Sunday 27 April 2014

The Rise and Demise of Tiki-Taka

Recently deciding to improve my 'Sporting Book's' collection from a total of 0 to a grand total of 3, I felt now was a stranger time than ever to be reading one in particular.



One of the three books bought, written by Jimmy Burns, takes a brilliant approach in analysing the rise of Spanish football in recent years - or more so 'how football conquered Spain, and how Spain conquered the world'. La Roja, published in 2012, has everything you need to know about the greatest sport in the world, in perhaps one of the greatest Footballing Countries. So why is it that I look to a book - published so recently - as outdated? When did the 'beautiful game' become so, well, boring to watch?

For me, the tipping point was on Wednesday night, when Bayern travelled to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid in the Champions League Semi-Finals. Bayern approached the game fearlessly, seeing most of the ball for the majority of 15 minutes at the start of the game - until Real went 1-0 up, and eventually won the game. It got me thinking.

Barcelona are my starting point. The Catalans have been a dominant force in world Football since way before my time. However, in the last decade or so, the world of Football has seen a rise in the tiki-taka mentality and style of play; knocking the ball left to right, forwards and backwards, growing your opponents weary until deciding to play that killer pass through the defensive line from which your team score a goal. Fantastic, isn't it? The style suits so many, and in particular the teams with very little height - and perhaps power - about them. Football fans globally see this as the way the game should be played. Simple Football. Aesthetically pleasing. This style of Football has been adopted most notably in Spain, but has begun to filter its way through the different Countries and leagues, year by year. And why wouldn't it? Barcelona have been collecting silverware like it's pocket money over the last few decades, so to mimic their style of play can only be seen as a good thing, right?


Perhaps the main reason for the rise of the 'tiki-taka' philosophy, though, is down to the success of the Spanish national team. World Cup and European Championship winners in the last four years, and claiming a spot as one of the greatest National teams to conquer world Football. The strangest thing is to believe this has all been achieved without a real striker to lead the line. In recent years, Spain have utilised the idea of the 'False 9' formation, in which no striker is deployed. The role, usually filled by the likes of Fabregas, makes use of the 'False 9' player as someone to come and collect the ball and make things happen much like a playmaker would. The way that the tiki-taka style of play opens up defences is mesmerising at times, and in Spanish football it's almost faultless - against the weaker teams.



This season has brought a new challenge for Barca and Real in the form of Atletico Madrid. Currently leading La Liga, Simeone's men have been such a powerful presence in this year's competition. Playing with pace and a direct approach, it's really given Football fans everywhere a chance to see the negatives of the 'pass-pass-pass' mentality. I can't put my finger on what it is that makes this year seem like a turning point; not just in Spanish football, but everywhere. Guardiola, a man who's career thrives on the tiki-taka philosophy, has this year brought the style of play to Bundesliga giants, Bayern Munich. Bayern have completely walked through the German league this year, winning the Bundesliga almost a month ago. But can we really base our judgement on the direction of tiki-taka football on the Bundesliga; I mean, with all granted respect, there are only really two teams in it.

This is what brought me to my conclusion on Wednesday night. Bayern - the away side - had 72% possession in the game, but only conjured up one more shot than Real on the night. Possession really doesn't mean goals. Maybe it's just me being naive, but there's just something so tedious and dull about the way it's played. Bayern play their way to the edge of the box, then backwards, then switch it right, then back left, then to Robben, then back, and on and on and on. It's not just the fact I don't enjoy it, it just seems so evidently ineffective against the big teams. Look at Barca this season, a brilliant side of course, but nobody is talking about them like they used to; they are no longer the team everyone looks up to.

Being a Chelsea fan, this season has had me question the idea of results over performance, or vice versa. A neutral watching a Chelsea game in recent weeks would probably struggle to stay awake; it's not attractive, and it's not exciting, but it get's results. The worry for me is, do I want Chelsea again to be seen as a team that - hypothetically - wins the Champions League by playing as 'the little club'? I believe, with the current direction that Football is heading in, the likes of both Madrid clubs - alongside perhaps Liverpool and City - lead the way. It's direct. Fans pay money to watch exciting football. They want shots, saves, goals. But of course, this is a blog. A matter of opinion. What's yours?


Sunday 13 April 2014

The Transition

Counting down the days until the new season began last August seems only moments ago; but now here we are, weeks away from the conclusion of this years campaign.


This season marked Jose's first in his second spell at the Bridge, and with only 4 League and 2 - perhaps 3 - European games remaining, we review what positives - as well as negatives - derive from the year. If we are to believe everything we read, the Blues' Boss has been given an initial four years to create a new dynasty at Chelsea. Four years to make a good team into a great team, with a foundation to build on over the next decade or so.
A lot of people do forget that, although this year has been relatively successful, this is supposedly another season of transition for the Blues. This Summer will see many changes both in and out at the club, with the seemingly immortal core of the team soon to give way to a promising and exciting group of young players.
The season has been priceless in terms of integrating the new boys into the team; the likes of Willian, Matic, Schurrle and perhaps Salah all gaining crucial experience in the English game. Willian in particular appears to have a bright future at the club, and his development in his role behind the striker - be it left, right or directly behind - has been great to see. At times the link up play between the Brazilian and whoever he plays alongside has been sensational, and his work rate, desire and enthusiasm to help the team out off the ball has made him one of the standout players this year.


So, if we were to win no silverware in the next month, how do we determine whether it's been a successful or forgettable season? How do we conclude that Jose's return has had a positive impact on Chelsea Football Club? Do we base our judgement on data (games won, goals scored etc.), or do we look at the direction this season has taken us in for future years?
If you base your opinion on the latter, I think it's fair to say that Jose's second reign has begun positively. We get the impression that this team is far from what Mourinho has in mind, with the - correct - public criticising of our forwards suggesting the Manager wants a clean out in the Summer. So to put that into context, the Blues are in the Semi-finals of the Champions League, with a chance at the Premier League title,  and Jose doesn't even consider it to be a good enough team; as a fan, that leaves me with high hopes for the Summer and the next few years.
However, it's been a far from perfect season. Particularly, the performance of our strikers, as well as the team's performances away from home, have been evidently disappointing. Availability heuristic - Villa and Palace away, 6 points that may have won us the league, had we gone there as a clinical team prepared to fight. It's difficult to see Jose not bringing in a new forward next season, so I think another disappointing element is that next season may be a transition for that particular player, when really - had the right player been available - this season could have been used for such needs.
One thing that is difficult to determine from only one season of Jose is his plans for the academy players and perhaps the financial future of the club. It's been a while since anybody came through the ranks and made it in the first team - it's the idea of finding the next big thing before the current big thing is no longer a big thing anymore, and avoiding a hit to the bank balance at the same time. The only real player to make a progression this year being Lewis Baker, who made a couple of Capital One Cup bench appearances, followed by his professional debut against Derby in the FA Cup earlier this year. This is something the fans want to see more of; if Jose wants to build a new dynasty at the Bridge, there needs to be thoughts based on the long term future of the club, and not just a big signing to come and please the crowd for two years.


Ultimately, the success of the season still hangs in the balance; two trophies are still there for the taking, as the Blues conclude their first season in the new era.