SOCCER KNOWLEDGE

Soccer should no longer use penalty shootouts to decide games, for two reasons.

One: It has nothing to do with the game. There are so many variables that go into deciding who wins in open play. There are tactics, players, form, skill, and so much more. None of those things are reflected in a shootout. Penalties has nothing to do with which team is better, who is in form, or who’s tactics or players were better. A penalty shootout only really involves two things, nerve and luck. Which team can stay composed enough to take a good penalty and lucky enough that the keeper doesn’t guess the right way. That’s it!

Two: It can make big chunks of a game boring, when a defensive team is playing an attacking team. If the defensive team feels that they’ll have a better chance in a penalty shootout than in regular play, they’ll have no issue with sitting back and killing the last 20 or 30 minutes of a game (Points for winning a game were changed from 2 to 3 for a very similar reason). They’ll do anything they can to not get scored on, but they also won’t risk trying to create any clear chances fearing they might concede. So this usually puts the game into a stalemate that is incredibly boring (If you want an example of this just look at almost anytime Mourinho has faced a tough opponent in a knockout game with the chance of going to penalties).

Most people agree that penalties are not a great way to decide a game. The issue is, what do you replace shoutouts with? Well to answer this there is one thing we must get clear, there is no ideal way to decide other than the first 90 or 120 minutes. It would be great if there were a way to decide who wins in a fair manner that reflects what is needed in regular time, but it’s just not possible. So lets lower our standards a bit. What’s the next best thing?  A 1v1.

Thats right! after regular and extra time the teams should each choose one player to play against the other. They should play a 1v1 inside the penalty box with one small goal on both ends of the box. First to score or first to 3 or first to 5 it doesn't matter. (Personally I prefer first to 3). I know, I know, this is crazy and radical, but listen first. A 1v1 solves so many problems.

One: It’s based on skill and not luck! The player who can out play the other takes home all the marbles.

Two: The entertainment value! How incredible would it be to see this! The world’s best players playing against each other. Players like, Robben, Hazard, Neymar, Aguero, and Pogba put to the test in a 1v1.  (Messi versus Ronaldo! It would be legendary!) It could possibly even make regular time more interesting to watch. It would stop defensive teams from making games boring in order to win on penalties. Teams would now have to try and win in regular time and not hope to win on luck. Just think back to memorable penalty shootouts and how much better they would have been if they would have had a 1v1 instead.

Manu vs Chelsea: Instead of that game being remembered for terry’s slip, we would have gotten to see Ronaldo vs Drogba!

Brazil vs Italy: Instead of seeing Baggio’s tragic miss in the World Cup 94, we could have had Romario vs Baggio!

For a while now I have heard people say Muller is out of form. I don't know why (Well actually I do, but I don't agree). People say he is out of form because last season was his worst goal scoring season (ignoring the fact that he was Bayern’s top assister) right after having his best goalscoring season. If you think Muller is great because of his goals you’ve probably only watched him play at the World Cups and highlights. Muller has never been nor will he ever be a high scoring forward.

To find out what makes Muller great we have to define what his role in the team is. He’s not the main scorer, thats Lewandowski. He’s not a dribbler who beats defenders on 1v1s, thats Robben and Ribery. The truth is he's not a forward at all (at least not the way people think of forwards). He’s not a striker or winger that has a healthy ego, is eager to show off, and hungry for goals. His mentality is actually more of a midfielder’s. He looks for his teammates and plays for them. Don't get me wrong though, he’s definitely not a midfielder. Just watch him with the ball. His dribbling and control is average at best. He's also not usually the player who unlocks defenses with great passing like a number 10 (despite being the team’s top assister last season and overall in the last three seasons.) Actually, if you watch him you might think he should be a poacher. Someone who isn't to good with the ball at their feet but hangs around the area waiting for his teammates to get him the ball and uses his size to beat defenders to the ball or in the air (but thats not how he plays). So if you’ve been judging Muller's performance by how a normal forward or midfielder performs you’ll never see his greatness.

I want to define his role in Bayern but his role has no name. He’s not a number 9, 10, 11, or 7. What he does is unique and the best way to describe it is in his own words, “the space interpreter.” That’s what he does, interpret space and no one does it better than him. He doesn't run into space to look for a pass for himself to score from. He uses space to drag defenders with him in order to give his teammates space. Chances are if Muller is on the field and Bayern score it is thanks to Muller dragging at least one defender out of position. If you are having trouble understanding just think of Messi when he plays as a false nine. Messi plays between the midfield and defense to confuse the opposition. and disorganize defenses. Muller does the same except all over the field. He might drop in between lines or push defensive lines back by making a runs or drag a player wide.

Now all this might not sound too unique (plenty of players look for space) until you understand why Muller does it. Unlike Messi, who looks for space in order to score, Muller looks for space in order for his teammates to score. Just ask Lewandowski, Mandzukic, Gomez, and Olic. All four have had their greatest years when playing next to Muller. Mandzukic’s, Gomez’s, and Olic’s goals have all gone down since leaving bayern and Lewandowski has managed to score more than in his time at Dortmund.

Why is this? It is because Muller plays off the main forward by making runs and dragging defenders to give his teammates space. If Lewandowski makes a run then Muller drops and vise versa. When lewa goes right Muller goes left and usually takes a defender with him. When Muller does get the ball he already knows where Lewa is and looks for him.

Everyone’s a critic and not a good one. Whenever people watch a soccer game that is not going their way they criticize everything and everyone involved. “It’s the coaches fault, they make all the wrong decisions.” As if the person criticizing knows any better, has any professional experience, coaching education, or any more knowledge than the casual fan (which with no valid  reason to support it they'll claim they do). Or it’s the players’ fault. “They're a bunch of incompetent people who can’t do a damn thing right!” (As if they’re an incredible talent that simply wasn't discovered). The funny thing is, that in the next game when things are going in the fan’s favor, all of a sudden their team has the best coach and players ever seen in history. So which is it are they great or horrible? So many fans watch games like this. Their opinions will change from week to week, game to game, play to play, (I’m exaggerating to prove a point but not by much), minute to minute and many times contradict each other.

Why do so many fans watch soccer this way? Well because most fans, despite what they claim, are actually just casual fans who take in the game at face value. That’s why everyone always give forwards and creative midfielders all the credit and attention. That’s why there are so many band wagons claiming to be life long fans of the last team that won the premier league or champions league. All fans actually care about is flash, easy to watch and digest plays that are entertaining. I’m not saying the entertaining parts should be ignored, but when that’s all you pay attention to, you miss so much of what’s going on. (Which is why soccer and most popular sports end up with the kind of fans that I just described.)

So, how should we watch a soccer game? Well for starters, know who and what you’re watching. If you’re watching Mourinho’s Manchester United play, don’t complain that they never have the ball and all they do is counter attack (MOURINHO HAS BEEN AROUND FOR OVER A DECADE WITH THE SAME STYLE HOW THE HELL DID YOU EXPECT MANU TO PLAY?!?!?!). Instead try to understand what he wants his team to do, how he wants them to do it, and why he wants them to do it.

EX: What: negate the opposition’s ability to attack, catch the opposition’s defense off guard with a counter attack, defend lead. How: this depends on the opponent, but is broadly done by trying to shut down the unique qualities of the opponent’s attacking players. Then use his players’ skill and speed to score on the counter, before the opponent has had the chance to organize defensively. When in the lead Mourinho usually puts another defensive player in to focus even further on defending. Why: It is Mourinho’s philosophy to prioritize defense. (I know, this was a very obvious and simple example, but you get the idea.)