Football in 2025 · Yellow Fever Nga Wana Kowhai · Supporters of the Wellington Phoenix

I found the following article quite interesting ... mainly about the EPL but is an interesting read (warning massively long)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article5993260.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1

Interesting to me in particular was a bit from Sir Alex where he described the breakdown in play and counter attacking was this ....

.....He was talking to Sir Alex Ferguson recently about one answer. ï¿½A trend is towards the ï¿½collective counterï¿½. Alex has noticed it and says itï¿½s new even for him.

ï¿½Itï¿½s counter-attacking which begins not in the traditional way ï¿½ at the back, when the opposition are committed and lose possession ï¿½ but in midfield, when the ball is stolen and a group of players uses fast combination passes to get through a block. The other team still has bodies in the way but for a moment itï¿½s not organised and the key is the ï¿½transition momentï¿½, how quickly from winning the ball you can hit them.ï¿½

Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei