Ronald Koeman is one of the greatest defenders of all time, up there with Maldini, Beckenbauer, Puyol, and Kroldrup. He would make a 25-man-squad of the greatest players ever, in my opinion. He played for one of the greatest ever footballing nations as well, The Netherlands. Koeman was born in 1963 so was 11-15 years old as he watched a Johan Cruyff inspired Ajax and Dutch national team, Ajax won the lot and The Netherlands came second in the 1974 and 1978 World Cup. Probably watching Bob Latchford bagging goals for the blues, too. At the time, Catenaccio was the popular revolutionary tactic which was a highly organised and effective defence which nullified attacks. That was until legendary Dutch striker Rinus Michels invented, Total Football.
Although used by the Golden Hungary team and the excellent Burnley teams of the late 1950’s, Michels put this system on the global footballing map and in it’s finest form from his incredible Ajax team and his Netherlands’s team who were dubbed the greatest team never to win the World Cup, losing the final in 74 and 78. Michel’s Ajax “killed” Catenaccio with this system as they beat Inter 2-0 in the 72 European Cup final and Milan 6-0 in the Super Cup in 73. So what is Total Football?
Total football is a system in which every outfield player on the pitch can adapt into every position. This makes the team unpredictable and constant running and pressing exposed the space that Catenaccio left amongst other team’s systems. Ok, I’m not saying Rom will be playing right-back on Monday or that we’ll have Jag’s cutting in from the left-wing, but each player becomes comfortable in any position when need be.
The Dutch played their famous 4-3-3, the incredible Johnny Rep and Rob Resenbrink played on the wings with the mercurial Johan Cruyff in the middle. Cruyff would move out to the left if Resenbrink moved into the middle or out to the right if Rep did, likewise, Rep would move to the left and Resenbrink to the right, constant movement made this Dutch team incredible. Johan Neeskens played in an advanced role in the midfield 3 and was also comfortable in any of the three forward roles, quite often he would play as a ‘false 9’ and give space for Cruyff in midfield to pull the strings and be effortlessly boss.
Wim Jansen and Willem Van Hanegem would push forward from midfield as well but their main job was to cover the full backs Krol and Suurbier as they flew forward – each could play in the 6 midfield and attacking roles, adding another dimension to the Dutch attack. Ruud Gullit once said the dutch were “obsessed” with the 4-3-3, expressing that you needed “very, very, very good” players to make it work. This Dutch team did, but what about Everton?
I’m definitely not saying this Everton side is as good as this Dutch team, Wim Jansen scored more goals as a holding midfielder than how many appearances Darron Gibson has made for Everton. The only positive thing he has over Jansen is his Breathalyzer sample. But you can see the similarities. A 4-3-3 system, full-backs who like to attack, holding midfielders who cover the full backs but are comfortable on the ball, an attacking midfielder who can get into the forward roles, Mirallas and Bolasie can operate on either wing or go through the middle and a main striker who can run the channels.
This Dutch team was excellent defensively and as I said earlier, Koeman was, of course, an exceptional defender and will drill the back four to be solid and to communicate for 90 minutes straight.
Combine this all action style of play with high pressing, Idrissa Gueye and Aiden McGeady all the way in Preston with no Oumar Niasse squad number you have a recipe for success. Total Football is exciting to watch and whether its Koeman, Van Der Meyde, Attewald or Drenthe; the future is orange.
Up The Toffees.
