On FIFA match day, the news focuses on the national team, and England, the world's "strongest team", is naturally the subject of follow-up reports from Fleet Street.
When a reporter discovered that England's training was not going on as usual, with some players going back to the hotel and some staying at the training base, the paparazzi immediately became busy digging into the reasons behind it.
During this short period, there is not much news material, because during the league, there are 20 top league teams and 10 league games. There is a lot of material to write news about. On FIFA match day, everyone only focuses on the national team.
Naturally, there are fewer materials.
Therefore, if the national team makes any slight disturbance, Fleet Street will seize it and hype it up.
"Hall despises Finland!"
"The England team is divided into different levels! Beckham, Southgate and others have special treatment!"
"Does Hall understand what the World Cup is?"
In order to gain attention, most tabloids use alarmist headlines to attract readers. The more serious major newspapers will not do this because doing so will damage their relationship with Aldrich. However, following the trend, the headlines will be restrained.
Some, in another way, reported the matter with well-intentioned warnings or suggestions. Some famous English players also came forward to "teach their experience."
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It was supposed to be a normal and reasonable rest arrangement for the players by the national team, but it caused an uproar in the city. This shows the hype ability of Fleet Street, the European news center.
The reporter who actually wrote the article must know it well, but he just wrote it and let consumers pay the bill.
Aldrich didn't care. Such evil practices had become orthodox. The day Fleet Street stopped doing this, the sun would definitely rise from the west.
Two days later, Aldridge led the team against Finland at St. James' Park.
His troop formation really responded to some tabloid speculation: underestimating the enemy.
Except for Southgate, the big-name players basically sat on the bench.
And the formation also changed, becoming 442.
Both Germany started at the same time. Aldrich asked Lampard to play as an attacking midfielder, Gerrard played as a central midfielder, and used Joe Cole and Alan Smith on the front line. He just wanted to experiment with the new tactic of "midfielder forward".
After all, England has too many engineer-type players, and at home, their opponent Finland will definitely not take the initiative and play positional battles strictly, so Aldrich can only resign himself to fate. That is not his current style.
The Finnish team missed the World Cup and were full of resentment. After all, in the world preliminaries, they once occupied the second place in the standings and had a chance to grab a play-off spot. In their view, if Aldrich had not taken over the England national team, then they would not have
Will be pushed to third place.
When they came to England this time, they knew that they were invited to be sparring partners, which aroused their desire to win even more.
However, being aggressive is not enough, you must also be calm. Therefore, they resolutely implement anti-counterattack tactics on the court, no matter what posture their opponents may adopt.
Bayern Munich's 2:4 home defeat to Millwall became the focus after the game. Many experts repeatedly emphasized in technical and tactical reviews that Bayern Munich had hoped to win, but they were confused by the changes in their opponents.
, in other words, if you make changes due to changes in your opponent, you will fall behind and plant the seeds for defeat.
With this lesson in mind, the entire Finnish team has a highly unified mindset and is able to prevent counterattacks. If they have the ability, the England team can maintain a draw at home.
During the game, Aldrich sat on the coach's bench, watching the game and discussing with his colleagues.
"Why not use Butt and Hargreaves as a defensive midfielder?"
"Because I think this World Cup should be Bart's last national team performance. After the World Cup, Hargreaves will have the ability to replace him and be better and better than him, and Bart is at Manchester United."
Although Aldridge's contract with the Football Association will end this summer, he believes that Bart will have no place in the next national team cycle. He is still using him and giving him the main force. The reason is very simple. His
The strength is close to the current Hargreaves, but the experience is richer than Hargreaves. At the same time, he is connected with Manchester United and has a tacit understanding with the Manchester United players on the court.
Qi is not comparable to Hargreaves, and he works very hard. His mentality towards this World Cup is the same as that of McManaman. The most hard-working and most competitive career in his career will be this summer! And ha!
Greaves cannot compare with Bart in terms of mentality, experience, and inner drive. After all, he is young and does not think that this World Cup is his end.
No matter how the fans who just met Hargreaves ten years later define him, whether he is a glass man or ungrateful, at least before 2008, Hargreaves' career trajectory was soaring. He was the main force of Bayern Munich.
The main player of Manchester United and the main force of the England national team, such a height proves his strength. If it were not for injuries, why would Manchester United worry about not having a strong back ten years later?
"This offense is really hard to watch."
Klinsmann frowned.
England's attack is chaotic, simple and inefficient!
Aldrich nodded and said: "It seems that I still thought too simply. If I want to prepare a second set of techniques and tactics, there is no time. I can only improve on the basis of 4321."
Lampard, Joe Cole, and Alan Smith were at the forefront of the attack. They were trapped in layers of double-team defense and did nothing. The role of the defensive midfielder and forward position could not be played because of the lack of wingers.
As a defensive assistant, Gerrard, the central midfielder, defended very hard and had a wide range of defense, but his partner Barry was always slow in defense. I don’t know if it has something to do with him playing as a defender in the club.
If the wing defense is allowed to directly let the full-back become the first and last line of defense, this is extremely dangerous, especially the England team's positional battle is not as oppressive as Millwall's attack power. Millwall
That kind of pressing attack uses the threat of wingers to force the opponent's full-backs and full-midfielders to attack from front to back. This is the effect of replacing defense with offense.
But in the England national team, such an effect cannot be achieved. On the contrary, when the opponent counterattacks, the starting position of the wide players will be further forward. Then, if the midfielders are slow to assist in defending the wings, the full backs will be forced to
In a very embarrassing situation, it is especially easy to be penetrated by 2-over-1 cooperation.
Aldrich's previous thoughts were still a bit naive, perhaps arrogant.
Just like Tian Ji's horse racing strategy, 4321 can win. If you can't win with 4321, use another set of techniques and tactics.
The self-confidence he had accumulated over a long period of time allowed him to dare to make such a bold attempt, but he made a stupid mistake.
It takes a very long time to experiment, adapt, shape and mature a set of techniques and tactics.
Moreover, it is difficult to say that a team can use both sets of tactics.
Left-handed offense and right-handed defense, which one do you want to use?
That's what I thought. But in reality, it's simply impossible, and other head coaches can't do it either. Aldridge only thinks he can do it. Reality teaches him to start a new life!
Like the England team, after 4321 has been tempered and matured, they switch back to 442. They feel uncomfortable using it themselves. One person may be fine, but if the entire team of 11 people has to get into the same rhythm and exert the ideal power, unless
, there are 11 world-class players on the field, so there is no need to worry about which formation or tactics to use.
To re-create a set of techniques and tactics, you must replace the previous tactical system. It is impossible to say that you are proficient in the previous system and now add another one.
Aldrich self-denied, but fortunately, the idea of destroying the Great Wall was only killed in its infancy. Even if there is a back-up, we can only seek changes on the basis of 4321. This large framework foundation cannot be easily changed.
Just when Aldrich's thoughts were racing, the Finnish team scored. Through a counterattack, Litmanen made the final decision and broke the goal guarded by James. The Finnish team led 1:0 in the away game!
The Finnish team celebrated passionately at St. James' Park, as if they were venting their anger at being eliminated from the World Cup qualifying rounds. Being able to take the lead at England's home stadium made them vent their anger on the right enemy.
Aldridge stood up and walked to the sidelines, waved to the players on the field, and asked the team to retreat. The offense was messy and disorganized, but it exposed defensive problems. This was a typical transformation failure. The offense had no threat and the defense
Unstable, the two most powerful tools for establishing a foothold on the pitch, and the England team failed to do both today.
On the other hand, the Finnish team resolutely defended itself and, on the basis of successful defense, broke through the door of the England team. This is also a typical example, as the commentator said depressingly: "This goal should be a wake-up call for the England team!
"
To be precise, it woke Aldrich up.
In the final analysis, there are two ultimate pursuits on the football field. Either the attack is invincible. This is easy to understand. I score one more goal than you and I take away the victory. Or the defense is impregnable. This is developed on the basis of the former.
, my attack power is not as good as yours, then I can only restrict you and find the way to victory based on successful defense. Defensive victories are also common, such as the Italians' admiration for chain defense, that desperate 1:0, attack
How many coaches who pursue offense have their spirits broken?
Aldridge originally had a clear mind. The England team could not play an all-conquering offense, so they could only pursue the second type. Why is 442 so enduring? But it is difficult to carry forward the originator of the England team? Because 442 is too balanced, balanced
When balanced, it becomes mediocre.
4321 was looking for victory on the basis of defense. Now Aldridge is trying to subvert this. He was arrogant and was punished. Now, he takes the initiative to correct this.
However, he couldn't get the whole team to change their minds on the sidelines for a while. He could only ask the team to slow down the pace and not rush to attack, which meant not giving the opponent a good chance to counterattack. In this way, by the time of halftime,
He will make further adjustments.
At halftime, the score remained unchanged, with England trailing 0:1.
Aldridge rearranged the tactics in the locker room. The four defenders remained unchanged and changed back to the three defensive midfielders. Others did not make too many demands and the tactical routine returned to what was used before.
As a result, the second half of the game became extremely boring. Finland took the lead, and England also relied on defense and did not take risks in offense. On the scene, the two teams were fighting back and forth in the midfield for the ball, and no one could attack. 25 minutes into the second half
, the combined number of shots taken by both sides is: 0!
Later, it became a matter of luck with long shots and set kicks.
Aldrich really has a headache now.
The current situation is the most painful for the England team. The opponent does not take the initiative to attack and the score is behind. This tactic itself requires counterattack to be a threat. But without the opportunity to counterattack, the threat will naturally not come out.
The live broadcast camera frequently focused on Aldridge, Klinsmann, Jansson and the others. The coaching staff members had roughly the same expression, with their brows furrowed and gloomy.
Friendly matches don't matter, but if it comes to the World Cup and England falls behind, how should they play?
Without shaking the foundation of the 4321 tactics, how can this ultimate defensive counterattack formation be changed?
After all, England still has too few technically talented players. If there can be another technical player who is good at dribbling, or a master of organization, Aldrich and his colleagues will not be worried about gray hair soon. However, England
