A Tale of Two Styles

Y’alright mate?

No, this isn’t an opportunity for you to reminisce about the days with Jose strutted up and down the pitch at Stamford Bridge looking like he was on the cat walk. Nor is it a conversation on the tres dashing and refined man who now manages that same club, who’s oft cited initials AVB sound like those of a hedge fund or multinational corporation. Sadly and yet sprinkled with a great deal of good fortune, those are not the styles we’re talking about, because we’d then have to talk about Tony Pulis – who I have nothing but respect for as a manager – and his godforsaken ball caps and golf shirts that he deems professional attire for the Premier League. No.    

Instead the conversation – and yes this is a conversation because were you here it would still be as politely one-sided as this – will focus on some fantastic fixtures this weekend in the Premier League, along with results giving an indication of the direction the league is headed for the remainder of the season. Two results that I would like to really focus on are the Queen’s Park Rangers 1, Everton 0 and Man City 3, Bolton 2. With regards to the former, it was important that QPR got off the mark with a win following their drubbing to Bolton a fortnight ago. Their goal was well worked and well earned, and while they were on the fortunate side of a Leighton Baines set-piece off that shook the woodwork, for the most part they showed a real defensive cohesion.

 For the remainder of the season there will be matches that are pure defensive struggles, where teams are either down a goal and turn the screw tighter and tighter with every through ball and corner kick. Sure QPR did attack when they had the opportunity to do so, but the weight of the game was well upon them, especially since they’ve only just returned to the Premier League against a side well versed in pressure football. This weekend’s draw between Norwich and Stoke is another great example of one side – clearly the underdogs – nicking a goal and suffering a tremendous amount of pressure for it.

Now the flipside of that is being a team who is maybe a bit stronger and more confident, they just have to go for the goals they need. Everton for all of their chances just couldn’t find the back of the net, and Stoke only did so in stoppage time, the same is true of the Chelsea game and dozens of other matches across Europe. But defensive discipline, combined with seizing that one glimmer of an opportunity when it presents itself, not only grit and determination, but intelligence in the game. It’s not the same quality as say watching Barcelona, Man United or Inter, but the idea is to be practical, not impatient.

As for the Man City v Bolton game, it was the opposite spectrum of play. Both sides went at each other in a way that signifies their intentions: Mancini and Citeh want the title (ha) and Bolton want to get into Europe with a touch of attractive football along the way. City is a side that wants to score more and concede less, while Bolton has a moderate approach to their talent-spread and loves to play positive football in the same manner. In the end both teams really went for it and the game was exciting, full of quality football and goals in bunches. So this game was a little more free-flowing than the matches already mentioned, with the two clubs trying to express themselves to their maximum potential.  

For the most part, that’s the nature of football and the Premier League, with teams sizing one another up and at the end of the day styles need to adapt to meet the opponent. Those that are a little weaker at times need to play with more discipline to grind out a result, while clubs that are stronger often try to impose themselves on the game, have their way with her, and express their true ability as a unit. Sure Mancini wouldn’t have been please with Bolton being allowed to make a game of it by netting twice, but at the very least he was able to field a team that netted a treble. A bit of time on the practice pitch and those little missteps from the backline will be smoothed out – at least one would think judging on the talent pool flooding the envious end of Manchester.

Having said that, it was a great weekend of football and though there is some real disparity between some clubs, it was lovely to watch tight results and close games. Today the real gem of Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United takes place, and if the season’s early results are anything to go by, then it should be a great game. Keep in mind as you follow the game – or the Footy Fox on twitter @thefootyfox – that within this game a third style is likely to emerge, one of absorb and attack that has long proven to be a key tool in the United arsenal. Jog on mate!