To evaluate a performance, we must first know what a good performance looks like, and why. A good performance for one team does not always look like a good performance for another. As the previous module reviewed, this goes much further and deeper than the result.
It’s now very common for clubs to have a defined playing philosophy which outlines the way they want to play the game. One team may look to press and turn the ball over high with a game based on transition, while others may want to be more methodical and possesses the ball as much as possible.
In this example, the things may value and want to analyze will differ significantly.
This article written by Michael Caley identifies a clear pattern in the profile of teams managed by Mauricio Pochettino:
Pochettino is also featured in this article on Southampton during his time as their Head Coach
Brenden Rogers also discussed the difference between formations and playing philosophy
American Soccer Analysis is a website dedicated to providing an analytical perspective on Major League Soccer and Jarred Young found teams with a well-defined style of play generally had more success than those who didn’t.
Evaluating Team Styles – Proactive Score
A successful philosophy for weaker teams may be to rely on being defensively strong, and Twenty First Group, who were featured in the previous module, wrote about this. Almost everybody expected Sheffield United to be relegated from the Premier League following their promotion in 2019, but they predicted United would finish the highest of the promoted teams that year, thanks to their defensive strength. They eventually finished 9th.
The Biggest Bang For Your Buck
Oliver Gage presented the benefits of a well-defined playing style at a UEFA A-Licence course and gave some working examples to us when we spoke with him.
Lucy Rushton offered us some of her thoughts on why it’s so important for a club or team to have a well defined playing philosophy. Lucy interviewed for the APFA shortly before being hired as Sporting Director for DC United in Major League Soccer. We also spoke to Mike Rigg who was Technical Director at Man City for many years before joining Burnley, where the team significantly over-achieved in the Premier League.
Please move on to the next module, where we will look more closely at some very well-run football clubs and hear from the Coaches who work for them.
The functional analysis methodology model did not include an assessment of the qualitative benefits of transferring processes to the Global Service Centre
absolutely, the clubs methodology and philosophy should dictate the type of character and players playing style that a manager should bring into the club. Same with additional coaches and staff. Goals should be the same.
well explained!
The clubs methodology always comes first whatever any of the departments are stands to implement tasks. for example, to recruit, to sign a player and even to train academy players based on the main club methodology of coaching and philosophy.
Agreed!
The methodology of the club should match with the players characteristics in order to build a team to identify the club principles and goals.