The Overlap Tactics Blog
Ice baths, Broccoli and Relentless Sprints: How Massi is Trying to Turn Elmyia Around
Elmyia's run of form continues to stutter and the problems behind it remain familiar to those watching. Dischordant pressing, tiring at the end of games and a lack of a plan when ceded possession for periods of the game. Massi has struggled to tackle these problems in the immediate term with tactical tweaks, what is becoming increasingly clear is he believes there are deep seated issues that he now trying to tackle in order to overhaul the team.
Sources close to the camp report that a concern about players diet and habits have begun to pre-occupy Massi, far more than the setup of the team day to day or how he is asking particular players to play. This is an area that has been largely ignored in Elmyia football and its general discourse. In common with English football, players have historically been allowed a lot of leeway in terms of diet and lifestyle. Some players, in particular, have subsisted of incredibly rich diets, and have been happy to stay up late drinking, rather than recovering post matches. Rumours have swilled around that Phoebe Harris has remained out of the lineup largely due to her increasingly ruinous diet and drinking habits. It has been alleged that see has subsisted off a diet orientated largely around pork fat, butter and salt, frequently eating large portions of bacon, drinking large quantities of Red wine and ale and seen around the popular clubs around Esquilar after matchdays.
Most clubs in Elmyia have had no problem with this over recent years, so long as players turn up on matchdays. The one exception to this has been Massi at Scolastico, where players have looked sharper over recent years. Even then, he would allow players to drink and eat the occassional large meal, so long as it did not affect their overall levels of fitness. In years of international isolation, this has been fine. Games have been played at a languorous pace, with players jogging about casually and a near total lack of pressing. But, placed on an international stage, and Elmyia have struggled. Outmatched and outpaced, they have found themselves struggling to play their way into games. Massi has clearly taken this on board, and is reportedly instituting a culture change.
Reportdely, the initial shift did not go down well. "We were creatures of habit" Ernest Butler has admitted "I was used to eating very rich, heavy food and playing, so shifting to blander foods, particularly vegetables and fish, did not initially appeal." Some players are, apparently, still resisting the diet, abstaining from eating with the group, and largely eating pre-packaged high fat foods. Harris and Len Phillips have been rumoured to share kilo bags of pork scratchings in their rooms. The young players, however, have been particularly keen to emphasise the games, Benedetti putting his 3 goals in 2 games down to his increasing fitness. "I can push into the box more, I can make those runs that can hurt, I feel lighter on my feet".
Other changes have been piled on top, in particular Massi has started to employ a recovery coach. This has become increasingly crucial as he seems increasingly reticient to change his starting 11, or to share minutes about. A Physio with a specialism in sports massage has been employed, as has monitoring players condition. Particularly eye catchingly has been the use of ice baths, with players taking the plunge into near freezing water after intense training sessions. Physio Katrina Mathers has cited that it "reduces muscle soreness, helps us to prevent cramping and allows players to enjoy the rest of their day more as they feel less sore and can move more freely." The ice baths remain controversial with some, but the positives seem to be catching the doubters in the camp.
The largest change has also been the introduction of more sprinting and running drills. Massi has form in this area, the pre-season bleep test at Scolastico has become legendary. But, the focus seems to have shifted, with players expected to take part in 'death sprints', with more focus on bursts of explosive running, more akin to what might be used on the football pitch. Sofia Katsouranis has been cited as excelling at these, whilst others have been induced to vomit and collapse after particularly hard sessions.
One thing everyone at the camp seems clear on, is that the transformation is going to take some time. Recent performances attest to this, with a dispiriting drubbing at the hands of the Independent Atheletes from Quebec and a green shoots 2-0 win against Arjunnagar showing some uneven progress. The key, Massi has said, is that they need to learn to press intelligently. This, he seems to hope, will stop stronger opponents overruning them, and prevent weaker teams from simply going into their shell and leaving Elmyia's weakness with sustained possession to show. With a greater foundation of physical fitness, Elmyia might be able to do this, but it still requires these routines to be coached into them.
All of this will take time, but as many are now aware, Elmyia have nothing but time. Any slim chance of qualification for the main event are surely shot now, the 11 point deficit to make up is simply too great, and Elmyia have lacked anything approaching the required quality to produce such a spell of form. So, what are these games for? Clearly, providing a basis of performance for any future tournaments, and making a good case for invitation to the 84th Cup of Harmony. Any green shoots now would be very welcome.
Mithya Hashemi, Anomalies
Cixin Ngyuen, Chromatik
