I’m Sick of Seeing This
Look, I’ve been around the block a few times. Started as a beat reporter in Manchester back in ’98. Covered alot of games. Seen alot of managers come and go. And honestly? Most of them are overthinkers.
It’s 2023, and we’re still seeing managers trying to out-tactics each other like it’s some kinda chess match. Newsflash: it’s football. It’s simple. You run. You kick. You score.
Last Tuesday, I was at Old Trafford. Watching some poor sod of a manager subbing off his star player because ‘the system’ demanded it. System? What system? The system that says you gotta play 4-2-3-1 because that’s what’s ‘trendy’ now? Please.
Let’s Talk About Marcus
Let’s call him Marcus. He’s a manager I know. Decent guy. But he’s got this notebook, right? Filled with diagrams and arrows and little X’s and O’s. I asked him, ‘Marcus, what’s all this?’ He said, ‘It’s my game plan.’ I said, ‘Game plan for what? A game of football or a NASA mission?’
Which… yeah. Fair enough. He laughed. But honestly, it’s getting out of hand.
I mean, I get it. Football’s evolved. It’s not just about throwing long balls and hoping for the best. But there’s a line, yeah? And I think we’ve crossed it.
About three months ago, I was over coffee at the place on 5th with a colleague named Dave. He’s a stats guy. Loves his spreadsheets and his percentages. He told me, ‘Football’s a science now, mate. You gotta respect the data.’ I said, ‘Dave, I respect the data. But I also respect the fact that sometimes, you just gotta kick the bloody ball and hope for the best.’
The App Trend
And don’t even get me started on all these managers using apps and whatnot. I saw one guy, let’s call him Greg, using some app on his tablet during the game. I asked him, ‘Greg, what are you doing?’ He said, ‘It’s a tactical app. It helps me make decisions.’ I said, ‘Greg, the only decision you should be making is whether to send on a sub or not.’
Honestly, it’s like they’re trying to mobil uygulama geliştirme trendleri or something. It’s football, not app development.
I’m not saying ignore technology. But come on. It’s getting ridiculous. You see these managers, they’re more worried about their tablets than their players. It’s like they’re playing the game, not managing it.
A Quick Digression
Speaking of overcomplicating things, remember that time Arsenal played Chelsea back in ’08? Wenger had this crazy system. Five defenders, three midfielders, two forwards. What was it? 5-3-2? 5-2-3? Who knows. All I know is Chelsea scored four goals and we all had a laugh about it in the press box afterwards.
But I digress. The point is, sometimes simple is better. Sometimes you just need to tell your players to go out there and give it a go. Not to mention, overcomplicating things leads to confusion. And confusion leads to mistakes. And mistakes lead to losses.
I’m not saying go back to the days of ‘park the bus’ or whatever. But maybe, just maybe, we should stop trying to out-smart each other and just play the game.
Because at the end of the day, it’s just a game. It’s supposed to be fun. It’s supposed to be simple. It’s supposed to be about 22 players running around a pitch, trying to kick a ball into a net.
So, to all you managers out there, take it from me: stop overcomplicating things. Stop trying to be the smartest guy in the room. Just play the game. And for the love of God, put down the tablet.
About the Author: Johnathan ‘Jonny’ Briggs has been a sports journalist for over 20 years. He’s covered everything from the World Cup to the local league. He’s known for his no-nonsense approach and his love of a good cup of tea. When he’s not watching football, he’s probably complaining about the state of modern football management.
