The Godfather of Football

"David, coaching Manchester United and coaching Everton are two completely different worlds!"

"When coaching Everton, the so-called key battles you encounter look more like fist fights between two immature children, but when coaching Manchester United, every key battle is a life-and-death battle where you want to tear the opponent into pieces. The former is like playing a game in the eyes of the latter."

"Coaching Everton is relatively simple, without too many complicated things, but coaching Manchester United is different. Everyone who plays football in Manchester United is a world-renowned golden signboard. Behind each signboard is a team of their own, as well as their interests on and off the football field."

"To manage Everton, football is enough, but to manage Manchester United, knowing football is just a basic starting point!"

Whenever Moyes recalled the beginning of the season, when he drove from Liverpool to Carrington in the west of Manchester, and Ferguson spoke to him as the new head coach for the first time as a technical consultant for Manchester United, he had never been able to understand the meaning of these words very well.

But until this game, until he sat in Stratford Stadium and watched Tottenham Hotspur score one goal after another, and finally slaughtered Manchester United with a score of 5:0, while the 80,000 fans in the entire Stratford Stadium ridiculed and mocked Manchester United with overwhelming momentum, Moyes felt desperate.

He never knew that Everton, which was once ranked fifth in the Premier League, and Manchester United, which was ranked fourth in the Premier League, seemed to have only one ranking difference at first glance, but in fact they were completely different from heaven and hell.

He once thought that he would be able to make a difference in Manchester United with the full support of Ferguson and Manchester United management. Even on his way from Liverpool to Manchester, all he thought about was how to show his ambitions for many years on the world-renowned stage of Manchester United.

The six-year contract made him eager to become the second Ferguson. He hoped that he could become a figure like Ferguson in Manchester United, so he showed his vigorous and vigorous ability to do things as soon as he took office, and he was eager to establish his prestige in the shortest possible time.

But now, at this moment, at Stratford Stadium, under the gaze of 80,000 Tottenham Hotspur fans, and on the TVs of countless fans around the world, he felt like a clown being played with by others. He lost completely, lost face, and even lost his confidence!

Because he found that he was wrong, and he was very wrong!

When a person finds that the method that made him successful in the past suddenly doesn't work, this person is often easily confused. He will be at a loss, he will doubt himself, and he will also worry about his future.

Just like Moyes, he increasingly felt that he was unable to do his best when coaching Manchester United.

For example, some media recently made a comparison and believed that modern top football tactics emphasize close connection and teamwork, so all top teams stand very closely to each other, which allows more options and changes in ball passing.

But Moyes' Manchester United still continues his high-profile and high-powered style of Everton. The players are very far apart from each other, and even often appear alone in local areas, lacking contact with each other, which makes Manchester United lose a kind of closeness. This is the result of low training level and outdated tactical thinking.

Moyes heard it and realized this problem, but how to change it?

What kind of training can improve these? What kind of tactical drills can achieve this goal?

You know, the coaching team of Ferguson's time was cleaned up by him as soon as he took office. Now even if he wants to understand how the training was arranged at that time, there is no way, even Ferguson can't do it, because he didn't care about training a few years ago, just giving orders.

Or, should he ask a few veteran players?

Needless to say, it will definitely become a laughing stock around the world, because what is the point of a head coach who can't even train?

Another very obvious feature is that Moyes found that he could not adapt to the style of the top teams at all.

For example, in the transfer, he used to be poor in Everton, and he was always careful and hesitant when spending money. In the end, he had to go back and forth in the transfer negotiations for a long time, and sometimes he might not be able to get it done. The most impressive thing about Moyes is that he often had to wait until the last few days before the transfer market closed to finally get the transfer deal done.

But it is not the case in the top teams.

Top teams have plenty of money, so when the team has drawn up a transfer budget, all you need to do is to introduce the players you need, and you don't focus on one goal, but you step on multiple boats at the same time and make multiple sets of preparatory plans. If plan A doesn't work, choose plan B immediately, so that plan B can often provide bargaining chips for plan A.

But Moyes didn't do that. He picked tough players, including Fabregas, Thiago, Modric and other difficult characters to challenge. At the same time, hesitant among options such as Stroman. In the end, Stroman went to Tottenham Hotspur, and none of the three players he wanted came.

Moyes obviously doesn't understand the rules of the big teams at all. The most important thing for big teams is not money.

For big teams like Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City, once the budget is made, the money is as thin as paper. The key is to introduce valuable players and players that the team needs. You can even introduce two at a time, causing a surplus of talents, but you must not hesitate and miss the opportunity.

Moyes is the typical **silk mentality. Originally, he had a budget of 10 million, and he thought about thriftiness. He could argue for two or three months for 1 million. But now he has a transfer budget of 100 million, and he still has this mentality. He is still arguing for the 1 million and hundreds of thousands, causing the team to miss the opportunity to recruit players.

Moyes is not stupid. On the contrary, he is a very self-aware person, so he can basically understand his situation and problems now, but he has no way back, because he can't go back to the summer transfer period, and he can't have another chance.

He has only one choice, to move forward!

For him, the position of Manchester United coach is like a gilded journey. No matter what the final result is, he will continue to go on.

Thinking of this, Moyes turned his head to look at the home team coaching bench. Except for the first ten minutes of the game, Ye Qiu sat in the coaching bench all the rest of the time. It was not clear what he was doing. The on-the-spot command was handed over to Mauro Tassotti, and this Italian was also a tough guy.

However, he felt that Ye Qiu looked down on him.

…………

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Ye Qiu really didn't look down on Moyes, not because the coach's ability was not good, but because Ye Qiu felt that Moyes always had a strong speculative mentality.

Let's put it this way, Ferguson coached Manchester United for decades, and his influence in the English football circle was extraordinary. Even Ferguson's son was a famous agent in England. He was involved in the black gold issue back then, and Moyes had been holding on to Ferguson from the beginning.

As Scottish, Moyes' father and Ferguson have known each other for a long time. Moyes looks like Ferguson's junior. In fact, Moyes has always regarded himself as Ferguson's junior, and has always been trying to get closer to Ferguson. For example, when Ferguson returned to Scotland to give a lecture, Moyes went to Scotland specifically to listen to this class, and actively asked questions in class.

It can be said that since Ferguson was rumored to retire, Moyes has been arranged by many people and many media to be Ferguson's successor intentionally or unintentionally, and Moyes gives people the same feeling, that is, he is simply a copy of Ferguson. Except for the championship and Everton is not a giant, he is the second Ferguson.

However, Ye Qiu was not optimistic about Moyes from the beginning. The reason is very simple. Moyes may look like Ferguson in many things, but there is one most important thing that is completely different from Ferguson, that is, flexibility!

Ferguson is very smart. His greatest achievement in his life is that he has been constantly adapting and keeping up with the times, so that he and Manchester United have always been at the forefront of English football and among the strong teams in Europe.

But what about Moyes? After coaching Everton for ten years, his Everton has always been a typical British team. The trend of continentalization of Premier League football is so obvious. Over the years, continental teams have continued to emerge. Now even Wigan Athletic, Southampton, Swansea and other teams have come from behind and become continentalized, but Everton has always insisted on the British style.

This is Moyes' fatal injury!

Even if he is like Ferguson in everything, he is finished if he is not like this!

"From this game, choosing Moyes will be the last but also the most painful lesson in your coaching career!"

After the game, in a box of a western restaurant in Stratford Stadium, Ye Qiu and Ferguson sat face to face, with a square table between them, on which there was a bottle of red wine and two high-heeled glasses. This is Ferguson's habit.

Although Ye Qiu didn't have such a habit, there were always exceptions.

After hearing this, Ferguson shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Then I should scold you for not giving face and showing no mercy at all!"

Ye Qiu snorted and said nothing. This game was the easiest one for him to play against Manchester United since his coaching career.

Ferguson also knew it, but what could he say? All he could say was that Moyes was too disappointing!

In fact, up to now, he was doubting whether his decision was correct, because as soon as Moyes took over Manchester United, he immediately showed his ambition and strong desire for power, which immediately brought him internal and external troubles.

For example, Moyes removed the team's chief scout Martin Ferguson, Ferguson's younger brother, who had been in Manchester United for many years. As soon as Moyes came to power, he took him as a knife, and it was clear that he wanted to clean up the Ferguson mark of Manchester United for many years, and he did not keep any of Ferguson's old coaching staff, and cleaned them all.

As Martin Ferguson complained to Ferguson privately, "Is Moyes here to grab power or to coach?"

When Ferguson met with Moyes, he repeatedly reminded him that it would be best to keep the old coaches in the team, but Moyes still insisted on his own way. However, the old Everton players he brought with him were not adapted to Manchester United at all, nor were they familiar with Manchester United, as well as the overall trend and environment of the Premier League and even European football.

"To be honest, do you think Manchester United will have a chance this year?" Ferguson looked at Ye Qiu and asked, he was very serious.

Sometimes the strength of a team is not obvious to the fans in the stands and in front of the TV, but as the head coach or opponents, they often feel it more intuitively and clearly.

After hearing this, Ye Qiu shook his head and smiled, "Tell the truth, or lie?"

"The truth!" Ferguson replied cautiously, "No matter how ugly it sounds!" He was probably a little confused himself.

"You know, I only directed the first ten minutes or so. The rest of the time, I basically sat on the coaching bench and played with my phone. I couldn't see any signs that it was worth stepping forward."

After a pause, Ye Qiu smiled again, "If your goal for Manchester United this season is to be in the top four in the league, then I can tell you that there is absolutely no hope. I can name a few teams casually, such as Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Southampton, even Arsenal, Newcastle and West Ham United, you will definitely have no chance in the top four!”

"I think your safer goal should be to be in the top ten!"

When Ferguson heard this, he felt angry, not at Ye Qiu. Although Ye Qiu said it very rudely, Ferguson knew that Ye Qiu would not talk nonsense. At least that was how Ye Qiu felt in this game. This Manchester United team was serious. The lack of competitiveness made him angry at Moyes. He was really unsatisfied and embarrassed his old man.

"Actually, if Moyes can show some courage this summer, adjust six or seven positions in the team lineup, and introduce powerful stars in their prime, I think this Manchester United will still be very competitive. Power, but..."

Ye Qiu didn't need to say anything more. It was already quite obvious that Manchester United had no hope at least this season.

After hearing this, Ferguson couldn't sit still. He stood up from his seat and walked to the window of the box. Outside, there was a huge crowd. 80,000 fans were leaving Stratford Stadium in an orderly manner.

"Do you miss him?" Ye Qiu walked to Ferguson's side.

The height where the two of them are now is just enough to catch the fans at the exit below the Stratford Stadium. They have a heroic spirit of being aloof and overlooking all living beings. Ye Qiu is fine now, after all, they are still Tottenham Hotspur. coach, but Ferguson is unlucky. He has retired and is now relegated to the background.

Sure enough, Ferguson snorted coldly, turned around and walked back. He felt that Ye Qiu was trying to seduce him to come out again.

Seeing Ferguson like that, Ye Qiu chuckled and walked back, "So, you people just can't stand loneliness!"

Yes, this guy still has an old-fashioned tone and teaches his seniors a lesson.

Ferguson was not angry, and said with a bit of regret, "It would be a lie to say that I don't miss you, but as I get older, I don't have that kind of energy or that kind of thinking. Sooner or later, you young people will be the ones who play professional football nowadays." world!"

Today's players are indeed getting younger, so like Messi, a young player is the World Footballer. But now, Nick Powell, Lucas Moura, Coutinho, Lukaku, He Sergio and others are all young, but they are already top-notch European stars.

There are also head coaches. Today's young coaches are also popular. Although there are still some old coaches supporting them, the rise of young people has become a trend and trend. Perhaps this is also because these young people are better able to adapt to today's world.

"This season is over, do you really want to quit?" Ferguson sat back on the chair and asked with concern.

Ye Qiu smiled after hearing this, "My wife has even planned a trip around the world for the next year. Do you think my heart is not firm enough? Do I have the courage?"

Ferguson, who was a strict wife, laughed immediately after hearing this. If it were him, he would not have the guts to kill him.

"I feel sorry for you!" Ferguson said this sincerely after laughing.

Ye Qiu continues to stay at Tottenham Hotspur and will continue to maintain this glory for many years to come. At least he can continue to lead Tottenham Hotspur to maintain this peak, but it is not necessarily possible to change coaches, even if It's Mauro Tassotti, but there's always a risk.

Moreover, Ferguson has always been interested in Ye Qiu's pursuit and philosophy. He is even interested in many things about Tottenham Hotspur. For example, Tottenham Hotspur's average running rate has reached 12 times per game this season. kilometers or more, there is news that this is because Tottenham Hotspur has started to use a new physical training system in the past two or three years.

Also, the artificial genius plan that Ye Qiu mentioned before. Judging from the emergence of talents in Tottenham Hotspur in recent years, it is not difficult to see the success of this plan. If it can really be realized, How terrifying will Tottenham Hotspur, composed of eleven geniuses, be?

Ye Qiu smiled faintly, "There is nothing to be regretful about. After all, over the years, I have succeeded, failed, cried, laughed, been lifted up to the sky, and fallen to the ground. I have experienced it all, what is there to be regretful about? "

"Don't you think it's a pity that you worked so hard to lay such a good foundation for Tottenham Hotspur, but in the end you created someone else?" Ferguson asked.

Ye Qiu still smiled faintly, "Then there is nothing to regret. Tottenham Hotspur is my team. If the team is good, I will naturally benefit from it. Besides, after coaching for so many years, I really I am increasingly discovering that understanding football in depth, analyzing football, or even commenting on football is far from simply waiting in front of the TV, or sitting quietly in the stands, simply calming down and watching football. , come for fun, come for happiness! ”

After hearing this, Ferguson nodded sympathetically.

Maybe it's a return to nature, or maybe it's because you understand it so well that it feels bland and tasteless.

People who don’t understand or are familiar with football may desperately want to understand and become familiar with it. But the deeper you want to dig, analyze, and become familiar with football, you may feel that maybe it is better to be a football player in the first place. It's fun for simple ignorant fans to cheer for their favorite team and their favorite style of football.

Is this a besieged city?

Or is life full of sieges?