Playing with Style

As a fan of MLS, I'm use to reading denigrating comments about the quality of the league. As an American, I'm use to reading and hearing slurs on our national style of play. In fact, such invectives are not limited to the MLS or to the USA, even though it may seem that way to me because of my perspective.

No, it's not unusual for one nation to criticize another's style of play. Even those at the top sometimes take it on the chin. Take the EPL. Many people consider the EPL to be the best soccer league in the world (and few would argue that it's not in the top five at least). Yet even with the quality of that league, the quality of play comes into question.

ESPN has an interview with Argentinean and Real Madrid legend, Jorge Valdano, where he criticizes two of the most effective EPL coaches, Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez.

"Chelsea and Liverpool are the clearest, most exaggerated example of the way football is going: very intense, very collective, very tactical, very physical, and very direct.

"But, a short pass? No. A feint? No. A change of pace? No. A one-two? A nutmeg? A backheel? Don't be ridiculous. None of that. The extreme control and seriousness with which both teams played the semi-final neutralized any creative license, any moments of exquisite skill."

These are some of the same qualities that American soccer has been condemned for: direct, physical soccer that relies on collective teamwork rather than creative passing combinations and changing the pace of the game. The US has strong physical training regimens and nutritional science that has made this limitation into a strength. In fact, physical, athletic soccer based on disciplined defense and direct offense can almost be claimed to be our national style of play, and we might be the nation that gets the best results using this style of play.

But in the global world of soccer, everyone can find something to fault in one's neighbor. Valdano claims the EPL is no more creative than the MLS. The same criticism has been levied against the English Nation Team by some over the past year -- particularly since the World Cup. The EPL and the English team are still considered better than the MLS and USMNT, but I presume it's not due to an improved style of play, but because the island league and national team is composed of players with more (and better) soccer experience that in the States.

Should that be heartening to us? Are we truly not much different in soccer tactics than the creators of the world game? Would we be equals if only we improve our technique?

Perhaps. At any rate, we DO need to improve the technique of our players. Furthermore, I think that now that we have converted the English to our style of play, we should abandon that style and, the great Melting Pot that we are, adopt the flair seen in the play of our neighbors to the south. Perhaps we can create a new "American Style" based on the solid, organized defending drawn from our European roots, coupled with the creative attacking flair of our Central and South American roots. Instead of Brazilian Salsa, we'd be more like Southern Rock in the back and Jazz up front, maybe.

Getting back to Valdano’s comments, I do differ with his further editorializing when he says, "Those who did not have the talent to make it as players do not believe in the talent of players, they do not believe in the ability to improvise in order to win football matches. In short, Benitez and Mourinho are exactly the kind of coaches that Benitez and Mourinho would have needed to have made it as players."

This makes for an interesting insult, hitting the successful where they can't protect themselves: in the past. But this sounds more like schoolgirl cat-fighting based on jealousy than on logical conclusions or historical precedent.

I will concede that a good coach has to have soccer experience; but I do not think a coach's lack of talent as an athlete means he is incapable of being a remarkable coach, any more than a player's remarkable athleticism prepares him to be a coaching genius. There are many examples of coaching legends (within soccer and without) who have had only moderate success in the sport where they later proved their leadership and tactical acumen. Can you name one?

Dynamo Style of Play
I've got to link this to the Dynamo at some point, so let me make a comment about the Dynamo style of play. In the back, we play the typical physical, organized defense. That's as American as apple pie. Our flanks and Ching also fall into the American style, with direct play and dogged athleticism pushing forward and running back on support. Where our play may differ is with regards to our Canadian middle. Yes, DDR has that flair and creativeness that seems to be lacking in general here and even across the pond.

Let's use Valdano’s comments as a list:
A short pass? Yes.
A feint? Yes.
A change of pace? Oh, yes.
A one-two? You bet.
A nutmeg? On occasion.
A backheel? Sure!

DeRo has that creative license and those moments of exquisite skill. Even when he's not a direct part of the play, he can show that flair. For instance, how about that dummy he did during the buildup before Ching's goal last Saturday in Colorado? When he's on, it's magic.

Texans in the EPL
I’ll sign this post off with a quick bravo to Clint Dempsey, who scored his first EPL goal, a game winner versus Liverpool on May 5. Receiving the ball after a quick give and go, Dempsey saves Fulham from relegation. Here’s a link to the goal.