der Deutsch – Moloch

I’m going to go back a few seasons before speaking about the Bayern of today. I love the Bundesliga, a cultural phenomenon and one I hope to experience very soon.

German football was once again on the rise, it had spent a good few seasons in mediocrity, endless suffering on a world stage. Little did anyone know it was about launch itself onto our TV screens. A cult favourite among the football hipsters of today. This particular season would see Bayern Munich & Borussia Dortmund going head to head, fighting it out on a domestic and European level. The Champions League would see both clubs battle it out for old big ears at Wembely. The stadium was peppered in Blue, Red – Yellow & Black. The atmosphere electric, it was a spectacle in its self. 

Fans of every German club bleed for the cause. Notorious for backing their team to the hilt. Incredibly passionate, bursting with enthusiasm, creating atmospheres some clubs would die for.

During this time it was no coincidence that both clubs dominated the domestically. Their pool of talent was incredible. Players who brought excitement to the thousands of fans who paid their hard earned money to watch them week in week out.

Bayern had the ability to boast talents like Arjen Robben the Dutch enigma, Franck Ribéry equally enigmatic – both fast approaching the form of their life. How could we forget the German trio of Bastian Schwiensteiger, Manuel Nueur and Thomas Müller. A variety of experience but such fantastic players. Two out of three were products of Bayerns youth academy. 

BVB weren’t short of talent themselves, Polish hitman Robert Lewandowski, the king of Dortmund Marco Reus – soaked in elegance with a side of power. How could we forget Mario Gotze and Matts Hummels? Lastly Ìlkay Gündogan, the conductor, pivotal in previous seasons for die Schwarzgelben.

Both clubs fearless in flashing their muscles, all in their preparation to conquer. It would be very rude of me to forget the men who make these players tick, Herr Heynckes & Herr Klopp. 

Moving into the next season and it would be the business as usual. Pep Guardiolas arrival to FC Holywood became reality. Jurgen Klopp would remain at the helm for the season ahead, again both teams would do battle but it wouldn’t be as close as it was in previous years. Bayern remained champions. 

The World Cup would keep us occupied throughout the summer. One that would be kind to Germany, they would win after so many disappointments in previous tournaments. Key men Marco Reus & Ìlkay Gündogan would miss out due to serious injury.

The tournament may had been a triumph for country but players came home broken.  Big players would return to clubs in pieces or out of form. Due to a lack of serious quality in the Dortmund ranks they would suffer, badly! They would find themselves in an unfamiliar position, they would be residents in the bottom four for most of the season. Luckily they recovered, relegation would be horrendous for the BVB faithfull. Instead the recovery meant Europa League, survival secured it was announced that they would lose their infectious leader, Jurgen Klopp. He announced his sabbatical. Premiership clubs drooling at the prospect of him in charge. 

Munich went from strength to strength, Javi Martinez picked up a serious injury, no problem they signed Xabi Alonso. Dortmunds number 9, Robert Lewandowski followed Mari Gotze to Bavaria, I couldn’t believe it when I seen it. With some key additions they went on to dominate, Wolfsburg the closest challengers. 

We have now went full circle in this German adventure. Thomas Tuchel, Klopps successor at Mainz would take hot seat at Dortmund. He had a job on his hands, a revolution was needed and so far so good. 

Pep? Well Pep is Pep, shrewd business was done and I have a new favourite player, one I had to settle for in past Champions League nights – Shaktar Doneskt’s Douglas Costa. Exiting, fearless, electric pace, imagination, creativity, an eye for goal, a visionary. Thiago had shaken off some horrible knee injuries to return. It was now time to witness his best. Bayerns midfield now boasted 3 of the best, Thiago, the energetic Chilean Arturo Vidal and pass master Xabi Alonso. With a front 3 of Müller, Costa and Lewandowski they could become unstoppable, the could become the German Juggernaut!

I will continue to follow football all over the world but my eye is fixated on the Bundesliga for now. I enjoy everything about it and as I said I want to experience match day for myself. The TV just doesn’t quite do it anymore.

CJ

So Let Me Tell You Something…A Diamond in the Rough

This will be the fourth and final part of my mini series, So Let Me Tell You Something. I’ve enjoyed writing the short posts, maybe we can come back for a second series? You never know!

The planning and prep is going well for the podcast, exciting guests from all walks of life have signed up for the first few episodes. After that we can decide if it continues, it will be free, no cost attached. We are looking at the first being available in 10-14 days time and let me tell you I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Speaking of which I became embroiled in a chat with a soon to be guest about some of the up and coming talent in World Football. There were a few others involved as we spoke over hot cups of tea and soft sponge cake. Can’t beat a bit of sponge cake, milk and two please. There was one name in particular who came up on many occasions, none of us could see a reason why not to speak about him.

I don’t like to tag anyone with “the next…” I tend to let them be their own player. Not that my opinion will count but I don’t like the idea of a player who is the next Ronaldo and so on. That’s just silly. It doesn’t seem right, its pressure on the player, unwanted pressure that isn’t needed. We need to stop comparing and start appreciating players for what they bring to the game. We are searching for something that isn’t there. You’ll be disappointed in what you do find, trust me. I’ll put it to the old firm fans, have you ever seen the new Henrik Larsson or Brian Laudrup? I’m confident I know the answer to that one.

Anyway, the player we spoke about is current England International Ross Barkley. He’s a player who has all the tools to make it to the top, hawk eye vision, feet riddled in magic, a goal scorer (one of spectacular efforts) not to mention the physique and athleticism to top it off. For the tools he possesses I’d love to seem him use his creativity and imagination to provide more assists on a consistent basis. On top of that a few more goals to his game wouldn’t do him or Everton any harm.

With that being said, I would have to say Barkley is a Diamond in the rough, a diamond that needs to be caressed, he needs to be loved. He needs to be taken care of and I think Martinez may be the right man. First of all he needs time to mould into the player that everyone has hopes for, there is no point in rushing his development, that will only hinder the him. Secondly – he has to play, there is no point in having a player of that ability and have them warming the bench, if fit get him in the team. Players of that nature have to play, in time they can become match winners. Just don’t pin all of your hopes on him yet though, he is still very young.

His size and stature allow him to power past players when on the move, he isn’t all hustle and bustle though. He has an elegance about his play, two footed – he can provide touches of magic, dancing his way through opponents, threading killer passes in behind the tightest of defenses. He plays with no fear – he has no issue with committing defenders and skipping past them. We haven’t seen a player like that in some time, we have plenty of players who can pass side to side, continually recycling the ball but where are the ones who want to excite us, the ones who can make you sit on the edge of your seat, the ones who can spark your team into life with a touch of magic. I’m pretty sure you will find one at Goodison.

I said that Roberto Martinez may be key in Barkley’s development and I meant it. He needs a manager who is going to take care of him, put an arm round him as well as nurture and appreciate his talent. He needs someone who will keep him level headed. Money and interest providing a big problem – money in football these days is sickening, sure it’s great if you can get it and all the credit to you if you do. It is bad news though if you want to keep away the vultures of world football who want what you have, most times they are impatient and want it now. It would be hard for anyone not to get carried away never mind Ross Barkley.

At International level he has been one of England’s shinning lights, why? Because he is willing to do what I’ve said above, he’s exciting. Football is all about show business these days, in a way it always has been. I’ve had the chance to see some fantastic footballers and hope that continues. Ross Barkley is next in line, hes the one who I can see keeping us entertained for years to come.

Can we unearth some more diamonds please? Yes coaches, I’m looking at you.

My one gripe would be that who ever his manager is in the future at International level they are brave enough to stick him in that number 10 position and allow him to roam free. Surround him with right players who will compliment his style of play, allow him to be creative, he is intelligent enough, his game intelligence will improve as he plays but as far as I’m concerned he is the man you begin to build your squad around for future campaigns. Don’t burn him out, don’t waste him, just allow him to play Football. Nothing more, nothing less.

It’s not often we get to see a player like this so lets appreciate him, before we churn out another 100 over priced “average” players.

Hopefully next time you will be hearing my mumbling tones along with some pretty cool people.

CJ

Mid Season Blues

We are now half way through the season. It has come to the point in the season where a break is necessary. The parents need it, the staff need it and most importantly the players need it. They have worked hard over the last 6 months. Both at club and out with.

Summer Holidays, I can remember them as a kid, I pretty much played football the whole time, day and night. I know that isn’t ideal as your supposed to have a break but when I was a kid there weren’t any breaks. Well not official ones anyway. I also used to do some individual training with my dad, I liked to be ready for the season ahead.

The players have worked hard this season. More so than any other season. We started in late January and that is just them having a rest just now. The majority train four times a week and attend school of footballs throughout the country. Their dedication and commitment can never be questioned. At the beginning of the season some picked up horrible injuries that you should never really see in kids that age, I’m guessing it might have something to do with them growing and the amount of work they actually do.

When I first saw the group I work with today they were tiny, some just up to my waist in height. I’m not that tall, maybe 5’8 at a push. (That might be me in my tip toes). Now some are nearly taller than me, it’s scary when you think you’ve known some of the group since they were 9/10, some even younger. 

As they get older you see their personalities come through, not every kid is the same so as a coach I need to be ready for anything at anytime. I need to know how to deal with each kid differently, remember they are not all the same. These kids look up to you and soon I will be looking up to them. There has to be a mutual respect, both ways. I can safely say that in my squad we have that, there is a time when they know they have to knuckle down and work hard. Work rate is massive for me, as I’ve said in the past you can have all the talent you want but if is not backed up by the desire to work hard then that talent won’t get you very far. I’ve witnessed this happen to a lot of people as I’ve grown up. Natural ability wasn’t a problem, their work rate and attitude was. 

We all like to have a laugh now and then, laughter is important. Some of the patter you hear on the training ground on and off is unreal, you can’t help but laugh. Remember these kids are learning and most of them don’t have a filter yet. Some adults don’t have a filter either but again you can’t help them with that, they are on their own there. 

Again I’ll refer back to the hard work, if you put the work in the having a bit of banter is fine. If the banter starts to disrupt the session and the training environment then it’s time to lay off it for a while. I’m sorry but I don’t have time for people who are just there for the banter, if your there for the banter then you shouldn’t be there. The coaches are volunteers who put in a lot of time and effort into coaching, they are not a baby sitting service. Babysitters get paid come to think of it.

We had our first proper pre season this year, what a difference it makes to fitness, awareness and most importantly allowing the group to gel. We played a host of girls teams throughout the country which let us develop our style of play and get the players used to each other’s game. We knew what we had to improve going into the season, we played a host of boys teams as well to see how we could cope with the physicality and speed of their play. The girls exceeded my expectations, some of the football so far has been beautiful to watch. Playing boys gave us the challenge we needed, the players coped with it very well. 

Every player is very comfortable with the ball at their feet. All willing to get on the ball and move it about quickly. This has been years of work put in by coaches at the club, as well as the players themselves. The philosophy is to play football by having the ball, keeping the ball, moving it quickly in possession and create scoring opportunities. When we lose the ball we work hard as a unit to retrieve it. 

We start back in a couple of weeks, I’m itching to get back. I’m enjoying a break but I’m constantly thinking about the game so I don’t switch off to be honest. I’m always trying to find ways to develop myself, coaches around me and the players. 

I look forward to the next few months of football. Developing these players, educating them, challenging them, playing exciting attacking football before finally moving the players on to play at a new level. 

They have been a joy to work with over these last few years and I’m sure they will be a joy for others to work with in the future. 

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Over the last few months I’ve been keeping my eye on the younger age groups. They have some fantastic little footballers, they remind me of the group I have just now. With the right coaching and commitment they will be the ones to look out for in the future.

Until next time

CJ