Mails: Have we seen the end of tiki-taka?

Mails: Have we seen the end of tiki-taka?

You know what to do…watch Arsenal and mail us at theeditor@football365.com

In the good old days…
Just browsing through the channels and one of those ‘classic matches’ was showing on BT Sport. FA Cup semi-final 1971 Arsenal v Stoke. I couldn’t believe some of the differences between now and then.

Straight away I saw an Arsenal player swing a deliberate elbow at a Stoke player. This was retaliated at with a swinging kick at the retreating assaulter. Referee’s verdict? A quick appeal from the ref for them to calm down. No cards. Today, it would be two reds.

Next was a handball in the box from an Arsenal defender. One player half-heartedly lifted a hand in appeal. No-one else batted an eyelid. Today it would be synchronised hands and screaming at the ref.

Following this was a flying two-footed tackle with an extra kick to push the ball away. I grimaced. Not even a whistle. Today that would be a lengthy ban.

Don’t get me started on the fact that goalkeepers were wearing no gloves and regularly licking their hands.

Highbury a mud bath.

Goalkeepers kicking the ball funny.

And where was Wenger? Relegated to the stands no doubt.

How times have changed.
Nic, Lancaster

Remember this about Rabiot
A few years back United unwillingly let go of Paul Pogba but it wasn’t United’s fault (with the player wanting game time) but there pretty much got the blame for it when he impressed in the Champions League with Juventus. Every game commentators saying how could United let this type of talent go several times a match. Well we know the rest of that story.

Rabiot was Man City player and he was let go by them. Just here to remind everyone and commentators alike cause I would love to hear the same thing said about City…every game…very single game.
Lynton (just here to remind everyone)

PSG were simply brilliant
I don’t like the insinuation by the media, the PFMs and Daniel Storey when they say that Barcelona put in a very bad performance and got sh*gged without lube. Maybe it’s just me but what I saw yesterday was a brilliant tactical approach by Unai Emery. PSG didn’t allow Barcelona room to breathe let alone play. Samuel Umtiti was allowed to bring the ball out from the back because he didn’t have a dangerous pass in him. On the other hand, when Gerard Pique got the ball, PSG would be all over him like a rash.

In midfield, Barcelona were simple overrun by a much younger and quicker pack of wolves..I mean, midfielders. I see your ‘Messi played badly’ and I raise you a ‘PSG made him look average’.

The fact that the media, and PFMs are falling all over themselves to say that they’ve never seen Barcelona play so badly is embarrassing to say the least. Why not simply admit that they simply came up against a great team that overwhelmed them like no other team has done in recent seasons. The only time Barcelona looked like scoring was in the last 10 minutes when PSG took their foot off the gas.

So quit tryna say that Barca played badly and start appreciating the superb football that PSG played last night. Otherwise, you lose my respect. And I don’t like hanging around people I don’t respect.
Keg Baridi (Still fuming at PSG’s brilliance being diminished by PFMs) Nairobi, Kenya

Maybe Barca were tired…
I know I might be a bit late to this conversation about last night’s game, but I think people sometimes forget there are many off-the-pitch factors that may lead to a team’s performance.

We can all agree that Barcelona looked slow and lethargic last night compared to their usual selves. Yes, PSG were very effective at closing them down, forcing them into errors etc. but could Barca’s sleepiness be put down to the fact they were..sleepy?

An overheated hotel room, a 4am fire alarm, a noisy location (I know that my irresponsible 18-year-old self and mates were singing songs to the Real Madrid team outside their hotel in the early hours of their 4-0 defeat in 2009) can all contribute to a lack of sleep. If you’re tired, your creativity and sharpness will inevitably be affected.

Yes, PSG may well have outplayed them anyway, but there are sometimes other reasons other than tactics and collective/individual brilliance that can affect a game of football.
Nick, Liverpool

The end of tiki-taka?
There has been talk of a changing of the guard after Barca’s dismal defeat to PSG. I wonder if we are seeing a much greater shift. Are we seeing the final days of Tika-Taka and its variations? During the height of Barcelona’s reign, not only did they slice apart defences with ease, they also ensured the opposition’s morale was destroyed with possession dominance.

Times have changed and it seems more and more like you need a ridiculous amount of talent in your team to pull this game off. Contrary to this, the counter-attacking game is far more efficient, in effort on the pitch, talent needed to execute it and time required to train up players in the philosophy.

Just compare LVG’s success and outlook over the last two seasons to that of Ranieri’s Leicester last season.

The former ploughed so many millions, claiming a need for a complete overhaul, and time to perfect his philosophy.

The latter needed a few talented players in key positions and a core group of players sticking to a simple plan.

Other philosophies based on work without the ball have proven to be extremely effective against possession heavy-tactics.

Much of what is left of the possession game is more rooted in sentiment and idealism than effectiveness. Both City and United have stuck with it over the last couple of seasons and have performed badly against rivals on the whole. They turned up too late to the party.

Possession tactics still have their place in the game and obviously work against a lot of teams, but the knowledge and application of effective countermeasures is growing by the day. Barca looked like they had total faith in their gameplan and in their languid way did not panic, but what they needed was individuals to step up and change the game. There was no plan B because they could not accept that plan A might fail.
Nic, Lancaster

An insight into Gunnersaurus
On Saturday I was far enough in the front to actually shake the hand of the Gunnersaurus’.

I have to report his hand was furry rather than scaly meaning Gunnersaurus could actually be an entirely new strain of dinosaur.

But like his close relative the T-Rex his peripheral vision appeared to be compromised.

He also appeared to lack the aggression associated with other dinosaurs as he patiently waited for people to have their pictures taken with him.

I also noticed this trait with Billy the Badger at Fulham. Normally a badger will take your face off.
Graham Simons, Gooner, Norf London

The joy of *CENSORED*
In response to Aengus (first-time mailer, long time non-mailer) Murray – 1990s professional German, Stefan Kuntz, says “guten Tag”. I don’t think I need to elaborate.
BR, NCFC (Still watching Howson’s goal vs Forest on a loop)

Names that bring us joy
Aengus Murray, both my personalities liked your email.

A: Best mail of the day!
B: Shaw?
A: Ndidi
B: Defoe?
A: Forshaw
James (all are less funny than me, I mean Mee) Smythe

…In reply to Aengus Murray’s mail this morning, watching Watford always raises a smile as I imagine hearing Gwen Stefani singing “I ain’t no Holebas girl”
Mike (Gooner) Waterford

…In a quick response to Aengus Murray and his entertainment by Mee. Do you remember the Man City and Brazil player Elano ? Well in Spanish it translates as the anus ! Causing us lots of sniggering and tittering. Euro 96 Netherlands vs England was quite fun too. De Kok…! Seaman ! There is still more fun to be had in the current Prem too. Meanwhile I am readying myself for a wave of Arsenal complainers who don´t know which side their bread is buttered. Think I might watch Napoli instead.
Peter. (like Barca but love a great team performance more), Andalucia

Uncomfortable with this success
That’s 41 years of disappointment with a occasional play off finals. A relationship based on understanding, loyalty, trust and humour at away games.

Now they’ve started to give me hope and aspiration. I don’t like it.
Matthew Atkinson