Jesus Uralius offers us a look at how coaching is no longer about lapping the track until a players hangover is gone…
Somewhere in the Hallowed Halls of our Glorious Club is a small room with technical and tactical advisors, I know not what they look like, nor am I sure of the tools of their trade, but I know this. They are the individuals that are infuriating so many of us seasoned supporters.
Let us assume for a moment that I actually know what I am talking about, I know to some that may seem unlikely, but roll with it.
All of our players are thoroughly analysed by this team of advisors; how they dribble, how they shoot, how they pass, how they cross, whether or not they come to meet the pass or wait for the ball to trickle to them etc. Not to mention a whole host of tactical requirements; when should a wide player sit in, when should the full-back make his overlap, whether or not the rotating holding midfielder rotated at the right time, whether the center back was sitting too far wide at a counter attack etc.
This team of analysts meet with the coaching staff to discuss the player’s strengths and weaknesses. Then this team of analysts and the coaches meet with the players to discuss the previously mentioned strengths and weaknesses.
During the training week there are several technical exercises that are carried out by the whole squad (hopefully how to rush forward to meet a pass before the opposition sneak in and steal it is one of them).
There is also time set aside for players to work on their weaknesses in small groups and individually. Perhaps they work on shooting with their weaker foot, crossing with their weaker foot, or just plain passing 15 meters to an open player.
Finally the coaching staff really like to focus on the player’s strengths, they feel that working on the player’s strengths should not be neglected as these strengths can also be improved (apparently my spelling of strengths cannot be improved; thank goodness for spell check).
Now this last point is what I would like to focus on here. I do not disagree with the fact that a player’s strengths can be improved, of course they can, there is always room for improvement. We have all heard that the magic number to be an expert at something is about 5000 hours. To put that in perspective that’s 5 years in a full time job. So many of us after 20 years + of hard drinking on the weekends are only now getting close to being experts.
“Well that’s fine!” I hear you shout. “All of our players have been doing this full-time for 5 years by the time they hit 21!”
Unfortunately that is only partly true; as there are so many different technical and tactical requirements to be a Total Footballer many players who join our Glorious Club at a young age are excellent at some skills, but those skills are only a requirement for 1 or 2 roles and they are not even proficient at a number of other skills that would be required for a change in role. So what we end up with is a group of players that can only play in 1 position doing only a handful of things.
“Well play them in their strongest role so we can win games!” come shouts from the terraces.
Again that may seem like a great idea in the short term however, it is every coach’s and manager’s duty to help and encourage players be the best they want to be. Some Football Associations even make you take a right hand raised oath to such an end. Furthermore in modern football a player that can only play in 1 position and fill 1 role is not seen as a complete player by managers who are constantly trying to get the upper hand tactically over the opposition. Therefore these players are not worth as much to the big money teams.
“So what are you getting at “Jock?””
There are times when our players are going to play in positions and roles that were unnatural to them upon arrival, if a player sits out for a while don’t always expect him to come back in and play exactly the same role he played before. Don’t always expect Kris Commons to be allowed to roam half the field looking for space, don’t always expect Gary Mackay-Steven to be making darting runs to the byline then crossing the ball in. This will benefit the players, the club and the support in the long run whether it be because our manager can switch from 2 inside forwards to a winger and an inside forward with a single shout. Or just because our attacking players are valued more due to their versatility.
Now that I have convinced you all. *cough*
Back to what concerns me about what is happening at our club. We have all heard of the learning curve haven’t we? Even wee Callum MacGregor spoke about it much to the disgust of a former player.
It looks like this.
As you can see after a certain point the gains of practise taper off. Meaning after 20-25 hours our players gain less and less from whatever it is they are working on by the time they hit the 50 hour mark the gains are seriously insignificant. Sure if they keep at it eventually they will be full on experts, but they have a whole slew of weaknesses that could be worked on so they become proficient at every part of the game. I am not saying they will be experts at everything, but they will be proficient (as proficient as some players in clubs lower down the league table) and who knows with practise, game time, training matches and more free flowing training excersises they might end up being experts at more aspects of the game!
What I am saying is I want to see our players become proficient technically with no gaping holes in their game. I don’t need them to be experts at every tactical role, I don’t need them to be experts at everything they try, but I do want them to try, I do want them to improve and most of all I don’t want them to be scared to try something they have been working on and I’m willing to accept the odd defeat if it means our players are improving.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again.
“I don’t care if we only win the league on goal difference and we lose the Cup. I want to see more evidence of improvement. I am a stakeholder as are all supporters, we want more openness on improvements made and we want everyone at the club to learn from mistakes.”
That includes us “The Support” these players are trying to remember so many things at once. Often their natural instinct will be pulling them one way while training will pull them the other. Who remembers learning to drive? There will be mistakes…. Get over it already, and if you are going to criticize try to be specific (game/minute/what happened) and try to think about what the player should have done. Get behind the players, even if the manager goes it will still be them playing for us!
Hail, Hail!
watch…the first twenty hours of learning anything…
It,s a pity our manager and coaches don,t seem to be showing any evidence of improvement.
Why can’t they have a training session where they all wear the same strips and practice passing to each other.
Interesting stuff.
Unfortunately our ‘jungle management’ only approve of “git it in the f*****n boax ya useless wee sh**e” mode of operation/play.
Anything other than this is deemed “pyure pish” and needs yelled abuse at until gone, or an even more “pyure pish” player catches the eye.
When Jock Stein arrived at the club from Hibs, he inherited a bunch of players who in terms of success were classed as “also rans”.They had spent several seasons together under Jimmy McGrory running around like headless chickens. Jock had previous knowledge of them through his role as second squad/youth coached earlier in their careers and knew precisely their strengths and more importantly their potentials.
He didn’t try to make them all-round players by working on their weaknesses. He concentrated on maximising their strengths and giving them roles and positions where they were most effective and comfortable. He never asked them to do things they were not capable of doing- you never saw Wee Jinky tracking back and tackling yards from his own goal line or Bobby Murdoch sprinting into the six yard box to get on the end of a through ball! They each had their jobs to do and performed them as master craftsmen not as cowboy bodgers.
Football is a simple game and it is most effective when you ask your players (who are generally not overendowed in the cerebral area) to do the simple things well and confidently within their range of capabilities.
It’s easy! Don’t smother it with science and statistics. Keep it simple!
Aye I know what ye mean but The game has changed a lot since then though. Paddy McCourt would have played in Jock’s teams but nowadays its all speed and strength.
Bwian eh,
Aspects of the game have changed yes, but the fundamental basics of the game are the same.
Jocsoc,
Absolutely agree with you!
Brilliantly put. Could not agree more.
Agreed Uralius, I’d personally prefer having a young team and letting them grow together to buying from English 2nd division. More than that I’d prefer a back four of KT’s a midfield of liam Hendersons and lee griffiths up top if it were possible or a defence and midfield of KT’s and the grifalo.
The fact that we will miss out on millions of pounds of a transfer fee for James Forrest, is the disappointing aspect to his choice of not renewing his contract.
It matters little whether I like him or another doesn’t, Celtic are the losers in this, financially.
At a time like now, where spending is at a minimum, can we afford to lose assets for next to nothing? I argue we can’t!
gary harkins is a good learner ralph
I think this is what the management team are trying to introduce to our midfielders. It’s not all about tippy-tappy football, but merely doing the ‘ugly’ side of the game also, be a ‘total’ football player. You seen how LG tracked back to his own box after giving possession away at the half way line, a successful team needs ‘every’ player thinking along the same lines. Only my opinion.
Spot on bud.
This is why you won’t see much of Kris Commons now (example) as he won’t do that.
We have a system that is if played to it’s full potential very effective on the whole.
We have a team of players of varying talent none of them are World class or world beaters (yet).
The Manager we have is a great believer in hard work,dedication and promoting from within.
It will take time for everything to slot into place and there will be times when circumstances (as seen with the defensive issues this season) dictate that progression will be hindered.
I see progress in several players and a decline in others but age experience and form will have a part to play in this.
Patience is as always the key with development and improvement.
We haven’t been great this Season in fact there have been a large number of games where we have been poor but the fact remains we have still remained as consistent regardless.
We have conceded far more goals yet our GD has improved markedly that should tell of us we are moving forward.
We are in exactly the same position in the League as we wee at this point last season albeit with 2 point less in the same amount of games.
That’s the difference between a win and a draw for those remotely interested.
Hardly justification for the shit being directed towards the side and Management from some.
Interesting post from the OP certainly worth pondering.
jocsoc,
whilst I agree with you,football and the coaching methods in football have changed since jocks time, now I am not saying that is for the better, but the advent of the dutch introducing
total football changed everything in my humble opinion as a football coach myself[ BOYS CLUB] we are taught to actively encourage boys to play in what you might call unnatural positions, where you think a boy may be best or where the boy may think he is best, is sometimes just not the case and kids will often change postions as they mature, get faster,bigger etc , with pro footballes the ethos to a certain extent is the same as the way most of then have been coached all there days,and they are asked to do, tracking back, covering in etc
to be honest I think we overcomplicate things, zonal marking etc, keep it simple do your job, let other people do theres
My earlier post hasn’t appeared..?
“There is also time set aside for players to work on their weaknesses in small groups and individually. Perhaps they work on shooting with their weaker foot, crossing with their weaker foot, or just plain passing 15 meters to an open player.”
Are you sure they do this?
The passing in the last third isnt great as is some of the passes from defence.
We hardly win anything from long kick outs by Craig Gordon.
Very rarely have any of the team put in great crosses to the box.
Mostly they are overhit or just dunted into positions devoid of players.
And when was the last time we scored from a free kick? Do they practice these or is it just a case of being able to run about for 90 minutes.
@ RaymoBhoy
There is indeed evidence to suggest that Stuart Armstrong has been practicing crossing with his weaker foot.
You will notice that I have had a dig at players not coming to meet the ball and not being able to pass 15 meters.
I agree there is a complete lack of crosses finding players, but I do not actually attribute this to the players technique when the stronger foot is being used. It is my opinion that the issues is with the movement of the inside forward, they never seem to be attacking the back post properly (except Kris Commons who I believe does not fully adhere to the tactical wishes of the coaching staff). As far as crossing with the weaker foot is concerned that is something I feel should be addressed with all wide players and quickly.
NOTE: Whilst I was not in the dressing room or on the bench and I have not spoken to anyone who was. If you watch the game when Kris Commons goes off on one. He sits inside, sits inside, sits inside. Then all of a sudden you see him move out wide and support Lustig up the Right-hand wide area. He is substituted almost immediately and loses the rag on the coaching staff. I keep on seeing the “wide right attacker” sitting in, moving into a deep lying forward role in the final third. Lastly every time he scores being somewhere the other wide players don’t venture into he holds up his finger to the bench. That is where my theory about Kris Commons comes from.
Kris should no by now at his age that there is no “I” in team.
Aye, but there are 5 in individual brilliance.