Political strategies, to remain in power and to extend the reign to much longer periods, also follows common strategies used in soccer to outsmart opponents and win matches. The Indian political landscape has much to learn from classic soccer strategies to out beat and outsmart a contentious fodder that our environment and the society constantly throws up. Current political space is being disrupted like never before by thinking aggressive captains, street smart leaders, carefully selected forwards, fighting fit midfielders and very talented and committed defenders. A soccer match has never been played continuously in the opponent’s space. A game is on between the adversaries. The champions’ team seems to be constantly challenging themselves with innovative positioning and collective brilliance, adding more states to their kitty, similar to superior goal averages. The opponents, on the contrary seem sluggish, slow moving, caught off guard and left looking for open spaces to pass the ball. The mavericks among them, though brilliant individually are left to play solo, without a unifying spirit. The opposition today needs a “Chak De” moment with a coach like Kabir Khan at the helm who can instil a spirit of oneness, a spirit of individual sacrifice, a spirit of ownership and a spirit of winning at all costs.
Common soccer strategies so succinctly enumerated by Anthony Grahame, in his book, “Soccer Game Strategies”, can have a huge effect, both upon defensive and attacking styles of play. A coach generally chooses a strategy with two thoughts in mind; the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the opposition and the known strengths of his own players. The proponents have a full-blown coaching team that uses technology to build their strategy and make calculated moves to not let go off the ball, constantly foraying into the opponent space with a unifying cliché like “all is fair in love and war”. Opponents, on the other hand are still looking for a coach, who can bind them as a fighting coherent unit to put up a decent challenge.
In the long-ball strategy, the most basic tactic in soccer, the ball is moved from defence to attack in the most direct manner possible, with long, lofted passes often bypassing the midfield altogether and is most effective when a team possesses a tall and physically strong forward or striker. This “target man” uses his height and strength to gather the long ball or direct the ball to a supporting player. Eradication of corruption is a long-ball goal that can hardly be faulted as a strategy. Its internal energy is infinite since it can sustain the entire period of the match play and go beyond the adage “all over, bar the shouting”. An opponent in disarray is caught off guard and left counting chicken for days and months later.
Day to day exigencies, playing on the weaknesses of the opponents individually and collectively, keeping them guessing and on tenterhooks all the time, is akin to possession strategy that is designed to give a team greater control of the game. A short passing system is used, often combined with a slow tempo, to deny the opposition possession of the ball. Possession soccer is a highly technical strategy, requiring skilful players and good team awareness on the field. The in-power leaders and spokespersons, carefully chosen for a man to man defence, innovatively tutored on all contemporary issues, are making the possession strategy extremely effective. Defending Swatch Bharat or a clean Ganga project requires astuteness and great political acumen.
The bohemians in the opposition, stung by the inability to get possession of the ball, leave their flock to mount a counterattack. In the absence of protection, they lose steam somewhere, harming the cause of the team more than anything else. In the meanwhile, the champions mount a counter attack that leaves the opponents gasping. Triple Talaq that appeals to the emotional quotient of 50% of a community, is a great counter attack. Counter attacking soccer can be very effective, particularly for teams with fast attacking players. A counter attack is launched as soon as an opposing attack is snuffed out, the defending team surging forward in an attempt to catch the opposition off guard. Mounting personal attacks are a harbinger of this truth, each passing day and probably will culminate with the final match.
Demonetisation and GST are two very well thought out red herrings played to perfection, like wing play. The opponents never knew what was coming from the wings. Wing play is a strategy that focuses upon playing the ball wide down both sides of the field since, a team in possession of quick and talented wingers or wide midfielders may wish to give these players more of the ball in order to maximize their effectiveness or a coach may spot a weakness in the opposing defence that could be exposed by attacks down the wings. Opposing parties coming together to win by-polls is an effective counter wing play. Innovative disruption probably could not have been ever better.
According to Jens Bangsbo and Birger PeitersenIt in “Offensive Soccer Tactics,” the overlap strategy is “used mainly in the opposition’s half of the pitch and is an effective weapon for creating depth and width in the attacking play” Other players provide an effective cover for the defender when he attacks. How many times have we seen the defenders seamlessly becoming attackers, getting into the opponent’s half to take them head on, on their own terms? Be it infra development, be it digital economy, be it Pakistan policy, be it China policy or ease of doing business, every chink in the armour has been exploited. The overlapping that the coaching team has perfected has indeed reaped dividends in the form of wins in several state legislatures. The coach’s foray into opponents’ turf to poach potential winners is like a war room tactic. The full backs have fully backed their strategy of taking the war into the enemy turf.
On a very emotive issue of a Ram Mandir or a price rise that affects the common man, an exemplary defence strategy of shutting down is being played to perfection. It is a high-pressure form of defence often applied to all parts of the field. When the opposing team has possession of the ball, the defending players will close them down immediately. This can unsettle the opposition, giving them little time to choose their passes. Roadshows on newly inaugurated expressways is ample proof.
Opponents meanwhile smarting under the power play of the champions, regroup and step up an offside trap attack, a le Karnataka hoping for a more opportune time to strike big. The defenders meanwhile step up in front of an opposing forward in a bid to try stranding the latter in an offside position. They failed to do so, speaks of the poor defence which failed to advance with the rest of the back line, thus losing a clear goal-scoring opportunity. The opponents then mounted an offensive from their offside catching the advancing forwards unawares and pushing them to their offside.
Can the opposition pull out a leaf from “Chak De” to unite under a dynamic captain with collectively running and supporting forwards, midfielders and half backs so that the country can watch a thriller of a soccer match in this soccer season? Yes. We also need a political referee for fair play like Pierluigi Collina, an all-time great football referee, so designated by FIFA. He will also need to use yellow and red cards fearlessly. A very important strategy for them However, would be to look to the team itself for answers on how to improve communication between players and morale. After all there is everything to play for and nothing to lose.