At the weekend I witnessed one of the best goals in the Premier League this season. It came from midfield for Tottenham against fierce north London rivals Arsenal.
The build up and finish was superb. Gareth Bale switched the ball with a long pass to Sergio Reguilon, who passed the ball inside to Lucas Moura. He layed off to Erik Lamela who responded with a sensational Rabona which also nutmegged Thomas Partey on its way into the Arsenal net. Players were holding their heads in disbelief!
Anyone who watched Lionel Messi in the Champions League earlier in the week when Barcelona were finding it difficult to break down a stubborn defence surge into the PSG third and unleash a 30 yard shot into the top corner will also have been holding their heads – how did he do that!
Midfielders are key to getting goals when you least expect it and when you can take the opposition apart with skill, surprise, creativity and a dash of flamboyance.
Shooting from midfield is a great way to get your team to catch the opposition out. Use Shoot! to get players lining up shots. Players can be scared to shoot from distance but this session will make sure they start doing it in matches.
Coach your players how to capitalise on an accurate pass out of midfield. Beat the back four is guaranteed to set up goalscoring opportunities. Midfield players can open up defences if they see the right pass, which is often to a player in space on the other side of the pitch. In a counterattacking situation defenders are on the back foot and a clever, accurate passer can pull them apart with a crossfield ball.
Coach your players how to capitalise on an accurate pass out of midfield with this session that is guaranteed to set up goalscoring opportunities. MORE
Shooting from midfield is a great way to get your team to catch the opposition out. Use this session to get players lining up shots. Players can be scared to shoot from distance but this session will make sure they start doing it in matches. MORE
Defending against overloads can happen whether your team is in an organised or disorganised state. You can plan defending when organised much easier than when you are defending disorganised. MORE
I was talking to a coach this week about how to control balls in the air, especially when heading the ball in training is off the menu for most clubs. I imagine that there will be much more of a contest to win the ball with a volley once it has dropped from head height. So how do you coach controlling balls in the air? MORE
This week I have been reunited with parents and players from my teams because the club I coach at has used the Easter school holidays to give back to the players what they have been missing for the last four months. So this week I have been coaching full days – around 7 hours – in three sessions. I've coached U9s, U10s and U13s boys and U11 girls. I really enjoy it but it does come with some very obvious problems. MORE
Now we are back playing matches and training after nearly four months of lockdown I can certainly notice the difference in my players. It isn't like when they come back from summer holidays because that is usually just down to a bit of fitness and rusty match play. So how can you relight their fire? MORE
A high pressing game gives teams a huge advantage when they win the ball back because you are close to your opponents goal. Lose the ball, win it back in 6 seconds is a rule that I use in training sessions. But how does that work? MORE
Player trials are likely to be one of the most stressful events facing young players after they have been missing games due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Even the most confident players will get stressed out when they have to put their talents on show to a new group of coaches and players. And now without the help of a full season behind them they will feel a lot more exposed than normal. MORE
