Tag Archives for " Counter Attacking "

0 #243 The Pros and Cons of Counter Attacking Tactics

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0 Counter Attacking Overloads

By Sean Pearson Area: 18 x 25 yards Time: 15mins Players: 3v3 Objective: • To attack the defending team at speed • To create and use 2v1 overloads to create a scoring opportunity Set Up: This can be achieved when you do not have a lot of space. You need a GK in one goal

0 Counter Attacking from a 4 v 2

This week's Animated Drills Video shows an activity that will train your players how to effectively pressure the opponent to win the ball back and counter attack quickly to score. This activity comes from our latest eBook, 'Scoring Goals from High Pressure Defending'. It includes ways to progress this activity to train the whole team to

0 Attacking Transition

By Sean Pearson Area Size: 45 length, 5 yards wider than the penalty area on each side. Time: 15 mins Players: 7 v 6 Objectives To understand if the team can counter attack or maintain possession To decides how the ball should move forward Set-Up Depending on the age and physical capability of the players you coach the area should

0 4 v 4 Counter Attacking

By Alex Trukan What your FB and winger need to realize is they are connected, they are a unit. One player’s movement relates to the others and they should work together to manipulate the opposition FB. If both players stay on the line when attacking, their options of moving the ball forwards would be limited.

0 Penetration in the 2 - 3 - 1

By Sean Pearson With the new USSF mandated birth year and small sided games changes there is a lot of trial and error regarding formations and systems of play. Instead of 8v8 formations, as coaches, we are now trying to figure out how to position our players in the new 7 v 7 and 9

0 Changing the Point of Attack in the 3-2-3

By Sean Pearson With the new USSF mandated birth year and small sided games changes there is a lot of trial and error regarding formations and systems of play. Instead of 8v8 formations, as coaches, we are now trying to figure out how to position our players in the new 7 v 7 and 9

0 1 v 2 Transition Game

By Alex Trukan This practice is aimed at developing explosive power – fitness component responsible for quick bursts to the ball, 1v1 duels and sharp recovery after losing the ball. This conditioning component is improved by developing body’s ability to use more fuel, leading to delivering more explosive power. This is achieved in a 1v2

0 5v5 Counter Attacking

By Alex Trukan This 5v5 conditioned game is focused on developing anaerobic endurance – the ability of the body to produce repetitive high intensity actions without loses in their quality (speed/strength). This will help players to be explosive even towards the end of the match. The tactical element of this game is aimed towards counter-attacking

0 Regaining Possession

By Alex Trukan The throw-in is an element of the game which is often neglected and not focused on. This is evident across most of the age groups and levels. At the same time, we can observe that if executed correctly, especially in the opposition’s half, it can be used as an important attacking strategy.

0 Counter-Attacking Possession Game

By Alex Trukan This possession game is aimed at improving players’ capacity to recover between high intensity actions, what will then enable them to produce more explosive actions when needed without losses in quality. That is linked with transition to attack scenario which forces players to make decisions whether to secure possession or counter-attack quickly.

0 Defending Deep to Counter Attack

By Sean Pearson Area Size: 30 x 45 yards Teams: 6 v 6 Time: 15 Minutes Objectives To transition from defending to attacking with speed Use the overload of 3v2 to manipulate the defense After defending deep and stopping penetrations it is important for the team to capitalize on the space in front of them via a counter

1 Chelsea’s Centre Backs in Wide Positions

By Stevie Grieve

Jose Mourinho teams have been strong defensively since he took over in his 1st role at Benfica, through from Lieira, Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and again to Chelsea. The backbone of his success has been from a very effective style of play based on not conceding goals, being compact vertically and horizontally, with the 2 centre backs being able to play close together and in front of the goal. In this Chelsea team, although they are the best team in the Premier League and one of the best sides in the Champions League, the lack of pace in the centre of the team is a concern, particularly when Cesc and Oscar and caught high as they are not quick enough to get back and help Matic once the press is beaten.

Another weakness is when Cahill or Terry are drawn wide in possession or to defend 1v1 on the side, Nemanja Matic will cover between the centre backs or in the half space, often leaving a hole in front of the defence due to Cesc or Oscar being too far away to cover the space in front of the back 4.

Against Tottenham, Mauricio Pocchetino had a clear game plan – tempt Chelsea into allowing Terry or Cahill wide in possession then win the ball form high pressing traps in the 4-2-3-1, then attack diagonally towards the far

1 Counter Attacking with Speed Endurance

By Alex Trukan

This exercise combines tactical theme of counter attacking from the middle areas with conditioning emphasis on speed endurance. Physical side of transition from defence to attack is based on quick reaction and forward runs both with and without the ball. Focus on speed endurance will enable players to sustain the quality of each counter attack throughout the whole match.

Set up and directions

Set up a 30x40 m. rectangle around the middle area of the pitch. Divide the team into 2 groups of 4 players and organise additional 3 neutral players. Place the goalkeeper in the goal. Team in possession tries to play the ball between two wide neutral players (1 point if the ball is played from one side to another using middle players), and into deep lying neutral player (2 points). That creates realistic scenario of possession for penetration. Defending team is trying to gain possession, at the same time preventing attacking team from scoring.

As soon as the defending team gets in possession, their aim is to

0 Real Madrid Counter Attacks v Bayern Munich

By Stevie Grieve

When Real Madrid played at home v Bayern Munich, many pundits (including myself) felt that Bayern would arise from their recent slump in form since winning the league and turn it around against Real Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti however, has experience of multiple Champions League semi-finals and knows how to navigate his team to win against a difficult opponent. He knew that Bayern would come to dominate possession, so he wanted to do two things – leave minimal space between all of the lines across the field to stop Bayern from penetrating and getting into dangerous positions, then win possession and use the blistering pace of Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema, Di Maria and Coentrao to hit Bayern Munich on the counter attack, with Modric and Alonso staying to screen in transition.

Benzema Goal – Ronaldo finds Coentrao behind the defensive line

Fabio Coentrao is an exceptionally fast full back, and outside of being a good 1v1 defender, he is also

2 Effective Counter Attacking

By Stevie Grieve

When Real Madrid played at home v Bayern Munich, many pundits (including myself) felt that Bayern would arise from their recent slump in form since winning the league and turn it around against Real Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti however, has experience of multiple Champions League semi-finals and knows how to navigate his team to win against a difficult opponent. He knew that Bayern would come to dominate possession, so he wanted to do two things – leave minimal space between all of the lines across the field to stop Bayern from penetrating and getting into dangerous positions, then win possession and use the blistering pace of Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema, Di Maria and Coentrao to hit Bayern Munich on the counter attack, with Modric and Alonso staying to screen in transition.

Benzema Goal – Ronaldo finds Coentrao behind the defensive line

Fabio Coentrao is an exceptionally fast full back, and outside of being a good 1v1 defender, he is also

2 Tactical Analysis: Borussia Dortmund’s Counter Attacking - Part One

By Stevie Grieve, author of Coaching the 4-2-3-1 and Attacking in the 4-2-3-1.

One of Borussia Dortmund’s main strengths comes from the speed of which they attack, and the fluidity of the movement of the players in the front 4, a choice of either Blaszczkovski or Aubameyang, with Mkhitaryan, Reus and Lewandowski. All of these players have explosive pace, especially Aubameyang.

They have an interesting mix of attackers; Lewandowski brings old fashioned target man ability while having the combination play of a midfielder. Mkhitaryan brings balance to the attack as he fills in and opens up space well while combining with the midfield and providing a consistently good final ball, while Reus brings flair and penetration with runs from deep. Aubameyang offers penetration behind the defensive line as he likes to play high (similar to Walcott at Arsenal), while Kuba is the most defensive minded of the group, and is a vital part of the team balance – he will play deeper as Reus moves forward to play ahead of Lewandowski.

Borussia Dortmund have also perfected the art of ‘Counter-Pressing’ where the team press the ball after losing it, to win it back within 6 seconds, to ‘counter counter-attack’ and the speed of transition is a major way that they score goals.

Dortmund Mid-Block Positioning – Ball with full back or wide positioned center back.

Dortmund like to force play to one side, then ‘trap the opponent into passing into a specific opponent either on the

0 Attacking and Counter-Attacking

By Lawrence Fine, Author of the FineSoccer Coaching Bible.

Welcome to the FineSoccer Drills Newsletter. Today’s featured activity works on 3 v 2 attacking and 2 v 1 counterattacking.

On a 40 x 30 grid, with full sized goals and a keeper in each goal, have attacking groups of 3’s and defending groups of 2’s.

The keeper with the attacking team starts by playing the ball in for a

2 4-2-3 v 4-2-3-1 – Counter Attacking Practice

This article is an excerpt from our new best-selling book, Coaching the 4-2-3-1 by Stevie Grieve. The Blacks play 4-2-3-1 v the Yellow 4-2-3 formation. The Yellows play 9 v 10 and when they win possession, look to counter attack quickly over the line with passes and dribbles. Players must not go chasing the ball

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