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Here’s an entry from The Sportskeeda English Dictionary:Park-the-bus: Phr V. figurative (in football (SOCCER)) 1. To deploy an entire unit in the defensive half usually in formation, with the intention of preventing the opposition from scoring goals 2.The tactic or act of deploying an entire unit in the defensive half usually in formation, with the intention of preventing the opposition from scoring goals. ♦ [+ -ing] Chelsea parked the bus effectively against Barcelona that night. can be confused with anti-football. Also refer: 8-1-1 formation, catenaccio old use.Now let’s delve into why - contrary to what you believe and are made to believe- parking the bus is not a cardinal sin:
#1 It is legal
Firstly, parking the bus is not a crime because – and this is going to absolutely blow your mind - it is not a crime.
Neither does ‘parking the bus’ infringe on any footballing rules, nor does it violate any code of law. It is merely a football tactic, and does not involve any violent or underhand methods (it isn’t supposed to, at least), therefore it would be technically incorrect to term it, literally or figuratively as a crime.
It is done keeping in mind the primary motive of playing football - winning, and while the team may not park the bus in order to win that particular game, it parks the bus to escape the clutches of relegation or revel in the triumph of silverware, both of which are winning, in the broader sense.
Difficult as it may be to penetrate a tightly-packed defence line, parking the bus complies with all 17 of FIFA’s Laws of the Game, including the Law regarding ‘Fouls and Misconduct’.
The only way parking the bus can be termed as a crime is if done without a bus-driving license, under the influence, or in a no-parking zone. And football stadiums have plenty of parking spots - including the field of play.
#2 Level playing field
One of life’s cruelties is the fact that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Alas, such is the case in football too. The lop-sided FFP regulations and invisible ceilings on expenditure make for a depravity-ridden life for the not-so-blessed football clubs.
‘Survival of the fittest’ has become ’Survival of the richest’ and clubs that lack the financial firepower are condemned to the lower echelons of football. They are discriminated in every sense and are caught between the Devil and the deep, blue sea. Their only respite is a boat that can help them stay afloat and by parking the bus, they may just be able to reach port.
A relatively small team may not be endowed with the best talent, but parking the bus provides them the chance – however infinitesimal - to match, and maybe even topple teams that can afford and possess the cream of the crop. Not only does parking the bus enable these deprived teams to compete on a level playing field with the heavyweights, but it also reduces the extent of this inequality of wealth, restoring purpose to their existence.
While not everybody can afford to drive around in a Ferrari, they certainly mustn't be stopped from parking a modest bus.
#3 The opposition has a better attack
When a team parks the bus, it can lead to one of two things. The first being the opposition resigning itself to their fate and giving up on breaking open an impregnable defence, and the second being pushing themselves to the very edge of its limits.
And when teams push themselves to their very limits, that makes for some scintillating attacking play. Or individual magic does the trick. A great example of the former would be the Champions League final between Manchester United and Barcelona in 2011, when United had only one attempt on target in the entire game, and were thoroughly outplayed by Barcelona even though they resorted ro defending for their lives to save the game.
Look at Argentina’s win against Iran at this year’s World Cup, it is a prime example of individual magic coming to a team’s rescue. Messi and co tried all game long to break the dour resistance of the Iranians, but all their brilliance and passing was to no avail. What ultimately did it for them, was a piece of exquisite individual skill from Lionel Messi.
How can bringing the best out of opponents and providing quality football be considered a crime?
#4 Your defense is your strength
As the name suggests, parking the bus produces football at its defensive best. Every modern tactic is put away and pure, unadulterated and uncompromising defence is on display. For a team defensively-heavy, this is often the only way to play.
For instance, the Italy side that went on to win the 2006 World Cup, while short of attacking prowess, had no dearth of defensive strength. With stocky centre backs and a ubiquitous sweeper, Italy played to their strength - defensive strength. They were in no way wrong in adopting these tactics, for they knew no other way to play.
For the defence lover, there is no better way for the game to be played than Catenaccio. Even though parking the bus is only an imitation of Catenaccio football, it is the same in its essence- ‘Defend first, attack second’. And if flamboyant and reckless attacking football is not looked down upon, why should pragmatic and safe defensive football be detested?
If parking the bus encourages defense in its purest form, then shouldn’t it too be encouraged rather than discouraged?
#5 End-result
When everything is at stake and winning is all that matters, how do the means matter? Parking the bus or driving it across to the other end of the pitch, what does any of it matter, as long as the end result is achieved? After all, there’s more than one way to skin a cat, and if the most feasible way to do so involves plonking nine defenders in front of goal, why abstain from doing it? If parking the bus is the sole means, then you make sure you use them to achieve your goal.
Therefore, it would be best to sum up parking the bus by amending Jim Gordon’s words from The Dark Knight Rises, ”There’s a point, far out there when the structures fail you, and the rules aren’t weapons anymore, they’re shackles letting the other team get away, and when you face such a moment of crisis, you plunge your hands in filth and park the bus.”
