Play to Win or Beautiful Soccer? - Talking-Soccer.com

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#1

Play to Win or Beautiful Soccer?

08-25-2016, 07:27 AM

I was reading the Hope Solo thread and it struck me that people were agreeing with Solo that Sweden (?) played like cowards and they weren't playing beautiful soccer in the Olympics.

Isn't the object of a tournament to win?

Perhaps winning within the rules isn't especially important for a youth soccer friendly, but we're talking about an international competition here.

So if your kid is in an "important" tournament (you can define "important"), then shouldn't the team play to win as long as they do it within the rules and nobody gets hurt? Suppose a team does use Boot and Scoot to win a high profile game. Is that just terrible, or is it smart tactics to find a way to win.

(Please don't turn this into a thread about how certain clubs play boot and scoot...I just want to hear your opinions on the question asked)
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#2

08-25-2016, 08:06 AM

I'm on the fence about this. I am a die-hard Gooner since they brought on Denis Bergkamp. I love to see the beautiful game being played at it's best.

Conversely, I cannot stand Jose Mourinho with a passion. Terrible football, little ambition other than to win by attrition. Park the bus, win on a counter. Watched Drogba torture us for years.

What's better? Winning or looking good? Reality is...winning is more important. I hate that I just wrote it, but it's true.

Do you like the Bruins defensive style, or the Sharks offensive style in hockey? Patriots go 17-0 mostly on an incredibly offensive season, but are slowed by defense and clock control. Who was happier at the end of that season? Pistons in the 90's stocked the Magic show. Terrible to watch...think they cared?
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#3

08-25-2016, 08:48 AM

As a lover of the game I get the frustration. But I also get the drive to win and use whatever tricks you have in your bag (short of violating the rules). It's the Olympics. It's the ultimate in high stakes (and WC).
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#4

08-25-2016, 09:10 AM

Recognizing the strength and weaknesses of an opponent and offsetting it or taking advantage of them is an art. Since we are talking about competition, winning is the main purpose. Beauty is on the eyes of beholder. For me watching a good tactitician like Mourinho beating the unstoppable guardiola's Barcelona was beautiful.
If it is competition, win it!
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#5

08-25-2016, 10:02 AM

Tge reason you play games is to win, not to look good.
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#6

08-25-2016, 10:42 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

The reason you play games is to win, not to look good.

This.

I was a downhill racer in college. The fastest racer down the course won the race. More often than not, the fastest racer on the course was pushing so hard they were right on the edge of making a mistake... it wasn't about perfect turns and beautiful skiing but whether you could take it right to the edge and still finish. Competition is competition because it's about winning.

All this talk about style over results is just that, talk... winners get to take home the trophy. At the highest levels of competition, that's what matters.
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#7

08-25-2016, 10:50 AM

There should be time limits on how long you can pass the ball around in the team's half of the field. Like the six second goal kick timeout (that's seldom enforced).

Otherwise the game is just too boring (and too predictable) to watch. Thank god for DVR and fast forward.
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#8

08-25-2016, 10:55 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

There should be time limits on how long you can pass the ball around in the team's half of the field. Like the six second goal kick timeout (that's seldom enforced).

Otherwise the game is just too boring (and too predictable) to watch. Thank god for DVR and fast forward.

Death by a thousand paper cuts. Xavi mastered it.

What's your solution if there are 9 players behind the ball? Shoot from 45 yards out, and give up possession?
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#9

08-25-2016, 11:06 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

There should be time limits on how long you can pass the ball around in the team's half of the field. Like the six second goal kick timeout (that's seldom enforced).

Otherwise the game is just too boring (and too predictable) to watch. Thank god for DVR and fast forward.

Watch nba and leave soccer for us.
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#10

08-25-2016, 11:06 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Death by a thousand paper cuts. Xavi mastered it.

What's your solution if there are 9 players behind the ball? Shoot from 45 yards out, and give up possession?

good point. Just think the rules need to be re-designed to make the game more exciting.

Meanwhile, I'll just use my DVR fast forward feature.
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#11

08-25-2016, 11:07 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

Watch nba and leave soccer for us.

zzzz...
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#12

08-25-2016, 11:11 AM

The answer is simple.

At the professional level you do whatever is best suited for your team to win regardless of style.

At the Youth and developmental age you are looking to build the foundation and create the skill and speed of thought/play that goes along with the beautiful game. With that development you can hopefully change the style that your professional side plays by introducing young, skilled, and technically gifted players
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#13

08-25-2016, 11:14 AM

Originally posted by Unregistered View Post

There should be time limits on how long you can pass the ball around in the team's half of the field. Like the six second goal kick timeout (that's seldom enforced).

Otherwise the game is just too boring (and too predictable) to watch. Thank god for DVR and fast forward.

I do the same thing except I use my DVR's slow fast forward feature. this way I don't have to watch the CBs pass the ball back and forth to each other five times with no pressure on them. and then I hit "play" as soon as the ball gets near the midfield.
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#14

08-25-2016, 11:17 AM

Simple. Play to win.
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#15

08-25-2016, 11:23 AM

I would rather be told after a game, congratulations on your ugly win, than congratulations on your beautiful loss.
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