A couple of comments on Saturday’s games:
First game-I was explicit with the boys that I hoped the first game would provide a good opportunity to “practice” good habits and elements we have been working on without pressure. I get it that at their age it is hard for them not to “line-up” for a chance to score when a game like that presents itself but I think the lack of intensity was not a good warm up for next game.
My reflections on the second game are more of a point in time reflection in general:
Firstly I will direct people (as I did the boys) to Darren’s comments a week or so ago about fighting for right to play football and also for boys to take care of the “winning aspect”. Two of the three goals we copped were once again set piece goals-one from a free-kick save from our (stand-in keeper) where GVS had (I think) 2 or 3 players ready to pounce on the rebound whereas we had no-one desperately trying to save the situation (besides the keeper)-One from a corner where the ball came through the box to an uncontested shot. The boys were usually urgent and desperate when the ball was in their direct zone in free play-so credit there-it just needs to translate to all moments in the game.
My second main reflection is more of a point in time reflection rather than specifically about the Saturday game 2.
This year we have been developing some very fundamental and key features of individual and team play that will help the boys develop into great players. This includes building a situational awareness allowing an efficiency of touches and ball movement and to allow playing away from congestion. We’ve also worked on some positional fundamentals. 6/8 Pivots in midfield and specific areas/positions of wide players (to name two). When we can execute some or most of these things in games not only does our football look great-It is very obvious from the coaches (and marshals/adults on the sideline) how effective this is and how this actually results in many many attacking moments or great chances.
Perhaps I am guilty of assuming that the “positive reward” of attacking chances will reinforce the behaviours we are trying to develop so that it becomes more and more habitual. It’s not quite there yet-We still seem to revert to narrow, or complicated, or congested “battles” when we feel the pressure in some way.
The good news is that I am in no doubt that the “habits” of what we are trying to teach is in no way beyond anyone in the squad even if “execution” relies on individual skill/technique where there is obviously a range in a large group. In every match though, there are large passages/sections of awesome play (individually and from the team).
I will keep trying to find ways to bring this out more and more and more.