Barcelona’s Tiki Taka program to benefit Zimbabwean football?

Barcelona coaches came to Zimbabwe to run a two-day coaching clinic or seminar starting today in Harare, courtesy of Castle Lager, the league sponsors. The timely intervention to the deteriorating league game is a two day event expected to equip the Premier League coaches and other mentors from around the country.

Attending the clinic will be one thing, while implementation is another. The Zimbabwean Castle Lager Premier League match between Dynamos and Caps United yesterday proved a little better than their appalling clash in the NetOne sponsored One Wallet. Despite immaturity in decision-making and tactical awareness, the players from both teams played direct football, launching the ball forward. This clinic may help.

This eyesore of a game has some positives as it gets the ball into the penalty box very quickly and early enough before the opponents settle and shut the door. To complement the numerous raids, the strikers take these opportunities with decisive feet and score goals.

What makes it more interesting is that the shooting is taken quickly on sight. There is no time to control and think twice. This catches the goalkeepers unawares. This instinctive and predatory behaviour requires execution of technique under excessive pressure, therefore perfecting high-level skills.

With a slower version of the South African game, the Zimbabweans find the ABSA Premier League a free scoring assignment. These players benefit two things by playing the high-tempo kick and run game. It teaches them to defend efficiently by reducing time and space for the opponents and dispatching the ball quickly.

The other valuable lesson comes at the other end of the field, where the strikers learn to pounce on the less suspecting defenders and score before the goalkeepers have positioned themselves. They learn to deal with the ball very decisively and quickly under pressure and finish well. Doing these things in competitive matches prepares the individuals to be quick and versatile.

The problem is that the midfield creativity is eliminated. This launching and shelling game, the defenders work excessively, causing the central and defensive midfielders to withdraw to assist in the defending. You may associate this with the great central defenders that league has been producing lately.

By-passing the centre of the park makes these matches very ugly and uninspiring. It is this kind of football that characterised Division One matches when I coached in that country. The reasons for playing that way included the very bad bumpy surfaces we played in and the poor refereeing as the hometown decisions were the order of the day. The strategies required to clonk the ball away from the 18-yard box and send in into the other 18-yard area to avoid bizarre penalty calls.

That negative side in the top league emanates from the promotion and relegation mechanism. With just 16 teams in the top league, Zimbabwe has a massive 32 team Division One divided into four regions. The league demotes four teams and promotes four. That is the source of their problems.

The league relegates reasonably experienced teams while extremely diluting the game with mediocre quality from lower leagues. That league requires an additional two teams to make it an 18-team league. The country needs to restructure the game completely, ask the sponsors to double the funds for the Premier League to carry Division One football under its wings.

The PSL would need only two streams of the First Division where the winners go up and the bottom two PSL teams facing the chop. The national association currently administer the four Division One leagues and they promised the winners top-flight football. The Castle Lager Premier League only prepared to accept two teams and relegate two, but that did not pass.

The status quo will not last long. One hopes that the Barcelona coaching seminar will bring in the sense of Tiki Taka to that country’s game. It will never wipe away the blasting of the balls, but the prospect of the combination of the two styles will win Zimbabwean clubs the Africa Champions League and the Warriors the AFCON.

What do you think?

UEFA Champions League draw twinned the football styles

What if I put it to you, that Arsenal's Arsene Wenger will not resign any time soon unless he wins the FA Cup. Can we accept it as a fact that if, and only if that happens, he will resign immediately as he will not entertain an embarrassing exit from the club that he took to dizzy heights and was credited with revolutionising the English game after his arrival in London almost two decades ago. Her Majesty, the Queen of England has done enough to hold her horses in knighting a man who once deserved the accolade, but has been questioned by many after his extended success-drought spell. Statistically, Wenger's numbers surpass those of Sir Alex Ferguson, but SAF won what mattered the most in over 30 matches.

This is just to warm our appetite for the Gunners' lucky break if reaching yet another FA Cup final, a fluke if you ask me. Let us stop analysing the UEFA Champions League. First and foremost, Manchester United's elimination ends their season early. The Red Devils had just hit a purple patch in all competitions but that loss kills any fight in them. There is no incentive to go on as they will officially miss Europe's top competition, the biggest club competition in the world for the first time in decades. Anyway, that is an Old Trafford problem.

It is common knowledge that Barcelona hordes the ball, but of late, the wheels are coming off their wagon. They are third in the league after their elimination from the Champions League by Athletico Madrid. I wish to combine Athletico's win with the victory Chelsea enjoyed. This is due to the interesting fact of their similar styles. They rely on a grafting work ethic that proves toil never fails. More so, whenever possible their go direct and quickly. This has been the rise of German teams. Theirs can not be deemed route one football, but they duel and combat at every situation and grind the results. There is little nice about their display but then, if it pays, why not.

Many have taken Jose Mourinho's cry that he has no strikers. That is very untrue as he has, but his plans exclude them. In Samuel Eto'o, Demba Ba and Fernando Torres, he has men who come on the field and perform their duties and leave, mercenary style. They are at his disposal and they never fail, but The Special One does not want things that way. The indulgence of having the versatile Hazard and Oscar and the hard work of Willian makes Jose think that he can play and win matches with the three. The rest of his line-up become accessories to complement the trio. The interesting thing about him is that he is never afraid to cut and chop at anytime and for whatever reason. He may decide to stick with his plans no matter how fruitless. He has guts to stop a working scenario and try something new. Like him or not, he does not care about criticism. He is a risk taker, and usually a good one.

The Barcelona football has always delivered a cut high in terms of class. Somehow, when I told you that Barca are finished, I got ridicule. Their fall did not start yesterday. Their football is getting more square and sterile. They used to have penetrative pace longitudinally at their peak, but they are getting flatter and flatter. Their most influential players in Xavi and Iniesta have more passes to the side and back than forward. They now play the football that Arsenal played when the Gunners thought they played lie Barcelona. Despite the cutting edge of Messi and Neymar, the offensive dimension is stunted by the extra passes and more importantly, lack of space for the two to use. Both players thrive on running towards defenders with the ball at high pace. They dribble and leave defenders for dead like tornadoes. One can argue the quality of the coach. That type of football needs excessive concentration. That is why Bayern Munich can pull it off for now, because they are German.

For Munich, it is obvious that their players enjoy a small variation to what they did before Pep Guardiola arrived. He introduced a little more patience with the ball, but they were always a team that kept the ball well and took shots a pass or two earlier with each attack. This tactics works well if the attacking confidence is high and gets complimented by the calm finishing. As soon as goals dry, as in the Barca case, this can be fatal. The Spanish giants now need serious attention, an overhaul. Their attack is getting blunt, frustrated and unproductive.

In my assessment of Athletico and Chelsea, I mentioned some directness of their football. Real Madrid are extremely direct but their game is complimented by pace. As soon as Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale get on their bikes, no scooter can catch them. Their downfall is their careless defending. The chief culprit is Ramos. Pepe complements his antics well too. With a little cool heads at the back, they would play a sustainable type of game with ease. Real Madrid depend on sound absorbance of pressure and as their opponents push forward, they leave reasonable space between their last defenders and the goalkeeper. It is that space that the scampering Bale and Ronaldo will attack with the ball to great effect. This becomes the exact difference between Real and Barca. Real attacks the space by utilising it with excellent running with the ball technique while Barca. depend on running at the defenders with the ball in tight spaces.

The Bayern Munich way would be classified as the Barca way with a tint of the Madrid football. Given that the Germans were drawn against Real Madrid, it makes it an interesting pairing that will give the Spanish some advantage somehow. With Bayern though, their attack is not as narrow as that of Barcelona. Ribery and Robben stretch the game wide and they come at high pace, Ribery going wide and sometimes to the by-line for the cross while the Dutchman will drift in from the right, drop a shoulder and curl the ball around the goalkeeper inside the far post. Still, they take an extra pass before an attempt at goal. There is likely to be more aggressive attack with entertaining outcome here that in the other semi-final where grit will outwit grit.

The best part of the draw is that we will be exposed to extreme types of football in the final. That is the solid game of either Chelsea or Athletico and the direct and clinical Real or Bayern approach. Either style has its own pros and cons but the interesting thing will be how useful the coaches use the tools at their disposal.

Was UEFA semi-final Draw fixed?

Let's rely on my not-so-genius memory, as many will attest. I have not much time to research but save for the cases you know, my memory has not betrayed me fatally but do not make life-decisions made here.

Bayern Munich played Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League around 20 years ago, give or take 2 years. The draw pitting Barcelona and Bayern in a semi-final whose first leg is to be played at the Allianz Arena is not suggesting that it is deja vu.

Last year's runners-up Bayern will have to navigate past Barca, an easier feat now than it can ever be as it has been proved that the Spanish are breakable, especially without Lionel Messi. Messi may be fully fit by then, changing the dynamics.

In that very bad twist of fortune, Real Madrid also travel to Germany to face Dortmund before the return legs in Spain. The prospects of either an all-Spanish or all-German final at Wembley Stadium on May 25 will be the talking point for many pundits.

In my every day song, the chorus is that Barca are fading and by the end of the semi-final, I may have to reconsider and conclude that they are faded. They were bullied by AC Milan, only going past just. They beat Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals, again, just, on away goals.

Bayern are newly-crowned Bundesliga champions and appear the most solid team so far. Despite all this, I do not fancy them, but I am not sure how long the brittleness of the Catalans will last.

On the other hand, Madrid, who eliminated Galatasaray this week, are playing their best football under Jose Mourinho, or for the first time since the dominance of La Liga by Barcelona. It will be the two sides’ fourth pairing overall in the Champions League.

Dortmund have a young and energetic squad compared to the Spaniards, but their gods had to more than smile at them to see off a determined Malaga who felt robbed. One could be tempted Real will revenge for the Spanish.

The truth is that The Only One is caught in two minds. Rumours of him going back to England and his personal ambitions to be The Only Special One make this one interesting. It's not rocket science that Jose will head elsewhere if he wins the Champions League, and his team has the capacity to do it. Sentimentally and tactically, they are favourites at this point.

Realistically though, a minimum of 180 minutes of the 2012/13 Champions League football must elapse with two victories for them. This means beating a dynamic and versatile Borussia and then seeing off cultured Barca or Bayern. It would be nice to have the Spaniard against the Germans in England but time will tell.

Talking of England, I wondered if failure to have representation at this point meant the Barclays English Premier League has lost some shine. This is prompted by the lost of Newcastle and Tottenham Spurs in the Europa League last night.

It could be small technical faults and Chelsea may win the second tier Cup anyways. If these events are a measure to go by, it places Spain and Germany as the kings of league football. As relative as that may be, there may be some truth depending on how much football you talk about.

England has the money to attract the best players. I am not sure the same can be said by the coaches/managers. That translates to excellent technical levels that are void of tactical football in the league. My personal opinion is that the world outside England strikes a good balance of cash, talent and tactics. Anyway, that's a topic for another day.

For now, we await the first legs to be played on April 23 and 24, with the second legs to take place on April 30 and May 1. At least you have the liberty to forget reason and think by heart and you dream your team will kick bottom. For us, we start scrutinising details that range from possible line-ups to personalities that make the squad.

The margins of error in the execution of each pass or ball reception, as well as the speed of decisions and time spent on the ball will influence and be influenced by what happens away from the ball. The possible politics surrounding the refereeing is inevitable but one hopes that the true champions will win it by themselves and for themselves.

There has been enough cry about UEFA deciding the fate of the title by the 'disenfranchised' side like Malaga, and while I disagree with their racism issue against them, it is high time cases that saw Didier Drogba sanctioned a few years back, become extinct. I think this is a quality semi-final line-up and while it could have been fixed, I do not think so.

Semi-final draw
Bayern Munich v Barcelona
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid

Messi is incredible

Most clubs possess a 'Messi' of their own. Manchester United's Robin van Persie, Luis Suarez of Liverpool, Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur and the list is endless and it all depends on the coach and the fans.

Barcelona have their own 'Messi' and that is Lionel Messi. It does not matter the opinion of pundits, media, coaches or any fans. Messi is great, greater than the greatest players because of the way he has carried a very weak and unable Barca on his own. With every cough, the Catalans struggled and struggled big time.

At this point, I do not need an opinion about how bad La Liga champions-elect are. They have been bad, and for a long while, only the mask performance of one Messi seduced us to believe they are good. They pass the ball well, yes, but they defend like school boys. Maybe that is good enough but I am not sold on that one.

The abilities of Iniesta and Xavi are undoubted, but Barca can easily do without each or both, but not without Messi - never. May I mention that after losing 0-2 to AC Milan in Italy two weeks ago, we all wrote Barcelona off. Their 4-0 victory is nothing short of a miracle. Without Messi, that scoreline could have easily belonged to Milan, believe it or not.

The Italians arrived at the Camp Nou believing being Italian is a defensive strategy on its own. They were almost right and they crowded both Messi and the spaces he works it. It worked wonders and nobody could have done a better job. I have never witnessed Messi have such a bad day in office. He lost the ball in one match more than I have seen him in a year.

On such a bad day for the magician, a glimple of who who is came in 5 minutes with a stunner from as little a space as could fit an ant. He squeezed the ball through a needle's eye with the accuracy to goal to match. One may have seen similar goals but the difference here is that the little Argentinian knew what he was doing and had every intention of doing that.

Five minutes from the break, with as little space from similar circumstances, maybe a little demanding, he coughed out the same deadliness and his intentions were less clearer, only this by his standards. Whether he is the greatest ever football player will remain a matter of opinion, as many measure that in term of accolades and team achievements. As an individual, Zinedine Zidane, Pele, Diego Maradona and Ronaldinho have been very close to what Messi is giving us, and maybe they gave more but an I doubt.

Real outclass Barca again as Ba sets bar

Rafa Benitez endured a rough week after his tough talk about the realities at Stanford Bridge given the rant of Chelsea fan. Short of showing them a middle finger, he stressed how ridiculously ungrateful the fans were, and that they should spend energy spurring the team forward rather than pulling them down.

While his hostile stay in London may be a fruitful one, it may be one to forget - a sour-sweet experience. No human being deserves such treatment and the team performance vindicated him with a Demba Ba strike bringing smile to his face on a day protests about his presence as Chelsea manager were supposed to be fever-high.

Harry Redknapp also had to deal with malicious reports questioning his management skills after he took the team to Dubai where they were reportedly too drunk to train the next morning after an all-night out. To prove a point, his Queens Park Rangers ran away with maximum points at Southampton with a 2-1 win, their third of the season. Redknapp was a happy man who hoped the win would work well for the confidence of the team as they fight for their top-flight life.

Shingi Kagawa's hatrick is talk of the town as Manchester United managed a 4-0 ahead of the UEFA Champions League tie with Real Madrid. It was the first Asian to score a hatrick in the Barclays Premier League. As a milestone, Ba had his - the first Africa to score 15 goals or more in successive seasons, somehow something the great Didier Drogba did not achieve.

Talking of Real Madrid, they rubber-stamped their superiority over Barcelona this season by yet another victory, a 2-1 La Liga win after their Copa Dela Rey a few days back. It may be that Madrid's dominance over bitter arch-rivals who proved to be bad losers has been made permanent. One thing for sure, it will be for Jose Mourinho to savour to seasons to come. As less significant as it was for Real since they can not expect to win the league, rubbing it in was all it was, salt, chillies and all. Winning the Copa Del Rey and the Champions League may atone for what had been turning out to be a dismal season for Mourinho.

The two giants, United and Real, will battle it out after their contrasting successful respective league confidence booster encounters, in which key players were rested.

The only El Classico Real dominated

I cannot remember the last time I watched Real Madrid dominating Barcelona in open play they way they did this week. It has never been so clear, ever. In so many other matches that the Galatico won, they got the result by luck or brute force. This was one moment they dominated each encounter and duel player per player and unit by unit. Despite that, they conceded and scored only once and at the dearth.

As a show, the match was entertaining. Barca had clear cut chances besides the one put away by Cesc Fabregas. Real missed a few clear-cut opportunities but scored a half chance through a young centre back in Raphael Varane in that El Classico at the Bernebeu.

By some measure, it was a typical Barcelona versus Real Madrid fixture but played under cooler vibes and smarter tactics. The usual ping-pong between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were never a big deal and the blow by blow attacks were enjoyed by Madrid for a change.

Barca enjoyed better quality on the day’s proceedings while Madrid had reasonable quality time with the ball. Their movement in midfield showed an improved construction by the mastermind, Jose Mourinho. The plan was never to stop the opponents from playing, but to push his team’s abilities to the maximum.

Still, they were not close to what that talent can do. In the middle of their worst campaign under the reign of The Only One, it remains to be seen if the approach will be implemented in the return leg at the Camp Nou.   

The match was tidier and cleaner than many previous encounters. Both Messi and Ronaldo not scoring was testimony of fresh things happening, that they do not need to be gladiators even if they are protagonists. Many saw it as Barca losing their grip rather than Madrid getting their bearing right on the way to out-playing the Catalans.

It would be nice to hear the opinion of the neutrals.

The invasion game the hoarding way

The evolving game usually attracted much attention when tactics changed specifically at Fifa World Cups when millions of viewers got the opportunity to spend some time watching other countries they never saw or heard of playing football. 

For most of all we know, this sport is essentially an invasion game. The longevity of that truth depends on the horizons of your imagination. By default or by design, graphic illustrations of this fact is borne by most of the English Premier League teams as well as Real Madrid.

There is however another phenomenon, known to all but not given rightful attention as the modern game. On a good day, especially during the good old Arsenal days, we saw plenty of it. Harry Redknapp made it a Spurs trademark during his colourful White Hart Lane career. Swansea are exciting people with it but it is the monopoly of Barcelona. We are in the advent of the hording game; the 'catch me if you can' display.

It can be argued that while hording the ball, the intention is to ultimately invade the opposition goal. That becomes as true as institution of a domestic marriage. Couples do not necessarily marry for conjugal rights, though it is the ritual end game.

As for football, like many ball sports, the opposition gets outmaneuvered by precise technical and witty tactical ingenuity surpassing efforts of highly trained secret agents. More so, the game outside England if you discount recent strides the latest transformation made. Even then, it is attributed to foreigners.

Carrying the ball forward and thumping it in 'route one' fashion have been the norm, and seldom with later developments that convinced us that the art of elimination was the answer to everything. In the process, brutal force and sometimes mere determination and team spirit carried the day.

Football needed peeling off this inept syndrome and replace it with a formula that could sustain the two pronged outcome, to produce the results game after game, year after year and for seasons while entertaining the fans. That became the cornerstone of the Spanish's European (twice) and Fifa World Cup success. It took Barca from glory to glory perennially.

Granted, like the pressing of Arrigho Sacchi a few decades ago, it may see its better days, but it will not be anytime soon. Countering the passing game for now, will be a better passing game.

Interceptions in midfield will become better and screening will fade away to give way to winning the ball up field. That is very much physically taxing and tactically not unsustainable. The deliberate short passing game in one channel in order to attract traffic into that channel and then suddenly playing very long and wide to the weaker channel may the next big thing.

This need the Gareth Bales and Aaron Lennons, because they are the players you will need to pick up with that long ball on either channel. Like many systems we toy around with nowadays, these things existed, but occurred unintentionally and much less attention was given to their development as winning strategies.

The need of technically superior players is greatly appreciated the world over and with much better preparation and understanding, the game will continue to be studied and improved until it comes full circle. This is true of how Stoke City resembled Wimbledon sometime back, though is a polished way. They now play the ball on the deck.They have players to do it, but when you are still lulled by the deft skills of the big men, they hit teams with that one ball, kicked or thrown in.

Just how deceptive these guys are, one has to look at their recent victory over Liverpool. When getting into crossing positions, all and sundry would have put their tools on the chopping board for a delivery of a high cross. As an element of surprise, a low ball was met by Kenwyne Jones at the near post for that stylish back heel finish.

Essentially, the sophistication of the game as we know it today has been caused by the intrinsic details that have turned out to be the difference between victors and victims. Small things make the big things happen. Get the details right and everything will fall into place. 

Enjoy a Merry footballing Christmas

Merry Christmas to those it may concern. English Premier League players do not have much luxury to wine and dine as most are in camps for the Boxing Day fixtures. Go on, indulge yourself and treat yourself with an extra drink and cake slice on their behalf. If anyone asks, tell them I said so.

The weekend football was interesting and surprising in many ways but I will only sing praises for Swansea. You got to love this team. Their patient build up of every attack are so well thought out and their spirit is commendable. It is not just how they bullied Manchester United and drew out harsh criticism from Sir Alex Ferguson, they played what I call sweet football.

Let us mention Chelsea demolition of Aston Villa by an avalanche of an octa-salvo. It may have been the effects of the Fifa Club World Cup or just a frustration venting stampede and poor Villa were on their way. Not that Villa played badly though they could have done much with the ball and defended much better. It might have been the Rafa Benitez effect, whereby he induced some sense of guilt or just pure luck.

Many would wish not to remember Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid. I draw a lot of criticism of seeing that average team being just that - average. They are driven by too much money and hindered by even too much coaching. Frankly, The Only One is now a disservice to the Galatico. They play far too tense and very rigid.

It is not their failure to defend that is amazing, but also the way they miss simple chances. Teams playing Madrid so far have scored so many simple goals that Madrid failed to convert. This turns out to be invitation to trouble as small teams smell blood and throw everything into the game. One thing a good team needs is never to prove that they can be beaten.

I still think that only a few players can win a place in the Barcelona, Bayern Munich, PSG, Manchester City or United line-ups. That is how bad they are. Cristiano Ronaldo is a highly talented player probably suffering the publicity fatigue. His dependability hit a knock every time there is strong comparison with Lionel Messi. In rare spells of brilliance, he dances with him toe-to-toe until he gives in to media attention disorder.

The Messi records dismembered his game completely at a time Madrid needed a players of his or Messi's calibre. The Bernebeu camp this season needed a talisman who could turn nothing into a win and exactly when that needed to happen, Ronaldo failed to turn up to the party. The team needs a crazy game changing player for now and if Cristiano cannot do it, who in the world can?

Just to quash one belief that everything looks bigger on TV, unless you watch them live week in and week out, you may just have a slight clue that Stoke City have tall players. Wait until you see the team, from back to front. Those guys are huge. I mean huge. TV does not do justice to their heights and sizes and in their case, they are much smaller on your screen than they really are.

Again, merry Christmas

Is this the death of national team football?

As death of test cricket owing to Twenty-20 version, the last two AFCON versions were dull lull. Some think the last two FIFA World Cups were boring too. 

I would agree much with the Euro 2008. I can only remember the exploits of the co-hosts, Turkey, who even surprised themselves about how much they progressed in the tourney. 
 
Could it be a justifiable end of the Drogba, Etos, Yakubus, Kanutes, Keitas, Toures have been hot elsewhere and average playing for their countries? They could have taken it from Europe, or took it to the World to be just so-so at that bid stage.

With the less anticipated Euro 2012, as spectators, there should be means to sue. Having been taken for a ride for a while now, one wonders how long it will go.

It may the dead end of the game, or just the death of national team football. This comes after it was reported how Italy have been scandalised by bribery and match-fixing scandals in the Serie A.

Their squad to travel, if ever, will be subject of much speculation. Just like in the example of Africa Cup of Nations, it may take away the sparkle of eventual winners, in my opinion at this point, Holland. 

The reigning AFCON champions, Zambia, truly deserved it, and should have won it at any other time in their history. There will never be any doubt about it. The same will be said by the Dutch, should they capture it.

Why the Dutch? They have a point to prove after South Africa 2010. Spain took it under their guard and most probably to them, unduly. Even Barcelona is said to thrive on the Dutch tiki-taka philosophy. They will want that total football to work for them now.

England just hired a mediocre manager and have a squad selected from probably the fewest options in their history. Their lukewarm friendlies are failing to increase the interest anywhere. 

Their league contributes the majority of the participants and that is all. Many of their gifted players withdrew on fears of racial attacks and abuse. There will be general security concerns.

The English Premier League performers in the Euro 2012, will no doubt be cause of interest as others from the rival leagues will be trekking there in the summer. 

The earning powers given that Manchester City, Chelsea contribute a significant number of the highest paid players. 

Barcelona and Real Madrid have a fair share of millionaires. Will they break a leg for their countries or they are fulfilling just another fixture?

Elsewhere, there is Bayern Munich and Borrusia Dortmund of Germany while Paris St German of France contributes as well. These teams pay big money.

There is enough insurance for whatever eventualities and their futures are easily protected by both country and clubs, but it is not the same.

Lionel Messi fails to compare well with players he outclasses with ball manipulation and understanding, but his country contribution has not qualified him to earn the respect of fans, pundits and fellow footballers alike.

The same goes for Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o. They needed to lift something for their nations. After that generation of the African golden greats, is there another to follow? I wonder. 

As for now, with less anticipation and interest, we await what may make or break the confederation football, the Euro 2012. Under normal circumstance, new TV sales and satellite decoders and subscription sales would sore at this point. The old versions will do until we see the need for something speciial.

Chelsea - The darkest hour is before dawn

The fundis have bombarded the cyber space with their educated opinions about how the European champions vanquished their foes on the way to an incredulous and obviously palatable throne.

Chelsea have since been basking in that glory and courting scrutiny on their next moves concerning one Didier Drogba, a man mountain who will never be replaced, should his imminent departure materialise, as well as the much anticipated replacement of Andreas Villas-Boas.

Stand-in manager in Roberto Di Matteo seemed to seal his fate with the FA Cup accolade just collected before the big one, the UEFA Cup. Having amassed that much weaponry to win his case, ascension to the hottest seat in football is still to be ascertained.

Instead of looking at how the Blues conquered Bavaria, given the history and stereo-type of German football mentality of Bayern Munich, all there is to savour are the lessons that can be gleaned from, not only that duel and the run to the Allianz Arena, but also from the surprise prowess Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League.

Football is played by toddlers by heart who genuinely see themselves as Ronaldos, Messis, Rooneys and Drogbas. That wishful thinking last as long as dew and they begin to act their age, their self. They will play and play-act that way. They believe they are just as lethal or better.

The professionals play at a way different level, the tactical and technical game. More tactic than technique increasingly influences the pattern and outcome of matches. As much as planning and management are crucial, the pivot hinges on the brilliance on a key individual massively gifted.

Chelsea had been very average throughout the past few years. There was never a question of their talent. Actually, there was; as to whether there was any team with as much individual technical ability.

With all the playing with the heart when they were psychologically superior to their peers, (their salaries played a huge part) they could only be rivalled by Manchester City, who, at one point, seemed too over-rated.

It may not be as obvious that Chelsea did not win because they are more talented than their semi-final victims, Barcelona or slaughtered Bayern Munich.

This distinguishing point was the championship mentality and a good footballing side. For many years, the world witnessed how much the beautiful football of the Catalans won matches and trophies. It was a new age of the game, after years of the dull finals always experienced the world over.

That phase came after the Brazilians and the Dutch introduced 'the beautiful game' and 'total football'. It was well while it lasted. The Germans introduced the dull straight forward game that the Italians solidified by the basketball defending tactics of Arrigo Sacchi.

Football was never the same until Barca successfully brought back the tiki-taka, historically known in South Africa as 'shoe-shine' piano, though in Africa it was more individual than a collective effort.

The Blues made a bold statement to our astonishment of what we all knew already. It does not matter how you play. No one remember those who came second.

The Londoners were neither too technical or tactical. They played not with their feet nor their hearts, but with their heads. That is the difference between a champion and a runner-up. It was not a game any more.

Now, the European champions did not require good fortune as many may want to to believe that they made their own luck with their hard work, confidence in their abilities and team spirit. All this, they had over the duration of the English Premier League.

All they did was dish out free lessons of how much one's life can change overnight regardless of their background. Where one is, where they were before, counts for nothing in dealing with life battles. Anyone person, have a Didier Drogba in themselves and getting him on there when you need him is key.

Whether you keep him after that success is another story. It may not be a guarantee that you contract your Di Matteo, but if you want to champion your own life and cause, impossible is nothing.

As much as this is about Chelsea, Manchester City proved the point that in life one can never give up. It is hardest just a moment from glory. They say it is darkest before dawn.

As a team,they were down and out, without any hope for silverware and qualification of Europe. They looked desperate and downtrodden, proof that you can be head and not the tail. 

Should I? Anyway, viva the champions

I am tempted to go the 'I told you so' route concerning developments at the La Liga. Those familiar with the blog contents are already nodding in approval but still, if you are uninformed, I will gist you.

At the introduction people in the know will tell you about a post that claimed Barcelona were finished. I went on to explain how Jose Mourinho was the new bull in the kraal.

Much ire from the Catalans faithfuls was drawn by the assertion that their team would lose the league. It sounded like hatred as some put it.

Further observation that the team would either disintegrate or the part ways with their beloved mentor sounded like a man full of new wine.

At this point, Real Madrid are relishing their new found status that has been elusive for a while, to be Spanish champions. It took the special efforts from Mourinho. They could have played better football but no one would have remembered them this season.

Pep Guardiola won about 13 titles with his flamboyant Barcelona team in his tenure, but his elimination from the UEFA Champions League and losing the grip of the championship title that had become a personal property made him throw in the towel.

Surely, as per my prediction, that would happen regardless of the circumstances. The title would not have eluded his adversary for the successive year.

As for the player exodus, it has not yet happened. It may not, now that the coach left, but it was a certainty had it been Guardiola stayed. However, one cannot bet on everyone staying fir the new season.

Like it or not, for a moment, Barca are done. Hopefully, it will be for a few seasons and then they will come and grace our stadia and screens with that silky-touch football. For the moment, they will have to help us congratulate the champions and watch as football is played to learn a thing or two.

All this, I told you well before.

Post mortem: It's what Barca did not do, or not?

Suddenly, everyone think Chelsea FC are the heroes and Roberto Di Mateo the man. It is surely with good reason and man do they deserve it! A friend of mine excellently summed it up well by saying that the only time he saw a team defend with such gusto and with their lives, was way back in 1990, at the Italia '90 Fifa World Cup during the opening match when 9-men Cameroon shut out and beat the world champions, Argentina, 1-0.

I usually fore go my agreements and disagreement with fellow bloggers like Arsene Wenger and Rafa Benitez. I am tempted to boast about it once in a while. I went through one analysis which showed we wrote it about about the same time, but given our different geographical locations, I will not say they were copying my posts.

Without giving much detail of total agreements we had about how Barcelona lost it, it is suffice to say that the game of football is like that. The odds Chelsea faced from the first leg in London and then Barcelona were almost insurmountable, but when a team stands up to be counted, special things happen.

After the departure of one AVB, I went through his reign that faced resistance of the team's old guard. Much attention was also given to how the Blues could be a very dangerous team. At this point, all can see that they are team that have suddenly ran out games to win the Premiership.

Having said that, some coaching needs to be thrown into the works and so far, Di Mateo's philosophy has not come in to the fore. What has been exhibited is what African township footballers call a 'money game mentality'. Tactics and talent count for nothing.

Defending with one's life and body is one acceptance mode if one is devoid of necessary qualification to compete. That drove Chelsea. Al things equal and pound for pound, they knew they were no match for Barcelona.

What the Catalan faithfuls and the technical department will now defend with their lives, is the answer to the question flying throughout the media at this moment -  that they have no plan B, but then, one must understand the footballing meaning of their plan A to start with.

Those privileged to have accessed my book, The Anatomy of Football will know by now, the obvious facts that a team to score goals, they need to have the ball. The defence philosophy becomes easy to deduce, given that you must not concede if you keep it, well of course.

Barcelona kept the ball to themselves and got carried away too much in doing that. It is how keep it and what you do with it next that will matter more.

The Spanish team, despite their shining record and statistics, never passed their quarter-final status, save for 3 minutes. This was after the Andreas Iniesta's goal and the Ramirez's strike. The rest of the 200 minutes of the matches, they were either either at par or chasing the game.

Their comfort lay in sharing the deal with the Londoners before Didier Drogba hit the net at Stanford Bridge, after which they were over and out, and then at the point Busquets scored at the Camp Nou. As afore-mentioned, they only momentarily took the initiative with Iniesta's superb strike. With the magical Brazilian's deft touch, they were doomed once more, albeit permanently.

For their efforts, Chelsea were on the back foot from the front. Much of the fixture depended on what they did, and how well they would continue to do it. They needed to close down attacks and stop conceding the ball they could not have. That called for discipline and character.

Knowing how difficult that can be in real life, John Terry became human and nearly cost the team dearly when he was red-carded for an offence he really did not need to commit. Under the circumstances, it was not about numbers, statistics or tactics as already said. It was a different ball game.

While I attracted hate from Barca fans as a 'hater' of the Catalans, it may start to make sense what I always tried to put across. I love football and Barcelona. Lionel Messi is my favourite footballer and, of course, the best player ever. My point has been, and always be, the team is finished. How?

With their incredible ability to possess, pass and play the ball, they should have the ability to play in frontal lines and even more. Many saw as the only option for Chelsea to park the bus in front of the Barcelona goal, and surely, so did Barca themselves.

The Spanish giants used the same eyes to look at their own available solutions to the problems; to plummet the bus to total destruction. They wanted to ride over the flat remains of the steel heap and much over it bare-footed. They have successfully done that before against Real Madrid and other big European teams. Maybe the size of the competitions warranted it.

This one was a different kettle of fish altogether. The bus was bigger, Blue and its tyres fully inflated. Their easiest option, which I have seen them fail to implement well now than they did before, was to tow the bus away. Hook up a tow-bar and drive away the thing and slot balls in.

In football terms, instead of staying years at the edge of the Chelsea penalty box, they could have kept the ball further out, slowly and inch by inch. Players, no matter how old and how mature, they will always follow the ball. It does not have to make sense whatever they do, as seen by the red card Terry received, they always get attracted to the leather.

The obvious space created between Petr Cech and his third class central defenders in wing defenders, Ivanovic and Bosingwa, was where their money was. It is common knowledge how the fast-paced Messi intrinsically interweaves passes with Iniesta and Xavi into the box at great speed.

All Barca did, was failed to slide away a bus they tried to grind to powder when it was ready to roll. For their good part, they waited for the pounding to finish and efficiently threw precise attacks at very opportune moment with tell composure that their chief architects, Xavi, Messi and Iniesta would be jealous about.

Given 90% of the squad have Fifa World Cup medals to their well-deserved and due credit, failing to see and act on that qualifies me to tell you that they are finished. As the leading team in the world, they are done. Their history and momentum may carry them a little further, but either the coach or some key players will have to go and leave the rebuilding process to commence, the sooner the better.

(The Anatomy of Football is currently available at discounted rates at the Amazon online store.)

10-men-Chelsea embarass Barcelona 3-2

Chelsea beat Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate in the UEFA Champions League after a 2-2 draw on the night. The decorated one touch shoe-shine piano known as the tiki-taka football counted for naught when the moment to separate boys from men arrived at the Camp Nou. Chelsea entered the treacherous jungle of Barcelona under the circumstances only likened to the lion's den.

The early quick exchanges from the hosts threatened to render the match a suicidal undertaking by the Londoners as Lionel Messi ran through earlier on. The initial runs into the box promised an avalanche of goals for a potential landslide victory.

Until the moment of Barca's Busquests' goal in the 35th minute, the evidence of Chelsea being at the wrong place was everywhere for all to see. The Cesc Fabregas low cross from the left caught Ashley Cole on the wrong side of action.

The moment of craziness from John Terry dumped the English Premier League giants into the 'new buffalo mother's pen as the match took a twist for the worst for the visitors. Terry was red-card for an off-the ball incident for pushing his knee at the back of of Alexis.

The patient build-ups of the Catalans proved too powerful for Chelsea as they saw Messi flying in with an enterprising one-two with Iniesta who blasted in a goal in the 43rd minutes with a low shot past Petr Cech. The flowing exchanges continued with Barca threatening to run away with the match.

In a very rare swift counter attacking movement, Frank Lampard put a though ball that Ramirez ran onto and chipped in a wonder goal in the 45th+1 minute of the match.

The Blues defended with their lives as Barca pushed harder to restore order. A very controversial soft penalty was awarded when Didier Drogba caught Cesc inside the box. The non malicious challenge proved to be innocent as the resultant spot kick was missed by the usually magical Messi, who crushed the cross-bar.

Drogba had his chances including the rounding off of the defence and that long range speculative attempt. The Ivory Coast striker put up a man-of-the-match performance with his close ball control under tight situations and fighting a lone battle upfront.

The excellent Cech saves also proved to be the difference between Barcelona and the final as he used his legs and body to thwart the marauding Barcelona attacks. The desperate Spanish giants started to push further in characteristically Arsenal fashion.

Barca were pushing forward too hard too often too long, without re-organising by restarting the formula. They camped outside the Chelsea box and kept the visitors happy clonking the ball out with every opportunity as the coiled into a 1-6-2-1 formation.

All the Blues could do was to allow Barca to shuttle across the 18-yard-box exerting sterile pressure, as  Messi lost his running momentum as a result. In few moments that Chelsea pushed forward, there was a realistic chance of the fading La Liga giants grabbing a goal as they shunned to shoot from long range.

In that arrangement, Messi should have been sweeper, collecting the ball from deep areas and came running at the defenders, but Pep Guardiola failed to tactically re-arrange the situation to suit the developments.

As it was becoming less apparent that Chelsea would hold on until the final whistle, the football of passing the ball around with less penetrative force looked certain to win the day for Barcelona as they threw everything into attack.

The 50-million-pound Fernando Torres pounced onto a very long clearance in the 90+2 minute, rounded off Valdes and slotted the ball into the empty net to usher the death knell for the best team in the world.

For Chelsea, it was revenge for the drama of the 'disgraceful' encounter of a few years back, and without a regular experienced manager in Roberto Di Mateo and captain Terry, playing with 10 men and their conventional central defenders out and even two goals down, the English team looked dead and buried.

The referees did not seem to be helping their cause and playing at the Camp Nou in-front of that hostile crowd was intimidatory. Chelsea played with their heads, hearts and bodies, committing fully into tackles and fighting for each other.

It must be said that they rode their luck well given that their two of the three shots on target were goals, compared to the twenty two of Barcelona.

Will they face Real Madrid of the 17th of May 2012?

Pirates and Swallows in a classy draw as Barca lose

After watching Orlando Pirates relentlessly press Moroka Swallows and striking the posts several times and missing clear cut scoring chances, the sudden realisation that the match was in Soweto's Dobsonville Stadium, comes with the understanding that it was African football after all.

With Barcelona huffing and puffing against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League semi-final, succumbing to a Didier Drogba solitary sucker punch, the question of juju working on white people should be revisited. In any case, that match was at Stanford Bridge, which like Dobsonville Stadium, might have been well doctored to respect the home advantage.

Real Madrid visited Bayern Munich and looked set to scrap a point until the fat lady sang. On the balance of scales, they got what they deserved despite their bargaining skills. In that encounter, any mention of wizardry should receive a death penalty. The final 2-1 result depended on the home side, who were lucky to be awarded the first goal that was offside, and scored a classy second.

Real Madrid played very poor football based a very strict and rigid structure and instruction to mark the opposition only from the centre line and launch an immediate attack by sending a ridiculously long ball to the most advanced players every time.

The aggression borne out of arrogance and the coach's psychological grilling were typical of the failed tactics they had always used in the El Classico shows. Real should have played to their strengths, one thing they will do at the Santiago Bernebeu on the return leg. Whether they will take much gamble in the match against Barca, it remains to be seen.

From experience, they do not have a solution to Barcelona, who proved to be very much beatable with their outing to Chelsea. They may claim to have seen a lion or that the goals shifted with every attack, Ike Cassillas may have been seeing double himself.

The thin advantages carried by home teams will not count for much during the return legs, only the tactics involved will be very interesting and conducive to better football than we have seen so far.

As for the ABSA Premiership, Mamelodi Sundowns' sun went down on them at home against Platinum Stars 2-1 conceding the top spot to the Buccaneers. Kaizer Chiefs lost grip of the chasing pack with the sad loss to Maritzburg United at Polokwane.

As the original Soweto derby failed to separate boys from men, it means the Gauteng teams will have to depend much on what happens elsewhere in the next 5 or 6 games. Pirates can dwell on the fact that should the season end right now, or all the teams top 8 teams lose their remaining matches, they will be champions again but some of these teams still have to play each other.

As a fortune teller and witchdoctor of your team, who is the fairest of them all?

Barca reach CL semis

Barcelona dispatched AC Milan in the quarter-final match of the Champions League in predictable fashion, 3-1, one Lionel Messi netting  twice.

After the 0-0 San Siro surprise draw, the rest of the technicalities needed to be fulfilled as the Catalans have proved time and again to  the the best European team, despite losing grip in La Liga, where Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid are turning the tables on them.

Messi's 50th goal in the tournament made him the youngest player to get to that mark and he equalled the 14 goals per season record.

As Barca await possibly Chelsea, they will end the season warm, and probably lose their coach or key players. The necessary rebirth may rekindle the dwindling ambers as they get even cooler.

One can trust and hope they remain hot but when the drum is about to crack, it is so loud.

Arsenal play like Barca

I watched Barcelona in their last UEFA Champions League and could not help but think about one article you posted comparing Arsenal's pressing game with Barca's free-flow passing attacking style.

What I noted is Barca has one formula of play. No plan B or C. Just keep ball, go through opponent D-zone. The same hammer and push analogy you used to describe Arsenal is exactly what Barca do. They hit & push...no rebuilding.

Only one winger Alves, is used to attack, he mostly cuts in to supply the ball in the D zone, looking for Messi especially. If at all he crosses, it is a low one because Barca have height disadvantages.

To counter that, they put more bodies behind the ball, three midfielders in the D-area and the two centre backs to crowd and close the route.

I would say Arsenal has a variety of attacking options.

1) Through the D-zone via Ramsey/Rosicky setting up RVP or them shooting.

2) wing play from both sides Walcot/Sagna or Gibbs/Chamberlain crossing either for headers or tap in or pulling ball back.

3) quick breaks utilizing pace by Walcot esp.

4) Vision.... Song playing lobs for forward to catch opponent on back foot because they always expect slow build up.

I must say that RVP has scored great volleys from this. Bro, my amateur analysis says if only Arsene could buy quality players his model could make Barca look ordinary.

By Robert Gorbachev Sibanda

The moment of truth

Amongst the many things we have always believed and wanted to believe, wouldn't it be nice for a while to honour up and face the moment of truth? There are simply things that we cannot change, like it or not.

To make it flow better, I will start with the sore truth, though it is like swallowing a complete fully-grown half-matured prickle pear. Tottenham Hotspur are finished. They are not good enough.

Arsenal are back with a bang. This, I was told and deliberately refused to heed. The Gunners tried to convince me that they would be back.

This is as painful as typing that Manchester United are the real deal. It does not matter how they play and who the referee is, they lead the English Premier League. I am not counting out Manchester City out yet, but, why in the world are United on top?

I would have been convinced to say Liverpool are back, but there is so much negativity about the reds. The Suarez stories of racism and their failure to send a 'get well soon' message to Fabrice Muamba on time, if ever the finally did, is one thing, but their blowing hot and cold with the chilling consistency needs mention. Exactly when you think they are back, they are gone.

One performance by their Captain Fantastic made them think they own the world and started the blasphemy that Steve Gerrard is the best ever at Anfield. Well enough and all are forgiven for thinking that since they had forgotten how to play Liverpool. Those who know the game, will tell you that you did not watch the 1980s squad to say that statement. It did not need Liverpool supporters to know John Barnes, Ian Rush, Peter Beardsley, Jan Molby, John Aldridge and Bruce Grobelaar among others. Anyway, that's off topic.

Folks, like we have always said about how bad South African was, underlined by Orlando Pirates' loss to Angolan champions, we hereby bow and accept the Barclays Premier League is mediocre. I take a sip of water as I say this, as it does not go down well even with me.

The idea that La Liga is just a two horse race and that the EPL is the real deal, given that the 'minnows' account for the scalps of 'giants' once is a while, and that the race is always decided at the end, is over-rated. How many English teams remain in the Champions League? How many are in the Europa League? Only Chelsea are still in the Champions League.

The English champions are not even good enough for the semis of the European second tier Cup. By contrast, La Liga has two representatives in each and may win both. Real Madrid and Barcelona may even play the final. Valencia and Athletico Madrid may take the Europa.

La Liga boast of the World Player of the Year, and has consistently produced one over time. They have produced more European Champions.

And by the way, another hard one to take for many, Lionel Messi is the greatest player of all time and Manchester City need Carlos Tevez. 

Messi will be number 4 for a long time.

Lionel Messi has a very long way to go to be the best footballer of all time, even number 3. Messi of Argentina, won the highest individual footballing honour for the 3rd consecutive time last week, a feat achieved by fewer that 5 players and at this rate, one he may achieve once more, as long as his team stays tops and Cristiano Ronaldo remains arrogant, (I seem to be the only person admiring the Portuguese's attitude and that is his undoing to many.) but it will take his take him far more effort to get in touch with the Top 3 Footballers of the all time.

Barcelona are the team of the decade by far, domestically and in the UEFA Champions League, out doing themselves over and over and I am not about to praise them any further. After all, it is not so long ago that I told you about the beginning of their end. Many took it that I meant that Real Madrid are a better team in comparison. Madrid have been better, of course, after the arrival of Jose Mourinho. 

The protracted verbal war and psychological warfare that boardrooms and racial slurs characterised The Special One's arrival in Spain but things calmed down as teams went into business. Now, Barca are wilting and Lionel Messi is proving to be human.

There was a time that I think he has measuring up to Zinedine Zidane, because I think Zizou is the greatest thing that happened to the game after Pele and Diego Maradona in that order. A few more seasons may see him getting there but he is running out of time. With what he has done and achieved, Argentina should have been FIFA World Cup champions. You may want to argue that World Cups are not a measure of everything and you are wrong.

Players like Pele, Maradona and Zidane had tremendous club success and their World Cups were cherries on top. No matter the glitter of any career from thence forth, if anyone can collect everything at once and fails at the World Cup, no one will remember their name.

The last generation of great footballers had one particular player, Eusebio. The Mozambican born Portuguese would have rated well alongside Pele, had he won a World Cup with Portugal. World Cups provide a platform for football patterns and evolution as well as player character.

Maybe also not so great in their clubs but so charismatic at the game were characters like Romanian George Hagi, a size 5 Number 10 who made football look so simple and had a tremendous shot. Hristo Stoichkov of Bulgaria is yet another great player of the World Cup. 

Why I bring these names forth, Messi has not mad much impact for Argentina as these have made for their countries during their prime. In that mix you could add Davor Suker of Croatia and Michel Platini of France. These players made huge impacts on the game for both the tournament and their countries.

As of now, Messi is so ordinary and by passion, is ranked amongst these. As for the actual influence of results, there is just so much ground to cover and I think he is running out if World Cups. Since 2014 FIFA World Cup is in South America, it may be his time t come out of the closet and be counted, but there will be Neymar of Brazil to compete with.  

Messi may not need to really win the FIFA World Cup, but at least to set it alight, to make his presence felt at least may be enough to secure a and seal a Top 4 position, but as for the actual Top 3, he needs to do what Pele did in 1958 in Sweden, Maradona in Mexico '86 and Zidane's France '98 at least. These men had to deliver the magic even in the actual final, and it was not the finals that made them great. They were already tops and the wizardry of the last games of the World Cups became the seal of approval. 

Barcelona are done.

I am not cursing anyone or any team with a curse. The days of the Catalan dominion of world football are nearing the end, but they entertained us while it lasted. I am of the opinion that the domination of La Liga by Barca is at the door on its way out, as is the status of Manchester United but both for different reasons.

In Spain, unless Jose Mourinho is quickly fed up as seen by his impatience which I deduced from the tactics he uses in El Classicos, Real Madrid have come of age and are pip the Catalans as the Real deal. The rest of the bunch is way off, but the change of the cockerel in the brood may give hope for resurgence at Valencia and Athletico Madrid.

As for United, there is a genuine lack of a challenger. Arch-rivals, City and Chelsea have the talent and financial muscle, but I question their football culture and ethics, which Tottenham Hotspur have. Spurs have no talent or money to guarantee staying power. Arsenal and Liverpool would be ideal, but their football is so far miles off the mark. Anyway, I was talking about Barca.  

In any case, I think time for Barca to disintegrate is here. Either by default or design, it’s time their best players moved on elsewhere and make the same impact out of the Nou Camp. Naturally, there is the fear in Iniesta to play in a team without Xavi and Messi, by Xavi to play without Messi and Fabregas alongside him and Villa without the supply of the three musketeers.

David Villa is an accomplished finisher who can make it anywhere though, as much as is Messi can, but the same cannot be said about the other members of the Catalan engine room. Unless they move to more polished machines with accomplished mentors like Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and United, Chelsea and Arsenal, they will struggle.

Going back to the coaches, I wish to say that in the event that Barca remains as they are now, Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho and Harry Redknapp can make it a better team than they are now. The same can be said about Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson will be of much better help by quitting United.

If you have been watching the same games as I have been, you should agree with me that while Swansea are novices in their play and approach, they could be in the top 8 of the log if managed by one of the coaches named above. The same goes for Stoke City, who I believe could be top 4 materials.

Barcelona have won everything there is to play for. They were incredible to achieve that feat with their latest FIFA Club World Cup. Unity and hunger for success under the conditions have been commendable, an example for many to follow but so hard to emulate that I think, even themselves, are questioning the ability to take that to the next level, or at least two seasons from now.

This is not to say it is impossible. Even at their prime, Liverpool and United did not hit the ceiling and stuck there perennially as the Spanish did. Like it or not, gravity acts on all objects alike and as for Barca, that time is now.

The most overlooked training aspect of the game.

Mostly due to ignorance and turning a blind eye to detail, many teams and top coaches take one thing for granted. I must admit that until I watched the last El Classico myself, I would not have noted this to write an article. It is something I had done with my teams, especially at amateur level.
Let us think this way for a while and see if we can make head way. I will draw contrasting examples to make a point, but this is applicable at high level, as it did in the Barcelona versus Real Madrid a few days back.

Say Barca, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Spurs are drawn amateur clubs in big Cup encounters. Does it matter who wins the toss and they get to kick-off the match? It does, and by how much? A long way.
First and foremost, the questions of whether it is a home or away fixture comes in. This takes into account the home crowd; whether it will be a happy full house or it is an away encounter without any spectatorship.

Take it the big team is playing away. In this case, they may be the ones to kick off the match. The ball should be meant to go around and make every member of the team touch it as often as possible. This has two effects. It settles the nerves and ascertains the superiority of the team before the novices get excited of playing against the Wayne Rooneys and the Rafael van der Vaarts. Train this with your team.

The ball possession also sends the message to the terraces that the big boys are in town. The coach must therefore make his team understand this. Here I am assuming the big team has their first choice players in the park, which they should most of the time. Possession for extended periods at the beginning is key.

Reversing the order of things, the smaller team may be the one getting to kick-off. Being amateurs and their coach not following this on www.tsendex.wordpress.com, they will be very nervous and trying to figure out how to get autographs of the accomplished pros. The big team will have to pounce like a hungry wild cat onto the prey and get the ball back lighting fast.

Your team may be the small amateur side playing in front of your home crowd. The responsibilities are the same. Make sure that the big team and their fans get the memo that you are here to stay, by simply keeping the ball, moving it around fast and accurately. This settles the nerves of everybody in the team. It will give you an earlier indication as to who is in it and who is not.

The other advantage of this is that it brings the crowd into it and the boys will love when the stadium breaks into song. From there on, it is the bigger team to question if they can cope. Some may even start looking at the stage to see where they are and what is happening.

Be warned about failing to win the kick-off. It is not necessary to dive into tackles and try to win possession in swift sweeping motion. It will be essential to be patient and steady. The normal tendency will be to lose shape and the discipline of the strategy when the experienced professionals move the ball around.

Your team will need win the vital first tackle and get the applause of the home crowd, and then keep that ball for extended periods of time. Less emphasis should be placed in rushing forward to score. Failure early on may sup all the confidence the players have and they may withdraw.
The other scenario when you are the top dog and playing at home and you have to kick-off, is to send the long ball into the small team’s box and chasing looking for the early mistake before the nerves settle. The message to the novice boys is, ‘Here comes trouble’. They quickly note that they are in the wrong league and are in danger. The same can be done even if the smaller boys kick-off and they send the ball back. Sprinting to the ball and crowding them will make them feel outnumbered and then they will be prone to make mistakes.

This brings the point of the El Classico. This happens even in the big league. Real Madrid were on the score sheet with less than half a minute on the clock. They could have doubled the matters minutes later. The problem with big clubs of equal egos, it goes beyond the tactics and Barcelona were back in the game after being let loose by Real.

Real had matters under control for the first 12 minutes and Barca had no answers to their movements, but they let themselves down by their sloppy attitude in scoring. Cristiano Ronaldo could have killed the game, not once and not twice.

The point is, the way Real started the match was not a dressing room issue. I can tell you they spent so much time working on their strategy which worked well, albeit temporarily. At least, fortunately for their preparation, they knew they were at home. It just came to who was going to kick-off.

That classic example also showed a point I would have missed. At high level, that kind of pressing must produce results quickly, because the pace cannot be sustained by men who are not on steroids. The energy demands are extreme and you need the positive results when fatigue takes its toll.

At lower levels of the game, the difference may be minimal, but if you have a good eye, you will not miss it. Take time to plan and practise kick-off, just as you do with corner-kicks and penalties. It may be the one thing that saves you a point, a Cup or a job one day.