Halfway to 40, impatient administrators, practice practice practice
In his wisdom, ex British Prime Minister Harold Wilson once said that seven days was a long time in politics…. he should have tried being a Stoke City supporter! Seven days on it all feels so much brighter. Three wins in a row and we are now over halfway to the magical 40 point mark. In each game we showed characteristic tenacity to cling to the lead and secure priceless victories. In the matches against Newcastle and WBA it was particularly encouraging to see substitutions proving the decisive factor. Cameron Jerome’s injection of pace provided a variation to our play against Newcastle. It was pleasing to see Dean Whitehead score the winner at The Hawthorns. Whitehead is no longer an automatic starter for The Potters but to his credit he’s continued to apply himself with decency and professionalism. Despite the current high it’d be foolish to pretend our performances have been flawless. We still aren’t creative enough largely due to a lack of movement from the front players. Also, when we are under pressure our defending too often resembles a series of lunges which give away free kicks and unnecessarily acquire a plethora of yellow cards. Charlie Adam has to serve a suspension, we can ill afford to lose any selection options. We are a physical team but that doesn’t have to equate to being a reckless one. Overall though a fine weeks work for Stoke City. If we apply the same level of endeavour and discipline we have every chance of securing a fourth straight victory at Villa Park.
Roberto Di Matteo isn’t the only manager entitled to feel aggrieved by a dismissal. Valencia’s club president Manuel Llorente sacked Mauricio Pellegrini following a 2-5 home defeat to Real Sociedad. It’s hard to see Llorente’s action as anything other than knee jerk. While they are currently positioned 12th in the league, Valencia are still handily placed for a run to grab a Champions League spot and reached this seasons last 16 with a game to spare. How is any manager able to operate effectively when their superiors are trigger happy? Infuriating though it can be, disappointing results are part of football. Presidents and owners should consider that before becoming involved in the game.
Elsewhere in Spain, rumours persist that Jose Mourinho will leave The Bernabeu at the end of the season. In appointing Mourinho Real Madrid chose a philosophical u turn. They regard style and panache as important to the culture of their club as their illustrious historical trophy haul. Mourinho’s brilliance is motivation and his tactical manoeuvring. His teams, as successful as they are, haven’t always played exhilarating thrilling football. The pragmatism and attention to detail being the cornerstones of his glittering career. On a personal level his move to Madrid was a professional masterstroke. It’s known Real Madrid is a notorious managerial graveyard. When he does leave he’ll be able to do so with reputation intact and will still be able to pick up a job at a European powerhouse. That special one isn’t stupid.
It is now 20 years since Eric Cantona joined Manchester United. Few could deny that Cantona’s move to Old Trafford was the pivotal point in Man Utd’s rise to dominance. Carrying rare insight, he could see, and execute, passes few others could. For all that, the main factor wasn’t actually what happened on the pitch. At the end of his first training session Cantona asked for two youth players to stay and help him practice. He instructed the youth players to cross balls to him to help him practice volleys, which they did… each volley an improvement on the previous one. The rest of the Manchester United staff were impressed by this. The young players, who would have included players like Beckham Giggs Neville and Scholes, were so awestruck they copied the Frenchman and developed the habit of practice. The example Cantona set was the hallmark of transformation from potential to European Champions. That level of application and perseverance is a mark of truly great footballers. In his autobiography Roy Keane pointed out, with validity, that Cantona never actually turned a balanced European tie in Man Utd’s favour. It’s also true that they never won the European Cup with him. His greatest legacy is the players saw with their own eyes what transforms possibility to achievement…. practice, practice, and more practice.
Luiz Felipe Scolari will lead Brazil at the 2014 World Cup. His re-appointment is understandable. Having led the Selecao to victory at the 2002 World Cup the experience he carries will be essential. It’s hard to imagine managing Brazil in 2014 being an enjoyable task. The sheer scale of expectation and demand for style will reach an intensity comparable to any moment in football history. In 18 months time Scolari’s predecessor Mano Menezes may feel releived he’s no longer in at the deep end.