The Specialist determines the tactics…

In England, Bryan Robson was named the best English player ever. Bobby Robson – no relation – uttered the words in 1990 and there was some logic to it too.

Bryan Robson was the embodiment of everything English football stood for. The midfielder was a great passer and could repossess the ball with razorsharp tackles. He also had the depth to make penetrative runs into the box and score goals. Robson was strong, touch, opportunistic and above all, a team player.

He could be compared to Johan Neeskens. A specialist. A type of player you don’t see anymore on in Dutch football. Why is that? Has our way of playing changed?

In the olden days, midfields consisted of three players: the destroyer, the playmaker and the runner. Wim Jansen, Willem van Hanegem and Franz Hasil. Or Nico Rijnders, Gerrie Muhren and Johan Neeskens. Or Jan Poortvliet, Willy van der Kuylen and Willy van de Kerkhof.

Today, teams play 4-2-3-1. With two destroyers/holding midfielders and a number 10 who plays more like a shadow striker, such as Litmanen or Dennis Bergkamp. In other words, the Johan Neeskens type is not longer around. Or not longer developed. Which begs the question: do the specialists make the system or is it the other way around?

Eljero Elia was once sent away from Ajax’ youth system, as a striker. Via ADO Den Haag he came to play for Twente. Adelaar positioned Elia on the left wing. At Twente, that was his spot. He was so good last season that Ajax tried to sign him during the winter break. The club which sent him away a striker, now wants him back as a left winger.

This calls for a debate. Wingers are a dying race in Holland. FC Twente is one of a few clubs where they consistently play with two wingers. Elia wouldn’t have been able to develop the way he did, if Twente would have played, say, 4-4-2. In this case, you could say that Twente’s system was key in developing Elia. Is it that simple?

Elia could also be that good, and that talented that he could have developed in a 4-4-2 as well. Elia is a specialist, a player with tremendous individual skill who makes the difference. A player any coach would embrace.

In Barcelona, they have four or five players with those skills. Normally, a coach considers himself lucky when he has two or three. The other eight basically play in service of those three. And that determines the system. The specialists are essential to good football.

Without goal scoring and skilled players, football is a game in which no team can make the difference. For instance, Stijn Schaars is a good and crucial team player for AZ but the top dog is obviously Mounir El Hamdaoui. The man who decides game. And it’s not for nothing that Louis van Gaal expects all his players to play in service of this one man. Because he makes all the difference.