Defending the bus

We live in a time when people are obsessed with the way our beautiful game should be played. Some favour a possession-based game which has, a slower transition of play, several short and simple passes looking to weaken the concentration the opposition and then a killer pass is applied usually a slide rule pass or a through-ball over the head of the opposing players.
Others favour a high tempo, high pressing game with fast transitional plays with more intricate and expansive passing. This looks to weaken the bodies of the opposition by stretching them.
There is the counter attacking play, here the team concedes the possession of the ball to the opposition and defends deep but leaves it's quickest players in positions where they can frequently hurt on the break. The transitional play here is the quickest the ball is moved from back to front in as little time as possible.
Then there is 'parking the bus'.

I believe the best managers secure success by modifying tactics to meet those of the opposition and in the wake of the Liverpool manager, Brendan Rogers' comment that parking the bus is easy, i will attempt to defend parking the bus as a game plan.

Now parking the bus is as difficult a plan to execute as any  To successfully carry out this game plan, like the art of war you need the right personnel, discipline and method.

Personnel
Players have different qualities, and having the right blend of players is very important in parking the bus. A powerful striker that can hold of defenders on his own, hard working wingers/wing backs willing to run themselves to the ground, full backs comfortable tucking in to central defensive positions, central midfielders with great positional awareness, strong on the ball and in a tackle and strong, composed centre backs willing to put their bodies on the line when needed.

Discipline
If you have ever played football, you know what comes to mind first when you recieve the ball is to get as far away from your goal as possible, taking on every player that  dares to oppose you. Next will be to go for glory and wheel away in celebration, pumping of the fist in the air comes to mind although sliding on your knees is not a bad option except you are playing in Nigeria (i have scars).
Now it has been determined that attacking is a basic instinct in every player, intense trainings are required to supress it, as concentration levels need to be at peak conditions in this plan.

Method
Knowing where and when to press or stand off an opponent, when to hold the ball, interchange passes, where to head the ball. The timing of a tackle is also important, knowing when to stand up, go to ground or throw yourself at the ball. There is also the timing of the attack, knowing when to pounce.
With the three ingredients mentioned, you can successfully park the bus.
In parking the bus, the team concedes possession and the whole pitch except the area surrounding their goal which, they protect with their lives. They do not look to hit the opposition on the break as often as in the counter attacking game plan but bid their time waiting for one precise moment or two when the other team switches off to do so.

In parking the bus, you look to break your opponents resistance mentally and physically without attacking. I consider success in this like in any other game plan to be, supreme excellence.