All Posts by Mike Saif

Involvement of the number 6 during the build-up

By Philip Joe Cauchi Introduction: Within a system of play, constructing an attack occurs mainly in two major ways; short constructive build-up through the thirds or by-passing the midfield through direct play. In this article we are going to look at the number six or the defensive midfielder’s role in the build-up phase. The defensive

Continue reading

World Cup 2018 Who Will Win the Final

​Weekly English Premier League Opinion - World Cup Edition - Who Will Win the Final and Why?Final PredictionFrance vs. CroatiaBoth semi-finals were excellent games, some varied in quality at times, but both were very entertaining in their own unique way. France were excellent in dispatching a very good Belgium team and Croatia’s endurance to stick

Continue reading

World Cup 2018 Day 20 - Semi Final Predictions

​Weekly English Premier League Opinion - World Cup Edition Quarter Finals PredictionsSemi-Finals PredictionsFrance vs. BelgiumThis should be the final really, and whichever team goes through I think will end up winning the final. The circumstances of this difficult side of the bracket have left a few nations behind, while some other nations have used the

Continue reading

World Cup 2018 Quarter Final England v Sweden

​Weekly English Premier League Opinion - World Cup Edition Quarter Finals England v SwedenQuarter Final Sweden vs. EnglandI’ve been very critical of England during every game this tournament, I don’t think they are very impressive, and yet I always pick them as my choice to advance. Good things are happening for England that far outweigh their

Continue reading

Possession in Tight Spaces

By Steven Smith This training session will focus on the importance of maintaining possession of the ball in very restricted spaces. It is likely designed for more senior players who have strong technical ability but is designed to increase that ability under pressure with little time and space. Activity 1: Three Squares Setup: Taking risks and

Continue reading

Crossing and Finishing Pattern of Play – Speed Production and Reaction

By Anthony Hazelwood The following activity activates the attacking players to develop a flank combination with the objective in creating a crossing and finishing opportunity. This activity is a linear and non-linear type of exercise with the soccer specific fitness target being the player and group athletic development. The metabolic training adaptations are meant for

Continue reading

From Rondos to Real Games - Part One

WORLD CLASS COACHING From Rondos to Real Games By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART ONE INTRODUCTION DEFINITIONS OF SSGs, POSSESSION GAMES, RONDOS, POSITION GAMES NEUTRAL PLAYERS V COMODINES PART TWO TRAINING SESSIONS - BUILD UP FROM THE BACK PART THREE TRAINING SESSION - MIDFIELD PLAY TRAINING SESSION - ATTACKING FROM WIDE PART FOUR TRAINING SESSIONS

Continue reading

From Rondos to Real Games - Part Three

WORLD CLASS COACHING From Rondos to Real Games By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART THREE TRAINING SESSION - MIDFIELD PLAY TRAINING SESSION - ATTACKING FROM WIDE   Training session 5: Play behind an opponent line in the middle third (1) Small-sided possession game: 4 + 2 v 3   Sequence Two teams of four (the

Continue reading

From Rondos to Real Games - Part Four

WORLD CLASS COACHING From Rondos to Real Games By Luca Bertolini Table of Contents PART FOUR TRAINING SESSIONS - ATTACKING Training session 8: Play wide to open center spaces Small-sided possession game: 4 v 4 + 1 and goalkeeper Sequence Two teams of four players each are placed inside a rectangular set-up, with a center area

Continue reading

World Cup 2018 Quarter Final Uruguay v France

​Weekly English Premier League Opinion - World Cup Edition Quarter Finals Uruguay v FranceQuarter Final Uruguay v’s FranceFrance were boring, unexciting, they lacked creativity and were not impressive.Uruguay were pragmatic, defensive and they were tedious.Nothing exciting about this game but given the result, one team goes home, and one team goes through. France goes through.Pogba was

Continue reading

World Cup 2018 Day 20 - Quarter Final Predictions

​Weekly English Premier League Opinion - World Cup Edition Quarter Finals PredictionsQuarter Final PredictionsThe quarter finals are massively unbalanced, with all four teams on one half of the bracket stronger than all four of the teams on the other side. However, it has played out this way and these are the games. There are some

Continue reading

World Cup 2018 Day 20 - Why Englands Possession Isn't a Threat

​Weekly English Premier League Opinion - World Cup Edition Day 20Colombia v’s EnglandAll things were equal coming into this match up. Colombia were without the services of James Rodríguez, that omission was certainly a problem for Colombia. But equally England were robbed of the serves of Fabian Delph, so the balance worked itself out equally,

Continue reading

World Cup 2018 Day 19 - The Tactic That Could Take Brazil All The Way

​Weekly English Premier League Opinion - World Cup Edition Day 19Brazil vs. MexicoAs is the nature of these high profile international tournaments, the teams that are growing in form tend to advance. So far, France and Brazil have been the best two teams that I have seen, and their dominance is really pushing them towards

Continue reading

World Cup 2018 Day 18 - Why Spain Lost

​Weekly English Premier League Opinion - World Cup Edition Day 18Spain vs. RussiaThe romantic Russian story continues. I think the predictable end should have been today but that didn’t happen. Russia have played well for the vast majority of the tournament and that home town interest carried this outstanding World Cup a little further again

Continue reading

World Cup 2018 Round of 16 Predictions

​Weekly English Premier League Opinion - World Cup Edition Round of 16 PredictionsFrance vs. ArgentinaFrance have got just about the most difficult draw or at least the most difficult draw based on reputation, if perhaps not based on performances so far. And even after this tough encounter the ties don’t get much easier. France have

Continue reading

World Cup 2018 Day 15 - England v Belgium-What Did We Learn?

​Weekly English Premier League Opinion - World Cup Edition Day 9 Belgium vs. TunisiaBelgium look slick. Everyone is aware of the talent that Belgium have. And everyone is aware of their continuous routine of failing to live up to high expectations. This is probably the best time for this current group of Belgians’, they are

Continue reading

World Cup 2018 Day 11 - Why Englands Win Wasn't as Good as You Think

​Weekly English Premier League Opinion - World Cup Edition Day 11England vs. PanamaProblems ahead for England. Building on an early lead the possession statistics were crazy and the goals scored were even crazier. But did England play well? No, not really. The defending from Panama was so poor that football was embarrassed for them, basic

Continue reading
1 38 39 40 41 42 105