Keeping the Ball Versus Getting Stuck In

Dhruv Tikka comments on the proposed cap on foreigners in the EPL and ends up with an indictment of English football. He praises the art of keeping the ball and disparages the English belief in "getting stuck in":

"England does have great players but they seriously lack the most important aspect in the most successful teams: the ability to keep the ball. The best teams in international football - the likes of Italy, Argentina, Brazil etc. are masters in keeping the ball. There is the long ball game and the emphasis from coaches at youth level of "getting stuck in". It’s so important to have good passers of the ball in central midfield."

"Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have admirable qualities but keeping the ball with slick, controlled passing that we see every week from Manchester United and Arsenal, is certainly not what we get from them. They're no Maradona's or Zidane's either. If you have the ball then you have the opposition do the chasing. Argentina rip teams apart with their passing, as have the great Brazil sides over the years. The only surprise exception to this is the master under-achievers Spain..."

"It was Roy Keane's autobiography where he was talking about Brian Clough's view that "you can over-complicate things with tactics. You just need to pass to the nearest red shirt (Forest)."Look at the two best teams in England right now: United and Arsenal. There's nothing too complicated about the way both sides play. It’s just beautiful football, the way it should be played - more emphasis on beating the opposition rather than stopping them. The shackles really are off with both these sides, it’s enjoyable to play and watch."

Source >

Cross-referenced > Keepingtheball.com