Tag Archives for " 442 "

0 Always Disrupt the Center Backs

By Mike Smith “ How hard did he work to get that ball?” I often times find myself asking my players this right after they have just sent the ball up the field to break pressure, not understanding immediately giving the ball back to the opponent actually CREATES pressure. Many times it is the opposing center

0 Delayed Sweeper from a 4-4-2

By Mike Smith For me, the argument between playing a sweeper and playing a flat back has always missed one important aspect – why not do both? Understandably, leaving a player deep at the back of the defensive line does put a team at a disadvantage when their opponent is good a moving the ball around

0 Decoy Angles from a 4-4-2

By Mike Smith A couple years ago, after a 1-1 draw, I heard the opposing coach talking to his assistants as they were leaving the game and he was expressing his frustration as to how he felt his team made things too complicated. “ Right back, to right mid, give and go combination with a center

0 Funnel Back from a 4-3-3

By Mike Smith A couple weeks ago, my high school team played in the regional tournament for the first time in 4 years. In the first round, we played a team that had beaten us 7-1 earlier in the season. Stocked full of club players from a school of over 1000, my 14 players from our

0 Transitional Shape in a 4-4-2

By Mike Smith The idea of transition, which Merriam Webster defines as the passage from one state to another, should contain elements of both states until the full change is made. From a soccer perspective, this to me means taking an extra step between defending and all out attack especially when a quick counter opportunity is

3 Is Mourinho's 4-3-3 System Better Than Ferguson's 4-4-2 System?

One of our best selling books over the past few years has been the 4-4-2 v 4-3-3. This book takes an in-depth look at two of the greatest managers/coaches in today's game...Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourhino. Both have incredible records, yet both have their teams play with a different style and formation. Ferguson opts for the 4-4-2 and Mourhinho with the 4-3-3.

The argument as to who is better or what formation is better is too contentious for any book to answer. But what this special book, 4-4-2 vs 4-3-3, does do is to analysis in-depth the differing formations, strategies and tactics used by the two managers.

Through assessing the key players, the way in which the team adapted to new signings and how both managers adjusted their team's play to get

0 Attacking and Counter-Attacking

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter.  Today’s featured activity works on attacking and counter attacking.  There are some interesting teaching points on this subject (and many others) in the DVD Attacking: Coaching the English Professional League 4-4-2 by David Williams, former Manchester United U18 coach.

Start with 3 forwards and 2 midfielders attacking against 4 backs, 1 midfielder and a keeper on a half field with a full sized goal.

The attacking team is trying to score and can be as patient as they want in working the ball into spaces.  There is nothing special about this game UNTIL THE