Arnold breaking new ground
19 Apr 2013 Craig Foster


Bravo, Graham Arnold.
At a time when there is growing interest in the mechanics of the game, fans are actively seeking out more information. Offsetting this has been coaches' reluctance to openly discuss their tactical preparation, methods and match management.

In the past, many coaches have been sensitive to opening up for fear their methods were out of date and knowledge found wanting. As the level of coaching grows, those unwilling or unable to learn aggressively and quickly will continue to fade away.

There is also a feeling among many that if they give out too much information, they’re selling secrets and compromising their opportunity to succeed in a job that is ultimately about results.

Each coach has his or her beliefs about what is most likely to constitute positive results and some of these choices will be better to watch as a spectator than others. In football beauty is most certainly in the eye of the beholder, but whatever the philosophical choice, very few have been willing to speak openly about what they do and why.

Understanding the game more deeply is important because it allows fans to enjoy the tactical battle between teams irrespective of what happens on the scoreboard or by way of ‘goal action’.

This journey of understanding in football is one that we all take at different levels and speeds but one that takes a lifetime for all of us, since the game has no bottom - just deeper levels of insight.

When two evenly-matched teams contest a game that is perched on a knife edge, one poor decision by a player, referee or coach can make the decisive difference. The whole experience takes on a more complex feel as you become fully engaged in the tactical battle.

I bet there will be tens of thousands of this type of fan watching and thoroughly absorbing a fascinating contest in this weekend’s Grand Final.



Back to Graham.

After Central Coast Mariners' semi-final win over Melbourne Victory, Arnold took the time to explain the tactical plan that saw the Mariners so comfortably stifle Victory, including the work of his back four and the strategy to form a block in the central area to ensure Marcos Flores was unable to involve himself in the play.

Arnold’s comments give an insight into the strategy that was formed in training and carried out by the players, providing fans with an insight into the tactical work that shaped the semi-final win.

The work of Tony Popovic has also been valuable in the growth of the football culture, simply because his team moves so well together, forms such perfect lines and covers so quickly that fans both new and old can observe the tactical patterns with relative ease.



So much of football only reveals itself when we see something that is so right, in itself exposing that which was different or wrong and, as such, it doesn’t take great insight to recognise that Poppa has raised the bar in terms of compact team organisation.

That he has done it with a group of players that were by and large not viewed as outstanding (with the greatest of respect to the boys) is all the more impressive.

In the past we got a load of platitudes, clichés and excuses from coaches after a match. Now these would simply not be accepted by a fan base growing quickly in understanding.

Arnold took the time to explain in detail, allowing more fans and journalists to understand the game inside the game. He should be congratulated and recognised for doing so.

I would encourage every football journalist to take advantage and probe Arnold on questions of tactics after every game to increase the volume of discussion in this area.

They might find their own understanding increasing and that their audience is thankful for the further information.

Arnold has now placed pressure on the rest, who will have to have a reasonable and reasoned answer when journalists ask them why their strategy succeeded or failed.

At a time when we are progressing quickly and seeking to accelerate as a football nation, this trend will be fantastic for the Australian game.


http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/craig-foster/blog/1148198/Arnold-breaking-new-ground

As someone who regularly goes to post-match conferences, I can vouch for the fact that most coaches are - to put it simply - dull. Responses to any question are, for the most part, nothing more than a chain of cliches (they lack character, one game at a time, not 100% fit yet, et al). Some of them use them to the point that it seems like they don't even know what they're doing, as if the actual answers to various questions just aren't there. I could name a few off the top of my head that do that. The only real highlight in most press conferences is when certain coaches have a jovial character (van Egmond, Mulvey being the two that stick out in my mind).

Ange Postecoglou is extremely insular during his post-match press conferences. Nothing open about him at all and, whenever you ask him about a various part of the performance, he'll come out with something like, "Well, we analyse things differently, so we'll go back home and take a look at the game then." In one press conference with him, he said that about three times in a minute, which got me wondering; "What the Hell does he do to analyse the games?"

But questions like these, I fear, will never be answered. They absolutely should be answered, but so many coaches keep so much to themselves. It's one of those things that makes me want to get into every inner sanctum in every coaching circle.

Great post.=d>

Our NTC and Skilleroos coaches always advertise that their sessions are open sessions. However, hardly anybody takes them the opportunity to learn from them.