Steven Poacher – Systems make for better matches

Kerry and Dublin played out a high scoring game, but the reason was not their forwards but their kickouts

In his column in this week’s Gaelic Life, Steven Poacher explains that even the best teams use a system.

He marvelled at how Kerry and Dublin played last weekend, but he had a message for those that thought because the game was high scoring, there was no defensive strategy in place.

“Kerry and Dublin played out a classic at the weekend. People eulogised all over social media about it.

“Some of the comments made me chuckle; things like ‘That’s the way football should be played’, and ‘proper football, none of these defensive systems’.

“In fact, anyone who thinks that Kerry and Dublin don’t have defensive systems in place are absolutely delusional and have no idea how the modern game has changed.

“It was also important to remember that you were watching two of the technically greatest teams of this current decade playing.

“There are a few reasons for higher scores in games. Rse-starts have become super quick therefore the ball is in play a lot more.

“Teams are retaining their restarts, which in turn creates more scoring chances.”

In the article he debates the difference between man-to-man system compared to a spatial or zonal style of defence.

Read the full column in the current issue of Gaelic Life. Click here to buy the online edition.