Playing Direct: Visual Queues

Sometimes during the game our options to play to feet and combine to beat the defense is limited. When that happens we must be aware of other options - like attacking the space behind a team with a ball over the top.

In the clips below, Barcelona have clear established possession but their opponents are doing a good job preventing them from playing around them or through them.


Rewind the clip to the first replay. Watch how the forward makes eye-contact with the player on the ball and starts his run. Notice how he bends his run to stay onside while building up his speed.

The same situation happens a little later in the match.

Go back to the first replay again. Watch how the #9 offers for the ball to be played to his feet, but when the channel is closed off, he bends his run to attack the space behind the defense.

We will talk about these later this week in training.

Playing Options & Movement:

Player without the ball

Queue: Player with the ball as time → action: free yourself of marking & try to get behind the defense

Queue: Player with the ball is under pressure → action: go to support

Player with the ball

Queue: Movement to break free of marking → action: try to make an assist

Queue: Movement in support → action: give and go, wallpass, combo