Aritra Nandy’s Post

Should the national team coach be “one of your own”? The appointment of Thomas Tuchel as England manager has reignited this debate. During my time with Wales and the British & Irish Lions, we were coached by Kiwis - Warren Gatland and Wayne Pivac. Did that take away from our successes? Absolutely not. Did fans care after each win or Grand Slam? Not a bit. Elite sport is about working with the best and removing any excuses not to perform. Some teams, like the All Blacks or Aussies in cricket, may never hire a foreign head coach, but today’s elite teams prioritise success over nationality. Just look at Shaun Edwards’ impact in France, Brendon McCullum with England cricket or Sarina Wiegman with the Lionesses. Even Brazil tried to hire Carlo Ancelotti - proving that at the highest level, performance comes first. I wonder, would there have been the same debate if the FA had managed to land Pep Guardiola? For me, it’s simple: • Is Tuchel a top coach? 100%. • Can he improve England’s chances of winning silverware? Almost certainly. • Will anyone care about his nationality if England lift the World Cup in 2026? I don’t think so. Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing a world-class coach work with a generational group of players. This could be the step England need to achieve ultimate success.

Hey again! hoped to write here much sooner after that last video I posted, but the next thing I did after uploading it was to lay in bed, totally sick for 3 days straight 🤒😄 Fully recovered now, I thought about speaking firstly about my beloved football club and some exciting news that just broke out and might be very interesting to track for all of us #footballlovers - Let's speak about Michael Edwards return to Liverpool Football Club! Let's have a quick summary for most of my followers, who might not understand what am I talking about: Liverpool FC is owned by an American sports holding group named #FSG - which also controls the infamous Boston Red Sox, NASCAR league, and many more sports businesses. They are also leaders in the #sportstech industry - as they managed to break the Red Sox "Bamboozle" using deep analytics that was almost not familiar back then. Back to reality at the Merseyside, the red club has been very successful in recent years, winning trophies almost every year under Jurgen Klopp's successful reign as manager of the club. But when we look at the managerial spots at the club (General manager, sporting director, etc.) we can see that FSG wasn't consistent with filling these spots for long periods and mainly consisted of #Klopp's abilities to lead his group of players to success - which truly shows how great of a football coach he is. Now, things are going to change. Jurgen informed the club and fans that he would step aside and might quit his managerial career as he feels tired after 25 years of consecutive coaching in Germany and England - a truly deserved break for my taste. This situation leaves LFC in a tough situation that requires an immediate mindset change, and it seems like FSG is not wasting time. Michael Edwards grew up within the club, playing a huge role in building the great team that Jurgen managed for 10 years as the club's sporting director. He left the club back in 2022 seeking a bigger role and was offered many chances from most of the top clubs in World football, but he remained patient as he knew that there are bigger fishes to catch - and now it seems like he caught one right back where he started his journey. And now for the breaking news: Michael Edwards was just appointed by FSG as Football Operations lead within the group. This means that Edwards will manage most of the decisions taken by the club, reshaping its structural setting and leading it for the days that will follow after Klopp's departure. This move puts him as one of the strongest managerial personas in English world football today (who's not an owner of a club), and portrays FSG's understanding that football today should be managed by professional businessmen and not by the owners themselves, learning from past errors made by rival clubs (such as #chelseafc and #manchesterunited) in recent years. Look forward to a lot of interesting news coming out of Merseyside, this summer will be buzzing on the red side of Liverpool.

England 1 Denmark 1. Just Another Chapter in the Book of Excuses from Managers. Last night’s game might have been disappointing, but it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. However, Southgate's excuse that "We don't have a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips" That's Mind Blowing!! 🤯 😡 😱 But lets not just berate Gareth. Here’s a look back at some of the other excuses from England managers following poor performances. "We didn't lose, did we?" - Kevin Keegan (1993) This classic came after England drew 1-1 with Norway in a World Cup qualifier ending their hopes of automatic qualification. Almost claiming a moral victory was enough. "A young team, a learning experience." - Various managers This one only seems to apply to England players, other countries' youngsters flourishing in the same circumstances. "We were the better team on the night, but..." - Sven-Göran Eriksson    "The lads gave 100%, that's all I can ask for." - Multiple managers Giving 100% doing the wrong things?!? "We need to go back to the drawing board." - Multiple managers Also means we didn't prepare. "Injuries disrupted our plans." - Fabio Capello Again England was the only country in the world that had to deal with injuries. "We lacked a bit of luck." - Roy Hodgson (2014)  Nothing to do with not playing well enough. And probably still my favourite............. "The weather conditions didn't suit us." - Steve McClaren (2006) After a disappointing draw with Macedonia in Euro 2008 qualifying, McClaren blamed the wind, suggesting it had a significant impact on the team's performance. BUT. In the words of D Ream. Things can only get better. It's tournament football. We are still in it. It's in our hands. We will get better.........you know the rest. What would you change for the next game? Don't say the manager! 🤣

There are 2 general categories of difficult decisions: 1.     Those that disadvantage one group in favour of a greater objective, and 2.     Those where there are too many unknowns to be confident in the outcome. Stakeholder engagement is vital in both circumstances, making sure that the decision factors all known facts including the potential negative consequences. The Football Association (FA) this week provided a good lesson in how not to do it. The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world. The beauty of it is the accessibility, 729 English and Welsh teams took part this season.  Small local teams playing on scrappy fields can (with good management and better luck) have cup runs taking them right up to Premier League stadia. My own Grimsby Town Football Club beat teams in all 3 divisions above them last season to take them to the quarter-finals.  Tottenham played Marine FC during the pandemic, a club whose carpark was too small for Spurs’ team coach. Originally any drawn match would be replayed until there was a result, although multiple replays were abandoned in the 1990’s. Replays were removed from the final four rounds more recently. For most of the competition however, a replay retains that crucial second chance to keep the cup run alive. It earns the revenues through ticket sales to armchair fans (like me) who will bring the family out to see a big game, revenues which are crucial to the survival of smaller clubs. The excitement and resulting publicity from a big FA Cup replay is phenomenal. But last week the FA decided to scrap FA Cup replays altogether. The decision is driven by bigger clubs who are also competing in European competitions, particularly the half dozen or so in the UEFA Champions League. Their players get tired easily from all the falling over and stuff, so do not have the time or energy for FA Cup replays. Sarcasm aside – the player welfare point is valid in a crowded fixture schedule. Smaller clubs, bigger in number but smaller in wealth, were (apparently) not consulted at all in the decision. More stakeholders means more complex engagement. Good stakeholder management means controlling the noisier stakeholders to understand the wider picture. None of us are perfect, but we should also try to be less FA. #sundaythoughts #stakeholdermanagement

"I know his ambition and desire" | Nuno Espirito Santo on working with Evangelos Marinakis Rebuilding Nottingham Forest: The Challenges Faced by Newly Appointed Manager A Challenging Inaugural Season Since taking the reins at Nottingham Forest, newly appointed manager Johnny has faced a series of challenging obstacles. With a new team to work with and a lot of changes, he admits that getting to know the players and establishing his ideas was a significant hurdle. He stresses that the pressure to deliver results immediately, especially with fans and the club's ambitious owner, Steve, did not make his job easier. From Struggling to Stabilizing the Squad The Portuguese tactician emphasizes that he took the opportunity to rebuild the squad during the summer, focusing on reinforcing the core of the team and keeping key players despite interest from other clubs. He also highlights the importance of maintaining a positive squad dynamic and having experienced players who understand the importance of unity. Achievements and Aspirations Johnny expresses his satisfaction with the squad's progress so far this season, stating that they are competing well and learning to believe in themselves. He also touches on the Ambitions of the owner, discussing the potential to challenge for European places. While the manager acknowledges that there may be surprises ahead, he is optimistic about the project's potential for growth and development. A Small Country with Big Ambitions When discussing the influx of Portuguese managers in the Premier League, Johnny acknowledges that Portugal's rich footballing heritage is a factor. He shares his enthusiasm for the young talents being produced and highlights the desire to join the English Premier League. For him, it is an honor to be part of this wave of Portuguese managers. Evolution and Adaptation As someone who has managed in the Premier League before, Johnny reflects on how his outlook on the game has evolved over the years. He recognizes that the league has become faster, more aggressive, and more technical. Despite the changes,... #Sport #adaptation #ambitions #Challenges #competition #Europeanplaces #Evolution #football #heritage #Johnny #manager #NottinghamForest #obstacles #owner #players #Portuguese #PremierLeague #Rebuilding #results #squad #tacticalbattles #team

The date is June 24th 2022 and the England Women’s Football Team, widely known as The Lionesses, are playing the Netherlands – the reigning European champions, in a warm-up game prior to the start of the UEFA Women’s Euros. It’s half time and the score is 1-1 and Sarina Wiegman, the recently appointed England coach is not happy. “Girls” she exclaimed in the dressing room “I’m not sure what weight is on your shoulders, but please shake it off. Right now we’re playing not to lose. Let’s play some football and go for the win”* With this message ringing loudly in their ears, the team came out for the second half to be bolder and focus more on scoring goals rather than just not conceding them – it was as if a brake had been released. The contrast to the first half could not have been greater, and at the end of the match the final score was England 5 – Netherlands 1, and The Lionesses were on the way to what would be a gloriously successful Euros tournament just a few weeks later. Playing not to lose in business is an all too familiar problem. It’s the equivalent of mid-market mediocrity where competitors battle ferociously to out-bland each other with desperately dull and familiar variations to the norm. A fear of going backwards or being left behind suffocates any urgency to adopt a different approach to make more or better or quicker progress. Such fear is irrational, but without a clear strategy that incorporates some risk and exploration of the unknown, it can seem an ever-present drag on creativity and innovation. The most successful organisations and the most successful people understand this and develop strategies that recognise that just because you’re not losing, it doesn’t necessarily mean you win. #strategy #business #leadership *Credit: Sarina Wiegman – What It Takes: My Playbook on Life and Leadership

My view on the Gareth Southgate departure… No doubt about it Gareth has done a great job. From where England were before he took over to where they are now, the difference is indescribable. My view is this - “You can not win a tournament whilst trying not to lose it”! England looked a different side when they went behind against the Netherlands and Spain. They moved the ball quicker and advanced creating chances and dominated. When they pulled level they appeared to go back into defensive safety. Meanwhile, Spain played the same brand of penetrating football as they did all tournament. Be careful what you wish for. The next England managerial appointment will determine whether or not the flack that Southgate received for being too defensive was justified or, the success that England have built could as easily dissipate. My opinion is that England should go all out to get Jurgen Klopp to be Gareth’s successor. Here’s why. Jurgen knows how to build a culture, he knows how to get the best out of the talent he has. He is tactically aware and mentally astute. Most of all he knows how to win. To go with an English manager may prove to be a backward step and in my opinion there is no one better placed than Klopp to take England on to the next level. Finally, you can not win tournaments by trying not to lose. This has now been proven, beyond any doubt, with England’s recent results.

According to the Sportsology Group Head Coach rating model, Ruben Amorim's time at Sporting Clube de Portugal ranks as the =12th highest rated tenure of any manager in Europe's top 7 leagues since 2017/18. This accounts for a number of factors including team improvement, consistency of results, form recovery and available financial resources. Of course, past performance is no guarantee of future success given the myriad contextual factors at play whenever a coach enters a new environment. However, what we can be sure of is that Manchester United has hired a coach who has shown himself to be capable of an elite level of coaching performance over a prolonged period of time. https://lnkd.in/eksH8eik

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City made history on Sunday, May 19, 2024, when a 3-1 win over West Ham confirmed a fourth consecutive Premier League title for the club. Making them the first club in the history of English football to do so. It is the 6th EPL for Pep in 7 years in the EPL, which is believed to be the most competitive football league in the world. Since 2008 there is Manager has more tittle than him (33 tittles) I admire Pep's ideology and mentality, and he is my role model. By the way, I usually think of business as a football game; for me running a business is the same as managing a football team. I've been following him when he was a coach at Barcelona (2008-2012), then Bayern Munich (2013-2016), and now Manchester City. I do believe everyone has something to learn from Josep Gurdiola. I have watched almost every Man City match since 2016. I read books about him, like Pep Guardiola: Another Way of Winning by Guillem Balague. Watched a documentary like: All or Nothing by Manchester City on Amazon Prime Video (2018): https://lnkd.in/dcdXJiCC Treble Winners by Netflix (2024): https://lnkd.in/dnwfv35x. His pre- and post-match reactions, his strategy against rivals, his ability to manage peer pressure, and his ability to inspire and develop the team are all noteworthy. Pep is among the best managers I have ever seen, I can say that. Pep is known for his ability to create winning teams; he was mentored by his former FC Barcelona coach, Johan Cruyff, who gave Pep an opportunity as a player and eventually promoted him to captain of FC Barcelona. The following quotes from the biography book Another Way of Winning by Guillem Balague explain a lot about his philosophy from the perspective of his mentor. .. "Under Cruyff, dominating the ball became the first and most important rule. ‘If you have the ball, the opposition doesn’t have it and can’t attack you,’ Cruyff would repeat daily. So the job became finding the players who could keep possession and also doing a lot of positional work in training. ..."I’ve got a problem,’ he told his mentor. ‘I’ve got these two guys who I don’t know if I can control; they don’t listen to what I say, and that affects how everybody else receives my messages. And the problem is, they’re two of the leaders in the dressing room and the best players. I will lose without them on board.’ Cruyff’s response was blunt: ‘Get rid of them. You might lose one or two games, but then you will start winning, and by then you will have turfed those two sons of bitches out of the team."

USMNT new coach Mauricio Pochettino preaches the ‘gospel of incremental small wins’ One specific example? He instructs his players to sprint forward when the goal kick is played so, if the ball is lost, the opposing team’s attacking player is offsides. A minor tweak that can prove to be a game changer. So minor, it can be easy to skip. Pochettino, who has also coached Espanyol in Spain, Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea in England, as well as Paris Saint-Germain in France, wants his team to approach those situations with a combination of intensity and intentionality. “It’s going to be extremely valuable,” said Mark McKenzie, a defender for the USMNT. “If you can have that as your foundation, from there you can work on the nuances…When you understand the intensity is required every moment; this will define us. Everyone has to be firing and doing their job to the fullest.” As discussed in The Athletic’s Greg O’Keeffe’s story, McKenzie explained those small gains translate to HOW players run.   “We even spoke about body movement and how you’re moving,” McKenzie said. “About back-pedaling. If we’re doing that, it doesn’t really allow you to react how you need to. If you’re back-pedaling at high speed and the ball is played in front of you it’s very difficult. But if I’m sprinting at a side angle, I now have the opportunity to slow my steps down and react forward or backward." By integrating these small steps, McKenzie has noticed he and his teammates have subconsciously developed a growth mindset that’s been revealed in the heat of games and may translate to big moments.    “Those small things that you may not see by watching the game outside are important on the field,” McKenzie said. “They give you a split second more to receive the ball or play it. Or another second for your team-mates to have an option.” https://lnkd.in/gSsZyw3c