I used this phrase today after a game my squad had played and won. I knew they were capable of winning. The Club's coaching staff knew they were capable of winning. Even their parents knew they were capable of winning. I don't think my squad knew, and their opponents certainly didn't think they could win.
This brings me to Stoke City (and Hull City) and Liverpool in the 2008-2009 season. This was the season for Liverpool to win the Premiership. That season Liverpool had three of the top ten goal scorers in the league (Gerrard, Torres, and Kuyt), the one of the best shot stoppers in the league, a good coach and great game form. The team could defend, pass, attack, and clear. In 38 games they had 27 goals against, and only two losses. On paper, and on the field, Liverpool was not a team to lose. They beat Manchester United twice, and the evil of Empire of Chelsea two times as well.
But they didn't finish first.
In 2007-2008 season Hull City and Stoke City qualified to play in the Premiership. The pundits and broadcasters gave them little hope of staying up, and being quickly relegated to the Championship Division. They were middle of the pack teams, with journeyman players for the most part, who if they were to stay up had to beat the teams around them in the table, and one or two games from the top five teams as well.
Stoke and Hull should not beat Liverpool. Liverpool, by all accounts should have beaten them. Handily. Remember they beat Man U and Chelsea. Yet in three of the four games played against Stoke and Hull, Liverpool tied Hull once and Stoke twice. Why, because Liverpool thought it was a free ride, and Stoke and Hull didn't. Stoke and Hull didn't play above their ability, they played at their ability, and Liverpool thought it would be business as usual.
They also lost a game to a team that was relegated, Middlesborough, between Champions League matches at Real Madrid.
So in four games, they acquired three out of a possible 12, and they lost the league to Manchester United by six points.
The game is always played in the "now". It isn't played on a "stat" sheet, or a record of wins and losses from a previous season. It is this moment, the one a team plays in any given game that gets the result.
What does this mean? Simple. Play every opponent believing you can beat them and that they can be you. A good team, working hard for a common goal can beat anyone on any given day. If you don't prepare for that, and if you play like that, you will be Liverpoo 2008-2009, and tie the teams you should beat.
A simple 4 v 4 that can be played in the"now" is one I call the "six second game". It is played like a normal game, with small goals, but with an additional way to score. If a player loses possession of the ball they have six seconds to get it back, or the other team gets a point. This encourages quick transition from offense to defense, tackling, shielding, as well as standard passing and movement. It also encourages personal responsibility for ones mistakes in the course of a game.
Walk On
Hal White
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