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There is something of a debate within the world of football (soccer) as to the importance of stylish, attractive football in comparison to good results. Which is the most important to fans, chairman, coaching staff and clubs as a whole?

Of course, results are very important to any club. Do fans wish to see their team lose? No of course not. Equally, however, do they wish to see their team play good football? This question is a little harder to answer.

The football purists advocate the importance of exciting, attacking football. They wish to see teams pass the ball, to move forward and seek to score more goals. They advocate that the team that scores the most goals will win. Which is perfectly true. Also however, the team that concedes the least goals will also win. Which is also perfectly true.

Newcastle Utd adopted an attacking approach and almost won the Premier league in 1996. This brand of attacking football won the admiration of the Newcastle fans and neutrals also. It did not however win the trophy, as they weren't so good at defending.

The Dutch teams of the 1970s played Total Football, the purist's perfect approach to game. Twice, they reached the World Cup final only to lose to West Germany and Argentina. Why is this? They did not keep any clean sheets in the final. They are said to be the best team never to have won the trophy.

A more defensive approach to the game has been used by the likes of Greece. Playing five across the back at the last European Championship they kept clean sheet after clean sheet in the knockout stages and ended up winning the tournament by a single goal. It may have been boring for the neutral, but it won a tournament for a less gifted team than Holland in the 1970s. And the Greeks seemed happy enough too!

Chelsea (2004-2007) and Arsenal (1988-1996) at one time or another have gone for a defensive approach with long-ball. They usually scored a goal or two and then contained the opposition. Like Greece, they used it and won trophies.

Some fans might only care about their team winning. However, most would prefer to see both like the way Brazil won the 1970 World Cup, with a 4-1 win against Italy. That would be a dream for any fan. Not every team can do that however. To the majority of fans outside of the Premier League, they undoubtedly want to see their team win more. Trophies are the dream, results are the reality.

Not every club has the resources to play Total Football. Most clubs have to make do with players of lesser ability and build them into an effective team that will win Football matches.

The importance of results in relation to club finances these days makes it more important that the team wins enough matches, at the very least, to stay in their respective league. Failure to do so can cost the club a great deal financially.

Newcastle Utd were very disappointed by their 1996 team missing the Premiership title by five points. The biggest regret of Dutch football is that they have not won a World Cup. I am sure they would have been happier with a few more clean sheets, and a few less goals, if they had the trophies on the sideboard.

Results bring success and generate revenue; the style of football played is a secondary matter. Ideally, yes, the team should play stylish football. But the reality of modern football and the professional game has ensured that results are more important to football clubs.

Learn more about this author, Matthew Adams.
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