This got me thinking of our perpetual failings - inability to beat the uncle team. This boil down to us only having one way of playing (proudly, we are quite good at it) - counter attack. I am not saying that we should not do counter attack but we ought to have variation in our game play. When we play uncle team, they sit back and deny us the space for counter attack. We need to have possession-play.
The key to possession-play starts from the back. We need to start passing from the back and it is not just the responsibility of the CBs. By now you must be wondering what my article title is about. Triangles, the basis of football for all South-American team. Imagine yourself holding on to the ball just outside of own penalty box, an opponent come charging-in, what you do? Pump the ball! Well, that's the easy way out. We need to move on from this.
Every player is in 1 triangle with 2 other players. These should be the primary targets for your passing. Similarly when the player in your triangle is holding onto the ball, you move to an open area where he can pass to you. These 3 players form a mini-team. Back to the earlier situation, you have the ball with opponent charging; first thing you look for your #1 mini-teammate, he is tightly marked, you look for #2 and he is free!
Of course you can be involved in more than 1 triangle and depending on your position on the field at that moment, you should choose a different triangle accordingly. Having said that, we need not be too rigid (especially the front players) on this.
Some of my proposed triangles:
LB-LCB-LDM
RB-RCB-RDM
LB-LDM-LW
RB-RDM-RW
LCB-RCB-LDM-RDM (I know it is a square!)
Enough said, I guess you guys are smart enough to get my idea. The key to this style of play is a very mobile line of LB-LDM-RDM-RB. Give the CB options when he has possession. The full backs should open up to the by-line so as to widen the angle or attract the opponents out from the middle. 1 DM should run back and offer a short option while the other roam to find a good angle for CB to pass to. Depending on the number of enemy Forwards, the other CB can move and provide another option.
Once the ball move out (e.g. to the LB) then the other triangle shall be active (the LW and LDM better make themselves available). But if no options available he can always go back to the earlier triangle! Back to the LCD!
However, if you are pressured and facing your own-goal, dun be afraid of passing back to the GK! The GK has improved over the season especially in terms of kicking (he takes quite decent goalkicks nowadays if you haven't realised). The fact that he can score 2 goals in the recent friendly shows that he has the skills to deal with proper back pass. The team has not really utilise the GK sufficiently.
Have faith in the passing game but dun forget to put the ball in Row Z if the situation calls for it.
Disclaimer: I am not discouraging the existing style that brought us so much success and I believe our wingers is where our strength lies. By playing a possession game, however, we can create even more opportunity for the wingers and forward players to shine.
It will take time for us to adapt and mistakes would surely be committed. Nonetheless, these are crucial steps for the team to grow as a whole to the next level.
We will do this together, as a team, as brothers; be it loss or victory. We will improve.
-'5
Article preview: Attack the spaces, cutting inside from the flanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment