'Winners' only label that matters

HAVE been reading and hearing a lot about how tactics are changing in football with regards to the long ball and long thrown-ins. It would appear some coaches are reintroducing those tactics, which were paramount a few years ago.

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I love to see a passing game but getting into the opponent's half quickly and then passing it while trying to create goalscoring chances seems the way forward.

I get that if it’s done properly, then passing the ball crisply and efficiently therefore making your opponents run about using up energy can have a positive effect later in the game.

You see lots of labels bandied about in football, such as the possession game, the long-ball game, the defensive game, the attacking game, when in reality there is only one label that really matters - the winning game!

The long throw-in is a genuine tool that can cause mayhem in the opposition defence. However, not just a long throw into the penalty area but especially a Rory Delap-style throw, which was arrow-like and zipped into the area. It caused defenders problems and was brilliant for forwards to attack and score goals.

In the modern era of coaching, I am sure that would be frowned upon, especially as heading is not a part of academy coaching until the age of 12. Then it is at a reduced amount of heading allowed in training until under-18s. Even then the FA recommend limited heading in training due to the links between heading and dementia

So, do/have these restrictions in youth football contributed to reduced success and effectiveness of long throws, crosses and corner kicks into the penalty area in terms of goals scored?

While talking about long throw-ins making a comeback as an attacking option, I was amazed to see how many times Premier clubs are employing the long ball as a tactic. Villa used it against Fulham more times than I have seen them do under Unai Emery and, to be honest, so did Fulham.