Just some quick thoughts on Sunday's game ( that i coached).
I was happy with the first game. I saw an improvement in regards to what we have been working on at training.
[Namely:
Thinking ahead of the ball
Checking and Scanning
Off the ball movement and positioning ( so that a player not only gets an angle to receive but also is fully aware of their options before they get the ball)]
Admittedly the opposition sat off which helped enormously.
I am not worried about results, so losing the game isn't an issue.
I'm in the business of developing intelligent team orientated players who incorporate their individual ability into an intelligence based system. I understand how difficult this is to implement and how long it takes to acquire (and that's even after 'a good touch' has been acquired) , and often without much reward ( especially in the early days).
Up to this point in time i have coached to the highest common denominator and not offered players opportunities to hide or cheat. Technique and intelligence is the key to the system, and whenever this falls short it is exposed (as happened a lot on Sunday - the tiny pitch also does us no favours btw).
Because the system is hard to implement there will be lots of mistakes. Every mistake can be an opportunity to learn and go again ( EG : why was a pass unsuccessful) or a reason to lose confidence and look for external help ( EG: can we just hit the ball long).
The second game however, was a worry.
The opposition went man to man and space was minimal ....and it seemed a few boys gave up.
A couple of times, i talked a couple of the boys through a way of manipulating the space, to get good possession and it worked. But unfortunately this wasn't enough of a spark to get them to try it again. At the end of the game there was a request to hit more long passes. ( This is in fact already an option at certain times. It was also done in the game without any success. Plus the system is not set up for long forward passes. And just banging the ball forward and hoping for the best, will never be an option).
However, In this second game and especially in the second half, i lost some of the boys. They appeared to abandon any effort to make the system work.
I can only coach players to be more intelligent if they want to become a more intelligent player, so i am hoping it was a temporary lapse in confidence. But i also must look at ways i can help them more. There are still lots of things to try.
Between the 2 teams we may have to play 2 different styles. One that plays to develop (and eventually wins (whatever this means) at an age and level where it matters), and the second that plays more pragmatically with more short term goals in mind. I may have to get some feedback from each player in regards to what they want.
I said at the start of the year, the system i would play would be difficult to implement but even i am struggling to hold my nerve ( but i will). The system establishes a great base for moving to 4-3-3 and offers lots of problems (that tests intelligence) to solve. It asks a huge amount from players, and the acquired intelligence from this, in theory, should be worth it.
However I may have to abandon the high ideals for a while and simplify things (again) and adopt a more user friendly 3-2-3 or 3-3-2 .I believe Dom did this on Sunday. The boys would find this much easier to play in as it removes a lot of the required intelligence ( in regards to finding options, movement, positioning and manipulation of space) and frees up space for the midfielders and gives them lots more ready made passing options. This may not translate to results, as that is another issue again. One to address when results matter maybe.
There is no point setting challenges that players aren't ready for. Learning requires belief and motivation and without this, the best of intentions will have minimal traction.
We have a week off to recharge the batteries ..... hopefully the boys can do some work between now and then
We won't do much footwork for a while at training so going over and improving on the footwork patterns ( already done) with the head up will definitely be a good idea ( hopefully you still have the links) as well as finding ways to practice the key essentials to good team play : thinking ahead of the ball, checking, scanning, better 'off the ball' movement, intelligent first touches and accurate and intelligent passing (All areas that require improvement).