finally...some STRAIGHT talk

[Gamma]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...507845&cc=5901

[Jangle]

"Most of the squad for this month's friendly against Guatemala were young, in keeping with Olympic soccer rules that limit participants to under 23, with three over-age players allowed."

I wonder if this is the squad that Argentina will be playing us with?

[Jangle]

Things that make you go hmmmm.......

[OJ]

Charles Hughes...the long ball game

Much of if not all the English FA handbook this guy and that is where they goti it wrong for sure. Also the winning forumula

[Mexxx]

Is the premise of the logic flawed?

As I have heard it the foundation of the logic behind the long ball is...

The fastest way to get into a shooting position and hence to a goal is to get the ball from the defensive third to the attacking third as quickly as possible hence giving more chances over a 90 minute period. That time is enabled through the DIRECT play or long ball to forwards (wingers also who then cross) in a shooting position.

Inferior skilled (some call it technique or touch) teams with tall players use this strategy the best, hence Norway was successful with it in World Cup and European Championships.

[Gamma]

bottom line...how many long ball teams have won the world cup?

[OJ]

His foundation is flawed. Charles Huges who wrote the FA manual dont believe in the concept of possesion, or tempo but direct play. He will argue that 70% of goals are scored in the final third and you get there by playing direct not by build up. Therefore if you follow is premise players who can dribble have close skills are luxury! players who can get the ball forward quickly or penetrate often which then requiries one to recover the ball higher up the pitch is golden. If you understand these factors then you understand what has hampered the BRITISH game. Speed Brawn Strength but not skill. Just look at the league the teams who play football have players outside of this mind set. All I am saying is the architect of this was Charles Huges and addiles is right.

[OJ]

one ( the winnning formula is the title of Charles Huges video series) not that England has the winning formula

[Karl]

Things that make you go hmmmm.......

Double mmmm?
Yuh seit!
Continuity!
From this U-23/Olympic squad they are building for the future.
That's how it should be - U-17s ----> U-20s/U-21s---->U-23/Olympic----National Senior TEAM.

What is with our nonsense of failure to expose our young (consistent diet of international competition through our year and over years) via the age-group TEAMs and 'less than best available' on our national senior TEAM?

[Mexxx]

Italy....

bottom line...how many long ball teams have won the world cup?

maybe, strong defense counter attack with long ball...score.

anywho, me not a proponent of long ball as you well know, I just think the premise of the long ball is incorrect

[Mosiah]

The question is how many long ball goals has Brazil scored compared to those that required 10 touches from the defence? The facts might astound you!

[Lazie]

...me not a proponent of long ball as you well know, I just think the premise of the long ball is incorrect

This is a joke right? Your team is under pressure .. one of your midfielder intercepts a pass, looks up field and see his winger have all the space in world .. what should he do? Use the long ball that could lead to goal on the counter? Or follow your philosophy and claim the premise of long ball is incorrect and pass it back to the central defender?

[Mosiah]

Come on, Lazie. I doubt very much that that is Mexxx' thinking.

[Gamma]

that is not the point....it is the PHILOSPHY of the long ball. a good team scores from any opportunity so if there is a man open and the defence and clear it to him and does i wouldn't call that a long ball philosphy.

i am familair with the "touches statistics" vis a vis a goal being scored but this does not take away,or add anything.

donovan ricketts seems to have been from the "long ball school"

[Mosiah]

I think it is quite interesting to know that Brazil's last few goals in the world cup when they were successful were by the long ball method. I haven't personally checked but some "knowledgeable" person told me this. Of course, the fact that Brazil may have scored in that manner does not mean it has embraced that philosophy. That's not what I am suggesting.