I know this is a website for banter, posturing and generic measuring of genitalia.
I just wanted to reach out to you guys, I'm sure I'll be judged for this and maybe rightfully so but am just sharing it so if anyone else has confessed to doing this they know they're not alone.
I'm not proud of it but didn't know what else to do. I try hard to always do the right thing but we are all human n so here goes....
This evening I was coaching my team, I tried to do the right thing set them up to play a bit of Sarri ball with the odd hint of Borussia Dortmund under Klopp. Things fell apart the centre couldn't hold at all. Our defending was more porous than that there last game of the season Reading game.
It was hot and the players were looking jaded, I knew it was too hot for the hairdryer, I tried the Lampard thing of just throwing on lots of attackers and hoping someone might do something with the ball. Long story short we lost the first half 5-1.
Our passing was awful, our shape was non-existant. I saw the look on their faces, one of exhaustion and really not enjoying it. I took a deep breath and said this is what we're going to do.
Okay here goes...I Gary Rowetted my own team maybe even Catenaccio'd them. It was a desperation move. I set them up in a 7-1 formation (U12 size games) My goalie had a good boot on him I played long and direct with the fast tall guy up top. I hated myself. To make matters worse it worked. We lost but won the second have 1-0 proper Billy Davies type stuff.
Our passing was better, we doubled up on everybody, players started working for each other, taking joy in anti-football.
Then the final whistle blew, it felt like a victory but at what expense. My whole footballing pedagogy has been ruined, I've become the man I never said I would be.
Judge me all you like but I hope some can take pity and offer words of comfort not just the cold shoulder, shame and banishment.
A Shoulder to Cry on Please
posted on 20/6/19
Play to your players strengths. You can't expect Lee Cattermole to play like Messi.
posted on 20/6/19
Been telling you for years, it's the players, all this combinations of numbers which add up to 10 stuff is total boIIocks. Just read another Michael Cox book, Zonal Marking, absolute crap. Football is a simple game, you only confuse players by making it complicated. Messi scores lots of goals because he is good at football.
posted on 20/6/19
Lee Cattermessi.
Thanks you Spart for absolving me of all responsibility. Deep love brother.
posted on 20/6/19
Personally I am ashamed of even being on the same continent with you.
posted on 20/6/19
Understandable Dixie I’ve put in a bid for Lee Cattermole though so I can start to rebuild my shattered reputation.
posted on 22/6/19
2 Wellies
As a seasoned coach myself, you can only make the most of what you've got.
If you play your style and they play the same style but have better players, they will normally win.
So you have to adopt a different style.
Which you did.
It may not have been the style of play you want to adopt but sometimes damage limitation is a valid excuse.
The game was lost at half time but at least your players came off with pride intact and team bonding strong.
Far more important long term!
posted on 22/6/19
Give up football. Your future us in journalism xx
posted on 23/6/19
Cheers Peeder yeah it felt like a victory they won the tournament today though playing the right way.
Journalism maybe I could write some sleazy article that ruins a young managers dream move to a top club??
posted on 23/6/19
comment by 2 Wellies (U6713)
posted 6 hours ago
Cheers Peeder yeah it felt like a victory they won the tournament today though playing the right way.
Journalism maybe I could write some sleazy article that ruins a young managers dream move to a top club??
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Well done on the tournament 2Wellies
Youth football is about life coaching as much as, maybe more than the result.
Your players will have learnt a lot from the last few days.