John Terry Frozen By Saurez

It is clear from this photo that Terry is losing his speed. He is almost frozen in time.

Tackling a bigger problem.

Actually tackling is the problem. Somehow there is a belief in many parts of soccer parentage and amongst their offspring that soccer is a non-contact sport. If that was the case then tackling, slide, block or poke would only be an intellectual exercise, and something just thought of by soccer philosophers, "if only there was some way to get the ball off of the foot of that striker? Maybe if we had some technique that would block a shot, or take the ball off of their foot, and appendage that would do it. If only...."

The video below is the above  philosophy put into action

So after all of the to'ing and fro'ing, what is tackling all about? It is about tackling a bigger problem. Interrupting the attack of an individual player in possession of a soccer ball (you can't tackle a player without a ball as that is a major foul and is much frowned upon).

Tackling takes three major forms, and all three forms require physical contact, and commitment on the part of the player.

The three types of tackles are:

1. The poke tackle

2. The block tackle

3. The slide tackle.

The first two tackles are relatively simple, but require patience, poise, balance and timing. They also require determination.

This Week

THE POKE TACKLE

This is what it says, the defender looks for an opportunity to poke the ball away from the player with the ball, usually someone who is dribbling.

I will break it down as though the defender is in front of the attacker, and is between the attacker and the net.

1.Firstly he must slow the attacker down by jockeying. He must get close, but not too close, (arms length), and keep his eye on the ball. The defenders weight must be on his toes and one foot must be forward. The defender should be turned slightly and not square on to the defender as it is easier for the attacker to get around the defender, or "nut meg" the defender by playing the ball between his legs.

2. Watch the ball, stay on your toes, wait, wait, wait, and then lunge forward and with your front foot POKE the ball away. A long way away if possible. This requires that the defender commits to a hard challenge on the ball and possibly collide with the attacker.

The collision is fine so long as the ball is contacted first, but the poke must be strong enough to disrupt the attacker. I recommend that the defender then try to take possession of the ball and ultimately go on the attack.

A simple session to develop this skill is to set up a 15 x 15 grid and inside have six players, four with a ball each and two without. Have those  in possession dribble and those without poke tackle the ball off their feet. To be a proper tackle, the ball must leave the grid (this encourages stronger pokes!). Have a competition and see which group of two clears the most balls from the grid. Using a square gives the players an opportunity to jockey as well as tackle from the side. The session also encourages dribbling and shielding on the part of the dribbler. If you think a "losing" squad needs to do a forfeit, have them do push or press ups as upper body strength is always in fashion for defending and shielding.

Now a moment of Liverpool promotion--------Stevie G!!!!!

Next week, the block tackle, and more Liverpool greatness

Cantona vs Sunderland 1996

I am no fan of Eric Cantona the Man Utd legend, but this pass and move/run is terrific. He gets past at least four defenders and they are all staring at their own net. Fantastic.

Ka-Booom!!!

Not every game is a good one. Sometimes the games aren't even pretty good. And some games are pretty darned awful. I coached that game and that team today.

My team got shelled today. Six -nil. That was a pretty fair result. We had 15 shots, eight on target, one crossbar, but we were lucky to get away with only six goals against. For my players it was a tough pill to swallow as the game progressed. Several asked questions about what to do and we tried to help, but it was today, too little, too late from this coach. 

From my perspective, I am in pretty good company this year, Kenny Dalglish, 4-1 loss to Tottenham, Arsene Wenger, 8-2 loss to Manchester United, and Sir Alex Ferguson, 6-1 to Manchester City. Notwithstanding these illustrious compatriots, I do not want to be in there company on this occasion. How do I get away?

Psychoanalysis.

1. How did you ( the coach) prepare? Did it show on the field?

2. What went right? This is important to identify, even if it is only that the players all brought water bottles. Commend them for this and move on to the next question, because what they got right you shouldn't have to prepare them for again.

3. What went wrong? Identify each aspect, is it team shape, defence, attitude, attacking, fitness, or a combination of any or all. This is where the coach earns their keep. The coach must identify the issues and develop a training and a game response to those issues.

4. Don't be proud. Seek help and input from fellow coaches and see what suggestions they may have for training. For instance, I had one coach today ask me why I had a certain player in one position and not another. My answer was it was a position I knew she was comfortable with. His point, she may have more impact in a different position. And he may be right.

5. Get on with it. Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and King Kenny have all lost big. And what did they do? They prepared for the next game. That is the job, help the team develop, make them improve, and get them ready for the next game.

What am I going to do?

Sulk for a while, figure out what went right, what went wrong, and prepare.

Ka-BOOOOOM

You Never Walk Alone

Hal White 

Pepe Reina or Total Goalkeeping

I love Reina. He is one true constant for Liverpool the last four seasons. No major injuries, a remarkable save percentage, a stunning kick, and a very high pass completion record. And a goal keeper. Give the lack of injury record he has to Gerrard, Carra or the now departed Torres, what could have been ? But, as my late father used to say " if my aunt had wheels she'd be a bus".

So just what is Reina? He isn't a bus, but he plays as big as one, he isn't Saurez, but he dribbles like him, he isn't a sweeper, but defends like one, he isn't Luka Modric, but he can pass like him, and he isn't John Elway, but he acts like an NFL Quarterback in any event. What is he? Perhaps the best representation of the "modern" goal keeper in the English Premier League because of all he is able and required to do. He is for want of a better expression the "total goalkeeper".

Total Goalkeeping

So why "total goalkeeping"? Because today's goalkeeper needs to be able to participate in all aspects of the game, much like the Dutch "Total Football" concept of 40 years ago.

I began to think about this after reading an article in 4-4-2 magazine regarding the pass back rule and what changes it created to the game and what restrictions, and opportunities it gave to goalkeepers. No longer were they able to pick up a pass back and hold on to it, they were required to become more engaged and versatile players. If the ball came back, they had to make a decision about what to do. Pass, dribble, or clear. This is done in the context of what else is going on on the field of play. They had to become aware. Just launching it upfield wouldn't cut it anymore. Launching it upfield just made the keeper a "Scud" missile launcher. The pass back rule required the keeper to become a "smart bomb".

Now Reina, and others like him (Van der Sar, Casillas, Valdez, Neuer, Cech) need a wide skill set to perform in todays game. After size, which cannot be trained, what are the traits we are looking for in the "Total Goalkeeper"?

I list the following for your consideration:

1. Good first touch. The player needs to have the ability to receive a pass, and take a positive touch with the ball to the advantage of the team and in response to what is going on in front of him.

2. Able to pass long or short, by hand or foot, and accurately

3. Responsible, mature and accountable

4. Athletic, good core strength, and agile

5, Independent and confident in their ability to stop any shot (self confidence)

6. Can direct other players in attack and defence

7. Trains well and participates in all aspects of training

8. Has a strong tactical sense of the game

9. Is willing to take penalty shots. They don't have to, but they have to have the fortitude and dedication to their team to do it if required. I always have my keepers train in both taking and saving penalties.

10. Brave

Some of these are character traits, others are physical. Not all players will have the same skills or qualities in equal amounts, but the good keeper seek to improve the skills where she is weakest. My experience has been that they are weakest with their touch and passing. I believe this comes from the initial training they receive as keepers as shot stoppers only. Human pylons, that drop kick only. So, as a result, every practice I involve them in passing, receiving and movement, shooting, and juggling. When I involve them in scrimmages, usually 5 asides, I do not allow drop kick as I want them to pass off the ground, or throw the ball. I encourage them to play the game, as much as possible, as any other player on the squad. They have to be as complete a footballer as they can, or as I say it a "Total Goalkeeper".

KEEPER SESSION

This is a really simple game. It requires two full nets, a supply of balls, two keepers and 10 or so cones. Use the net on the goal line and place the other net on the 18 yard line facing the first net. Extend the boundaries of the six yard box to the 18 yard box using the cones. Also place several cones for a "half-line" in the pitch. The keepers go in their nets, and one keeper throws, or shoots at the other keeper's net trying to score. The other keeper tries to save the shot, and as quickly as possible tries to score in the other net. The only restriction is that the keeper stays in her own half. Each keeper needs to be aware of scoring opportunities, they must be ready to stop shots as quickly as possible, and all the while make tactical and technical decisions to effectively play the game. The first player to 10 wins the game.

Thanks, I'm glad somebody else reads this....

Since my first official post in January 2011, I have had over 1000 page views. To be fair I mail the links to some of my friends who out of politeness read my postings. On the other hand I have had numerous page views from around the world. Including Malta, Tonga, Russia, India, ThIland, Germany, the UK and Ireland to name some. It is flattering, but not so deep down I know that some if not most of these views are as a result of the vagaries of the Internet and various search engines. Even so thank you as these views encourage me to improve my content and my writing.

YNWA

Hal White

Oliver Kahn and Canizares 2001 , Why Goalkeepers are a breed apart