It was most evident watching our players that very few players were comfortable or for the most part did not understand the principles of how to drop into their own half of the field and play low pressure defending.
In addition when our teams were forced to defend in their own half I felt there were two elements missing.
1. Defending with intensity .We need to teach our players how to defend with more numbers around the attacker in possession ie. Double teaming
2. Regaining possession of the ball in our own defensive third and recognizing when to counter attack or when to maintain possession of the ball.
Quite often we lost possession of the ball one we regained it in our own defensive third trying to play the ball forward too quickly, but more importantly on many occasions the Forwards did not anticipate (reading the game) especially when and where the ball was about to be won in the defending third .
Our Forwards also had a tendency to be static when we won possession of the ball and did not read these type of situations early enough , where they could have received the ball and hold the ball up in order for the midfield players to support or make penetrating runs behind the opponents ?
We need to improve on the technical ability of strikers and midfielder players receiving and holding the ball up with their back to the opponent, plus improve our movement off the ball.(diagonal & curve runs)
Many of our Forwards would have the tendency to want the ball played in behind the defense early or the ball played into their feet which would not cause the defenders to have to adjust or move sideways and away from a covering the central space.
See below .Diagram 1
In this situation there is a covering player, we should encourage the players to play the ball slightly away from the defender.
Diagram 1
We need to teach the players through small sided games how to play low pressure .
In the practice below 3 v 3 to target players.
The white team can only defend in their half of the field.
Objective to try to regain possession of the ball and play to the target player who then finds one of the support players breaking out. (counter attacking)
The red team plays high pressure .
Stage 1
Stage 2
Same organization except play to two small goals.
Target player can move freely behind the goal line .
Target player needs to move laterally and anticipate when the ball is about to be won
Supporting players break out from defense to try to score a goal using the target player.
