Tigger
Player Valuation: £35m
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Couple of coaching questions please!
1. How much reaction time is wasted making sure players put their hands behind their backs in the penalty area? Is it really worth it to avoid the odd penalty compared to failing to make a critical challenge?
2. Why don't players face their own goal more often when defending a dangerous free kick (goal scoring opportunity)? Is it not more important to be able to defend the goal quicker? Similarly when (say) Mirallas takes a free kick towards the keeper's right (the first goal), why aren't the strikers encouraged to follow up in that direction as opposed to setting up in a random formation on, or near, the defensive wall?
@the coach Would you like me to stick this on the front page?
Thanks for the comments, two good questions!
1. This is a particular annoyance of mine. Personally, I think it alters your body shape and prevents you from doing your number one duty as a defender i.e. get to the ball quickly. I NEVER coach players to put their arms behind their back when the close down the ball. The coaching points are: 1) get there quickly whilst showing him the way you want to show him 2) put the brakes on (so not to 'dive in' or commit) 3) get an arm's length away 4) body position: side on, knees bent
2. This is a good question. However, the two most basic rules of defending are: can I see the ball AND can I see the man. If you're facing your own goal, you won't be able to see the ball and it might get 'moved' (passed, shifted or even dribbled after the pass).
As for the strikers following in, they will be given different instructions. Some will be told to rush in, others will be told to disrupt the wall, others to look for the cross. If all strikers rushed the keeper, the defence would know that a shot is coming; they cannot commit ALL of their men to defending a shot if you have a few players waiting around the back post, as the taker might chip one in there for them.
Why don't players look at the actual ball? Are defenders coached to turn their backs on it or are they just being stupid?
Do they get lambasted when the player they were trying to wrestle scores anyway because he knew the ball was coming and the defender didn't?
2. The two most basic rules of defending are: can I see the ball AND can I see the man.
OK thanks, happy with that.