Football Is Smarter Than Ever So, Why Does It Feel Less Magical?
The beautiful game has always attracted millions upon millions of die-hard supporters across the globe, and is the world’s most popular sport by some margin. Vast swathes of partisan supporters get involved in the action, from the grassroots to the game’s top echelons. The game itself seems to be in a constant state of flux, determined by new tactics, strategies, and overall philosophy, for want of a better word. Modern professional football seems to be governed by one of these new philosophies, where safely retaining possession, playing simple passes to do so, and utilising higher presses of the ball, which, while often effective, does reduce the watchability of games somewhat. The academy system is also new-ish, where players are recruited younger and earlier in their careers than ever before. Some argue that, in the modern game, a degree of that magic has been lost. Let’s examine if that’s the case.
Precision vs chaos
Gone are the days when a talismanic force, usually in the shape of a number 10, could unlock moments of surprise, chaos, and wonder. On paper, modern football players are more skilful, as far as data-driven analytics are concerned. Completed passes, the number of dribbles, etc., are more prevalent than ever before, but more importantly, there’s a focus on precision. Passes are completed, and less chaos is encouraged. Whereas before a number 10, in the shape of someone such as Zidane or Riquelme, could seize upon the ball and create important moments, wowing audiences with unconventional skill, movement, and long-distance shooting, these skills are being replaced by more predictable tactics such as the high press. Many point to this as the reason the magic has been supplanted by data-driven results, and slow, methodical buildup play has forgone the talismanic impact solo players can make on games.
Individuality vs team play
A perfect example of this focus on overall team play vs individualistic players can be found in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side. Every player is expected, despite position, to contribute to the fluid execution of strategy, rather than to take the game by storm in talismanic fashion. Players have become much more adept at the high press, that is, keeping the ball in ever higher positions upfield, and trying to win it back as soon as it is lost, rather than retreating to more defensive positions. This requires the use of fast centre-backs and a proactive goalkeeper who can function as a defender to effectively manage the space behind the higher line. It is designed to encourage mistakes from the defending team, rather than to inspire moments of creativity and chaos by individuals, and is often characterised as the ‘gegenpress’, a term coined by proponents of the style.
Why is the so-called gegenpress unpopular with fans?
Fans who can remember early 2000s football find the gegenpress uninspiring, and it certainly does take the initiative away from players able to create solo moments of magic and drama with its emphasis on team play. Even football jerseys have been made famous by the individual greats of yesteryear, and are often purchased online as memorabilia. Statistics suggest that, on paper at least, footballers are more skilled now than ever before, although this does little to prevent naysayers arguing that much of the magic has been lost from the elite levels of the game.
Systems replace freedom
We’ve talked about moments of chaos and wonder, and why these have shrunk from view in many spectators’ opinions. Well, today’s tactical systems are designed to eliminate, rather than encourage them. The game can feel predictable or even boring to watch on many levels, despite the undisputed skill and nuances of possession retention and precision passing that we see in football’s top echelons. Take Brentford FC in the English Premier League as one example where data has been used effectively to take the team from League One obscurity to Premier League stalwarts. Their entire team strategy, from making signings to on-field play, is based on data and analysis. It’s rare to see them take shots from outside the penalty area, and they rely almost exclusively on high press tactics to take teams out of their comfort zones and strike on the counter.
The academy system
Gone are the days of talent scouts patrolling grassroots-level matches to find the next Pele, Best, or Maradona. Promising players are recruited young and developed under these successful winning systems. Everything is overseen, from diet and nutrition to dealing with the media, so there is a kind of automaton presence both on the field and off that comes with the recruitment of younger players looking to chase down their dreams as professional footballers. Many would argue that this means big characters are less likely to emerge as they did in decades gone by, and that we forfeit some of the magic of yesteryear.
Football is by no means getting worse. Times have always changed tactically, particularly in terms of individual flair versus full team coordination. Many fans will still complain, however, and yearn for the bygone days when those magical moments of individualism seemed to shine brighter.
