Wednesday 3 November 2010

Redknapp and Bale highlight the stupidity of Zola, Capello and Fancy Danno Italian Coaches

I know it will hurt West Ham fans to do it, but watch the Crouch and  Pavlyuchenko goals against Inter and ask yourself, where were they fashioned? Simple, on the West Ham training field under Ron Greenwood. Look at the way Crouch runs across his defender towards the near post to get on the end of the brilliant Bale cross, and think of Peters ghosting to the near post onto a Redknapp or Sissons cross; and for the Pavlyuchenko goal, remember Hurst making his run to the back post.

Last season I expressed repeated frustration at Zola's absurd insistence on playing his wide men on the wrong flanks. Time and again, we came inside, ignoring the opportunity to skin the full back and hit in a cross to an on rushing striker. The beauty of passing the full back and hitting in a cross on the run is that defenders are facing their own goal as the ball comes over and so are caught in two minds. Leave it and it could be catastrophic; intercept it and you risk an own goal. Meanwhile, any forward is guaranteed to be onside because you cannot be offside if the ball is played parallel to or backwards to the receiving player.

But under Zola, Stanislas or Diamanti received and automatically came inside; and the defenders were able to turn, face and hold a defensive line. How often did we find ourselves squeezed in a five yard space on the edge of the penalty box? If Cole made a move into the box, the flag went up. If Stanislas or Diamanti sought to dribble inside, they moved into a crowd of players. It was so so easy to defend against.

Now, lets look at the last England performance. Again, we have an Italian "tactician" playing the left footed Johnson on the right and the right footed Young on the left. How often did we get crosses into the box? How often were defenders put under intense pressure? How often did we come inside, into crowded areas? How often were Crouch and Rooney left standing around, waiting for a pass?

Mancini is just as obsessed at Man City and look at how they are underachieving!

Meanwhile, 'Arry has kept it refreshingly simple. He puts the right footed Lennon on the right and the left footed Bale on the left and tells Crouch, Pavlyuchenko and Van der Vaart to get into the box and make runs to the front post, back post and down the middle, trusting that the ball will be sent over at pace into a danger area. Do it enough times in a game, and sooner or later a player will connect with the cross and a goal will result. It isn't rocket engineering but it is gloriously effective. All you need is pace on the flanks and forwards and midfield players willing to keep making the runs into the box.

Good on 'Arry. His attitude is, "Bollocks to fashionable training manuals, football is a simple game and I know what works"; and he is being proved right. It is not the only way of winning, if you have wonderfully gifted players like Spain, Arsenal or Chelsea (by Prem standards) or Barcelona, you can play your way through packed defences. But if you have a team of mortals, just keep it simple, play to your strengths and play the percentages. Easy.

I tell you what, Greenwood was smiling down on White Hart Lane last night. "That boy", he said to Lyall, pointing down at Redknapp, "wasn't the greatest player, but he was a very good learner! Now tell me, why did West Ham sack him exactly, giving the job to that "super coach" Roeder?"

16 comments:

Richard said...

Good post.
Looking at that picture of that great team it occurs to me that in reality I think they rather under-achieved as well. To add to the similarities of the current team, the brilliant Ronnie Boyce was as ignored by England as Parker is today.

Anonymous said...

You must have been well made up your yiddos won!

Hammersfan said...

I was please to see an English team beat an Italian team; I am English.

Anonymous said...

HF the only thing you like to see get beat is your meat you bandit boy.

Anonymous said...

should we play a little game my fellow west ham fans. how long do you reckon it will be till HF writes about his favourite club spurs on this site again. i reckon theirs a good chance it will be on saturday if they beat bolton so we can all talk about how well they done again.

Hammersfan said...

1717, you are a juvenile moron. I could not carry your follow up comment because it has homophobic and pornographic. I don't want to endorse your homophobia in any way, but there is another West Ham blog where your homosexual "allegations" apparently have more substance. I am married to a woman and have sired two children.

1739, this thread is about West Ham and claiming Claret & Blue credit for Tottenham's victory over Inter Milan. You, of course, are too thick to understand that.

Anonymous said...

just because you have kids doesn't mean you cant be gay. my mates sister was with a bloke for 6 years and also have 2 kids but they split up 3 months ago because he told her he was gay and met another bloke. just be honest to yourself HF

Anonymous said...

its the same as saying your a west ham fan when we all know your really a tottenham fan. its o.k mate we wont hate you anymore then we already do because that would be impossible.

Hammersfan said...

Oh no you've found me out!

1755, I have read that "mates" in the sense of a sexual partner. Well done for coming out!

Anonymous said...

HF you are more bent then one of harry redknapps transfer dealings.

Hammersfan said...

Was that the sale of Darren to Sunderland?

Anonymous said...

yeah just like darren bent because your about as good as him at finding the back of the goal if you know what i mean hahaha 30 times last season.

Anonymous said...

anyway HF im only having a laugh with you mate so dont take it so personal. you know how it works because ive seen you give out plenty of stick on here. anyway i heard you say that your wife wasn't well. i hope her a speedy recovery mate. :-)

Hammersfan said...

Thanks 1949, she's getting better because she has resumed moaning at me.

Anonymous said...

im glad to know your wife's getting better mate but i cant blame her for moaning at you lol

Anonymous said...

That's why english managers have achieved so much in football