Enjoying the evolution of Albert Tokyo [Tactical Edition]
~ The only reason I want to see 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 coach Albert PUIG ORTONEDA is asking is, even Jurgen Klopp needed time to build a team, so "well, wait for it". After making you wait, there will be confidence.
There are many reasons why I want to see FC Tokyo right now... but for me, it all boils down to one thing. Goals.
By the way, it seems that a wonderful culture of showing respect to the already published columns has been created in this "FANZONE", and I was also impressed by Mr. Kosuke Baba's "Analyzing Alber's positional play through the testimonies of three midfielders" which was left in my heart. A quote from the movie was written as follows.
"Tactics are born from excellent positioning."
If the arrangement creates tactics, then wouldn't our physical and conceptual position as spectators also provide us with tactics that lead to victory through understanding?
I will write with the intention of creating a text that will be helpful (or perhaps not at all, but can provide a certain kind of indicator) while considering.
Now, 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 also a source of learning, and because I am a contrarian 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. In the world, there is often a tendency to praise those who say they understand, or those who have loud voices, but I seem to place my trust in the "knowledge of ignorance" that acknowledges what they don't know (although it 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 the important ball. Compared to styles that are not positional play, trust may have a greater meaning. I have come up with such a hypothesis.
If it is assumed that being in the right place at the right time is the fundamental premise of positional play, then the criteria for "appropriate" cannot be ambiguous. That is the content of the hypothesis, that it is trust. If you can stand in the most reliable place at the most reliable timing, you can receive the ball from your teammates. The ball circulates through this repetition and moves forward.
While thinking so, I covered the match of Sagan Tosu in the 12th round of the J1 League. After losing 0-1 and being asked about not scoring a goal, Hotaka Nakamura said the following:
"In positional play, it is important to maintain possession of the ball, but it is not positional play for the sake of positional play, it must be ball possession for the purpose of scoring points. In order to do that, we have to take risks and play attacking football at some point. I don't think the opponent would mind. I think that is the wall we are currently facing."
In order to take risks and achieve success, you cannot take action without trust. Otherwise, that choice is nothing more than a reckless gamble. Positional play for the purpose of achieving a goal 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 slipped a vertical pass to Matsuki Kuryu, who had infiltrated the center. After securely receiving the ball, Leandro, who was positioned diagonally to the left, executed a one-two pass 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 vs. Scene of the first half 28 minutes
If I were to carefully drip points from this scene,
・The awareness of Nakamura not letting the opponent's mistakes go unnoticed and the concept of "immediate recovery"
The speed of Nakamura's "vertical pass" that was sent forward with one touch
・"Solid technique" by Matsuki, who stopped the ball while being approached by the opponent
・Leandro's "Positioning" that enabled the one-two play in a narrow central space
・"Breaking the Idea" by Matsuki, who trusted Leandro and initiated a one-two pass
・Leandro's "passing technique" through narrow courses
・Leandro, the left inside half, and Leandro, the left wing, stood on the right side and in the center, respectively, and started to break through. It is a "positional play" that is not bound by the concept of position and is in the right place at the right time.
To score a goal, stand in the right place at the right time to move the ball forward, stand in the right place at the right time to break the opponent, and if it is taken away, you can take it back by standing in the right place at the right time, and attack again.
Anyone can be anywhere. In other words, someone must always be in the right place.
I think there are "diamond-shaped positioning" created by countless triangles and forward-looking players, so to speak, as "carefully selected gear" to achieve the goal, and there is a 5-lane theory to efficiently perform it, and there is also an "eye" to choose a location while observing the opponent's arrangement.
But Nakamura's question seemed to focus only on the "tool" itself, and it sounded like an important message that we must not confuse the purpose and the means.
So, I may never understand positional play forever. But I think that's okay. Because I have a feeling that I will someday understand and keep moving forward forever.
A journey that continues to search for luxurious pleasure in the minimal "tidying up" and the hidden improvisation behind it. Whether on the pitch or from the stands, it may be the essence of positional play that pushes forward this positive attitude.
Text by Taiga HIRASAWA (Soccer Magazine Web)
