I think we would all agree that watching recent Chelsea games has
been difficult and although yesterday’s
result at Blackburn saw a clean sheet and three points, I am sure I’m not alone
in finding it as unconvincing a performance as the defeats (and draw) which
preceded it.
Reviewing recent events it occurred to me that an element of
coaching last seen under Jose Mourinho and which I expected to see return under
AVB is still absent. It could be it is too early for it to be showing under our
new Manager but nonetheless I feel it is worth highlighting.
The Special One was indeed special in many ways but to me one of
the most exceptional aspects of his coaching was in his development of ‘the
thinking player’. The thinking player was developed by posing tactical problems
to the team in training and facilitating their ability to solve those problems
themselves without coaching intervention during matches.
We saw its benefits most clearly during Mourinho’s Champions
League touch line ban but it was at work in every game and was incredibly
frustrating for opposition managers who had got used to changing their own
sides tactics and then having at least a short window in which to exploit the
unpreparedness of the opposition before their coaching staff could relay
instructions. Not so with Jose’s Chelsea, they thought as a team and reacted
swiftly to opposition changes.
Perhaps the greatest triumph of this part of Mourinho’s coaching
philosophy came after he had gone. Uncle Fester (aka Avram Grant) was in charge
as we faced Liverpool in the Champions League semi final and were looking in
danger of blowing it. Grant made some inexplicable substitutions; JT was seen
gesticulating to the bench apparently seeking explanation which was not
forthcoming. Never mind, the thinking player coaching of Mourinho kicked in and
the team arranged its own tactics accordingly. I know others agree with my view
that the run to Moscow was a triumph of Mourinho’s not of Grant’s and this
example demonstrates why.
As with all things coaching, you use it or you lose it and, as
managers came and went those players who had starred under Mourinho gradually
forgot the thinking player and returned to the classic need for instruction
from the bench.
I had hoped that as he had worked under Mourinho, AVB might bring
the thinking player back to the Bridge. Maybe he still will? The signs are not
good and the defensive frailties of this season only serve to highlight this
fact. We had defensive lapses under the Special One but they were very quickly
sorted out ON the pitch and hence were rarities.
Of all the Special One’s special gifts, to me the thinking player
was the best. I hope we see its return before too much longer.
KTBFFH
No comments:
Post a Comment