Football dogmas are falling – 01/17/2023 – Tostão

Football, of the present and the future, alternates the way of playing, every day more, between one game and another or even in the same game, according to the moment. Dogmas and excessive repetitions harm creativity and the ability to surprise.

In Barcelona’s brilliant victory over Real Madrid, by 3 to 1, in the decision of the Spanish Super Cup, coach Xavi surprised by choosing a fourth player in the midfield in place of a fast and dribbling winger, who was always present in all the other games. The team exchanged more passes, had more of the ball and became more aggressive and offensive.

The fact reminds me of the elimination of Brazil in the World Cup. While Croatia had a trio in the midfield, Casemiro was alone in the sector, as the team attacked with two open ends, Richarlison, Neymar and midfielder Paquetá.

There are several ways to organize the midfield. While Fluminense, managed by Fernando Diniz, brings the players together to keep the ball and involve the opponent, São Paulo, led by Rogério Ceni, is in a hurry to reach the goal, with attempts at speed plays, without success. Rogério likes strategy more than quality. A team can have both alternatives in the same game.

Vítor Pereira, on his debut for Flamengo, changed his midfield position. Instead of having a central midfielder, a midfielder on each side and Arrascaeta at the end of the diamond, close to the two attackers, the coach chose two players in midfield, Arrascaeta on the left and Éverton Ribeiro on the right. The two went into the middle to build plays. As with Dorival Júnior, there are no open ends, which attack and defend, except when Everton Cebolinha enters on one side and Marinho on the other.

Vítor Pereira, like Dorival Júnior, Tite and so many coaches around the world, loves the presence of two wingers who attack and defend, but obviously knows that better than strategy is having two players with great talent, like Éverton Ribeiro and Arrascaeta .

Atlético and Corinthians have two coaches recently hired. Atlético fans, before the team plays, are already fascinated with Coudet, who likes intense, tough and quick transition teams. Hence the hiring of Edenílson, who, in a fraction of a second, goes from one area to another.

Corinthians has a brand new coach, Fernando Lázaro, who acquired great scientific knowledge during the long time he was a statistics analyst and assistant to the technical commission of Corinthians and the Brazilian national team. When I see Fernando Lázaro, I remember his father, Zé Maria, a teammate on the Brazilian national team and an idol for Corinthians. The two look alike, they are shy, calm, withdrawn. Everything indicates that they will also be very similar in their enormous professional seriousness.

Palmeiras lost two important starters, Danilo and Scarpa, exceptional at crosses. There are good reserves in the squad, like Raphael Veiga. Fans should not pressure and coerce the board to hire players. Brazilian clubs often spend too much and hire poorly.

It’s too early to analyze young Endrick. However, I was worried about his positioning, very fixed, with his back to the goal and very close to the defenders, like a classic center forward. He will need more space to use his incredible speed and enormous talent.

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