I thought I made it easy. I thought I left a sure-fire hint.... oh well.
The winner is....
Well done Tyra & Mo. Troy. Unimpressed, huhn.
We will have our first ever GOTM draw this Thursday!!! Be there!
GOTM Winner 12.09
December GOTM Competition - $25 Soccer Certificate
Get your votes in quick. The winner will be announced after the weekend.
December was a great month for goals, but there is one that stands a long way out... So get your vote into the lottery.
Remember this competition is open to all eXtreme players and parents.
Goal rundown: (Quickstyle)
1. Paul Scholes - This is the classic of the GOTM selections. Scholes has done this for years. Watch how he chest-controls the ball to the side to escape the defender and smashes the HALF-volley. I didn't realize at the time, or even until watching it 5-6 times, but Scholes is right footed... This bullet is with his left.
2. Darren Gibson - Remarkable in it's power & venom, this shot beat every camera to the net. None of the replies from this game caught the ball hitting the back of the net.. It was moving that fast.
3. Charles N'Zogbia - Great piece of skill and a fine example of how left-footed players can attack down the right & vice versa.
4. Nedad Milijas - Great hit. The classic Shakey = Strike the high-center of the ball. This creates dip & swerve which GK's hate.
5. Maynor Figueroa - WoW!!!
6. James Milner - WoW!!
7. Matthew Taylor - Great freekick.
8. Darren Bent - Excellent example of how two players working together can beat an entire defense. The target player finds the #10, who has made a run out wide, and then goes for goal and gets a great cross early cross in return. The finish isn't bad either. Kinda reminds me of Kayla & Natalie's combination last weekend vs. Golden Valley that almost led to a great goal.
9. Cesc Fabregas - I've talked with the team & some of the players about putting your mark on the game. Well this goal is on the list because it does just that. You can read the full story is here. Quick version: Arsenal are chasing the title so every point counts & need a win but are struggling so.. on comes super-sub Fabregas (w/ recent hamstring injury) & 20 minutes later when he is subbed off Arsenal are up 2-0 & he scored both.
10. Aaron Ramsey - Another but your stamp on the game moment. Aaron Ramsey is a young 19 year-old Welshman trying to break into the starting line-up at Arsenal. Here he does it all: tackle in midfield, attack, cut, and a slamming finish.
Get your votes in by the weekend so your eligible of the $25 Soccer Certificate to Kombat or Soccer City.
Practice Review: The Pressing Mentality - Pressure Defending
The philosophy of the Sac United player, from our academy upwards, has always been to play high pressure, attacking soccer. When we have the ball our players are encouraged to be positive and take players on, to possess with style. When they have the ball, we pressure the ball to win it back close to their goal.
The Ingredients of The Pressing Game
We can view the pressing game under the following three headings:
- Pressure
- Possession
- Penetration
Pressing Mentality. In the Pressing Game, players must be prepared to work incessantly, but even more important, they must have the capacity to concentrate and to react positively and immediately to new situations. Open, receptive and adaptable soccer minds are required.
- Pressure - close down the space when the ball moves (slightly stand-off the attacker, anticipate the pass, arrive as the ball arrives)
- communicate: hold. tight. force left.
- channel: towards your help
Second Defenders: the closer you are to the ball the closer you are to the attacker (stand off slightly (encourage the pass into a player you can pressure).
Third Defenders: Balance the defensive space, read the play, constant communication.
Squeezing the space: The back four do not permit large gaps to appear between them and the midfield. The depth and cover deteriorates the further the defender is from the ball. When the ball is on one wing, defending full-back on the opposite side will be in line with the central defender nearest to him. The GK must be prepared to act as sweeper. Offside is a by-product of this arrangement.
Leadership is an important factor if the group's efforts are to be synchronized.
Match of Year: 2009 - iPod/iPhone download
Here is what I consider to be last years game of the year. Offered in iPod Touch/iPhone format for the drive down to Modesto.
Arsenal vs Liverpool at Anfield (Liverpool's ground) during the business end of the season, with Liverpool leading the league but with Manchester United breathing down there necks.
If your pressed for time you can skip the first 25 minutes, but don't turn away after that. The second half is particularly impressive. This has all the spectacle, comebacks, twists, great goals and a sting at the end.
**There are 2 files in FIVE .rar segments. After you have downloaded all the segments for each file you can expand it. If you're on a mac try UnRarX.
Practice Review: January 4
Principles of Possession & Attack:
- Attacking options
- Wall pass (00:16 mark)
- Overlap
- Three Player Combo
- Angles of Support
- Width
- Depth
- Decisions
- Xavi - "I pass and I move, I help you, I look for you, I stop, I raise my head, I look and above all, I open up the field."
- To combine with each other takes: Communication, Vision, Awareness & Faith in each others abilities.
- Look before you receive the ball.
- Be willing to take risks at the right moment
We work on Patterns of Play to give the players the tools to open up space for each other. When we create space because that produces scoring opportunities. It is up to each players to identify these soccer situations in open play and make good soccer decisions based on what the defending team presents. Every Sac United player has the capability to be a playmaker.
When passing to a player in space in the attacking half it is OK to tell them "take on your defender" or tell them options you see. For example, if you switch the point of attack with a pass to the opposite side of the field, it is ok to encourage that player forward by telling her the options you see. "Find the 7!", "Can you get a cross?", "Use the 9!" are good examples of how you can pass along a soccer idea that helps your teammates.
HowTo: Joining the Attack
The following clip provides an excellent example of how Central players sometimes have to go past the #9.
Watch at the 1 minute mark as the #9 comes back into midfield to pick-up the ball. As the #9 holds up the ball with two protected touches, he plays a possession pass out to the #11 and offers support - this drags a defender with him. In this case, the #8 is able to read his teammates options and decides to take a chance. He bursts through into the space the #9 just left trying to find space for a 1v1 with the last defender.
The finish isn't bad either.
The flow of this attack displays the possession & attacking principles we worked on yesterday at training.
It is important that we continue to develop the mentality to put these tools to use in the attacking half.
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