Articulated Well: One major difference between Premiership Football and MLS

[usbfc]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/20/AR2007032001539.html
Got this from a Washington Post article about new signing of 19-year old, Kasali Yinka Casal, the first young Englishman in DCU history and who was brought up through Fulham's academy.

KASALI YINKA CASAL'S QUOTE: "Most of the things I've learned since I was 7 are totally different over here," he said. "In England, they like to move as a team, keep the shape, give the other team time on the ball and then press. Over here, they like to press and challenge quickly and much higher on the field."

I, for one, prefer the English style much more. It is more attractive to watch and, no one has to argue, the players are much more skilled.

But, instead of what we often do - which is just criticize MLS play without any real dissection - I thought it is important to get this perspective. A lot of players that come and go seem to give the old, the English game is 'faster' or MLS is a 'competitive' league. But, that doesn't really tell much.

Hearing this quote, I clearly could visualize almost any Premiership match I've enjoyed. Eureka! That's partly why the English game is beautiful. It's 'form' as much as it is 'skill'. 'Form' is an important component to visual appeal.

IMHO about MLS, with that kind of pressure on the ball, fluidity is rare and the 'magic' of soccer is often lost. You struggle to have a 'beautiful game' when play is constantly broken.

On the other hand, DCU has an incredibly attractive style. I think it probably has more 'shape' than other clubs in MLS. I hope Casal fits in well.

[3rd Degree]

this just in: MLS is not the EPL.




carry on.

[tab5g]

this just in: MLS is not the EPL.


no one can prove that.

i wonder if Clint Dempsey has any thoughts on if the EPL is MLS.

[rojojova]

Well. The "high pressure and defend with the forwards/midfielders as soon as you lose the ball- thing" was really what Bruce Arena used (and uses) at UVA, DC United, and with the US team. That's why players like Clint Mathis that didn't want to defend as a forward (or aren't very fit), didn't do as well in Bruce's system.
So DC's "style" that you speak of, was in large part developed by Bruce and this high pressure defense is a signature of that style.
It's an effective style against teams that can't keep the ball very well (something that you see in all levels of american soccer- not to mention CONCACAF minnows). Against very good teams you can be completely picked apart using this approach.

Other DC fans... agreed or no?

[usbfc]

this just in: MLS is not the EPL.

carry on.

Having a bad day? Oh, I get it. The '3rd degree'.

Hahaha. haha. Clever! LOL. Hahaha. ha ha.

Aha!

Ha.

Huh.

Hmmmm. Yeah.

Good times. Good times.

[P1brit]

I have been known to fall asleep during both.

[Mike22]

no one can prove that.

At the moment, this is true.

However, the greatest soccer minds from across the planet are being assembled as we speak in the New Mexico desert to finally offer such a proof. With billions of dollars being poured in and all of latest high-tech equipment, we can only hope this team can finally offer convincing evidence and provide us with the weapon to stop our enemies (such as the starter of this thread) once and for all.

[Stan Collins]

It's an effective style against teams that can't keep the ball very well (something that you see in all levels of american soccer- not to mention CONCACAF minnows). Against very good teams you can be completely picked apart using this approach.

Other DC fans... agreed or no? Chivas worked the ball around quite well against us, but it didn't actually result in that many chances for them. And interestingly enough, they seemed to play roughly the style of defense you describe against us.

I can see your comment that the predominant style in MLS is meant to exploit the deficiencies that tend to be predominant in American players (that high pressure is designed for players you think will cough up the ball); however, style and playing level are still somewhat different things, and a high pressure style isn't necessarily indicative of a lack of talent.

[Baysider]

KASALI YINKA CASAL'S QUOTE: "Most of the things I've learned since I was 7 are totally different over here," he said. "In England, they like to move as a team, keep the shape, give the other team time on the ball and then press. Over here, they like to press and challenge quickly and much higher on the field."





I think this is an interesting quote. The high pressure is a characteristic of a number of MLS teams. I know that Yallop likes it. He talks about defending in "their half", with the defensive line high trying to anticipate passes rather than defending the man with the ball.


As a poster said, it works best when the other teams don't have the skill to play through it or over it. It probably also works best when your offense is quick one-touch rather than building up and possession.

[Stan Collins]

As a poster said, it works best when the other teams don't have the skill to play through it or over it. It probably also works best when your offense is quick one-touch rather than building up and possession. I think the climate is also a factor. It's a bit harder to do the off the ball running it takes to play over the high pressure D when you're playing in a summer league in a country that's generally pretty hot/humid.

[diablodelsol]

Shouldn't this be titled "One Major difference between Fulham and DC United" and be on the DC Board?

[uniteo]

Well, I remember back in the day, before he was in coaching but after working in the USMNT camps with Bruce, Klinsmann talked about the lessons US sports had to offer and he specifically mentioned the immediate transition to pressure defense so prevalent on the basketball court.

[seahawkdad]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/20/AR2007032001539.html
IMHO about MLS, with that kind of pressure on the ball, fluidity is rare and the 'magic' of soccer is often lost. You struggle to have a 'beautiful game' when play is constantly broken.

On the other hand, DCU has an incredibly attractive style. I think it probably has more 'shape' than other clubs in MLS. I hope Casal fits in well.I think this pressure all over the field is exactly why the UNC women have been so dominant over the years. But there is another part to this. They have such a great collection of skilled players that once the ball has been won through the pressure defense, their fluidity starts.

This describes the DC United situation also. It is the other team's fluidity that is broken up. You break up the other team's shape and then put your own into play. As a fan of the fluid team, isn't this exactly what you want?

It's certainly what I like to see. Although it's beautiful soccer to see a fluid opponent, I'd rather see a broken one.

[3rd Degree]

Having a bad day? Oh, I get it. The '3rd degree'.

Hahaha. haha. Clever! LOL. Hahaha. ha ha.
yes I chose this screen name because I like to grill people.

that's it. yeah.

um....

oh.


oops.

[BobyOne]

I think this pressure all over the field is exactly why the UNC women have been so dominant over the years. But there is another part to this. They have such a great collection of skilled players that once the ball has been won through the pressure defense, their fluidity starts.

[Don't you have to win a championship to be dominant? Last time they won was in '94. But, you're right about the style of play and why it works.]

It does seem that American athletes are more willing to play within a "system" since so many of our sports require extreme organization between teammates. Soccer, on the other hand, is a much more free-flowing and individual game.

[lurking]

Chivas worked the ball around quite well against us, but it didn't actually result in that many chances for them. And interestingly enough, they seemed to play roughly the style of defense you describe against us.

I can see your comment that the predominant style in MLS is meant to exploit the deficiencies that tend to be predominant in American players (that high pressure is designed for players you think will cough up the ball); however, style and playing level are still somewhat different things, and a high pressure style isn't necessarily indicative of a lack of talent.

I seem to recall Pachuca had a hard time moving the ball against the Dynamo in the second half when Houston upped their pressure. But thats not real my point.

There is more about applying high pressure then just trying to win the ball back right away. The other part of the quote ties into this. Moving as a unit. If you attack in such a way where your team loses shape, your very vulnerable to the counter. There are gaps on the field where you can be attacked. But if you apply immediate pressure, instead of the first oppontents touches being straight up the field, they have to be to get out of that pressure. You buy time for the players to reorganize themselves off the ball. And because offensively MLS teams are more likely to be less structured offensively, a less structured defensive approach is needed.

Sending the ball over the top to try and get behind the defense is actually a desired result. Its a long pass that the defenders are actually in position to defend it.

Now, if the other teams players are just better, well your going to get beat. But playing a different style isnt going to change that, the players are better.

[Earthshaker]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/20/AR2007032001539.html

I, for one, prefer the English style much more. It is more attractive to watch and, no one has to argue, the players are much more skilled................


.....I clearly could visualize almost any Premiership match I've enjoyed. Eureka! That's partly why the English game is beautiful. It's 'form' as much as it is 'skill'. 'Form' is an important component to visual appeal.



I heard an EPL announcer over the weekend refer to the Premiership as the "most watchable league in the world" right now.
Personally, I guess I agree, since I find myself watching the EPL more than the other leagues. However, 25-30 years ago I much more preferred the Bundesliga. And it wasn't just becasue Toby Charles was the announcer. There were just so many great players, Alan Simonsen "the Great Dane", Klaus Fischer, Karl Heinz Ruminegge....the list goes on and on. But, these days the EPL is just much better quality top to bottom.

[somaside]

It does seem that American athletes are more willing to play within a "system" since so many of our sports require extreme organization between teammates. Soccer, on the other hand, is a much more free-flowing and individual game.


Not if you want to win any games

[seahawkdad]

[Don't you have to win a championship to be dominant? Last time they won was in '94. But, you're right about the style of play and why it works.]
1996 North Carolina 1-0 Notre Dame
1997 North Carolina 2-0 UConn
1999 North Carolina 2-0 Notre Dame
2000 North Carolina 2-1 UCLA
2003 North Carolina 6-0 UConn
2006 North Carolina 2-1 Notre Dame

Looks pretty dominant to me :D

[pettyfog]

Shouldn't this be titled "One Major difference between Fulham and DC United" and be on the DC Board?

ermm.. no.

What would the difference be.. as of this writing? Seriously say DC wouldnt give them problems?

As a Fulham -and MLS- fan, I notice most wags compare the best of EPL games to the worst exhibitions of MLS.
If you could somehow distill out the 'average quality of game play' in both, the big league would still win of course but the difference would be far less than some believe.
Yeah, sorta like a premier league against a 1st Div league..... go figure!