Michael Brown Tournament Analysis

Buenos días guerreras,


After a few days since our last tournament and once I watched all the games again ( thanks parents for recording them), it is time to reflect on it. First of all, I am so happy to confirm the solid soccer foundations that you have ( you should be very thankful to Joey), and also I have to recognize that I am really surprised for how quick you have taken in the new concepts and the principles of our Game Model in just three weeks:

1. Offensive style of play based on keeping possession and quick movement of the ball
2. Quick Transitions
3. Intensity, Determination and Aggressiveness in the 4 Phases of the Game
4. Psychological Self- control, Self- confidence and Moral Integrity
5. Tactical  Discipline
6. Set pieces, We love you!

Also, I think it was a big accomplishment to beat three teams positioned in front of us in the rankings, e.g. Sting West was 30 positions in front of us and tied against Oklahoma F.C., who is  ranked # 2 in their state and # 7 in Region 3. After this tournament, we have advanced from # 66 to # 21 in Region 3 by gotsoccer rankings and still waiting for updates by youthsoccerrankings, which by the way seems to be more accurate. Nevertheless, this references just work for us if we use as a motivation,never as a benchmark.

And now, let´s go for the main course, the truly important part, what do we have to improve? Once again, it will be easier to make a breakdown by Moments/ Phases of the Game plus Set Pieces. Here you go,


Offensive Organization

Looking at the big picture, this is the phase we have more room for improvement, which is not a surprise to me because in soccer it is always easier to destroy (defense) than to create (attack).

In zone 1, our back third (we can also name it Start -Up Zone), we did a great job. Center Backs dropping low to provide angles, Outside Backs stayed often wide open and Center Midfielders ready to receive the ball in an open position and on a sideways body shape. However, I saw some mistakes like,

1. Square passes without checking it in advance. Remember, 'Poor horizontal passes in our defensive half = Vertical risks'

2. Not Providing clear angles of support, e.g. Winger to Outside back.

3. Lack of communication. E.g. Outside back is trying to play out from the back under pressure and I am the winger on the same side, so first I give her an angle of support, then I call the ball with determination.

As for Zone 2, we need to keep the game simple, ball on the ground and accuracy and quality on the pass. Girls, do not be careless with the ball.

Basically, there were some moments where we lost the ball very quickly, when we could have used the arc, maybe make a fake to gain time, or shield the ball, even play backward to the OBs that usually are so open, etc. In short, when we can not progress, we must keep the ball possession. Please, see the diagram.

On the other hand, when we have space to progress, do not get scared you can dribble into the space or either commit the opponent looking for beating her or a 1-2 or a wall pass. Actually, most of you applied it after I commented this in between the 2nd and the 3rd game

Width and Depth, I do not need to talk too much about that. You saw the difference between the first and second half during the last game. Wingers only drop back when we need them


Regarding Zone 3, the finishing third,this is indeed our biggest challenge. Then, we have to get better in this area rapidly as we want to make the most of our good job in the other two zones. Once we have circulated the ball efficiently and we have unbalanced the defensive structure of the opponent, we must take advantage of its disorganization. ´Ok coach, but how?´

Well, soccer is the most complex sport in the Decision Making component. Mainly, because there will never be 2 exactly identical plays....NEVER!!! Therefore, you will have to make your own decisions. Nevertheless, there are some guidelines and tips that will really help you girls in this matter. We will see them throughout this spring season. Anyway, as a reference,

1. Try to find the mans-up or overloads, 2v1s, 3v2s, etc.Usually on the wide areas/ outside channels.

2. It is easier to score after crossings or passes backward from Sub-zones 16 and 18. Thus, try to win the goal line or endline.

3. Determination when dribbling and opponent. Use fakes + acceleration.

4. Last third everything has to be faster, but without trampling on yourself. Sometimes, you have to finish at the first time, while other times for example you have to make a cut + a fake + 2nd cut...and then shoot. Please, see these on the following videos.

Example of finishing at first time --> Alex Morgan ,  Minute, 1:03

Example of QUALITY , cold blooded and guts of my cousin, Amy Rodríguez, Min., 2:03

And a masterpiece (goal # 2)...do not pay attention to the first 10 seconds. : (

Incredibleeee!!!


Coming up Michael Brown Tournament Analysis (Part II).


Thanks for stopping by!


Coach Pablo.

How you train is how you will play.

Girls,

I can cope with a bad first touch, a player who is not very skilled when on the ball or even with problems to focus and concentrate. However, what I will not tolerate and I can not stand at all is indifference. 

Please, see in the following videos some examples of the intensity and determination we need on our sessions in order to achieve our goals/ dreams.

** Basically Coach Cholo Simeone ( coach of Atlético de Madrid, the team who is the 1st position in La Liga over FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. And they were able to do that with only 20% of the budget of those two teams)  is explaining that if you are inside the rondo pretending that you are defending or doing it at 90%....this is not the exercise, this is not the standard. Because, during an official game that level of performance will imply that the ball will break our defensive lines. Therefore, you have to give your all to intercept that ball.

** Quick transitions, everyone is proactive, ready for the next steps, they go to the ground tackling, they are vocal, focused,  , etc.


In short, do not take for granted the practices, because there is no elevator to the success, you have to take the stairs.



After all, I did not swim across the Atlantic pond just to see you walking or standing around. ; P


Buenas Noches.

First friendly game vs D´Feeters 05 - Analysis and things to improve

Hi there.

It was a really good test. It showed us some scenarios where we need to get better. In the following breakdown of the game we will analyze in depth the things we have acomplished and the aspects that in each phase of the game we need to improve at in order to become the best player/team we can be.

1. Offensive Organization.

Positional balance.
Mainly during the first half our positional balance when on the ball was not the best. Our Wingers and outside backs did not flow as quick as we have to from inside postions to occupying the field in all its width and depth. Also, there were many situations where our Center Backs did not drop back a few yards to provide a better angle of support to the ball carrier ( for instance in throws-in or when a teammate is under pressure). See this in the next video.

Besides, my two Center Defensive Mids + Forward/Attacking Mid need to give better angles and keep the balance in a 2-1 or 1 - 2 triangle. 

As the Goalkeeper....only one word, S W E E P E R!


Offensive Fundamentals/ Principles.

We have already talked about Depth and Width, but what did happen during today´s game with the rest of the principles?

Regarding the Mental Attacking Anticipation (make a decision before first touch), which is strongly connected with Checking your shoulders before receive the ball, we can do it a lot better. Sometimes we did poor first touches because we did not have enough information about teammates, spaces and opponents. Remember, you only need a split-second to look around you, so do not be hypnotized by the ball all the time.

The other two components highly inter- related hence influencing each other are Speed of the play ( little dribbing/running with the ball, quick connections/ ball flow) Firm passes  (crispy pass to prevent being intercepted). There was a radical change for better between the two halfs in that matter. Definitely, this is one of our strenghts as a team, you girls can move the ball from one side to the other rapidly and with a good quality.

Disguises/ fakes (to win time and angles). Again, huge difference between the first and the second half. I was so happy to see how some of my players are getting more confidence when on the ball and they are starting to add fakes, playing with their shoulders, etc.

Finally, in relation to the Movement without the ball providing several angles of support to the ball carrier and Passing and moving, I am quite positive we are going to automate it, make it automatic/ habitual.

Defensive Transition

During the first half I was not happy with our performance in this area. We let them progress with the ball onto our goal/ heart as if it were nothing. On the contrary, I saw in the 2nd half 11 "guerreras" (warriors) that recovered the ball 90% of the time in our offensive half. Nevertheless, this is one part of the game we have not practiced yet...and you did so good! Thus, we will become in the near future a fearsome team when we loss the ball.

Defensive Organization 

The key here is the Zonal Marking concept. We defense in zone, therefore we must consider ball situation, opponents and space relationship with my teammmates.

In that sense, Outside Backs never allow passes in between them and the CB, so you need to squeeze/ shift when is required. Ok, but How much coach? that depends on the 3 components I named above. However, as a reference remember the Funnel.

Also we have " Prevent Penetrations behind our Last Line of Defense". Whenever is a potential chance they can play a dangerous through ball behind to our 4 back, that it could ends up in a 1v1 against our goalie, take 5 steps/ yards back in order to prevent the attacking penetrations. In other words, we give priority to defensive depth instead of trying to play the "offside".

Security Triangle. If one of our CB leaves her position trying to intercept a ball or tackle/ challenge and opponent, the closer outside back + the other CB will have to shift/ squeeze forming a triangule, that we call the Security Triangle:

* Red is the original position, Yellow the final position.


In short, in this phase of the game we still have a lot more room for improvement but we are setting off from a reallly good foundation/ starting point.

Attacking Transition

As I mentioned above we must also be capable of rapidly recovering the offensive positional balance and create a big field, do not take for granted that the ball is far so you will still have time to get open later on when the carrier of the ball face us to pass the ball...do it now! Make a run onto the outside channels, that way we will have more space in the center channel.

Extra things

Communication. Man on!, time! or turn!, call the ball if you are in a free space or you are making a run in to an open space.

Our goalie also needs to talk more, she is able to scan all the field, since she is facing it. Then, make an impact on the game by helping your defense.

Agressiveness/ Determination. This is one "must have" in my teams. I need 11 lionesses on the field!!! Too much better in the 2nd half today.

Set pieces. No worries we will get it. As today we did not achieve to make the most of our throws in strategies, but we will do it.

Clearing the ball. Today, very often we cleared or kicked the ball awaybecause of a risky situation into the center channel inside our 18 yard box, this is crazy! Never do that. We always clear the ball onto outside.





That is all for today folks!




Muchas Gracias for your effort and willingness.




Coach Pablo.

Our Attacking Motto!

Chicas, Bienvenidas....let´s start.

The adition of quick and easy passes, is igual to a goal oppportunity....well girls, this is our offensive philosophy and in order to achieve this target we need to stick to the Offensive Fundamentals:

a) Good positional balance. Depth and Width.
b) Mental attacking anticipation ( make a decision before first touch)
c) Speed of the play ( little dribbing/running with the ball, quick connections/ ball flow)
d) Check your shoulders before receive the ball.
e) Firm pass ( crispy pass to prevent being intercepted). Also with accuracy, do not send the ball to California because that does not help us.
f) Disguises/ fakes (to win time and angles).
h) Movement without the ball providing several angles of support to the ball carrier.
i) Pass and move. Once I pass I have to move. Not necessarily to a different spot, smetimes I can fake I make a run and then I stay....but I have moved!




....So from now on, every time we make a possession, positional possession, rondo, scrimmage, etc. you need to wonder wether you are applying this principles or not.

Remember, at the end of the day soccer starts in your head/brain goes through your heart and ends up in your feet. Therefore, everything starts in your head.


God bless you.



Coach Pablo.