Enjoying the Evolution of Tokyo: Tactical Edition
~The One Reason I Want to Watch FC Tokyo~
I don't understand positional play!
Hypothesis of Trust
"Do you know how many years Jürgen Klopp, one of the greatest managers in the world, has been leading Liverpool FC?"
What Albert PUIG ORTONEDA, the coach, is asking is what does he want to say, even Jürgen Klopp needed time to build a team, so "well, wait for it". After making you wait, he has confidence.
There are many reasons why I want to see FC Tokyo now... but for me, it all comes down to one thing. Goals.
By the way, in this "FANZONE", a wonderful culture of showing respect to the already published columns seems to have been born, and I was also impressed by Albert Puig Ortoneda's positional play, which was revealed through the testimonies of three midfield players by Mr. Kosuke Baba. A line from a movie was quoted and it said:
"Tactics are born from excellent placement."
If placement creates tactics, could our physical and conceptual position as spectators also provide us with a strategy to reach victory through understanding?
I will write while thinking that it will be a helpful (or completely unhelpful, but can provide a certain kind of indicator) sentence.
Well, I don't understand "positional play". Just when I thought I was starting to understand, new elements are added and it feels like it's constantly changing.
What I don't understand is both a source of learning and, being a stubborn person by nature, I take a lot of time to decide whether or not to trust someone who goes out of their way to say "I understand" not just in positional play, but in general. In the world, it is often the case that those who claim to understand and those who are loud are praised, but I seem to place my trust in the "knowledge of ignorance" of admitting what I don't know (which may be a complicated and disadvantageous personality).
By the way, "trust" is a very important thing in team sports like soccer. Because you can trust, you can entrust important balls. In comparison to styles that are not positional play, trust may have a greater meaning. Such a hypothesis comes to mind.
If being in the right place at the right time is the fundamental premise of positional play, then the criteria for "right" cannot be ambiguous. That is the content of the hypothesis - that it is about trust. If you can stand in a place with the highest possible level of trust at the highest possible timing, you can receive the ball from your teammates. By repeating this, the ball circulates and moves forward.
While thinking so, I covered the Sagan Tosu match in the 12th round of the J1 League. After losing 0-1, Hotaka NAKAMURA was asked about not being able to score a goal and said the following.
"In positional play, it is important to maintain possession of the ball, but it is not just positional play for the sake of positional play, it must be ball possession for the purpose of scoring. In order to do that, we have to take risks and attack at some point, otherwise I don't think the opponent will mind. Right now, I think that is the wall we are facing."
In order to take risks and achieve success, you cannot take action without trust. Otherwise, that choice is nothing but a reckless gamble. Positional play for the purpose of scoring also includes risks, so I believe that "trust" should be at its core.
Anyone can be anywhere
There was a good example in the 28th minute of the first half of the Tosu match.
After FC Tokyo pushed forward, Nakamura confidently passed a vertical pass to Matsuki Kuryu, who had slipped into the center. After receiving the pass, Leandro, who was positioned diagonally to the left, performed a one-two and took a shot. Although the shot was blocked by the opponent, it was a scene where the intention to score overlapped.
<J1 League Sec. 12 Sagan Tosu First Half 28th Minute Scene>
If I were to carefully drip points from this scene,
- Nakamura's awareness of "immediate recovery" that did not miss the opponent's mistake
・The speed of Nakamura's "vertical pass of the game" sent forward with one touch
・"Reliable technique" of Matsuki who stopped the ball while being approached by the opponent
・Leandro's "Positioning" that made a one-two play possible in a narrow central space
・"The "breaking idea" of Matsuki who tried a one-two with trust in Leandro"
・Leandro's "passing technique" through a narrow course
・Left inside half Matsuki and left wing Leandro moved to the right and center to break through, playing positionally without being bound by the concept of "being in the right place at the right time"
To score a goal, stand in the right place at the right time to advance the ball, break down the opponent at the right time and place, and even if it is taken away, you can get it back by standing in the right place at the right time and attack again.
It's okay for anyone to be anywhere. In other words, someone must always be in the right place.
I think there are various strategies to achieve the goal, such as the diamond-shaped positioning created by a triangle and forward-thinking players, which can be seen as a "carefully selected gear", the 5-lane theory for efficient execution, and the "eye" to choose a location while observing the opponent's formation.
But the words that Nakamura asked were heard as an important message to not only focus on the "tool" itself, but also to make sure not to confuse the goal and the means.
So, I may never understand positional play forever. But, I think it's okay. Because I have the desire to someday understand and continue to move forward forever.
A journey of constantly seeking luxurious pleasure through the minimum necessary "organization and tidying up" and the hidden ad-libs. Whether on the pitch or from the stands, it may be the essence of positional play to support this positive attitude.
Text by Taiga HIRASAWA (Soccer Magazine Web)
