Jul 2, 2017
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Bayern Munich and Pass-and-Move
Never pass to a red shirt in one direction when there are two in the other. Support the man, but look to the ball. If you lose the ball work twice as hard as the opposition to get it back. Our approach was to use the ball like a baton in a relay race. You pass it to me, I pass it to him, he passes it on. It’s the ball that is covering most of the ground — not the players. If you are in the penalty area and aren’t sure what to do with the ball, stick it in the net and we’ll discuss your options afterwards.
That is the way the legendary Bill Shankly described pass and move, the technique he taught his Liverpool team to play. Sure there are are elements of other tactics (ie total football), but those came along after Shankly's time. Pass and move is the essence of direct attacking football with emphasis on passing and pressing.
This is what the current Bayern Munich side has managed to achieve. Quick interplay, fluidity between players, but fuelled with a directness that tiki taka fails to achieve.
How would you describe the way Bayern Munich plays?
Day 05 - Favorite manager
Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.
Passion is what inspires me most in football. Sometimes, even the least technically-inclined player on the pitch would catch my eye because of the pure passion he has for his club and for the game. That is why my favourite manager is Bill Shankly.
I came to watching Liverpool from 2007 onwards. What attracted me to that club more than any other is their fans passion for the club what it stands for. And as I learned more about Liverpool a grew to admire, and maybe even revere, the person Shankly was and what he stood for.
Shankly is passion, even unto fanaticism. His well-documented camaraderie with the Liverpool fans was awesome to behold and I doubt any other manager in the world can claim to have the same impact. When he spoke his people listened. Before the likes of Jose Mourinho, Shankly already mastered mind games. From bigging up young players (“Christ, son, you say you’re upset because I left you out? Son, you should be thanking me. That side on Saturday was rubbish, absolute rubbish. You should be thanking me for leaving you out. One day you’ll captain this club, play for England, and maybe captain England too. And then one day you’ll realise and you’ll thank me for leaving you out.”) to demeaning opponents ("This city has two great football teams – Liverpool and Liverpool reserves"), Shankly is always great for a quote (or five).
Shankly is innovation, and the creation of a new game. Though the Dutch will also come up with total football almost a decade later, Liverpool's famous pass and move was pioneered by Shankly in 1959.
Never pass to a red shirt in one direction when there are two in the other. Support the man, but look to the ball. If you lose the ball work twice as hard as the opposition to get it back. Our approach was to use the ball like a baton in a relay race. You pass it to me, I pass it to him, he passes it on. It’s the ball that is covering most of the ground — not the players. If you are in the penalty area and aren’t sure what to do with the ball, stick it in the net and we’ll discuss your options afterwards.
In essence it emphasizes on possession play, but with specific emphasis on directness, in combination with heaving pressing. Sounds familiar? That would be because there are elements of Barcelona's tika-taka, Dortmund's gegenpressing and the afore mentioned Ajax total football. The closest any current team comes to achieving pass and move would be Bayern Munich. And look at how much success the tactic has brought them. Perhaps Shankly wasn't the direct influence on these other teams, but he definitely taught Liverpool to play football before their time.
Shankly is control, at times even overbearing. From the players' personal lives to their diet, how they warmed up and how they cooled down, every aspect was monitored and carefully adjusted. "Attention to detail; we never left anything to chance," that was how Shankly liked it. It ensured his team was the fittest, strongest and the best prepared before every match - like every manager, Shankly hated to leave anything to chance.
Shankly is inspiration, and the rebirth of Liverpool Football Club. It wasn't just promoting them from the 2nd division to winning the 1st league title. It was the way Shankly went about doing the job. He set the foundations in place from which Bob Paisley and Joe Fagen could build a dynasty for Liverpool, and by doing so became a legend to everyone who knew of his deeds. "This is Anfield" - that is the legacy Shankly leaves behind.
Shankly is football.
2. Jose Mourinho. His antics remind me of Shankly at times, and his controversies are too entertaining to pass up.
3. Luis Aragones. A strange choice perhaps, but he was the mastermind behind the amazing 2008 Spanish National Team which won the Euros. The 2010 and 2012 sides pale in comparison.
Xavi / Anchovies
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After reading Steven Gerrard's autobiography, the story that stuck with me the most was where he nearly lost his big toe after looking for a lost ball in some long grass. A rusty old garden fork stuck straight into his toe and he nearly had to have it amputated. His whole career basically hinged on that moment. I wanted to show that even the smallest of obstacles can have the biggest of repercussions. I hope you enjoy this! Please spread it around! :D
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After reading Graham Hunter's BARCA book I realised how much I admired Iniesta as a player and a person. I love his style of play. He is the epitome of skill but what hits home more than anything is his personality. The guy seems to be so humble and appreciative of his position in life. With this comic I wanted to show that even he had to work to get where he is today.
Hope you enjoy it!
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