"NZ Footballers are not technically good enough"
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"NZ Footballers are not technically good enough"
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I personally do not know Stu Jacobs so I cannot comment on his philosophy of how he likes to see the game played but I am going to comment on a piece in the Dom Post by Tony Smith after the Olympics.
In the article Stu says " NZ footballers are not technically good enough (He is 200% correct there!) and more international programmes for age-group teams are needed to bridge the gap with the rest of the world".
So what does the headline read, "Jacobs calls for more top level games".
"NZ footballers are not technically good enough", that should have been the headline. He later commented," technically, we just fall short of other countries. How we can bridge this gap is something for NZF to put together".
I am not going to knock the current players as it is not their fault. They can only be coached and taught from the best NZ has available. So really the blame is not with them.
Lets look at the Brasilians/Sth Americans, a perfect example don't you think? Everyone marvelled at the Brasilian technic and skill and Argentina winning gold. Yet I have not heard anyone actually question or ask just what is it that makes those guys so good? What is it that they do that we do not?
What can NZF do to technically improve our players here? Do some research, ask questions, investigate! Stu Jacobs is correct. He suggests NZF calls on a think-tank but he only mentions from "people who have been to these type of events". So the failed ones could have the answers but will they learn from them? He was sitting there watching Brasil. Why did he not ask them directly? Maybe he did!
I saw both warm-up games vs Chile (average age 18) and even in terrible conditions the difference in technique was evident. The "long ball game" will win maybe 1 in 10 on a good day but who wants to watch that? If that is the football you particulary like then so be it. We all have our own opinion.
I hope for Stu and the future coaches/players that an alternative way at looking at things is adopted otherwise we shall just have to get used to the "long ball game" for a lot longer. Mind you how long has football been played in NZ - over 100 years. It is going to take something special to turn that mentality around!
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Interesting.
Well hes right, it is evident to see that we lack the skills the brazilians do and rarely posses somthing that makes us special as a team.
For me, its youth development. We really havent had many juniors climb through the ranks untill now, Costa, Draper, Spoonly, hopfully we can start from the bottom and work our way up.
China, USA, Europe, all focus on amazingly developed training systems to help assist and improve their youth, and offer them up as much game time as possible to challenge and improve them. I dont expect NZF to fork out 67 billion dollars for this development because, we are not a football country. This is what we are lacking, institutions that breed footballers.
But to be fair, some countries are just not as good at football as others. Case in point...NZ.
Well hes right, it is evident to see that we lack the skills the brazilians do and rarely posses somthing that makes us special as a team.
For me, its youth development. We really havent had many juniors climb through the ranks untill now, Costa, Draper, Spoonly, hopfully we can start from the bottom and work our way up.
China, USA, Europe, all focus on amazingly developed training systems to help assist and improve their youth, and offer them up as much game time as possible to challenge and improve them. I dont expect NZF to fork out 67 billion dollars for this development because, we are not a football country. This is what we are lacking, institutions that breed footballers.
But to be fair, some countries are just not as good at football as others. Case in point...NZ.
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Obviously there are a number of factors as to why the Brasilians/Sth Americans have superb technique. They are not born with it. They just have programmes in place from an early age and you are right, youth development is a huge part of that. But is it also what they are teaching and the mentality - they love to play (ginga!)
NZ is a rugby nation and culturally football will always be a poor cousin but we must target the youth. They are the future and NZF should be open-minded to implementing programmes to improving the technique and skills of our future internationals.
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For me the answer is obvious - let's get more Sth Americans emigrating here
Founder
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...as long as they sign for Wharfies ?
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In this country there isnt enough emphasis on Technical Development...it really is that simple!!!
That is the reason why we are inferior to everyone at International level. In Europe and South America the basic skills and techniques are worked on so that players are competent at age group level. Here we worry about being combatative and fit enough to defend everything.
But the coaches have to know what these basic skills and techniques are and implement them in their coaching environments!!!
We have so many people that say 'Well done' when a player kicks the ball out of the park whereas in Europe and South America they get 'booed' by their fans so then next time they keep the ball and work exclusively on keeping it with skill.
I admire Stu for being honest enough to say that we are not technically good enough...becuase this is where Australia have turned their football around and now are technically good enough.
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futsal is the way to go get more people involved in it during the off season
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This topic began and continues still in the AllWhites/International section under "Stu Jacobs". Well worth a look for some valid points.
I totally agree with Daggers - futsal certainly is one way to improve technique but it needs to be coached properly and how many qualified futsal coaches are there in NZ?
For the record and that we are all talking about the same game: futebol de salao/futebol sala (Portuguese/Spanish) began in Sth America (Uruguay) in 1930. It was not until the mid80s that FIFA got heavily involved to promote the game worldwide hence the change of name to Futsal.
All the great Sth American players past and present credit futsal in developing their technique so to dismiss the game as a "FIFA gimmick" is quite foolhardy.
Definitely something for NZF to consider more seriously than they have in the past.
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Also see postings under "Building on the Phoenix Momentum" in the All Whites/International section for other related views.
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Futsal, good for off-season technique as a starter and back to basic. It offers the 2D small-sided games with close control, foot agility and the ability to recognise the quick pass and support in close quarters. However it must be balanced out with the 11 a side outside games to adapt to the conditions which is very much an experience thing developed over time. The aspect of the high and long ball in a more 3D form is worked on in the outdoor. The linking of the three positional blocks, dead ball set plays, positional referencing, crossing etc that are not in Futsal.
Yes good foundation but after a while, it comes part of the many parts to training programs. Always to retain the skills in it as there are a time and placed for aspects of that game in the outdoor.
Remember Brazil game against the oly-whites recently, the second half was full of the Futsal skills that embarrasses us when they realise that we have no idea of the futsal game - it was a series of the futsal games being linking around the whole pitch! And we didn't use the outdoor game to pull the ball away and get away from the futsal close quarter teams and linked into the other set of tactics as our gobsmacked thinking got in the way.
But I don't blame them, we lost our way in the first half and couldn't recover. The lack of ideas does come back to the futsal where almost everything is automatic without thinking and the only thinking is creative measures. The foot speed, positional ability and the body orientation should be automatic such that it is impossible to take the ball away without fouling them. This is what futsal experience offers so well, the basic of personal technique and small area teamwork.
Yes good foundation but after a while, it comes part of the many parts to training programs. Always to retain the skills in it as there are a time and placed for aspects of that game in the outdoor.
Remember Brazil game against the oly-whites recently, the second half was full of the Futsal skills that embarrasses us when they realise that we have no idea of the futsal game - it was a series of the futsal games being linking around the whole pitch! And we didn't use the outdoor game to pull the ball away and get away from the futsal close quarter teams and linked into the other set of tactics as our gobsmacked thinking got in the way.
But I don't blame them, we lost our way in the first half and couldn't recover. The lack of ideas does come back to the futsal where almost everything is automatic without thinking and the only thinking is creative measures. The foot speed, positional ability and the body orientation should be automatic such that it is impossible to take the ball away without fouling them. This is what futsal experience offers so well, the basic of personal technique and small area teamwork.
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Needs more Freestyle Football
Founder
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I am yet to sit down and study in depth the Oly-Whites vs Brasil game. It looks like "Allwhitebelievr" has given a pretty good assessment for those that missed it.
Futsal is a key component to improving players for the outdoor game equally futsal is a sport in it's own right. The two codes compliment each other but it is far easier to begin with futsal and then at say 14-15 switch to outdoor. This is what happens in Brasil but at the same time the Brasilians have played beach soccer and 7-a-side football plus futsal and street football all providing a solid grounding before even kicking a size 5 ball and playing 11-a-side. Surely there is a lesson to be learnt there and they play with a smile. They are expressing themselves and enjoying it.
It is great that we are talking about how other countries develop their younger players because from each we can take a little/large piece and adapt it to the NZ conditions, the NZ mentality, the NZ physicality to produce a "NZ way of playing". NZ needs to develop its own style. It is no point just copying someone else as it simply does not work. How long have the English been playing the game and what have they won? They have huge resources and financies to call upon. NZ has traditionally looked to the UK for inspiration and has it been successful? So it is not easy.
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For the record and that we are all talking about the same game: futebol de salao/futebol sala (Portuguese/Spanish) began in Sth America (Uruguay) in 1930. It was not until the mid80s that FIFA got heavily involved to promote the game worldwide hence the change of name to Futsal.
All the great Sth American players past and present credit futsal in developing their technique so to dismiss the game as a "FIFA gimmick" is quite foolhardy.
Futsal is definitely something for NZF to consider more seriously than they have in the past.
The English FA has recently held meetings to address youth development and Simon Clifford was asked to comment. For those not familiar with his name. He basically runs his own independent "futebol de salao" schools and quite successfully. Google his name for more info.
I think your statement in bold is a very broad generalisation, and actually untrue.
There are many, many great football programmes that have nothing to do with Futsal, in fact, aside from Spain, Futsal is barely played in Europe by those searching for the top of the game. The dutch programme has nothign to do with Futsal and has been afactory line of great technician who also pass very well.
It may be one way to upskill, but there is nothing to suggest that it is the only way which is what those involved with Futsal seem to want to tell everyone. Simon Clifford is of course driven by self interest, as the owner of the brazilian soccer schools he would of course promote futsal. He has had a couple of notable successes, Micah Richards and someone else.
Normo's coming home
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Futsal is a key component to improving players for the outdoor game equally futsal is a sport in it's own right. The two codes compliment each other but it is far easier to begin with futsal and then at say 14-15 switch to outdoor. This is what happens in Brasil but at the same time the Brasilians have played beach soccer and 7-a-side football plus futsal and street football all providing a solid grounding before even kicking a size 5 ball and playing 11-a-side. Surely there is a lesson to be learnt there and they play with a smile. They are expressing themselves and enjoying it.
This is actually a bit of a myth, I'll try and dig up the Tim Vickery columns where he discusses Brazilian methods but the whole samba, joga bonito, kids in bare feet playing in the favelas is truly out of date. Most Brazilians are in heavy and regular training from the age of 12 or 13 as it is seen as a way out, often funded directly by agents lookign to find the next ronaldinho. Brazilian coaching has focussed on athleticism since the 70s and 80s where their great sidesd where beaten by more physicaly imposing European sides.
I don't think Brazil is agreat model for us, or n general. We need to look at European countries who compete well for their size. We are more matched physically to European nations and we are so far behind Brazil in technical ability that we need to look to a system that relies on fitness and movement. We need to walk before we run like Australia are doing with the Dutch system. We're so far beghind Sth America I'm not sure why we would copy them.
Normo's coming home
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Futsal in Australia is huge,by geting futsal bigger in this country it isnt going to make our national team play like brazil,it all depends on the players NZ have got to chose from and the manager.
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Daggers man! If only it was that simple! I think people are not fully reading what I say, of course futsal alone is not the saviour of our players. It is a useful tool to enhance and improve players technic for the outdoor game. Boy it would be so easy if simply by playing futsal the national team will play like Brasil! But when they next play Brasil or any other nation employing futsal tactics they ( coaches and players) will be educated and know how to combat it. Surely for that reason alone NZF should look more closely at the game.
James Dean - Is this the Tim Vickery column you mentioned?( http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2008/08/brazil_learn_style_does_pay.html If not please let me know the one you mean as I would like to read it. If you have not read this one, have a look.
Brasil may not be the ideal model (for NZ) but it is one to look at and take the positive points which we can adapt here in NZ. The French and Dutch youth development sytems have their own merits as well. I suggest you check out how big futsal is in Europe via the UEFA website but I do not want to get side-tracked with other issues re, futsal. I ask you to go back and re-read my last statement from yesterday at 9.10pm. (NZ way of playing)
All opinions and view-points to find a solution to the lack of technical skills by our national teams are valid and everyone is entitled to say their piece. In fact the more the topic is discussed, the more likely we may find the ideal solution and maybe NZF might listen.
Let's keep this issue/topic going. Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far.
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