in fact not many coaches -- ever get that amount of time.
Sometimes a team starts in a certain system, like FC Dallas in a 4-4-2 this season. After looking at the players available to him, Colin Clarke changed to a 4-3-3. It was a better fit. In general I agree with this approach, but there is a catch.
Once you have made the switch you now need to stick with it. When you change within the season or from one season to the next, implicitly you have told your players the following: I have analyzed the situation and this is the optimum solution based upon my assessment. If you change again and again, the team will find you to be unsure and uncertain. Those are two elements by which you lose the respect of the team.
Dallas has changed this year, Columbus went to a 3-4-3 when Robert Warzycha took over and Chicago started briefly in a 4-4-2 but switched very early to a 3-5-2. They need to stick with this now and need to make it work.
In the case of the system you need to have a solid commitment to its success. If you develop a system to fit your talent, once you have chosen that system you now need to have a solid commitment. Belief in the way you want to play needs to be strong and unwavering no matter which path you choose.
The extreme example is that you can play a variety of systems providing your team understands and knows this in advance. A commitment to variability is also a commitment. Again you need to be firm and steadfast. The U.S. national team changes depending upon the opponent from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2. It works because Bruce Arena has stayed committed to this principle.
The system is important. Players that fit a system are also important in my view. Concepts are a key ingredient in determining style. But whatever path you choose you cannot succeed without being steadfast and committed to your principles. If you are not you will lose the team and will be in for a struggle.
However, at the end of the day remember players win games -- tactics are an aid to put them in position to win games. But, the best tactics in the world are rendered useless without quality players. Sometimes the worst game plan is rewarded due to superior talent and the ability of the players to make game-deciding plays.
Sigi Schmid is one of the winningest coaches in MLS history, having led the Los Angeles Galaxy to four honors in his five-plus years at the helm, including the 2002 MLS Cup championship. Send comments to Sigi at sigischmid@hotmail.com. Views and opinions expressed in this column views and opinions are the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
