The Speed of Play Paradox

[@drake1636]

Another factor is that games tend to look different on TV compared to in real life. The broadcast cameras tend to make the field look larger compared to when you are standing on the sideline or in the stadium. If you count how many seconds players have on the ball or how many touches they take,, you'll find that things are usually moving quickly.

[@BecomeElite]

100%

[@kaushitwakafidi]

Good point, but I must concur that the speed of play paradox is a real thing. Just look at the difference between the Top/premier leagues in most countries and compare it to the 1st and 2nd divisions of those same countries. I have noticed that the divisions and lower leagues seem to be more 'pacey' with much more running as compared to the top league. It's to the point where it appears much 'easier' to play in the top/premier league. One can also add that it is the same thing in sports such as boxing, martial arts etc. where the amateurs seem to be more rapid but reckless whereas the pros are more patient and calculated.

[@thewize]

The better the team im on, the better striker ​i am because the passes and movement are better @@kaushitwakafidi

[@eugenymalo8704]

As far as boxing you are correct. Amateurs pace is faster than professional boxing because of two things mainly. The rounds in amateur boxing are only 3 compared to 10-12 in the pro ranks. As a result, amateurs train to fight a higher tempo, higher pace with more output. Even when you put amateurs with pros and in 3/4 rounds the amateurs do better. As far as soccer, I think it's the quickness of mind that pro soccer players have that slows down the game. Go back to boxing and watch a highly skilled and experiences fighter how he can slow down the pace ​@@kaushitwakafidi

[@WCghost05]

True

[@theshadowrealm1311]

The camera is very deceiving. It's only when you see a top level game live that you get an appreciation for the pace at which passes are played and the quality of players first touch 😊

[@oilslick7010]

Yup! Even lower leagues games I've watched live often 'felt' faster than a top game I watched on television. Even though I already knew this wasn' t the case, I was still blown away by the difference in speed in terms of thinking and handling when I saw Barca at their high point at Nou Camp. Especially the first touch and the first decision after that is where you see the difference in skill so much better than on TV, not the fancy highlight reel plays

[@robertdiez3091]

I went to the Chelsea vs Wrexham in Chapel Hill last year. A Wrexham played across the lines over the top an Chalobah just turned an kicked it away sliding. It was impressive seeing it in person. I agree the TV don't show the speed compared on seeing it live.

[@TheReeelBradPitt]

Even a fan recorded video of an average regular moment will look super impressive, I think maybe it’s time to experiment with the camera techniques used for broadcasting, and see if there’s a way to make the game look more dynamic

[@beejj6190]

Many UK tops teams play a 'pressing' game. i.e. always making a physical effort to regain a ball you've lost. Now, if both teams aren't 'pressers' you'll find they have the time to simply play 'football chess' i.e. seeing which play the other team will make and try to disrupt their attacking momentum 'at that point'. And that approach is actually when some games ARE in fact as slow [intermittently] as they seem.

[@wespicedmemes]

I remember seeing a Messi pass live. It was a friendly and it was basically his first touch. The whole stadium gasped in awe cuz the ball went so high and Jordi Alba took it down like it was nothing.

[@LaserrSharp]

It's like watching boxing at the highest levels. Sometimes those fights are not crowd pleasers because they are so tactical, a chess match instead of a brawl.

[@clawsoon]

Great comparison. When you know that your opponent can knock you out with a single well-timed counterpunch, you're not going to rush in with your arms flailing.

[@asnark7115]

A lot of the "paradox" is because most of us have to watch a narrow television view around the ball. It's much easier to understand hesitation on the ball when you can see all their options and obstacles.

[@nictheperson6709]

And also what they can't see. The viewer on TV has better vision than any player, so it's hard to remember that there are things the players don't or even can't see.

[@alexmendez5875]

That's not true. Watch lower level soccer, and you'll see the mindless pressing.

[@fodaytarawali6613]

​@@nictheperson6709Which is why they do multiple repitions/phase of play so when the scenario occurs they can react alot quicker

[@Wherewolf84]

I've encouraged my daughter to play in the local adult league, and many of her friends have joined it. It's fun to watch kids with pace get absolutely taken to school by teams with decades of experience and coordination, and watch them adapt. It's not (just) about pace or individual skill, it's about understanding the game state and working as a unit.

[@1237barca]

Great comment. Have young players referee at a reasonably high level. Particularly running a line (being an AR) opens the mind to the spacing and tactics involved.

[@Wherewolf84]

@@1237barca reffing is a great way to see the game, but it's tough mentally. I had the advantage of being a greybeard before I started reffing, so there's a default/subconscious level of respect that is given (at least at the grassroots level). And even I get tired of the drama. But it is definitely the best seat in the house

[@chrisr4023]

​@@1237barca Being a ref at a fairly competitive match isnt great for young people. Once you wear that Yellow shirt (ref.), you are no longer seen as a person with feelings. A slight error will land you insults and name calling, not only from players but from the stands. People will forget you are a person.

[@Davis7798]

Really depends on the level of adult league though. I’ve played in so many adult leagues and just straight up dominated as a d3 bench warmer to the point I stoped cause it was making me worse.

[@madMARTYNmarsh1981]

I was very good at football in my youth, I developed a bit of an ego about it. My P.E. teacher could see the arrogance developing, so he got a lad from 2 years higher (I was 13, Billy was 15; 2 and a bit years of pubescent development makes a huge difference in football, any sport really) and he wiped the floor with me. It put me in my place. I was a central midfielder, Billy was a defender, my ball skill was better but Billy had a mass and strength advantage as well as a faster sprint speed, combined with his greater understanding of space due to playing competitive football, it was a huge difference in how he interacted with those on his team. Learning from more experienced players is a huge asset.

[@theacme3]

I had this discussion with one of my club mates a couple of days ago. I told him that it feels like the lower the league, the less time you have until you get pressured. He said that's impossible bla bla. I countered that, in high level play, if you just run at them like a bull, they will play around you (dribble or pass) and it will even hurt your team. So on high level, players don't pressure anyone instantly, but wait for the right moment. This gives some players much more time on the ball, because they don't even try to pressure him. On low level, as soon the ball is on your foot, someone runs at you like a freaking maniac.

[@blinkusfishus2052]

At least in my area, a lot of amateur football will have unlimited subs, meaning you can encourage a press 100% of the match and never worry about burning out your team if you've got the subs to keep cycling your players. Trying to do the same level of pressing over 90 full minutes with working class lads from the pub? You'd be insane to try it. 😂

[@DazedAndConfuzing]

When I was younger I had an awesome engine and even through most of high school, I could mindlessly sprint for 90 min and win the ball in the midfield, I was switch to Center back and my perception changed, my coach drilled in patience and reading of the game, he made me play through mistakes and own them. Now at 30, I coach college club guys who try to run me off the park when I hop into a scrimmage or small sided game, they struggle with my lack of movement and often forget about me. I lost my engine, I lost my pace due to a variety of factors, but I stay relevant. It been a strange reflection point for me.

[@allessandro989]

Play slower, but smarter.. every old player :)

[@griffinshorts785]

@@allessandro989haha I’m not there yet but I am getting slower so hopefully I can adapt

[@Valpo2004]

Messi doesn't run that much off the ball, yet he's still Messi.

[@Azabaxe80]

Declan Rice was already a superlative player when he moved from West Ham to the Arsenal. In an interview he did with Rio Ferdinand early this season, he was asked about his experience with the Gunners up to that point, and he talked about learning a lot of things. When pressed to give a specific example, he talked about _standing still_ . Having the discipline to hold his ground and let the play come to him, as well as trusting his teammates to do their job properly. I thought that was interesting, because he's never been a player who instinctively flies into tackles anyway, and here he was talking about needing to be more _serene_ in his play. Ironically, Arsenal Rice has a lot more responsibility in greater areas of the pitch than West Ham Rice ever did, but yes, he seems even more silky smooth than I remember him being when at West Ham.

[@sususegar]

@@Azabaxe80that's the thing about the British fans and the British game in general. They overvalue the ability to keep run up and down the pitch, just like the final year Rice was at West Ham when he was turning into an all-action box to box midfielder. I remember many British pundits were wetting their panties at the "improvement" he was displaying that season, including Souness, just as they do with any midfielder who runs all day all night. Holding your position and owning it without running around like a Gerrard is something they can't seem to appreciate, even after regretting for wasting talents like Carrick and Scholes.

[@Gonapa58]

Top flight pros MAKE more time with body shape. Before even receiving the ball, the direction your feet, hips and momentum are oriented (In academy it's called your "arrow" or vector") create more time before even touching the ball and determines how fast you can take a touch or pass and especially with which foot. Scanning and awareness obviously help too Teams also bait pressing triggers like Brighton by standing on the ball or delaying their passes and touches until the last instant on purpose so it's very hard to press at the top level

[@1237barca]

Great point! Also, over the shoulder looks make it appear that a player has move time. In fact, I’m quite sure there is no better simple obscure metric for the quality of a player than over their shoulder checks per minute

[@fupi78]

Good point about Brighton. The delay their passing for a few seconds. Sometimes they faint to be passing to bait opponents into moving thus opening spaces😂

[@lapatria100]

Good comment! Didn't know it was called arrow/vector

[@uksharif]

Even a good semi pro does this so much better than useful amateurs. And the first touches, in addition to body shapes and peripheral vision, make it look like they have qn extra 1.5 seconds every time they have the ball... it makes them look casual

[@HM-mw7cg]

I'm glad someone made a video on this. Those of us who have played the game at a decent level realise it. The thing I find quite interesting is that there are occasionally players who would thrive so much at the highest level because of this more tempered and technical approach to the game. They ooze quality but aren't always picked up by scouts amongst the chaos of lower tier football. Every few years someone breaks through into the Premier League after luckily impressing the right person at a much lower level, but so many don’t

[@garthpenglase1613]

usually because they aren't actually as good as they need to be. scouts know what to look for, and good technical ability and good vision in a slower game can quickly disappear when you add speed of movement. In football, like all big sports, the margins are fine between levels but they are very real. I can look good in a slow league, and I'll be dispossessed and flustered if I'm playing out of my depth. Hence why a-tier players get paid the big bucks.

[@HM-mw7cg]

@@garthpenglase1613 you misunderstood my comment. There is regular proof that people slip through the cracks. Players come out of nowhere to prove themselves in a cup game, or like Mason Mount did with Derby. There’s no way he’d be playing in the PL if Lampard didn’t take a liking to him and bring him with him to Chelsea. There are plenty of suitable players who just aren’t lucky

[@Zahrul3]

@@HM-mw7cg Mason Mount was a Chelsea grad what are you on? Very few players that start their youth career at non league/semipro level go on to have a career at top leagues or even Championship level. those that do are either defensive players or poacher/targetman type strikers. These players don't need to scan around that much. Lower level players usually have this thing about needing more time on the ball to find a pass/dribble, more likely to make a bad touch, more likely to panic and make mistakes/hoof the ball away, more likely to make a bad pass, etc. Especially center backs and full backs who may not be as composed on the ball as say midfielders

[@jemskhadgi9125]

@@Zahrul3y

[@Ygaming21.]

More game iq no waste movements

[@1237barca]

Good referees do the same thing, the Messi thing: you are either walking or sprinting.

[@randomone4832]

This is true. Professionals have more time on the ball because other pros know lunging in is a losing strategy. The opposite is true in amateur. You have zero seconds before some idiot rushes you, and you have no passing lanes because your team mates are garbage at positioning. If you watch less skilled leagues (like MLS), you’ll notice a lot more tackling and pressuring and forward movement due to less technical ability and creativity-making the game appear faster.

[@DjDolHaus86]

Not so much about wasting movement but more about retaining strategic shape and not making mistakes that lead to giving the ball away in a compromising position.

[@Ygaming21.]

@@DjDolHaus86 wasting movement=what you said will happen

[@DjDolHaus86]

@@Ygaming21. It's a weird way of describing it. Wasting movement would imply an unnecessary expenditure of energy, this is more about compromising positional structure

[@toastehisback]

seeing some of the PL body cam footage from some teams too really puts it into perspective on how high tempo the gameplay is on their perspective compared to TV camera. The moment they take a touch there is someone right in front of them and they almost have 0 space to work with but the TV cam makes it look like they have so much space and time.

[@Incipidone]

Yep, check out that Youri Tielemans bodycam footage. Insane pressing

[@Kazeys]

Where can I find these body cam videos? I seen the tielemans one already but want to watch more

[@foottwinita4091]

Hi Matt not a comment related to this video, just want to say that I follow you since the Germany days and I swear you completely changed my life. I wanted to get better at soccer but didn’t know how, and you made me company in tough times and good ones. I’m Italian and never been to USA but I hope to meet you one day and say that to your face. Thank you for everything!

[@BecomeElite]

This made my day, man. Really appreciate all the kind words. I’m so happy that my videos can have a positive impact on your life, man!

[@Choccytube]

Premier League football is more like chess now, teams study each others weaknesses and try to set traps to get the ball back. This is what a lot of fans do not understand about players like Kai Havertz, his positional awareness during presses is immense. He looks slow and lazy, but he is using his energy when it's most important.

[@altskeptic]

You had me until Kai Havertz

[@emmanuelnwogbo5586]

Arsenal fans still trying to justify that 65 million for havertz lmao

[@harshalgawai746]

Premier League Football is far from Chess. England only play high intensity football, pressing throughout 90 min. Compared to Italy and La Liga its intense but lack tactics. Pep plays tactics but are based on positions, possession and attack. Whereas Italy play defensive football and Tactics are of Immense importance. Bundesliga is attack based. La liga is bit balance and have lot of tactics that goes into playing even for mid table and small teams.

[@scheimong]

Reminds me of chess. At an amateur level (or even a lower professional level) players who play wild and crazy usually score pretty well, because it's more difficult to defend than to attack and the price of screwing up is way higher. Once you get into GM territory though, subtleties like weak squares, pawn structure, and minor piece imbalance become much more important. So GM games can often look boring (e.g. WCC 2018 - Magnus and Fabiano drew 12/12 classical games). But this does not mean they are incapable of executing a ferocious attack; they will absolutely calculate 20 moves and crush you with crazy tactics when the situation calls for it.

[@patrickyeah4101]

Fr, it's a kind of mutual respect

[@maxkho00]

You only have to look at these pros' blitz games to see that these top GMs (all GMs, really) are incredible attackers: even positional players like Hikaru and Aman routinely pull off awe-inspiring attacks consisting of one sacrifice after another. And you only have to look at Alireza's performance in the Candidates to see what happens when a player ─ even an incredibly good one ─ tries to force an attack when the position doesn't call for it.

[@AIIXIII0]

Exactly why I love football. There's tons of 1v1 but most of it are just mind games.

[@dixidum2380]

@@AIIXIII0 yeah. Unlike my idolo that just only doing useless tricks on the fields

[@codenamerishi]

The easier a player looks a game play, the better he is.

[@beatthebooker3381]

Although quite a few things were mentioned about defending, another major difference is the "off the ball" ability of the attacking team. In amateur level the "Off the ball" running and positioning of the attacking team is shocking. Players are very stationary or moving chaotically. At a professional level, each player know where his teammate is or in which open space he is going to move with without the need of scanning the field.

[@scottrobinson4611]

It looks slow on TV, but if you watch a game in-person, particularly if you're at the front, up close and at pitch-level, the game looks lightning fast. It's really hard to get a sense for the true scale of distance and speed when watching on a TV. Seeing players up close, how quickly they can accelerate and decelerate. How unbelievable hard, fast and far they can kick the ball, with laser precision too. It just doesn't translate well to the high fixed camera angles we get on TV.

[@rachitdang7453]

Apart from cameras making the game slow, slowing the pace down has become a vital tactic to bait the opponent's press. Once executed successfully, reaching the final third becomes easier. Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton are a prime example of this.

[@garthpenglase1613]

Yes, Brighton's a better example of using speed of play to your advantage, than Spurs or Liverpool. Klopp plays "heavy-metal" football which is all about a relentless pressure and pace. Mourinho's Chelsea which won the league and a Champions League did so specifically by playing the opposite: sit back and capitalise on errors and space with blistering counter-attack moves, and park the bus in front of the goal. Barca lost to a much lesser Chelsea with Messi hitting the woodwork 3 or 4 times and putting more than 20 dangerous shots on goal (amazing goal-keeping of Petr Cech is what won them the day). In fact that's how Real Madrid won the previous Champions League. They were beaten in normal play but they created errors and then scored from them and then pushed the advantage in attacking play only once that had occurred. They weren't actually the best team - in fact in 4 critical games they were down and out as long as the other team played smart and defended their lead, but they used over-confidence of the other teams against them and turned the tables.

[@eamano8474]

I don't get this video at all. The only time the game looks slower is when they pass it around the back not under much pressure. In general play and the quick passing and movement makes it look much quicker at the top level than amateur level. And the players closing down do so at a much quicker pace. Yes the game isn't as direct but the speed of play definitely is

[@M4tti87]

Watching Thomas Müller closing spaces and organizing the first line of defense the last decade for Bayern or Germany is really really fun to check out. He knows exactly what he is doing and when he or a teammate has the ball in the offense he is also using that knowlege against the defending team with his space interpretation and runs. Its amazing what he does even without having the ball. He is activily disorganizing the opposites team defense or is destroying the build up for 90 minutes straight which keeps the other team on edge the whole time. Really smart player. Also he is constantly yelling to his mates were tu run and when to run. He is like a spider with 8 eyes

[@garthpenglase1613]

Muller is the least enjoyable player to watch in pro football. There are lucky players and there are unlucky players. Both he and Miroslav Klose were incredibly lucky in terms of the quality of the teams they were fortunate to be a part of and situations they found themselves in, particularly at World Cups. But you can't deny that Muller has the skill to be at this level, and his ability and capacity to organise, his match vision, and his insatiable desire to get the ball in the back of the net in top class. He has a winner's mentality and that's carried him through even though he doesn't have much else that is worth watching.

[@mamagician8963]

​@garthpenglase1613 Muller is still extremely technically talented, he is just so smart that he doesn't need to use it most of the time. Of course it's maybe less enjoyable for some to watch him but there is a reason he is one of the top scorers and assisters in europe in the past years

[@mamagician8963]

​@@garthpenglase1613And I would definitely not call him lucky. He provided so much for his team.

[@rjari8578]

There is always a high contrast of difference when you watch it on tv and watching it live on the pitch

[@rq7284]

You missed a big one, the fields are also bigger and higher quality at the top level vs semi pro and amateur. The bigger the field, the more space. The better the pitch the less poor touches, and the more scans that can be done. Playing at the professional level is usually easier in games to some degree than the semi pro level if you are in a country/area that there is a discrepancy in field size/quality. But the training sessions at pro teams are much harder.

[@jinkuhu]

The pitch size can be a factor here but definitely not a significant one.

[@Ninty18]

The quality of the pitch plays into what he's saying about playing under pressure. At super-amateur level the terrible pitches add to the higher chance of a turn-over as the ball bobbles along and the receiver miss-controls and/or panics. Hence why everyone at Sunday League level madly sprints at the player receiving the ball as there's a high chance the player will panic and turn it over, and if they don't, there's a high chance the pitch will do that for you. At pro level not only is everyone far far better at playing under pressure, but the surface is not a factor too.

[@rq7284]

@@jinkuhu the size of the field is extremely significant. We aren't talking a small difference in size, we are talking like fields that don't meet Fifa standards in size in some places, one league below pro. And/or very bobbly pitches. At pro level trainings they usually train in tight spaces which is what makes it so hard. And then in the game they go to a big ass beautiful field. But if you ever see pros then play on a field that is very bad, you automatically see the change in performance in general.

[@jinkuhu]

@@rq7284 The point is that even amateur matches are also played at pitches whose sizes are similar to pro ones, at least in the Netherlands, Germany, etc.

[@rq7284]

@@jinkuhu In Eastern Europe, South America, Africa it's not like that at all

[@soccerwizard975]

The threat that any player can increase the speed to 11 at any point with skills to back it up really means that strategy is more required

[@DjDolHaus86]

In the amateur game, more effort often equals more reward. In the professional game it's all about making the fewest mistakes

[@fonevoda]

I've always noticed that highest caliper pro players don't display there quality in games. its simple, as you mention. But when they are warming up, and there pinging laced passes across the field, and doing amazing touches to bring the ball down or fooling around with the ball during warmup.. its just so impressive and really makes you realize there quality. i guess what i'm saying is.. you don't really realize how good these guys are technically untill you see them just f'ing around.

[@Monaleenian]

You mean that they don’t display the very outer limits of their technical ability during games. That’s correct. For the most part, while playing matches, they perform basic skills that are well within with limits of their technical ability. It’s exceedingly rare that they find themselves in a situation where performing some extravagant skill is the correct decision in that situation.

[@sowaveysuyat]

@@Monaleenian i must add, to perform the basic skills requires exceptional level of technique.. thats why those players make it to those levels. the level of technique is what makes the game look "simple" because they are executing small things properly (with both feet) - there is no player at the highest level that can't execute the required technical abilities with both feet.. they may have a stronger foot but both feet must have a high level of technical standard

[@Michael-cb5nm]

Caliber not caliper…

[@fonevoda]

@@Michael-cb5nmyou are the best. Thank you so much.

[@thewize]

They're also playing a role that doesn't demand the while repertoire - striker isn't going to play many cross field balls. Agree the best technique makes the basics look easy

[@andyw9255]

Another factor is the view you get as a spectator makes all the decisions look much more straightforward. The “obvious” passes a top player consistently picks out would look much less obvious a lot of the time if you were at his eye level. So you don’t fully appreciate how quickly they have made the sensible decision - the one that actually makes the game look less manic and chaotic.

[@grahamalvarez5247]

Hey Matt, thanks for this video. (Been following since your Germany days) I recently just moved to Germany and have trialed with various levels of teams. Seeing Bizirksliga(7th) teams or Landesliga(6th) teams just running to create chaos in training or matches is not what I’m used to. But when I watch Bayernliga(5th) or above I can see the difference and how its thought out it. This helped remind me that this is an amateur “problem” as I’ve been finding it a lot recently with the teams around me.

[@ChristophWalks]

Great video man. Definitely helps in understanding. I went to a Bayern-Real exhibition game, and I was amazed at how clean their touches were. Every pass was just machine-like, and the players were perfectly lined up. It was amazing to watch.

[@MasonDavis]

I watched an amateur team against a professional reserves team last night in the US Open Cup and the difference in simplicity (second point) is astounding. The reserves were happy to stay patient and wait for gaps and the amateurs were desperate to get in behind early. Additionally, the difference in the first touch was obvious. Great video!

[@sulecuber]

Camera is the main reason. Even watching the low level of professional playing in the pitch is so much different than on the screen.

[@adonate43]

I wish I could send this to my Sunday league captain. I play CDM and he ALWAYS screams at me go "pressure" or to run to whoever has the ball, but I play a positional role and try to cover space, ofcourse when the ball is towards the 3/4s of the pitch and closer to the center, I step-up but never directly sprint to the player with the ball. I just give the sence of presence to make them think quick. It's uplifting to see this analysis and comforting to me that I'm not in the wrong to play the way I play.

[@cCBeatZ-i5x]

If you play Sunday league U prolly should press BC they won't know how to deal with it

[@hnry166]

True its all mindgames, field intelligence and taking better decisions in high pressure predicting the next move and opponents, breaking the pressure and waiting for a mistake for the opponents to make and make the best out of that opportunity. Thats how world class sports is and it's beautiful to watch if you really understand it all.

[@edl4374]

This is to common in the amateur level. Even some colleges and upsl don’t understand this concept. They mindlessly press. That why sometimes you see teams with very little physical presence make athletic teams look like children. I feel this is more prevalent in America rather then central and South America who try and be more resourceful.

[@shantiescovedo4361]

As Matt says, they mindlessly press at the college level because it wins them games. I think many youth games are more fun to watch than college games because of that. The coach can win with crap soccer, but good youth coaches focus on development of good decision making instead.

[@cooperhayes1194]

@my college lol

[@PEACENOWARRR]

Happy to see the first American with a good understanding. Great video. Props from Europe 🎉

[@cornevanzyl5880]

The same happens in squash. Pro players can move very fast but their ability to anticipate and control the ball makes them move very efficiently

[@shireoakbuildings]

ps. it would help if the ball was pumped up to the lowest level of the range allowed. 0.6 to 1.1 bars. this would slow the game down and take some of the bobbling effect out of the pitch. also grow the grass a little bit longer, this would also help nullify the poor state of the pitch.

[@milans2477]

The chaos of gameplay is present even in lower level pro games. Go watch a League 2 game in the UK live, close to the pitch. I can bet you will never watch a game played at a faster pace than this. They have all the physicality of a pro player but the press is still rewarded because decision making and team coordination aren’t quite at the level needed to outplay that press. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing when I went to watch it. But yes, as others have mentioned, camera angles are a big factor too

[@whatsthemattereu8139]

Ye like when you think how good those guys must be. They're professionals in the most popular sport in the world. It's probable that they're the equivalent of like a high end rugby player but because of competition, settle for minor league obscurity

[@Reimalken]

One reason not named is because in a sense it is easier. A top quality passer will land the ball at your feet in a way which is easy to control, freeing you from having to use valuable time bringing the ball under control and cutting down the pressing window. I'm such a scenario it emphatically IS easier to pick the next pass as opposed to having to do the same thing off of the back of a bad pass.

[@AIIXIII0]

Absolutely no one cared about passing. I remember doing the rondo and most of my team just sighing & said its boring. Guess what? Their passes are shit.

[@Quitobito]

Well, they're accurate for sure, but they also hit it damn hard most of the time so I'm not convinced it's that much easier to control.

[@teclynblur4263]

Amateur football in Africa is like another sport!

[@zebra7578]

Just physical gidigbo football 😂

[@michaelcho2095]

😂😂the one that makes you laugh

[@Tikoniapparels]

Very explosive and the the most physically fit team, one that presses and runs most wins the league

[@ogbejieleosahoncyprian662]

​@@zebra7578 better gidigbo. Before u control like this, two players are behind you 😂😂

[@Yung_jok]

Real

[@ChrisGeisel5000]

Love this video! More people need to talk about how disruptive soccer falls apart at higher levels and is a disservice to youth players who need to develop.

[@Collin275]

This explains why playing pickup (or beer league soccer) can be so frustrating - I play with many very talented athletes who love to sprint at the ball and out-athlete the opponent, but it often doesn‘t result in overall success. While I was never good enough to play pro, I did play D1 collegiately for a spell, and thanks in part to me being smarter than I am athletic, I feel like I learned how to work the space/pressure better than those who relied on ball handling and lone-wolfing.

[@evertonfrancis640]

Also in the past defenders would like to pass the ball on quickly as there would be a risk of a crunching tackle or shoulder barge eg 1960s, the referees now are much better at protecting the players from injury now which is a good thing

[@brianramirez4953]

But more than that, there is a yellow card now. No yellow card back then. That's why Pele is the GOAT and will always be.

[@_LifeIsGood]

Do you have any idea how relevant and relatable but under-discussed this phenomenon is? This is a GOD-tier topic for a video. You actually struck gold. All props to you, sir.

[@ryanevans2655]

This is the case in basketball too. As you move from watching older and older kids play, the game gets faster. Until you get to the NBA, where they can be unbelievably fast in short bursts, but any given play feels a bit slower.

[@itaintobeezy]

The game still is slower at the top level than lower levels because if you really recklessly press and commit, players will just pass the ball around u in 2 seconds

[@csm8245]

Sounds like in Basketball with long distance shots but in reverse. At a lower level, you quickly learn which player you have to defend at the 3 point line and when you can go for the rebound. In the top leagues, most players today will hit the 3 point shot undefended so the defender has to rush in every time.

[@emilstorgaard9642]

In soccer/football, the same applies. At the lower level, there might be 1-2 players on each team who can play well but at the pro level, everyone is good on the ball so you have to be aware of the entire opposing team

[@venix_2306]

the reason why it looks slower for us is they attack when its necessary and they know how to use their stamina within a flowing game

[@wolves10morales]

First time I went to watch an NFL game live I was blown away at how fast the quarterbacks actually throw the ball. Watching it on tv doesn’t do it justice

[@derektaylor7613]

Watching any sport on TV compared to in real life takes away how athletic the players actually are.

[@Aiiliceno]

It’s not just sports, almost every competitive multiplayer video game always ends in long games or stalemates once it gets to the pro level.

[@allancate7733]

I like that you articulated a serious point about the change of defense in amateur vs professional matches and you did it in the first couple minutes

[@oSoKxM4rIN3x]

This videos are really good Matt!! I recently picked up on what you said about watching a match focusing on a player and pausing before they make a decision so i can guess if they do what I would do. Bringing that to the field has helped me as a 6 a lot to better my game and even my teammates have noticed I have changed how I play.

[@Dreykopff]

That's a really nice explanation. I have noticed a similar thing happens in competitive video games. Overly aggressive play can intimidate/beat bad players well if done without technical mistakes, but face someone who knows what they're doing instead and you'll get farmed.

[@matiasfaureperu]

Really appreciate the clicking sound you added for each touch. I wish I could turn it on for every game

[@carloscontreras3633]

I didn’t catch it.

[@rautenbruder1426]

Thanks for the video. I've often asked myself this question. I only play football as a hobby with a few students from university and you just don't have time to react. Pressing simply unsettles a lot of people, especially me as I still have a lot of problems because I need to get better at football as I haven't played for a long time and my self-confidence is at rock bottom

[@DerekHarding]

It doesn’t look easy to me but the first reason so much fits my experience. In playing old man soccer if I run at someone it’s at least 50/50 that either I’ll win the ball or they’ll make a bad pass and give it away while any decent player would just run circles around me.

[@timmyfung01]

I always watch fights on tv, just as football, the fights look slow on tv. but then I got a front seat ticket for a local semi pro fight, watching it up close, the speed of fighters, the intensity and sounds of impact, everything is much different than tv. I can't imagine how a top class pro will move when you are next to them.

[@juliahenriques210]

As a defender, even 25 years ago sprinting at people would get you nowhere. Even at friendly neighbourhood games, people would just laugh at you and shout "ole" when you found nothing but air. You blocked the shot and covered one pass line or vice-versa, and relied on your team to cover the rest. And you always left a place for the attacker to go: wherever you wanted them to be. Rinse, repeat. If I had to give any advice for defenders, it would be this. The better you are, the more you force an error. The better they are, the more they act before your pressure mounts. A good attacker always has an edge over a good defender, but a good defensive system always has an edge over a good attacking system: to succeed, offence has to be closer to perfection than you. However... Nothing can stop a perfect offence. Your job as a defender is to force them to be less than perfect. If only, say, 10% of attacks from a strong offence got through to your keeper, you did your job.

[@artyomarty391]

kinda reminds me of my work as a technician. The more experienced you become, the less movements you do

[@NoCluYT]

Cruyff said it himself, "playing football is simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is." That's what separates the flashy freestylers of KZbin from the professionals.

[@sirpatrickbikes]

Passing quickly is all very well but as a fan, it's a hell of a lot more exciting to see dribbling. That's why a players like Gazza and Best will be eternally loved.

[@weksauce]

This is true in basketball and chess, too!

[@blackexcellence267___]

position based technical marking is my favorite kind which the pros use because i feel like it also helps players to reserve sufficient energy and use it to maintain high intensity playing levels.

[@bobm2368]

Massive improvements in pitch quality at the highest levels have also played a part in enabling this change in the style of play. Even the pros struggled on the typical 1970s mud bath.

[@a.demifemiflapo5795]

If the 1970s pro played in the pitches of today, we'll see many Iniestas lol

[@clarkeonenil3252]

That all makes sense, and I would add the fact that what can look slow to the observer might not really be slow at all. If everyone on the pitch is moving at high speed, then high speed is average speed and can therefore look .... average. Take one of the pros off the pitch and replace him with an amateur and he'll stick out like a sore thumb.

[@childrenofshanghai9894]

My son who plays striker in his club since he is 6 (now 9) has been doing tough pressing for years, he has now great endurance and stamina (just won his school marathon) and now that he is playing stronger / more skilled teams, he is always finishing strong as the defenders get tired at the end of games but not him... So I am happy he has been going through this permanent pressing even though as he grows older and play better teams, he will have to change his pressing habit and save more energy (or at least not waste it).

[@may.b.tomorrow]

Observing games directly from the stadium offers a completely different experience, players' speed looks waaay faster than on TV. I was amazed how fast they are and make decisions in milliseconds.

[@jamescyriac1771]

Ive wondered this for a long time even though i know average people like us cant fathom how technically able these pros are...great vid

[@shishkilover]

This gave me the biggest epiphany 😂 I’ve always been the mindless preassurer

[@Dad-yd1zi]

Thanks for making clear the first 1:13 was very informative

[@mahfuzali643]

BEAUTIFULLY analysed. Well done. Can not give you enough props

[@JaySmurkzTV]

Most have no idea how real this is… glad you spoke on it, a very very good player once told me even English divison 2 would expose anyone under this illusion, the top levels make it look too easy. It’s a bit like boxing too. Most of us would realise how difficult it is even in a top professional game.

[@elijahcube7063]

This is why I’m scouting reports you’re told not to apply pressure to certain players when they are receiving in space or why you’re told to stay tight to a player before they receive etc, it’s because those players have showed repeatedly how they respond and it shows there’s no point

[@OblongDuke]

The number one reason is that people watching on TV vastly overestimate their own skill and don't admit that they would be out of breath after 5 minutes of play.

[@j.a.hernandez9742]

This is true, but even if you had the cardio to just mindlessly sprint at the oposisition for 90 mins, especially as an attacker on a high press, you would just be hurting your own team by jumping out of position and leaving space behind you for the opposing players to fill up, which only leads to the opposing team getting further in on the pitch.

[@jmax8095]

Yeah and people see a heavy touch and think its bad but in reality it comes down to being near perfect at the top level, you watch the same pro at training and they can practically do any skill consistently

[@OblongDuke]

@@j.a.hernandez9742 For sure, I agree. My point was more along the lines that the game may look slow, but it's actually moving 5x faster than 99% of people watching have ever played.

[@travispoker]

wow, so informative and valuable, thanks Matt

[@Rassalcon]

There's something I like to call ''back-seater's blind spot'', where something you are watching (especially on a screen) appears to happen more slowly than it does. The higher the level of play being shown, the stronger the effect. I noticed this watching Pro DOTA 2 (an esport). but since then have seen it with every fast-paced thing I've watched. My theory as to why this happens is because when you are relaxed and have a better view than those playing do it's just way easier to see what's going on and there's no pressure on you to not fuck up. Other ideas on this are welcome.

[@hamster797]

Well the most important reason why professionals look slow is the camera angle. Humans see speed because of relativity which means that anything will look faster if the background moves as fast ,but when u see something very big from a distance and the entire length of the pitch is covered in one frame ,the players move but the background remains pretty much the same .for example u see flights flying in the sky and appear very slow because of all white sky background even when they r at speeds way higher than cars or motor bikes which appear faster up close on the roads

[@danielsgrunge]

Playing without the ball is SO EXAUSTING, people have no idea You can't simply run towards it for no reason, that's what we call "correr errado" (running wrong) in Brazil

[@sherwinbangs]

TV camerawork also plays a huge role in altering our perception of the game. I saw a POV footage from a professional match the other day. That was nowhere near slow. That was actually insane. Regarding reaction times and alertness, that's some Formula 1 level stuff

[@whereeveritgoes]

Watched an amateur league match in our country which seemed sluggish on TV, but when I watched in person it's crazy how fast these guys are. This is a low level league from Southeast Asia. I can't even fathom how fast the Premier League matches are.

[@AfroGaz71]

As others have mentioned. The distance and angle of watching through a camera to screen is a far different experience to being closer to the pitch. Think of watching an F1 race. The distant shot makes the cars look like they aren't travelling that fast. Then it switches to the trackside or in car camera and it's a whole other beast. It's just perspective.

[@mandawseck545]

Bro this was a great video. I always tell my friends you don’t understand how good these guys are

[@cassimiroscheid7699]

It's also due to camera angle. The normal TV angle makes it seem slower that it is. If you go to a football game and sits near the field (similar to Old Trafford sits), you will feel the intensity. This happens in other sports too. In tennis, it doesn't seem too fast only if you search "court level wimbledon", "court lever Federer" or something similar. Other than live, this is the only way to feel the intensity, not the normal TV display.

[@kchoi10]

What a great job! Sometimes I feel like other outlets (*cough the Athletic) make all this football way more complicated than it needs to be. Well done explaining the speed of play.

[@Fri.day08]

Bro Love your content. It's informative, brilliantly presented. Keep going man. ❤

[@celebrim1]

From the perspective of very high-level play by Americans, this is exactly Brenden Aaronson's problem when he moved up from the tier 2-3 level of the Austrian Bundesliga up to the level of the EPL or the Bundesliga. He's a very persistent attacking player, and with his motor and wheels he could force even professional players and disrupt their play. But he got up to the EPL where players were just a bit faster and a bit more comfortable with pressure, and he found himself always just chasing the play. The way that he'd been playing since he was a kid no longer worked for him.

[@Kurt__]

Matt, thank you for your excellent insights. This has completely changed how I see the game.

[@phil23_8]

Great content. I've noticed this in other sports like mma as well

[@sibamalindi]

Birds eye view for tactical analysis Wide angle for intensity and speed analysis Close up for technical analysis.

[@niranjan6918]

Thank you ! hope you cover such topics where you clear misconceptions about the pro game, especially when it comes to game difficulty, really interesting

[@Mike-e1j8y]

Superb video. All young players should take careful note of this, your game will improve immeasurably.

[@johnathanhornesr]

First part of this explanation describes MLS so perfectly 😂

[@Adrian-wd4rn]

Terrible league, and the MLS fans will swear up and down that they can hang in the PL..lol, the BEST MLS team will be relegation fodder on their best season in the championship.

[@oSoKxM4rIN3x]

I always tought that they play slower watching from TV. I went to watch Barca vs Madrid in Vegas a few years back and they in fact do not play slow at all. The level of play they have is so high that they are just not making any mistakes. If a mistake was to be made, almost every player on the other team could anticipate it and take advantage. The entire team from defense to offense works as a unit all the time.

[@NO-ge6ci]

I've always wondered why it looks easier than amateur level when obviously it isn't, great explanation!

[@karlparratt1730]

The issue is, the higher the level you go, the more mistakes get punished. Any error you make is noticed by everyone. The simple things to do in football are the hardest. Professionals are the best at touch and play. There first touch is incredible, they have already looked befroe receiveing the ball and know where to play. Movement, vision, communication. You have to be an unbelievably talented footballer to become a professional. And thats even lower leagues. The standard is incredible. A lot of people dont appreciate it

[@klinktastic]

Great video, often something I've recognized and try to bring to my youth teams is patient defending but the reward for charging in is so high for these kids. Anyway, at the adult level, the bigger pro fields help because there is more space to exploit.

[@sibamalindi]

And the quality of the pitches too, quality and consistency of the balls and type of balls allow better conditions therefore enabling pros to play at a speed in which you have to defend better against them.

[@klinktastic]

@@sibamalindigreat points!

[@gadget00]

Amazing video; I have wondered the same for years now. Great observations

[@MrSuperOurs]

This applies to anything in life. Whenever you see someone or a group of people doing something effortlessly, simply, they have the highest level of mastery of that task. Playing tennis, football, boxing, sprinting, playing music, etc... It makes us think, ordinary people, "OH I could do that too, how hard can it be?". Well, to make something look so easy is the hardest thing of ALL.

[@Dead-Ball-Situation]

I not only agree with this but I have also explained this before to people before I even watched this video. Amateurs often grow up with bad habits and they can be very difficult to let go of unless you have a good, natural level of footballing IQ. I have always said that playing football at a higher level is much easier than playing at a low one because better players can keep a ball. Average players don't. You either end up running after their mistakes all the time or you just end up running more because they can't keep a ball. My first instinct when I get a ball is: Who is the next person available? Whether you are 5 yards or 50 yards away - I need to keep it moving. This is how pros think. It is of course, a lot easier to do on a flat pitch. However, you can still use the same principles even if the pitch isn't that great. I keep telling my lads, If you get it right at the lower levels, I am telling you, you will destroy teams at that level

[@michaelholloway8017]

Very interesting video, Matt, thank you! There are 2 other points: 1. The soccer courts in the 1. league are probably bigger (in average) than the courts in (very) low leagues, so there should be more space and time for the players in the first league. 2. I guess in the first league, teams are more likely to stop their pressing when they are in front 1-0. And teams in lower leagues often continue their pressing, although they are in front, because they do not think THAT much tactical as a pro team.

[@barrysimon1194]

Great explanation!

[@dddgtsd]

The respect thing is a good point, as much as teams will say they dont do it, they will definitely identify the least comfortable players and use them as triggers for the press. For example when players like Burn or Lascelles have the ball for my team, you can see the press being less about closing space and just running at them knowing they are more likely to get flustered. But when two top elite teams play each other, you're right, every player has the ability to make you look silly so they stand off each other a lot more and manage the press a bit more.