How COVID-19 Redefined Football
Project Restart has seen the game change slightly…
There have been a few notable changes to help keep the game ticking over through this ongoing pandemic.
Other than the addition of 5 subs, we’ve seen the removal of ball boys and implementation of disinfected footballs, along with the enforced rule of players having to have their own individual, personalised water bottles for, one of the biggest features of them all; the drinks break.
The drinks break could be seen in Spain’s La Liga, before the Premier League’s Project Restart, and has been implemented due to a lack of match fitness, highly compacted fixture schedule and heated conditions as a result of playing in the British Summertime.
It’s arguably something of value that the game has been missing for the entirety of its existence.
Managers and coaching staff, particularly in the Premier League, have taken the opportunity of a mandatory break to give a team talk to their players, a topic which has proved to be controversial throughout the community.
Whilst some have declared their appreciation for the break, due to the opportunity to enforce a different tactical approach, others disagree.
One of the most well known figures who openly disagrees is Gary Neville;
"I can understand the hydration points are important for the prevention of injuries but it just feels forced a little bit.
The game is being played at a less-than Premier League pace."
With the game now operating in a quarterly manner - it is noticeably slower but does offer a greater depth and complexity towards the game, allowing those with tactical nouse to shine.
The concept of the drinks break to allow for some recovery was seen at the 2014 World Cup, so in that respect it’s nothing new.
However, it’s the way in which the break is being used to shift momentum through a use of tactics - reminiscent of a mini half time, if you like.
One manager who has capitalised on the break is Brentford boss, Thomas Frank.
Thomas Frank is hoping to lead Brentford into the promised land (via Getty Images)
It’s no surprise really.
Promotion hopefuls, Brentford, are known for their meticulous analysis in all aspects of the game, whether it be; nutrition, tactics, sleep analysis, position suitability - you name it, Brentford have research on it.
So, the use of tactics boards to gain an advantage on their opposition is something that we have come to expect from the London-based club.
Frank is such an advocate of the drinks break that he has openly responded to critics who claim the break is having too much of an impact into how the game is played.
On the matter, he said;
“It’s nice in football to have that timeout for 15-20 seconds to talk to the players.
It’s interesting that we got the tactical boards out now.
I thought about it before, because why not? It’s more visual.
Maybe it’s just to reinforce your normal gameplan or maybe to tweak it a bit. It’s something I try to prepare before the games, to say maybe this will be the main bit in the first one, and this in the second one.”
For sports such as basketball, baseball, American football and ice hockey - the use of a team talk is nothing new.
However, it’s something totally new to football and, with murmurs of permanent integration, it could completely redefine the game as we know it.