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Other Sports / Having faith

« on: January 06, 2012, 08:10:47 PM »

Danny Woodhead is content with his anonymity—for however long it lasts.

Elusive on the field and often overlooked off it, he’s shifted through, sneaked around and slipped past defenses, college coaches and pro scouts for years as each has missed the opportunity to snag him.

Still, the New England Patriots’ 5-foot-7 running back has never allowed himself to get discouraged by the detractors. Since a young age, he’s trusted the Lord to help him focus on the bigger, divine purpose—one that includes praising God for the opportunity to play on football’s biggest stage, regardless of whether or not he is one of its smallest cast mates.

As the bruising speedster reflects on his path to New England, he says with confidence, “God’s plan is always best. There have been so many times when He has shown me that my plan, or whatever I thought should’ve happened, wasn’t the best. I just have to trust Him.”

Woodhead figuratively and quite literally came out of nowhere last season—much like he has at every level of his football career—and developed into a lethal offensive weapon for the Patriots. But this season, even as his anonymity slowly slips away, his purpose remains the same: to give defenses the slip and bring glory to God in the process.

   
Woodhead (far left) with his brothers, Joel and Ben, and their father, Mark
 
^ ^ ^

Annette Woodhead remembers the days when her three boys and one girl, whom she homeschooled until high school, played tackle football in the front yard of their North Platte, Neb., home. The games would typically go for hours until one of the boys came in screaming that their sister wouldn’t wake up, the boys having tackled her so hard that she’d pass out.

So were the tales of the Woodhead family from the tiny railroading town in western Nebraska—front-yard and living-room football games in which the goal wasn’t just to win, but to survive without major injuries.

Annette also remembers the character of her second-oldest, Danny, as being much the same back then as it is today.

“Danny was and still is easy going,” Annette said. “He’s always loved sports, and his brothers and his dad are his closest friends. That’s just the way it was when he grew up, and it’s stayed the same over the years.”

Through the teaching and encouragement of his parents, Woodhead, 26, learned early in life about Jesus and what it meant to follow Him. At the age of 4 he committed his life to Christ, a decision he attributes largely to his parents.

“They were a great example of what it meant to have a relationship with Christ,” he said. “I understood what Jesus was about and what He did for us. As I got older that understanding grew even more.”

Woodhead’s relationship with Christ developed simultaneously with his athletic ability while he was a student at North Platte High School. His parents helped sponsor the school’s newly established FCA Huddle, and Woodhead participated. With the help of a local pastor, the Woodheads had spearheaded the initiative of bringing Christ to the athletes and coaches at North Platte through FCA, and the Huddle remains active to this day.

“We reached a lot of different kids through FCA,” Annette said. “Many times, they were the ones who otherwise might not have known Christ or been in church.”

As one of the top athletes in the state, Woodhead excelled in a variety of sports, but he was unmatched on the gridiron. During his high school career, the North Platte Bulldogs advanced to the playoffs each season and were the 2001 Class-A State runners-up in his sophomore season. Individually, Woodhead finished his career as the Nebraska Class-A all-time rushing leader with 4,891 yards and was named the state’s Gatorade High School Football Player of the Year in 2003.

Despite Woodhead’s long list of accolades, his dream college, the University of Nebraska, didn’t recruit him as a running back. Instead, they offered him the opportunity to walk-on as a punt returner. While the idea of being a Cornhusker was tempting, Woodhead wanted to play on a team where he could make an immediate impact.

 
Danny Woodhead - #39
 
[ Team: ]
      New England Patriots
[ Position: ]
      Running Back
[ Born: ]
      January 25, 1985
[ Hometown: ]
      North Platte, Neb.
[ Height /Weight: ]
      5-7/195 lbs.
[ College: ]
      Chadron State University
[ NFL Debut: ]
      October 25, 2009 (NY Jets)
So, with North Platte in his rearview mirror, Woodhead selected Division II Chadron State University in Chadron, Neb., where his older brother, Ben, was already on the team.

As he hoped, Woodhead made a contribution right away, rushing for nearly 2,000 yards as a freshman. That season set a precedent that would continue throughout his time with the Eagles as he unceremoniously rewrote the collegiate record books. He set an alltime NCAA single-season record for all divisions with 2,756 rushing yards in 2006 and finished his college career with 7,962 yards, the most in NCAA history at the time. His 9,749 all-purpose yards remains second all-time.

To outsiders, the records were the highlight of Woodhead’s college experience, but what he remembers most were the things that took place off the field, including his spiritual growth. It was there at his parents’ alma mater that the faith they’d instilled in him really took off.

“In college I was able to see my relationship with Christ as my own,” he said. “I wasn’t going to church or reading my Bible because of my parents. It was my relationship and my responsibility.”

One of the primary influences in Woodhead’s life at college was his local pastor, who, according to Woodhead provided an environment in which he felt safe being honest and transparent with his emotions.

The pastor was Randy Dockweiler, who served as the lead pastor at Chadron’s Ridgeview Bible Church. The two met during Woodhead’s freshman year and, after establishing a friendship, began meeting regularly both in one-on-one and Bible study settings.

“Danny definitely made a turning point in his faith in college,” said Dockweiler, who also officiated Woodhead’s wedding to his high school sweetheart, Stacia, in 2008. “We were always open with each other, willing to talk about our difficulties and struggles, so it made it easy to build into him as much as I could. He’s a great athlete and an even better person. His humility shines through his hard work, and the determination he has is incredible.”

While college was an unforgettable experience for Woodhead, one challenge still remained. With a glimmering college résumé in hand, he had his sights set on the NFL. But, much like his senior year of high school, the scouts at the next level remained skeptical.

In April 2008, the NFL Draft came and went without any takers, but an outside opportunity surfaced with the New York Jets, who offered him a contract as an undrafted
rookie free agent and invited him to training camp.

Woodhead knew the situation: He would have to prove himself one more time. But before the season even began, he suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for the year.

“I was obviously pretty down after the injury,” he said. “It was almost like this was just one more thing to overcome. But even if it wasn’t to my liking, I had to trust God’s plan and let things play out.”

Woodhead endured the grueling rehab and was back in Jets camp at full health in 2009. His hard work soon paid off as he was promoted from the practice squad during the season and saw action in several games. But, in 2010, he was released by the Jets and once again found himself looking for a job, or simply a place to prove himself on the field.

After being cut, Woodhead turned to Dockweiler, but instead of expressing despair, he surprised his former pastor with the nature of his attitude.

“I was thinking it would be a chance to speak into his life, but I didn’t even need to,” Dockweiler said. “I told him how sorry I was, but he kept telling me that he knew God had a plan and that he wasn’t worried. But that’s so typical. Even when I think I need to help him out, he’s got such a firm faith that he ends up ministering to me.”

Just four days after being released by the Jets, God revealed the next step in His plan by opening an opportunity for Woodhead with the New England Patriots. Inactive in his first game, Woodhead watched from the sidelines as running back Kevin Faulk went down with a season-ending knee injury. In order to fill the role, the coaches inserted Woodhead into the next game.

But he would do more than just fill the role, starting what would become a season-long highlight reel that included a 22-yard touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills in his first game. It was a breakout season for Woodhead in which he set a new Patriots record for average yards per carry, scored six touchdowns and helped the Pats earn the league’s top regular season record (14-2). The smalltown Nebraska boy also developed a following in the New England area that rivaled that of superstar teammate Tom Brady.

Seeing the value they had in Woodhead, the Patriots offered him a two-year contract extension, ensuring his place in Foxborough through 2012.

“I wanted to come here and do everything I could to help the team,” Woodhead said. “I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to play for the Patriots. I try not to look too far ahead but just focus on my job each day to help the team. Everything that happens as a result is just a blessing.”

Also excited that Woodhead was set to be a Patriot for several more seasons was chaplain Don Davis, a former Patriot himself who currently works for the NFL Players Association. Through his interaction with Woodhead, Davis has seen how the running back’s faith and resulting level-headed approach to the game has served as a benefit to his teammates.

“I’ve learned to never let someone say I can’t do something. I was told that a lot, but I had to trust God through it all.”
                                            – Woodhead
 
“If you met him, you’d never know that he is this stud running back who came out of nowhere last season,” Davis said. “He’s down-to-earth; his demeanor is Christ-like. I’ve been blessed to be able to know him and see his impact in the locker room. He’s going to continue to do great things.”

^ ^ ^

All 5-foot-7-inches of Danny Woodhead stand in the middle of another tremendous season, only now it isn’t so out of nowhere. Last season, he made his presence known, and teams league-wide have made note of what he adds to New England’s offensive attack.

This thought alone is a stretch for everyone who doubted the kid from rural Nebraska. But for the man himself, he’s learned to not let their opinions slow him down. He simply trusts in God’s ultimate plan and lets it go.

“I’ve learned to never let someone say I can’t do something,” he said. “I was told that a lot, but I had to trust God through it all. No matter what, He has control. He gave me the gift of playing football, and I just pray that I can influence others through it.”




--For more stories about faith and sport, visit www.sharingthevictory.com, the official magazine of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. To subscribe to STV, click here.

2

Other Sports / faith

« on: January 06, 2012, 08:08:50 PM »

The sun was still asleep on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010, when Leslie Frazier’s phone rang. It was one of the Minnesota Vikings’ executives. That’s odd, Frazier thought. It’s awfully early for a call on game day.

Still groggy, Frazier reached for his phone. Three weeks earlier, the call would have gone to Brad Childress. But Childress had been released after a 31-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers that dropped the Vikings record to 3-7. Frazier, the team’s defensive coordinator, had been promoted to interim head coach and promptly won his next two games.

No time for basking, though. That afternoon’s opponent, the visiting New York Giants, were coming in with an 8-4 record. And a wild time for Frazier was about to get wilder.

“Hello?” he said into his phone.

“Have you heard the news yet?” the executive asked hastily.

“What news?” Frazier said.

“Brace yourself,” the executive responded. “There won’t be any football today at the Metrodome.”

“Why not?” Frazier asked in disbelief.

“The roof has collapsed.”

 
“…I know the impact it can have when I tell kids that Jesus Christ is the most important thing in my life.”  - Frazier

 
At first, Frazier thought it was a weak attempt at a practical joke. Then, he turned on the TV. Sure enough, earlier that morning, a massive winter storm in the Midwest had dumped enough snow on the Metrodome’s inflatable roof to puncture it like an overstressed Jiffy Pop bag. Frazier watched in shock as TV images showed snow and ice pouring onto the stadium’s artificial turf.

The surreal morning only foreshadowed more bizarre difficulties to come. The NFL moved the game to Monday night at Detroit’s Ford Field and resulted in a 21-3 Vikings loss that also marked the injury-induced end of quarterback Brett Favre’s NFL-record string of 297 consecutive starts.

The following week, the Vikings hosted Chicago at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium, falling 40-14, but they rebounded in Week 16 to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-14, in the first Tuesday night game in NFL history. The season rounded out with a 20-13 loss at Detroit.

It seems that sometimes in life, even when things seem to be going well, life dumps a ton of wet snow on your head. This wasn’t a new lesson for Frazier—just a particularly clear reminder.

Ever since Frazier was born on April 3, 1959, in the midst of many personal and social complexities in the segregated South, life has been a trade-off of big trials and big successes. But in each instance, the truth of Romans 8:28—Frazier’s favorite verse—has been validated. He knows that God truly does work for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.

He knows because he is living proof.

***

Frazier grew up in Columbus, Miss., an early-19th century settlement located near Alabama’s western state line that was first started by a U.S. interpreter for the Choctaw Nation. These days, Columbus is a charming town (pop. 23,640 as of 2010) in which the tea is sweet, the barbeque sauce is tangy and the local vernacular twangs like a friendly banjo. The city, it’s proud to say, is the birthplace of famed playwright Tennessee Williams and home to a nationally recognized Main Street district and many beautiful antebellum estates.

But for African-Americans in the 1960s, little was charming and beautiful in racially polarized Mississippi. During Frazier’s childhood, it seemed as if each morning’s newspaper brought new headlines of bigotry and hate. Like the now-infamous Ole Miss Riot in October 1962 when President John F. Kennedy ordered thousands of federal troops to quell the deadly protest of the first black student at the University of Mississippi, just two hours northwest of Columbus. Or the June 1963 slaying of a black Civil Rights activist by a Ku Klux Klan member in Jackson, only two-and-a-half hours to the southwest.

Frazier has spoken to his three children—Kieron, Chantel and Corey—only sparingly about those years, but they know enough to understand that their father saw and heard things they never will.

“I know he did,” Corey says. “Whenever we go to visit, he tells me where most African-Americans lived at the time and where most whites lived at the time and how it was segregated.”

 
Leslie Frazier
 
College: Alcorn State University

Personal: He and his wife, Gale, have three children: Kieron, Chantel and Corey.

Playing Career:
• Chicago Bears (1981-85);
Super Bowl XX Champions

Coaching Career:

Assistant Coach
• University of Illinois (1997-98)
• Philadelphia Eagles (1999-02)
• Cincinnati Bengals (2003-04)
• Indianapolis Colts (2005-06);
   Super Bowl XLI Champions
• Minnesota Vikings (2007-10)

Head Coach
• Trinity College (IL) (1988-96)
• Minnesota Vikings (2010-Present)
 
For young Leslie, though, his family life presented greater concerns. He and his two younger brothers grew up without much help from their parents. His mother battled substance abuse, and he never really got to know his father. In their absence, Ozella Gaston, the boys’ maternal grandmother, raised them.

“Big Mama,” as the boys called her, provided what she could, but her paycheck as a cook at Columbus Air Force Base didn’t supply much more than the bare necessities. Frazier never even ate at a fast-food restaurant until he was in college.

“My grandmother did the best she could without having a lot financially,” he said.

But Big Mama provided for her grandsons in other areas, giving them something of far greater value: Scripture. She stressed their need for a Savior and made sure they knew that salvation was by grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ. And every Sunday, without fail, she put those boys in the pews at St. James United Methodist Church.

Eventually, the promises of Isaiah 55:11 produced spiritual fruit in Frazier. At age 12, moved by an Easter morning sermon, he answered God’s call to surrender and publicly proclaimed his faith in Christ.

“[The pastor] was stressing if we knew whether we would go to Heaven or Hell,” Frazier said. “I knew I wanted to go to Heaven, but I wasn’t assured. When he explained it, though, I knew. I went forward and accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, and I’ve grown over time.”

While maturing spiritually, Frazier also developed athletically. At Alcorn State University, he played baseball and football, becoming an All-American cornerback.

In 1981, the Chicago Bears signed him as an undrafted free agent, and by 1983 the 6-foot, 189-pound Frazier was one of the top cornerbacks in the league, posting a team-high seven interceptions. The following year, he helped the Bears reach the NFC Championship game with a team-leading five picks.

Then came 1985.

With everything clicking under fiery head coach “Iron” Mike Ditka and using defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan’s legendary “46” scheme, the Bears produced one of the NFL’s greatest seasons. Chicago went 15-1 in the regular season before blanking the Giants and the Rams by a combined score of 45-0 in their first two playoff games. They then destroyed the Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.

“Da Bears” were equally memorable off the field, particularly known for the Super Bowl Shuffle, their team rap video that became a cultural sensation. (For a humorous trip down Memory Lane check it out on YouTube.) While the video highlighted the team’s biggest stars including quarterback Jim McMahon, running back Walter Payton and linebacker Mike Singletary, Frazier also appeared on-screen several times as a background dancer.

“Yes, I’m sad to say, I had a dancing part,” he lamented.

This little Frazier-flavored slice of American pop culture provided hours of entertainment for Frazier’s family. His kids sometimes asked him to perform the Super Bowl Shuffle in the family’s living room.

“They had fun with it, teasing me and getting me to dance,” Frazier said. “But they had to do their part, too, which was to laugh at Dad.”

 “Very soon,” Chantel laughed, “we figured out he was not the dancer.” Indeed, for Bears fans, that winter was a time to dance, sing and celebrate. But Frazier’s season ended way off-key.

 In ’85, Frazier had led Chicago in interceptions (6) for the third straight year. He was only 26 and seemingly destined for greatness. But while returning a punt in the Super Bowl, he suffered a left knee injury so severe that, even after 18 months of rehab, left him unable to pass a team physical. Finally, the Bears cut him loose. His brief but promising career—with 20 interceptions in 65 games, including two returned for touchdowns—was over.

It was a devastating blow for the kid from Columbus, so he turned again to Romans 8:28. He recalled the helpful reminder about faith in Hebrews 11:1, and he took heart from Joseph’s trust in God amid seemingly unfair trials in Genesis 37 and 39.

“I thought I would beat the odds and that it would be a great testimony,” Frazier said. “It didn’t happen, and it was tough. But my faith got me through.”

With a bum knee and question marks clouding his future, Frazier considered his options. One he quickly dismissed was an offer in August 1986 from Dr. Ken Meyer, then the president of Trinity College in Chicago’s northern suburbs, who asked Frazier to launch a football program at the tiny NAIA Christian school.

MINISTRY TEAMWORK
Frazier and FCA
When Minnesota FCA West Metro Area Director Jake Vanada met Frazier at a local church breakfast in the fall of 2008, he immediately knew the coach had a heart for the community.

“Coach Frazier is all about reaching people for Christ,” Vanada said. “It’s one of the main motivations for why he does what he does.”

With a shared vision for bringing Christ to the Twin Cities, Vanada and Frazier have combined their efforts, along with local high school and college football coaches, in order to reach the area’s youth through the annual Frazier FCA Football Camps.

Hosted at the Vikings Winter Park practice facilities in the month of June, the day long camp attracts dozens of young boys who receive not only high-quality football instruction from Vikings’ players and coaches, but also a solid dose of spiritual truth as the camp’s namesake delivers his personal testimony and the gospel message at the day’s end.

“It makes such an impact when the head coach of the Vikings shares about his faith and the Word of God,” Vanada said of Frazier, who also has served as the keynote speaker for several FCA banquets in the state. “It’s such a gift to this ministry. The Vikings coaches and players bring so much credibility and excitement to FCA, and they epitomize the vision of the ministry as they leverage their platform and influence for Jesus Christ.”

For more information about the Frazier FCA Football Camps and the local FCA ministry, visit westmetrofca.org. And for more on what is taking place through FCA in Minnesota, visit minnesotafca.org.
 
Frazier threw Meyer’s first letter in the trash. But Meyer persisted, and, in 1988, Frazier became Trinity’s first football coach, leading the school (now known as Trinity International University) to two Northern Illinois Intercollegiate Conference titles and several years later being honored with his name on the Trojans’ football field.

In 1997, he left Trinity for the University of Illinois, where he coached defensive backs for two years before landing his first NFL job in a similar role with the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2003, he became Cincinnati Bengals’ Head Coach Marvin Lewis’ defensive coordinator for two seasons before joining the staff of former head coach Tony Dungy in Indianapolis, where he won a second Super Bowl ring after the 2006 season.

Frazier came to the Vikings as a defensive coordinator in 2007 and molded his unit into the league’s sixth-ranked defense overall in 2008 and 2009, both playoff years. In 2009, the Vikings went 12-4 and nearly reached the Super Bowl. But 2010 turned into a loss- and snow-saturated mess.

Yet, for guiding the team to a 3-3 mark under extreme conditions, the Vikings removed the “interim” label and officially named Frazier the head coach last January.

“We had such high expectations, and for the year to unravel like it did was tough on everybody,” Frazier said. “Once again, I had to trust in God.”

***

Life hasn’t always been easy for Frazier’s family. His wife, Gale, whom he met in the Alcorn State library and married during his rookie NFL season, and their children have followed Frazier through the nomadic existence of a football coach. Since the 1990s, the Fraziers have lived in Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, Texas and Minnesota.

But it’s been a good life, too. This, they know.

As his kids grew up, Frazier tried to provide things that he never had during his childhood—both materially and spiritually. He made sure he was around for his children and often cited Scripture when they encountered questions or problems.

“He really passed along his knowledge of the Bible,” Chantel said. “Whenever we have conflicts or questions about what to do, we always come to him and he gives verses or thoughts.”

Defying NFL stereotypes, Frazier is as easygoing a personality as you’ll find roaming the sidelines. He’s not a yeller or a fire-breather. And he’s the same at home, too. According to his kids, he was a calm, consistent father who worked hard to train them, not bark at them.

But he was no pushover, either. The children knew they’d see hot coals in Dad’s eyes if they disrespected their parents or one another.

“That’s when it was really crossing the line,” Corey said. “Family is so important to him—honoring your father and mother, respecting your siblings, and keeping the family close. He just didn’t tolerate anything less.”

As coaching began to demand more of Frazier’s schedule, he worked hard to invest in his family. When Chantel played golf in high school, he would use their time together on the driving range for deeper conversations rather than meaningless chatter. Each week, he calls Corey, who just finished his junior season as a safety at Rice University, before games to read the Bible together and after to discuss the game itself. And Frazier still enjoys being in the same building as Kieron, who played wide receiver at Illinois and now works in the Vikings’ legal affairs department.

“Dad was always there to offer advice and insight,” Chantel said. “We all know that is a blessing.”

Frazier’s faith has spilled into the lives of countless others, too. He is a spokesman for All Pro Dads, a ministry that encourages men to become better fathers. And he has been active in FCA since his rookie season with the Bears when the area director at the time encouraged him to chaperone local events and speak at high school Huddles.

“It was a great time for me as a young rookie in the NFL trying to find my way,” Frazier said. “I’m so thankful I had FCA in my life at that time. It helped me stay grounded in what I believe.”

   
In 2010, as the interim head coach, Frazier led the Vikings to a 3-3 record that included a 24-14 win over Andy Reid’s Philadelphia Eagles.
 
Frazier first met FCA’s Jake Vanada, the current West Metro area director in the Twin Cities, in the fall of 2008. Since then, Frazier has spoken at local Huddles and banquets and has helped Vanada organize and run the popular Frazier FCA Football Camp each summer at the Vikings’ practice facility.

 Frazier said he has maintained a 30-year relationship with FCA for a very specific reason.

“I know God has provided me with a platform, and I know what kind of impact a coach can have,” he said. “I was a kid once, and I looked up to athletes and coaches. When I was young, my baseball coach really shaped me. So, I know the impact it can have when I tell kids that Jesus Christ is the most important thing in my life. That’s why I stay involved.”

Vanada, for one, has been greatly impressed by Frazier’s spiritual walk.
 
“His faith drives everything he does,” Vanada said. “He isn’t quiet about it, but he doesn’t push it on others. It’s the backbone of how he operates, how he interacts, and how he leads his staff and coaches. It’s been a long time since I’ve met someone that strong in their faith. He’s passionate about the Lord, and it’s not hard to see that.”

***

If the roof-busting trials of 2010 weren’t enough, Frazier has felt the frigid bite of adversity again this season. As free-agent quarterback Donovan McNabb and the team’s once-vaunted defense struggled early on, the Vikings stumbled to an 0-4 start and missed the playoffs for a second straight season. This, of course, stirred plenty of criticism among antsy fans.

“If anyone can handle it and not get ruffled, it’s him because he’s solid and anchored in Christ,” Vanada said.

That anchor of faith has been the weight that has secured Frazier through the worst of life’s storms—from poverty to prejudice, from career-ending injuries to maddening losses. And yes, even the occasional Midwest-blanketing blizzard.

“One thing I can point to,” Frazier said, “is that God will be glorified by what we’re going through. Of that I am sure.” 



BRINGING IT HOME:
Embracing the Ultimate Coach
Have you ever had a really great coach—one who inspired you to be the best you could be on and off the field; one who helped you understand that you were valuable and capable and who filled you with life and energy? Coaches like that are priceless. They have incredible power to bring out the best in us and instill in us lessons that will last a lifetime.

Beyond the world of sports, we all need a great coach in life—one with the kind of influence that can help us be all that we were created to be. Thankfully, this kind of coach is available to anyone and everyone who will come to Him in faith.

Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, longs to be that powerful, loving, inspiring presence in your life. He created you specifically for the purpose of being in a love-based relationship with you and helping you live the life He designed for you. It’s a life full of blessings, joy and peace, even in the midst of trials. He wants to “coach” you on how to handle daily challenges and embrace a life of freedom in Him. All you have to do is accept His invitation.

Because we are stained by sin, however, we need a Helper to bring us into right standing with God, who is entirely pure. While we can’t bridge that gap on our own, we can choose to believe in the One who can: Jesus Christ, the Son of God who was sent to pay the penalty for our sins and bring us into reconciliation with the Father by dying on a cross and rising to life again.

When we embrace His death and resurrection as our payment and turn to Him for forgiveness and salvation, we can enter into the relationship for which we were created and be completely cleansed from our sins. Choosing Christ means that our sins are wiped away and that God can now view us as pure and spotless.

How do you embrace the cross and salvation of Christ? It starts with prayer. Call out to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you of your sins through His sacrifice and life. Ask Him to become the Lord of your life and to bring you into a relationship with Him—a lifelong walk of faith with the Master Coach.

Today, if you want to receive the best coaching available—the kind you’ve always dreamed of in sports and beyond—turn to Christ and embrace His salvation. If you have questions or simply want more information, visit morethanwinning.org or call FCA’s National Support Center at 1-800-289-0909.
 



--For more stories about faith and sport, visit www.sharingthevictory.com, the official magazine of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. To subscribe to STV, click here.

3

Football / Football philosophy and Interviews

« on: January 06, 2012, 10:32:53 AM »

SUMMARY OF an Interview with Sven-Goran Eriksson, , FourFour Two, March 2006)

How do you play against those Scandinavian teams – organised, physically strong, clever?
You have to play a lot of one touch, two touches. Because if you run with the ball, they can come together, and you will not find any spaces at all.

Have you been watching them?
No, I haven’t seen them. I have one game. Which game is that? Ah Paraguay – Argentina. we will have to see all the qualification games they have played. Were going to try to have one system of play. Maybe a plan B as well. And, almost for sure were going to play 4-4-2. the only thing is: will we have a sitting midfielder or not? That means we have to find the right one. The other way you play as I see it today; six months is a long time -is Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Lampard and Joe Cole maybe. But there we don’t have one sitting midfielder, there Lampard and Gerrard have to change the job.   

So you haven’t decided whether you need a holding midfield player?
I think we need one, against special teams, against Brazil maybe.

But you think Beckham has more impact in terms of passes and crosses than Wright-Phillips has? Absolutely.

But you have three other midfielders with wonderful technique: Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard. Why is it that against Portugal, England sat back and kicked the ball long out of defence? and against France after you went 1-0 up?
I hope that we can do it better in Germany, because when you meet those technically very good teams, it’s important that we can keep the ball. And sometimes we haven’t been doing that. Second half against Brazil in Japan, for example. That’s why im always going on saying, “we are much better now than we were two years ago.” and I think we showed it against Argentina. We could keep the ball well. 

Where do you aim to set up your defence? Is it 35, 40 yards from the goal?
The thinking about that is that you know the conditions of your own players, you know the outside temperature, you know the condition of your opponent, how technically good they are, and then you decide, and you prepare it game for game. If this is the pitch (uses copy of FourFourTwo), and you think if its 30 degrees outside, and you meet Brazil, you want to win the ball – (points up the pitch), up there all the time? That will kill you. Because they too technically good, it’s too hot, it costs a lot of energy. So sometimes you have to say: “OK, we will wait a little.”  I mean Greece why did they win it? They were organised, defended very well, but they were fitter than most other teams in the tournament.

Is this England team still an English team? These players play in the champion’s league all the time some play abroad. Are they still English?
if you mean English football, how it was many, many years ago, it was throw it back, kick it long, big strong centre-forward, give it back, out to the winger, and cross in. that’s gone. No one is playing like that today in the premier league. Everyone tries to play. And I think it is the same in other countries. You cant say what’s Italian football, what’s Spanish football, what’s English football, because at this moment its one English player on the pitch. Maybe you can say its still European football, northern European football, southern European football, and South American football. Maybe.
Should both Lampard and Gerard play? Factors to consider when picking a team
This raises the issue of should the best 11 players play or should players/teams be picked according to specific roles and positions, some of which are essential. Imagine a business who had 2 excellent salespeople move one to do admin when others people in the organisation were better at admin?

Football is as complicated as any organisation that relies on getting 11 people all fulfilling slightly different roles to play together. Players need to be picked according to their ability when judged against the role required. Its like a job interview- does the person meet the needs of the job. In other words if we assume that specific positions have specifics attributes and roles attached to them, as in any organisation, should not people who can fulfil this role play as apposed to people who are better, if judged against criteria such as technical ability, fitness, speed etc.

Erickson, England manager, has talked about selecting the best 11 players and then accommodating them in to a system.  Many coaches follow this ideal however an alternative view is to work out the fundamentals of the system you want and then employ players to fulfill these roles (Sacchi and others).

There is always some flexibility e.g. the type of forward you play but certain roles keeper, centre halves, the role of full back, defending midfielder are specialist positions.

Eriksson identifies below that it is important to have a suitable player in front of the defence to protect the Thread Zone. As this position and role is very specific, as is full back centre half and keeper, it needs a player who is able to fulfil the role.

The big debate in England is how to accommodate 2 midfielders who both like a central role Gerard and Lampard? Both are excellent attacking midfielders but neither is as good in the position in front of the back four as others.

The logical conclusion is that one of them needs to be dropped from the centre. Which one? Can they be accommodated elsewhere? This needs to be based on who would you rather have playing from the start. Lets assume Lampard . Can Gerard be employed elsewhere? This has to be judged against other players who play week in week out in these positions. Gerards individual attributes may mean he is excellent in the centre but can the do the job of for example David Beckam on the right? The criteria for a player here can vary but with crosses accounting for around 30% of goals in open play and David Beckam being one of the best crossers in the world this position, on this criteria, should be occupied by him (see comments by Erikson below).

The left had side does not have to have a left footed player, but it does give balance, and the defensive role requires discipline. Joe Cole now has this discipline and is familiar with the position. He can defend well as he has been disciplined in this area by Mourinho. Remember defending is as much about concentration and positional sense as anything else.

Gerard is a fantastic instinctive player but the problem with instinctive players is that if asked to play a specific role in particular defensively they do not adapt well there instinct overtakes them. In a tight international game this could cost as goal and the game. Sorry Steve.

Jose Mourinho







Chelsea and former Porto coach. The value of tactical strategies are demonstrated by the success of teams in the Champions League (2004) and more recently wining the Premiership with Chelsea. At top level football he is Manager and Coach.

The value of Mourinho's tactical strategies are demonstrated by the success of his Porto against Manchester United in the Champions League (2004) Porto had less experience and were away from home when they qualified. The game against Manchester United at Old Trafford was characterised by United being forced in to playing a predictable long ball game. Porto stopped the opposition playing.

In the semi final 2004 against Deportivo la Coruna (Friday May 7th). Mourinho spoke to his players for five consecutive days on what the tactics would be if Deporto played Walter Pandiani up front; how they would change if Diego Tristan started instead; how they would react if they fell a goal behind; what they would do if they took the lead etc. He has a tactical solution to deal with all eventualities in a game.

The best sides switch the ball frequently to find space. One of Mourinho’s main tactical strengths has been his ability to stop the opposition switching the ball. His teams minimise space all over the pitch and concentrate on denying the switch.

Attacking wise his teams are excellent at switching. The Full backs were important going forward but he has amended this as he has acquired better more attacking players in midfield at Chelsea.

His teams play a short passing game that favours possession. They play out from the back a great deal.

The best organised unit defensively of any team with superb cover and shape at the back. Play high tempo but also like to suck teams in by playing along the back line. If possible Mourinho will to press high up the field even when ahead.

Formations have varied at Porto he played a 4 4 2 often with a diamond in midfield with many attacks through player at front of diamond. He doesn't like to be categorised as playing a particular formations talking of playing between the lines in a 4 4 2. Recently at Chelsea he has played 4 3 3 as an attacking formation having in Robben and Duff two wide players who can deliver in this system. The formation 4 3 3 can be defensive the 3 players stopping the full backs playing out from the back- is can be used defensively. Another example of an attacking 4 3 3 was the Danish team in Euro 2004 (see Danish way.)

His team Chelsea have a collective defensive mentality to hold on to a 1-0 (they are clear of their roles and cover the correct spaces). Early on in the season (2005) they won numerous games 1-0 often by a well worked set play. This efficiency allows Chelsea (unlike Arsenal) to add more set plays to their attacking armoury (up to 60% goals come from set plays).

The confidence that the team has in its defensive ability is summed up by keeper Czech has talked of their confidence the side have when 1-0 ahead that they can hold on to the lead. Mourinho’s tactical abilities were also demonstrated by his choice of keeper for a big game against Manchester United (League Cup 2005). He palyed Czech instead of his other keeper who had played in the previous rounds. His reason he is better at dealing with crosses and Manchester United rely heavily on crossing for their attacks (it is a myth that all good sides cross a lot it is a matter of style).

Mourinho's sides have been accused of lacking flair and being efficient (comments made by Arsen Wenger). Mourinho responded- what is flair in football? To me 5-4 is not flair it is a hockey score not football. To me flair is a team who defend fantastically well because defence is always an important part of a game, and we score goals too (Sun Sat 29th Jan). In response to the allegation of his side playing average football- we have only failed to score in three games- Chelsea always play with three forwards two attacking wide men and a central midfielder who is there to create and not destroy


Mourinho claims for some reason people confuse out ability to organise well in defence with a lack of desire to attack. This attention to detail and very specific planning of roles for his players sets him apart from Wenger.

Wenger’s Arsenal Team play a fantastic mixed passing game, they have the ability to play through a packed defence which is very difficult and rare. However, Wenger’s team are not so effective in scoring or defending set plays.

Arsenal have the potential to win the Champions League but so far have failed. Maybe it is part to do with the reliance on the individual and free spirited attacking football that Arsenal play instead of the meticulous defend first collective approach of the more calculated Mourinho Chelsea.
Success can also be part down to luck. Mourinho admitted last week in the game against Liverpool (Jan 05) that luck is a factor. In a game of so few goals where one mistake or incorrect decision by a referee can make the difference between winning and losing, luck is a factor.
Mourinho's tactics reduce the reliance on luck to a minimum and he will win the Premiership with this strategy.

Juventus coach Fabio Capello believes Chelsea are the leading side in Europe this season. Capello has also hailed the impact of Blues boss Jose Mourinho, labelling him "the number one coach at the moment".
Tottenham Manager Martin Jol predicts Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will change the shape of English football as the clubs chasing the Premiership leaders copy his ideas. Jol admitted he is was tempted to switch to the 4-3-3 formation which has seen big-spending Chelsea take the Premiership by storm this season. Mourinho plays this with the winders Duff and Robben. These players use the wide space but are happy attacking centrally.

What does Mourinho look for in a player Mourinho can be part summed up by this quote-

 He is due to play in tonight's friendly with Roma- I think it surprised quite a few people he is in our squad but he is a team player, he is tactically intelligent and he covers different positions. Another insight was Mourinho's reaction to a defensive situation summed up by a player who talked of Mourinho's tantrum when a forward had been left one on one with a defender

Chelsea played Manchester United (Premier League 2004/5). They scored first and then kept United out to win 1-0. If Man United had scored first Chelsea would have had a hard time scoring and it would have tested Mourinho's offensive attacking credentials. However he has plenty of attacking options.

Drogba for height to offer 'flick on’s', hold the ball up and bring in midfield or get on the end of crosses.

Lampard in Midfield to push on and time attacking runs (always difficult to defend against). Lampard’s timing was demonstrated by his goal against Manchester United (26th Jan League cup) when he arrived in the penalty area at exactly the moment the ball was passed and scored. This was un-defendable. It was a good goal not due to a defensive mistake.

Duff and Robben two players who offer dribbling centrally to distort a defence, win free kicks as well as offering width.

Set plays are an integral part of Chelsea’s attacking armoury at one point 9 out of 11 goals had come from them when he did not have all of the other attacking options available.

Chelsea had plenty to offer.Finally what does Mourinho have to say on the English Game-

football here is played with passion , love and instinct but we have to think a bit more. We have to stop solely backing out instincts because when English teams meet teams which reflect and can adapt their game to the situation during a match it comes unstuck.

Sometimes football is beautiful because of competitiveness, effort, organisation and enthusiasm. On his sides chance of winning a trophy if we keep our mental, physical and tactical strength nobody can stop us.
Chelsea played Manchester United (Premier League 2004/5). They scored first and then kept United out to win 1-0. If Man United had scored first Chelsea would have had a hard time scoring and it would have tested Mourinho's offensive attacking credentials. However he has plenty of attacking options.

Drogba for height to offer 'flick on’s', hold the ball up and bring in midfield or get on the end of crosses.
Lampard in Midfield to push on and time attacking runs (always difficult to defend against). Lampard’s timing was demonstrated by his goal against Manchester United (26th Jan League cup) when he arrived in the penalty area at exactly the moment the ball was passed and scored. This was un-defendable. It was a good goal not due to a defensive mistake.

Duff and Robben two players who offer dribbling centrally to distort a defence, win free kicks as well as offering width.

Set plays are an integral part of Chelsea’s attacking armoury at one point 9 out of 11 goals had come from them when he did not have all of the other attacking options available.
Chelsea had plenty to offer.

Finally what does Mourinho have to say on the English Game-

football here is played with passion , love and instinct but we have to think a bit more. We have to stop solely backing out instincts because when English teams meet teams which reflect and can adapt their game to the situation during a match it comes unstuck.

Sometimes football is beautiful because of competitiveness, effort, organisation and enthusiasm. On his sides chance of winning a trophy if we keep our mental, physical and tactical strength nobody can stop us.
 
Mourinho’s BOOK
I have looked at Wenger (the Arsenal manager) and now I turn my attention to  Mourinho’s autobiography. Here are some interesting Tactical insights.

Mourinho’s aim is to have……A team with a specific idea of the game. On how to play..how to move.

Mourinho’s  pays close attention to how the opposition play……In my talks before games I always define some typical situations set up by opponents, the moves they usually try out…Boavista manly rely on the flanks

He dislikes players who don’t follow instructions and play for the team…..He complained of being on the left flank and having to follow strict tactical directions

The best players…….must display high level of in order to be a link between defence and attack

He noticed the opposition full back like to attack so……talks of explore the gap when right back goes up field

With Mourinho………….. everyone knows 5 days before which team will be playing in the practice throughout the week they get to understand how they will play and the tactics that will be used for the opponents in question

He consults with players asking………his two centre halves if had any qualms about playing 2 v 2 so the team could get numbers up in midfield and pass the ball around

When discussing training with the President of the club……..Mr President we don’t do any running here. Our training will be on the pitch everyday and nowhere else…with me no-one runs without a ball.. there are 2 practices a day on the football pitch

On defence……..We have to defend well with fewer people, dominate more and be dominated less, counter attack less and attack more, score more goals.

Many teams are…….. Not a squad but a bunch of players

Younger players often need…..who needed tactical work

He laments that a team he took over…..had no group culture. To Mourinho…. the ….group always above the person

A good coach understands……Players are human beings they have good and bad days

Mourinho’s is……looking for a perfect systematic and automatic model

Mourinho’s believes in pressing the opposition and having a …..rest while you have the ball gain possession with the intention of resting

Football is about decisions……….We practised specific situations in order to know at any moment whether we should take a risk and attack as soon as we got the ball or keep the ball moving because not conditions to create danger

Its about controlling a game……It was about our ability to manage the game, we rested more than others

 Fitness is important….be well and part of a game plan which the player knows inside out a fit player feels confident

A centre forward with no player to head on to should  …….lose the first ball on purpose so the team might get the second ball

If the opposition, Celtic could deliver long balls in the air to their forward they were a danger so he decided to…..defend high as they will massacre us in the air

By dominating Mourinho….. means a team that attacks in the opponents half, looking to score and having ball superiority. Playing further back with all the spaces filled up, with a system designed to keep the ball, going on the attack with an objective, passing and circulating the ball along the last line of men. Feign injury to reduce intensity. Domination.

Mourinho gives DVD’s to each player



 

 

Manchester United’s (Alex Ferguson’s) tactics


It would be inappropriate for this work not to look at the tactics of the most successful team of the last 2 decades. Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson has, unlike Arsenals Wenger, succeeded on the European stage winning  the Champions League.

The quote on page 4 highlights his recognition of tactics as the biggest difference between British Teams and those in Europe. He comments about a crucial game against Porto some years ago Tactics were bound to be important. He played 3 up front with one dropping into a deeper position to feed them. His instructions ‘ get the ball to Cantona (the dropping player) and let Giggs find the spaces left by out 2 strikers. Giggs came in from wide and deep to search for the space the forwards created. The tactic worked.

Ferguson shows his excellent analysis of this side of the game in his autobiography when talking of how Barcelona play. He identified that they had the objective of creating a numbers up situation in midfield. This was done by either one of the forwards dropping back or a player from the back 4 stepping into midfield. He worked with his side to negate these tactics. The defence played high to squeeze space (Pallister offered the covering pace and Schmeichel the sweeping keeper). He instructed  forward player to drop into the hole and stop the back 4 player who was stepping into midfield with the ball from having room to operate and pick a pass. He made his defenders aware of the need not to be pulled into midfield so leaving space, and instructed his midfield to pick up the dropping forward. The importance here is in the fact that he identified the problem and had specific tactics to deal with it.  The tactics worked.

Fergusson points out the importance of concentration and the fact that lack of it can be costly. British players need to develop this and the need to curtail what they feel is their game to fit in with the team. An example he identifies Paul Ince who as a player who would not always follow instructions. In a crucial European game he was told to stay in front of the back 4 in a defensive role. Ince played his own game. Ferguson saw this as one main reason Man United were defeated in a European game. This emphasizes his point above about the need to play as a team.

Ferguson was also happy to plan his defensive tactics around stopping one of the oppositions star players ( Romario) from playing. He implemented a man marking strategy with a player able to be focused enough to do this. He laments the fact that he had worked on this throughout the week and how it would interact with the normal zonal system. He was disappointed when for one instance in the game the defence ignored this and Romario scored. At top level teams will use a mixture of zonal and man for man if the opposition have a player of significant ability ( Zidane for example).

He also talks about his early European experience when stating of Montpellier

The tactical and technical superiority of our opponents, this was in the early years before technically players caught up. He also talks of the ‘ suddenness with which opponents can change their pace.


His recurring team talk theme is ‘don’t give the ball away’’ he goes on ‘even I am fed up with listening to this edict but players cannot be reminded often enough of its importance.

Ferguson on defence– it is important they play together a lot and have good understanding. Whilst not stating it directly he recognises that whilst pace is an attribute it is not essential here.

The difference between defence and attack is

‘Forwards too need to be on the same wavelength but failure to do so usually leads to no more than a wasted opportunity’ in defence it can lead to a goal and cost you the game.

Regarding fitness -  when he took over after Brian Kidd left he did stamina work after Christmas ‘stamina was one of their most effective weapons on the \way to the treble’.

Some interesting other tactical points:

The opposition were forcing us to play in to Yorke (his forward) while deploying plenty of bodies to smother his threat. We had to spread our play forget our strikers until the penalty box

When talking of tactics he points out –

its about flesh and blood not some abstract thing. The best teams stand out because they are teams, because the individuals members have been so truly integrated that the team functions as a single spirit. Feeding of strengths and compensate for weaknesses. Talent and team spirit lead to success.

In response to a team who ‘were clever in midfield’ Ferguson played with one forward and more in the centre of midfield to counter this.

On another occasion he considered matching the oppositions formation  ‘to ensure they didn’t have an advantage in possession on such a tiring pitch he discussed this\ with players, a sign of a more democratic style than he is credited with….In a previous game Liverpool had had a lot of possession but they had not troubled them much. He was concerned that the midfield would not become too spread out so Liverpool could find their forwards. Cantona suggested a player (Roy Keane) should sit in frot of back four to stop their forward using the hole. This was used and worked. He also talks of keeping the tempo high as slower play benefited the oppositions midfield.

Versus Inter Milan Tactically , there were 2 points Ferguson identified:
DEFENSIVELY They were vulnerable to crosses

ATTACKING Their game plan was counter attack down the middle. That meant our full backs had to go and play in front of our central defenders where the Italians operated with 2 attackers withdrawn into positions behind their main striker. Their withdrawn players had plenty of ability and could not be given room to create openings. When our attacks broke down we need to re-group, we surrendered the wide areas and closed off the central midfield. This is consistent with the theory section on time and space.

Against Chelsea a player was included (Neville) to man mark who Ferguson considered their playmaker Zola

When playing Milan with ‘Ronaldo’ one of the best forwards in the world, Fergussons two central midfield players  chocked the space he liked. In terms of attacking as neither Ronaldo nor Baggio pressure full backs the team used the full backs who were urged to use the ball well and to stretch play. It is often a neglected part of the game to use an opposition’s strength to an advantage when you have the ball.

Against Juventus of Manchester United's two wide players only one should push up. They ignored this and had to be told at half time. The United full backs were instructed to force their wingers to retreat—this failed so in the 2nd half David Beckham in tight Giggs push on– for the 2nd leg Zidane had seen the last of wide open spaces he found early at Old Trafford.

With regard to one of his players who is an excellent dribbler but lacking in other areas (Ryan Giggs) Ferguson tried to improve his overall game and appreciation of space etc and passing but emphasised that he needed to do what he did best, run at defenses.

Ferguson philosophy, all my life I have based my creed on passing the ball, rhythm and tempo. His sides play a pacey mixed passing game but can also play a slower tempo.

With regard to pitches he observes that in the Champions League final the Nou Camp for final was narrowed at Bayern’s request to stop Giggs.

Manchester United’s tactics vary from the Premiership where they play a high tempo pressure based game, to a slower  game in European games. This is based around the fact that in the Premiership teams will give you the ball back before long, in Europe they will not.





 




The Greatest Coach of all time Arrigo Sacchi!
Arrigo developed one of the strongest club sides of all time when in charge of AC Milan.
From 1986, when he took over at the club, he immediately set about rebuilding its fortunes.
In came Ruud Gullit from PSV Eindhoven; a year later, he signed Marco Van Basten and Frank Rijkaard. Sacchi mixed the three Dutchmen's skill in attack with the defensive capabilities of Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Mauro Tassotti and Alessandro Costacurta, and the midfield guile of Roberto Donadoni and Carlo Ancelotti. Many of these players have gone on to be excellent managers.
Playing according to the English `pressing' game, AC Milan proceeded to win the European Cup twice, beating Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in the 1989 final, and Benfica 1-0 a year later. Sacchi then left to take up the Italian national job, leading the side to the 1994 World Cup Final; although he brought it to within a penalty kick of the trophy, he had never been popular and, after failing in Euro 96, returned to AC Milan, where this time he lasted only six months. A cobbler's son and moderate player, he was often criticized.
Gabrielle Marcotti (Times 27th Dec 04). Sacchi did away with the sweeper in a high tempo movement based game that made it seem that his team had 30 players on the pitch.
His relentless, but organised system was based on continuous attack.
Like other Italian coaches Sacchi believed that tactics and systems were fundamental to success.
Unlike many Italian coaches however, he saw tactics as a way of overwhelming opponents and creating chances rather than shutting down the opposition.
His approach places the system above the invidual.
Superstars are worth having in any side only if they fit in to the system, a player must to his system not the other way round.
He sees little distinction between very talented players and average ones.
Sacchi often changed his sides round numerous times, and still won, as he had such an organised system.
The frustration we all sometimes feel about football which unlike other sports such as Rugby or Basketball has few goals therefore making the chances of an upset higher. The best team does not always win.
This frustration led to an amazing, but understandable outburst from Sacchi. Having lost to Juventus while he was in charge of Palma he stormed into the interview area shouting we outplayed them. We did, we did. We should have won..its not fair...its not fair. If you play better you should win. We played better.... better.
That the beautiful game sometimes delivers unfair results is sometyhing we should all be aware of.
Sacchi recently took over as Technical Director of Real Madrid. He was shocked how unfit he found them and the Times claims- it may take some time to restore some order to the tactical anarchy into which Real have descended. The mood within the club is that within six weeks, they will be a well oiled machine playing to their potential.
Tactics help teams perform to their potential.
Do you know how to coach tactics? How to organise a defence, how to play zonally, the correct offside line, defend free kicks. To get your team to choose the correct passing option and make the right movements. To work on set plays.
To be organised is to create confidence and success. Chris Coleman (Manager Fulham) claimed of a game agaist Derby (30th Jan 05) they are a well organised team playing with a lot of confidence.


 


  Rafael Benitez


Rafael Benitez- Champions Magazine Feb/ March 2005

In the past Liverpool teams hunted like a pack. They were a true team , the team was the star. I believe in is the mentality that all great teams have possessed. Benitez took a gap year to study football. His ideas and Theory… The most important thing is tactics, the movement of your players once the ball starts roiling. You can start with on formation but it will change

The coaches I like to take as my reference points are  Cruyff, Arrigo Sacchi and John Toshack at Real Madrid. Sacchi stands as the greatest coach of the modern era and his model is still prevailing at the moment.

Milan had extremely good footballers and they worked as a team- I’ve heard about Jose Mourinho and myself reinventing football b……..this is over exaggerated Mourinho and I simply recovered the values of the collective, Football  has been marketed as the ‘starr name’ concept. Valencia and Porto each proved that the work of a team as a whole sometimes is better route to follow.



 
 

4

Football / chad de freitas

« on: September 13, 2009, 10:18:50 AM »

can someone plz tell me where is chad de freitas? is he playing club football?

5

Football / gerarrd and fabregas

« on: March 14, 2008, 10:35:11 PM »

who is better?

6

Football / gerrard in his prime vs latas

« on: March 09, 2008, 09:18:10 AM »

can latapy in his prime match steve g at his best?

7

Football / marvin andrews autobiography

« on: January 21, 2008, 10:22:56 PM »

Marvin Andrews auto biography on sale today check out amazon.com