... An
absolute prerequisite, to master such a team tactical aspect, is that
all the players possess a positive mentality, including the
substitutes." -Rinus Michels
The playmaking style, also known as Total Football, is one of two team
strategies, the second being the counter attacking style. These two
styles are at the base of all the decisions about how a team will play
in a match. The decision which style to adopt will determine the
functions and responsibilities inside the team and how to conduct
training sessions. The playmaking style is the hardest to prefect and
is beyond the capabilities of most youth teams. In order to play this
style of soccer certain key ingredient's must be present. Not some, or
in some measure, but all and in spades. Without doubt the most
important is to take the field with the correct mentality, the
'Amsterdam Bluff' as it's called in Holland.
"On the day of the 1974 final even West Germany expected
Holland to win. 'They were a better team,' said Uli Hoeness later.
Winger Bernd Holzenbein recalled: 'In the tunnel, we planned to look
them in the eye, to show them we were as big as they were. They had the
feeling they were invincible - you could see it in their eyes. Their
attitude to us was, "How many goals do you want to lose by today,
boys?" While we waited to go onto the pitch I tried to look them in the
eye, but I couldn't do it. They made us feel small."
Sjaak Swart on Ajax: "When we played in our own stadium,
teams who came here were afraid of us. In the bus they were already
trembling. Many old players have told me this. Before the game started,
it was already 1-0 to us."
Key Ingredient's For Playmaking Soccer
The predicted outcome determines choice. The playmaking style is only
effective when you believe, and can back up, that you are better then
the opponents, see above. If the predicted outcome is 4-0 to you, you
can do what you like. If it's 4-0 to the opponents then you'll do what
the opponents want you to do. One goal games, 1-0, 2-1 present a
problem. While you can attempt to use the playmaking style, you're
likely to be spending a good deal of time in the counter attacking
style as well. Everyone in the team must understand and accept the
decisions about how the team will play, that it is the best choice in
the given situation.
Trust. The players must have complete confidence in themselves and each
other. That the plan is correct and everyone is capable of carrying out
their part. This is only possible when the players really know one
another, when they play 'instinctively.' Youth teams usually don't have
enough time together to reach this level. Swart observed "It came from
playing together a long time." The playmaking style is a high
risk style. It requires very high ambition and very low fear of failure
on the part of everyone. "However, structural team building makes sure
that: the players have confidence in each other, there is calmness in
the games actions, the essential team spirit and team tactical views
are present."
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Higher level of TIC and fitness then the opponents. If the opponents
are better in some area of the game they can provide sufficient
problems that the playmaking style becomes too difficult. They can
either become the playmakers themselves or so dangerous on the counter
attack that fear becomes a factor. In the first case the opponents can
have the ball a lot, and the playmaking style assumes that they won't.
This means that you'll be defending, playing negative soccer, more then
you'd like and expending energy in ways and areas that are not a part
of the plan. In the second, fear leads to a safety first approach and
this runs contrary to the mentality of the playmaking style, calculated
risk taking. The team can play too conservatively, hesitate and become
so preoccupied with what the opponents might do that they forget about
what has to be done. (This applies to every member of the team. In a
close game any weakness in even a single player can defeat everyone's
work.)
Since most of the game will be played in the opponents half players
will find little space and often play in a numbers down situations,
i.e. 1v2, 2v4 and so on. Superior technique is a prerequisite to
maintaining the necessary speed of play. Without it players will lack
confidence and the ability to maintain the attacking pressure.
A higher level of insight and communication is necessary in order to
seize opportunities. The correct moment to act will involve two or more
players and there is not enough time for anyone to call instructions,
let alone get any from the coach. Everyone must read the situation in
the same way and arrive at the same conclusion. They must
simultaneously act in a split second. The playmaking style involves a
lot of nonverbal cues and communication. It is read, react and think
later.
The fitness level needs to be very high. Constant changes in tempo and
prolonged periods of elevated speed of play takes a toll both
physically and mentally. The key players have the responsibility for
determining the match tempo. It needs to faster then the opponents can
handle but within the capabilities of the team. And remember the old
adage, sometimes you have to go slower to go faster.
Adaptability. Mobility, the interchange of positions, is very
important, but, so is speed. Players will need to cover for each other
as they take advantage of opportunities but this must be done quickly
and without hurting team efficiency. This means that players who switch
positions usually do so with the players closest to them, i.e. right
back and right midfielder or left wing and center forward. Every player
must have mastered all of the basics in defending and attacking skills,
notably both sides of 1v1 so that they can handle the demands of their
temporary positions.
Specific roles. Teams line up at the start of a game for a purpose. To
get the best out of each individual and to hide any weakness. The
central defender and the center forward are the best available for
their jobs at that moment . So if the central defender spends too much
time up top then at least two positions are being occupied by players
who are not ideally suited for the roles. This upsets the balance
inside of the team and results in less efficient, slower, play. The
interchange between positions is temporary and players need to resume
their key functions as quickly as possible. Sometimes it is only a
limited number of players that have the actual 'freedom' to change
positions. The majority of the team constitutes the 'work talent'
which, by definition, play in the service of the 'key players.' This
does not relieve the 'key players' of any burden. Just the opposite,
they have the added responsibility of leadership and having to use
'their extra qualities' in order to win the game. In this situation,
while the 'work talents' can lose the game, they do not have to win it.
Concentration. Mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness.
A break in concentration by a single player can disrupt the entire team
effort and start a chain of events that can lead to disaster. The
playmaking style requires tremendous concentration for long periods,
like driving at high speed in heavy traffic for long distances. It is
stressful and wearing. It is also presents a problem when a substitute
comes on and is not up to the mental speed of the game.
The attack
starts where you win the ball. In the playmaking style it means
defending in the opponents half. This prevents the opponents from
retreating and, as long as you can prevent the deep pass, reduces the
space in which to 'hunt' the ball.
"The main aim of the attacking pressure football, the 'hunt', was:
regaining possession as soon as possible after the ball was lost on the
opponents half during an attack. The 'trapping' of the opponents on
their own half is only then possible when all the lines are pushed up
and play close together. This automatically means that you give away a
lot of space on your own half and you are vulnerable to
counterattacks... You need to control the opponent if you want to play
an attacking style football!"
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The 'hunt' means two or even three players pressurize the player with
the ball. The idea is that the first won't win the ball but forces a
hurried pass. The second defender immediately applies pressure to the
receiver forcing another hurried pass so that the third defender can
win the ball. The 'hunt' is not strictly a man to man or zone defending
scheme. Instead, every opponent ahead of the ball is marked and the
rest of the team marks the players and space in the vicinity of the
ball. Opponents who are behind the ball or in positions where they
couldn't do much if they got it, the least dangerous men, are left
free. This allows the defenders to concentrate in the area around the
ball. They must still watch opponents, tracking down any that attempt
to move forward and, above all, prevent the deep pass into the space
behind the last line of defenders. When this is done in the opponents
half it puts the attackers under tremendous pressure. Only when the
opponents are able to successfully relieve the pressure will a
playmaking team retreat back closer to their own goal.
When the ball is regained it is critical that it is not given back.
Ideally, winning the ball in the opponents half should present an
immediate scoring opportunity. However, the space is likely to be very
crowded. In that case the ball should be protected by passing it
quickly to a supporting player and away from danger. Young players can
get 'ramped up' when they're defending and lack the composure to make
the correct decision, (to build up or counter) when they come out of a
tackle. They often simply give the ball back to the opponents and have
to start defending all over again.
Learning the playmaking style is very difficult. It is designed as a
means of breaking down packed defenses. It requires that the team
master rapid ball circulation, both sides of 1v1, a lightning response
to a change in possession, the ability to work in very limited space,
the ability to change the tempo, speed, of the game and the ability to
maintain concentration for prolonged periods under great stress. A tall
order for young players. If their education is only started at 11 a
side then only the best will be able to grasp the fundamentals and be
able to contribute to the game as they get older.
"This risky style of play demands individually a lot of football
capacity. It entails that you often have to operate in small spaces
during the build up and attack and defend large spaces with few
players. This style of play requires a methodical process in the youth
program, and also specific types of players; such as wing forwards and
defenders who get involved in the attack."
Games like 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4 can serve as the starting point and
building blocks for developing not only the skills, but the mentality
for playing this style of soccer and assist in youth development.
The lighter area in the diagram shows the space where playmaking teams
prefer to play. The orange team has committed all ten field players to
the opponents half and their goal keeper has come forward to act as a
sweeper behind the back line. As long as they can keep the game in this
space they face little danger and the opponents will be under constant
pressure. The danger for the playmaking teams is the space behind the
last line of defenders. A single long pass to a fast forward can put
ten orange players out of the game. The defensive phase must involve
the entire team. Playmaking teams cannot function against quality
opponents with a sweeper that plays ten yards behind the back line or
forwards that will not, or cannot pressurize. They will lose the battle
in the midfield and have to start their attacks too deep in their own
half. Simply put, it is more then just quick ball circulation, the
rapid interchange of positions and all out attacking play. Without a
clear commitment by everyone to do the dirty work necessary to regain
the ball and neutralize the opponents it is more risky then the return
brings. In fact, without the high pressure defensive 'hunt' and a
smooth, quick, efficient transition from defending to
attacking/building up play the playmaking style is difficult if not
impossible to pull off.
"The advantage of this play-making style is that you are
capable of playing it under all circumstances. You always take the
initiative, and you must do that. However, if you fail to carry the
play and get under pressure, then the opponent will take advantage of
the weak aspects of the style you are playing."
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