For Miami Dolphins fans who watch elite football (soccer) each week, you may be looking on with envy. The most dominant clubs in the world operate with a mix of precision and long-term thinking that the Dolphins could learn from.
The Miami Dolphins continuously frustrate fans and bettors alike. Just when the team looks to be gaining some consistency and direction, everything seems to fall apart. It makes sense for the organization to look at elite soccer clubs that have an elite mindset.
This consistency can help bettors as well. For anyone who loves a football bet, you’ll know just how reliable the best Champions League clubs can be. Here you’ll see what the Dolphins can learn from these teams to turn frustration into success.
Betting on Tactical Flexibility
If you bet on sports, you’ll notice some trends. Even when the best soccer teams are drawing at half-time or are losing early, their odds don’t change drastically. That’s because they have the tactical flexibility and elite mindset that ensures the win usually comes.
Teams such as Manchester City or Real Madrid can shift seamlessly mid-game to counter opponent tactics and spot weaknesses. Even when the odds aren’t in their favor, they often find a way to produce a remarkable comeback.
An elite coach such as Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola is known for his philosophy of smart positional play and possession. Even with these core principles, he is also known for evolving his tactics over time and showing adaptability in structure, players and roles.
This was shown when he signed star striker Erling Haaland. Guardiola hadn’t utilized such a dominant and physical striker before. He adapted the playing style of his team to play to the strengths of Haaland, to devastating results.
At times, McDaniel has shown poor in-game management and decision-making. If you were to put a bet on the Dolphins winning, you can feel your best is lost as soon as the team goes down. The Dolphins need to learn that success comes from adaptability.
That doesn’t mean abandoning your core principles; it means being flexible. In the last few years, the Dolphins have struggled badly against any .500+ teams. That’s partly down to the best NFL teams also having that tactical flexibility.
Developing a Clear Identity
The most successful soccer teams have an identity that runs throughout their history. Any new coach is often expected to follow in the footsteps of this identity. It allows for a level of clarity that often makes them a sure bet when it comes to winning matches. Some examples include:
Manchester United – Even before the Sir Alex Ferguson era, the club was known for fast and direct attacking with exciting wing play.
Juventus – A compact defensive structure and midfield control to dictate the tempo of the game.
Barcelona – Here you have the famous “tiki-taka” football that focuses on short passing on possession dominance.
Real Madrid – This Spanish club has often been feared for both their lightning transitions and individual brilliance.
Brazil – The much-loved “jogo bonito” style of fluid creativity and flair.
Having these styles has helped to give clarity and identity. The times when these clubs have gone away from these principles are the times when they have struggled. NFL teams such as the Dolphins usually change philosophy with any new coach they have.
This can mean that when it comes to hiring a new head coach, there are often players and other coaches who don’t fit in with their system. A stable philosophy can reduce the wild swings in performance that can often come with inconsistency.
A good idea for the Dolphins may be defining exactly what Miami football should be. When the time comes for Mike McDaniel to leave his position, the team may be faced once again with having to adapt to a completely new philosophy.
Trying to Create Development Pipelines
One of the big advantages elite soccer teams have is being able to buy young players or develop them from the local area. Having a strong academy can be a strong indicator of future success and can make them a sure bet for the future.
While NFL teams may not have academies, it sometimes feels like young players aren’t seen as projects. Late-round picks can be treated as roster fillers. A different approach would be to see them as developmental assets that can grow within the system.
This could be helped by hiring more specialist coaches and creating a long-term plan for every roster tier. This links in with the identity above. A player can be developed into a specific role and not one that changes if there is a different head coach.
The Dolphins’ great rivals, the Patriots, have been frustratingly good at that. Especially in the Belichick era, it seemed like any player called up instantly knew their role and how to execute it. Even without the benefit of soccer academies, the Dolphins can learn from how they can emulate the continued the success of an elite team.
The Dolphins need to think bigger and better. Looking outside the NFL bubble and thinking globally can not only come with long-term stability but also greater financial power and being a more dominant force in the game.
