[Position means movement/communication to Open passing lines in and out :

Getting good Angles : Open Body positions : Check & Scan : Good Pitch Position.

 

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1. Vertical Channels
2. Horizontal Lines
3. Key Zones
4. Diamond Matrix and key options
5. Why a 4-3-3 (in possession*) works on a diamond matrix : *4-3-3 is never 4-3-3 : It always changes.
6. Put all the above together.
7. 18 Zones
8. 20 Zones
9. Zone 14
 

This is all you / we need to know : More details will be added over time : This will be broken up and little videos will accompany each section.

 

And competitiveness starts with a desire to win the ball back.

You can't afford to be standing still an opportunity to win the ball occurs.

1. Press while the ball is moving between players,so the receiver is immediately under pressure.
2. There might need to be a number of presses (on 2 or 3 passes in a row) before the ball is forced over.....one press will never be enough.
3. Press when the ball is in the air
4. press a bad touch or a bad pass
5. Press hard when the options decrease
6. If you are close enough to have an effect on the receiver / person on the ball, put pressure on the ball.
7. When an effective press can involve 2 or 3 players then take it.

 

1. Can we win it back or at least put intense pressure on the ball for the first 3 seconds - this will allow all other players to get compact and behind the ball. Stop the counter . Slow them down. Force a square or backward pass. Continue to press hard until they get organside. Force  amistake.

2. Sit behind the ball and set up a midfield block with the intention of setting a trap on the 6.
3. If they break the press, get back behind the ball, slow the attack down, tactical fouls etc. Reset.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Make a defensive triangle  (CB CB 6): This defends :

• The vertical lines.
• The line to the goal and covers.
• The line to the wide space.

2. Also Adopt positions that maximise the chance that we win a clearance :

• 6 is tight in front (of the opposition CF) :
• CBs Anticipate balls over the top : Get the feet ready, drop fractionally early and Defend loose if the 6 is tight in front.

3. Goalkeeper ready to sweep

 

Note : If the opposition set up differently or do something different (don't just boot it clear) then the defensive set up will need to change .

 

1. Player who wins it - find a quick easy pass or find some space to run with the ball, while all other players get set up structurally (Big shapes / clever positioning and movement).
2. A quick counter can be very effective if the opposition are disorganised defensively - but don't force the counter attack and lose the ball.
3. If we keep possession then we move into the probe and switch phase.

 

General Info

• Pragmatic defending : Get the ball away from danger.
• If the keeper collects is slowing the game down a good idea.
• If the forwards get it can they hold it up. Can they keep the ball in the corners.
• If we can dominate possession without any risks?
• Can we hold a tight mid block. The #9 drops. Let the opposition #3 and #4 have the ball. Let them to pass to each other. Make it hard for them to play forward into the midfield. If they pump it long. Get lots of players around the drop down. Win the second ball.

 

 

General Info

In general ; we pass through the diamond matrix in the most effective way. Sometimes this may get us forward quickly and at other times we may need to play from wing to wing (switch the play). We always play away from congested space. If you stay in congested space for too long we will lose the ball.

 

This video highlights a few different styles of play and their effectiveness.

 

Video

 

 

In possession in general :
1. Relaxed but sharp and crisp (technically and footwork).
2. Find simple passes if obvious more aggressive options are not available. Don't force aggressive forward play - always look for the opportunity but let the moment find you.
3. Square passes in our own half in general : 100% rule applies -> [You are 100% sure the pass (even a bad pass) won't get intercepted].

 

 

1. Structure -> Open up the immediate diamond. L/R = FB/6 : The 8 space is more complicated.
2. Can the 8 get in between the lines : especially if the CB picks out a 2v1 in midfield.
3. Can the CB find a pass out.
4. Can the CB find a 2v1 in midfield.
5. Can the 9 offer some form of movement (3 main options - pick the right one)...or is not getting involved a better option?
6. Can the winger offer some form of movement (think through the winger positions)...or is not getting involved a better option?

 

 

And especially on the defensive line.

Whether it is an intercepted pass, or a bad touch, any mistake on a square ball is hard to defend.

The receiver should always get an angle if possible, so that opening up on the back foot touch whilst checking and scanning is technically easier to do. If Gerrard had have dropped a couple of meters (vs Chelsea - last clip in the video) Chelsea would not have scored.

This is why any pass on the defensive or 6 line need to be taken with care. Passes between the 3 and 4 or the FB and the 6 are classic risky passes.

 

1. 3 - 4 passes : 100% Rule applies : [You are 100% sure the pass (even a bad pass) won't get intercepted].
2. If the ball moves between 3 and 4 (via the GK, directly or some other way ) : the 6 moves counter to the ball, unless it is either not necessary or doesn't help open up the diamond.

 

 

Counter movement is the movement a player makes that is opposite to the direction the ball moves.

EG : If the 3 passes to the 4, then the 6 moves towards the 3 and away from the 4.

 

Always mindful of the Matrix.

A simple way to look at the matrix is simply to look at whether a diagonal pass is possible. If it is then you are playing on the matrix.

• If you can play forwards (more than backwards) on the matrix then you will move forward.
  • Good players always look for the more progressive pass. Receive on the back foot to play forward (but this doesn't mean vertically) whenever possible.
• Playing vertical passes is ok although more than 1 or 2 in row will attract pressure and so increase the risk of losing the ball. If you are playing vertical passes through the lines and in between the opposition's block,  then the 100% rule should be used.
• Square passes are more risky, so the 100% rule applies, especially in your own half.

 

 

 

 

1. Play away from congestion and to space.
2. Slow switch : Use as many players as possible in the switch, whilst still forcing the opposition to work the shuffle : great for possession to tire the opposition out.
3. Play to wingers feet Position #2 as a starting rule) whenever possible in the middle third, especially if we are probing and just moving the ball.
4. 3 or 4 passes in any one 'key space zone*' is enough, move the ball out after this. (*See the 18 zone system : We are talking about the zones that run across the pitch in the middle third).
5. Aggressive switch from winger to the other is very dangerous (less passes : less touches the better) ;Great for isolating weak FB.

 

 

1. Can be aggressive or slow (based on number of passes, speed of pass, number of touches)
2. A slow switch is an exercise in keeping possession (make the opposition work, make it hard for them to get the ball and demoralize them - win the mental battle).
3. A fast switch (less players, less touches, faster ball speed) is a deliberate attempt to create an overload against FB, on the opposite side of the pitch.
4. Congestion (3-5 passes in the same zone) will tell you to start moving the ball across the pitch.
5. When the ball comes out of a congested space (that is it comes back to the FB/6/CB) this is telling you that the forward space is congested (no good forward options) and that you need to switch the play.
6. A switch has an instigator, a facilitator and an outlet.

 

• When the ball pops out of congested space in wide areas.
  • Red 7 or Red  10 have the ball and pass to the 2, 3,6 or 9.
  • The object becomes get it to the 11 and overload around the oppositions full back (yellow 5)

 

 

1. If a CB breaks into the middle 1/3rd - attack an 8 and create a 2v1.

2. If a FB breaks into the middle 1/3rd - attack inside first, this will draw the FB in, and open up space for the winger.

3. If a M breaks a line and attacks the defensive line - attack a FB and create a 2v1 with the winger.

 

4. If a winger can attack the opposition FB knowing that the our FB is supporting and overlapping this creates a great 2v1.

 

5. 1v1 GK : Has a whole set of basic rules.

 

 

1. Developmentally let the overlap pivot (and through balls) around the winger.
2. Developmentally midfielders (Or CBs sometimes) should be looking for the winger's feet (in position 1 or 2).

• The pass should ideally come from the Central Channel to the wide channel to initiate the overlap.

3. FBs should stay as a supporting option (for as long as possible)...start the overlap too early starts to fill the space to the winger... does not help.
4. FBs start the overlap when it is obvious the midfielder will hit the wingers feet.
5. Wingers need to work out the best way to use the overlap. Lots of options.

1. FBs cab also overlap their own pass to the winger, but this works best when the FB passes from the inside channel.
2. If FBs and Wingers are both in the wide channel, then the game is probably too congested for an overlap (so the exercise would be 'initiate a switch').
 

 

 

 

1. Dink : Scoop : Chop are the only types of passes that you can use for now....do not do a normal vertical pass.
2. You must take all the speed out of the ball.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Corners :
4. Free Kicks (non aggressive) :
5. Free Kicks (aggressive) :
 

 

 

Video

When hitting the winger the pass must come from an inside channel. If the FB receives the ball in a wide channel then this makes an effective overlap harder to execute, so it may be smarter to play back inside, and then make a decision whether to build around the winger or to switch the play.

 

 

 

1. Objectives
 

 

 

2. Positioning
 

 

 

3. Crossing rules :

• 1. Miss the first defender and keep it away from  the keeper
• 2. When crossing - Hit the space (don't aim for players - aim for the spaces)
• 3. Let the forwards find the spaces and time their movement into the spaces

 

 

 

The winger has 2 main defensive Jobs

1. Press the ball : When the opposition have possession on the winger side, then the winger presses the ball until a midfielder comes in and takes over. The winger then starts to cheat a little. (Cheat means to adopt half and half positions That is; Can get back and defend again if needed, but also has an attacking advantage if there is a counter attack).

2. Tucking in : When the opposition have possession on the other side, then become a wide midfielder. This position protects the middle of the pitch, covers the edge of the box area, and makes an aggressive switch more difficult.

 

1. The two (maybe three) main runs a 9 needs to make when playing out from the back

 

 

 

1. FBs take throw-ins.
2. FBs role in a slow switch.
3. FBs role in an aggressive switch.
4. FB Positioning defensively : When to get tight ; When to tuck in : When to play on the six line.

 

1. We lack leaders out on the pitch. We are way too quiet.
2. I am looking for / we need players to step and be in control of the players around them whilst playing.

 

 

 

1. You are allowed to make mistakes BUT we must see attempts to improve. Attempts to apply the rules above, especially after a mistake.

2. Up until now you have been playing in a little cloudy bubble. This cloudy bubble is all about you, your instincts, and your idea of what the game is about and your attempts to find a place in it. The use of team-mates and possession, despite attempts to learn more and mature as a player, have been more about natural talent and natural game intelligence than a systematic process. The challenge now is to start expanding the bubble you play in,  until the rules above get applied in a systematic way. The game is no longer about natural talent and natural game intelligence. It is an exercise in a group of individuals all following the same rules, being on the same page, recognising the same cues, working as one smooth machine in which every cog has a critical role to play, such that the sum of the product massively exceeds the sum of the individual parts.

3. If one part of the machine breaks down. The Machine doesn't work. If one part of the process breaks down, the process doesn't work.