ChicagoBlue
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 10 Jan 2009
- Messages
- 17,576
What Pep has done, as he developed his core group of players, is create numerous OPTIONS on how we are going to play…often utilizing multiple options (formations) in a game.
We see this especially when making subs, as we often don’t make a like for like substitution, but a tactical sub that changes the formation. This then causes the opposition to respond…and then Pep makes another sub that changes the formation again (sometimes back to what it was, just with different personnel!) and it leaves opposition players not knowing who to mark, where to cover, and now the players are different.
To me, this is a key reason Pep wants the players to be footballers first and positional players second. He needs to have the trust in you to be able to option yourself into the formation by playing a slightly different position in a slightly different way. It appears Rico understands these formations and shifts better than most, as Pep lauds him greatly for his head game. In fact, it’s why Bernardo is so, so important to the team. Not only is his technical ability supreme, but he can play about 8 positions on the park…most of them in the same game, if needed.
This is where the young talent has to “get it” or get moved on.
Players talk about football under Pep being simplified at the same time as it becomes revelatory to them. He opens their eyes to the field, the space, and their function within that space.
Over the last decade, we have watched ONE COACH completely change the way the game is played in England and completely change the requirements to be a goalkeeper in the game…amongst other less obvious things.
Wonderland is real, we are all living in it, and Pep is the Mad Hatter!
We see this especially when making subs, as we often don’t make a like for like substitution, but a tactical sub that changes the formation. This then causes the opposition to respond…and then Pep makes another sub that changes the formation again (sometimes back to what it was, just with different personnel!) and it leaves opposition players not knowing who to mark, where to cover, and now the players are different.
To me, this is a key reason Pep wants the players to be footballers first and positional players second. He needs to have the trust in you to be able to option yourself into the formation by playing a slightly different position in a slightly different way. It appears Rico understands these formations and shifts better than most, as Pep lauds him greatly for his head game. In fact, it’s why Bernardo is so, so important to the team. Not only is his technical ability supreme, but he can play about 8 positions on the park…most of them in the same game, if needed.
This is where the young talent has to “get it” or get moved on.
Players talk about football under Pep being simplified at the same time as it becomes revelatory to them. He opens their eyes to the field, the space, and their function within that space.
Over the last decade, we have watched ONE COACH completely change the way the game is played in England and completely change the requirements to be a goalkeeper in the game…amongst other less obvious things.
Wonderland is real, we are all living in it, and Pep is the Mad Hatter!
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