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Interesting Point in article about formation

C-oops

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Jul 27, 2008
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Jamie Lawrence: 'The way they train coaches at Ajax is different'
Ajax's Jamie Lawrence left England for the Netherlands as a 16-year-old to improve his football education

Jamie Lawrence spent time with Arsenal and QPR before moving to Haarlem and then Ajax in the Netherlands. Photograph: Guardian
Jamie Jackson
The Guardian, Thu 28 Apr 2011 21.18 BST
"I've been at Ajax now for two seasons. I had been with Arsenal in their under-9s until under‑11s, then I moved to QPR where I was in the under-14 age group. But I left because the standard of coaching at QPR was terrible, I was hardly tired after sessions and it was not enjoyable at all, though I have heard since that they changed all this.
I came over to Holland three years ago and joined HFC Haarlem [then a professional club], which is just outside Amsterdam. My dad, Steve, did some research and then emailed a few clubs and Haarlem were the club that wrote back.
I went over in the summer that I turned 16 and halfway through the following season Haarlem said Ajax were interested. There was a coach from Ajax who was helping out at Haarlem so at the end of my first year there he took me over for a trial, and then I joined.
The way they train their coaches at Ajax is different. I'd grown up in England and seen Arsenal and Dennis Bergkamp. When I went to Ajax he was just starting coaching and they put him in charge of my team for my first game. I was sat in the changing room and the coach walked in and said: 'Guys, here's your trainer for the day.' I looked up as he walked in and I could not believe it. But for all the rest of the team it was just normal, they knew him.
The main difference between how I am coached in Holland and how I was coached in England is that here they focus on possession and they want the centre-backs to play out from the back and control the game. Also, they look to develop all the technical sides of your game – the emphasis is on what you are good at but they also work on technique, and your passing. In England this is less so, I suppose because it's more of a physical game.
This season I've now fully recovered from injury and played my first 90 minutes two weeks ago which went well. I was recently with Tottenham as part of a young team that competed at a tournament. That was a great experience. As I had just come back from injury it was about me getting a few games under my belt and for them to see how I work and for me to see how they work.I was up at Spurs Lodge [the training ground] and they were actually talking to me about how they have adopted the 4-3-3 style that the Dutch teams play and they are now trying to implement the Dutch style into the club."





Wonder if it's the youth team trying to implement a 433 or the 1st team or the whole club.
 

C-oops

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Jul 27, 2008
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Sorry. On iPhone so can't highlight the bit at the bottom that's relevent.
If we are trying to adopt a 433 where does that leave Lennon? And does that mean bale to left back?
 

dimiSpur

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Total football at Spurs? I'd have thought it's the Youth Coaches emphasizing this for the Youth Team. I doubt Harry is the sort of bloke to reshape the club from top to bottom bringing in a style he doesn't even use. I'd have thought it's more Levy's doing.

Great to hear that finally English clubs taking notice of how succesful a youth system can be when children are coached correctly. Now its a case of trying to find young kids that aren't obese.
 

Chimbo!

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Jan 7, 2007
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Sorry. On iPhone so can't highlight the bit at the bottom that's relevent.
If we are trying to adopt a 433 where does that leave Lennon? And does that mean bale to left back?

it may be a more long term strategy then that. but i dont think that really effects lennon or bale. they could play upfront but on the flanks. although bale could also work at leftback.

....................... Gomes ....................

Walker .... Dawson .... Gallas .... Ekotto

.......... Sandro . H'stone . Modric ........

Lennon ............. Crouch ............. Bale
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
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Total football at Spurs? I'd have thought it's the Youth Coaches emphasizing this for the Youth Team. I doubt Harry is the sort of bloke to reshape the club from top to bottom bringing in a style he doesn't even use. I'd have thought it's more Levy's doing.

Great to hear that finally English clubs taking notice of how succesful a youth system can be when children are coached correctly. Now its a case of trying to find young kids that aren't obese.
Increasingly difficult these days ... maybe we should follow VVV Venlo's example and sign 1-year olds so we can control their diets and lifestyles throughout their childhood :think:

But as you said, if we're trying to model our youth system on the Dutch ones, it will be brilliant for the club in the long term.
 

dimiSpur

There's always next year...
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Given recent rumours, wouldn't be surprised if our team next year is something like:

Gomes
Walker Kaboul Dawson/newCB* Bale
Sandro
van der Vaart Modric
Lennon/VdV*..............................Marin
NEWSHINYFUCKINSTRIKER​
 

jackson

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Jan 27, 2006
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Most of Europe has been years ahead of us training and attitude wise but we're slowly catching up, although I imagine grass roots football here is still way behind in terms of coaching levels.

Good to see that we're making positive changes for our next crop of youngsters - lets hope some break through or are at least given the chance to break through, which is harder and harder these days.

Lets hope this kid doesn't turn into the next Sonny Pike....
 

nicdic

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May 8, 2005
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This isn't new, it's been said for a couple of years that throughout the youth teams they've been playing more of a 4-3-3 formation.
 

stemark44

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Mar 17, 2005
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This isn't new, it's been said for a couple of years that throughout the youth teams they've been playing more of a 4-3-3 formation.

Because 4-4-2 is ancient history and the sooner our first team changes to 4-3-3 the better.
 

dontcallme

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Mar 18, 2005
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I remember when Jol and Arnesen were in charge reading some good articles about how we were adopting 433 throughout our entire youth system and Jol adopted three centre mids and one winger as his formation.

It sounded promising but I'm not sure what we're doing now.

I'm concerned that all our managers changes will affect continuity throughout the club.

No doubt England needs to change its attitude towards player development and understand that when we lose it's because we're not good enough rather than lacking bulldog spirit.
 

TwoSaintsComeMarching

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Jul 26, 2008
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Lennon and Bale are not wide forwards. Lennon doesnt score enough. He most definately cant be the right wide forward needed. Get Hulk in then I can see us playing it.
 
Sep 17, 2007
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Someone should tell Fergie.

Fergie plays with either Berbatov or Hernendez being supported by a deep lying Rooney.

We don't have a front man who can play the lone striker. VDV could play the Rooney role if he could be arsed on a more consistant basis.

I don't believe United play the classic 442
 

brett.spurs

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May 22, 2007
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Most classic 4-4-2's involved one of the strikers dropping off to join play. Rooney and Hernandez are strikers, they play 4 midfielders.
 
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