defensive organisation · Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City at top of the table. ManCHEsTEr unITED: W3 D0 l0 (lEaGuE only) In the npower Championship, Middlesbrough

SoccerCoaChing praCtiCes from the world’s leading managers and CoaChes

www.elitesoccercoaching.net december 2012

BlaCkBurn roversmk dons

In partnershIp wIth

lee JohnsonThe art of pinning

karl roBinsonPressing

iain BrunskillForward passing

stevenage lma amBassadorroChdale

darren sarllCreating over-loads in defence

JimmyBellDefending shapes

extra-time:

ExclusiveTraining practices from top

professional managers

real madrid

JosÉ mourinhodefensive organisation

interview with alan CurBishley

In partnershIp wIth

Elite Soccer is published by:

Green Star Media Ltd Meadow View, Tannery Lane Guildford, Surrey, GU5 0AB, UKTel: +44 (0) 1483 892 894Fax: +44 (0) 1483 894 148Email: [email protected]

Publisher: Kevin BarrowEditor: James EvansContributing Editor: Matthew Amos, LMADesign: Jimmy EgertonIllustrator: Richard PalmerCustomer Services: Duncan HeardMarketing Manager: Paul MortimerOperations Director: Toby CurthoysManaging Director: Andrew Griffithsphotos: action Images

Published in partnership with:

League Managers AssociationSt George’s Park National Football Centre Newborough Road Needwood Burton upon Trent DE12 9PDTel: +44 (0)1926 831 556Email: [email protected]: Roy HodgsonChairman: Howard WilkinsonChief Executive: Richard Bevan

This publication is protected by national and international copyright laws. Elite Soccer will take legal action against any individuals or organisations found to be infringing our rights, and will make that action public. Elite Soccer members who have purchased this report may circulate electronic or hard copies to members of their own club or school, provided this is done without commercial gain. However, no part or whole of this report may be circulated elsewhere or displayed on any website or distributed commercially except under licence from the copyright owners. © Green Star Media Ltd. All rights reserved

issue 29/december 2012: from the Chairman

soccer coaching intelligence from some of the best names in the game

Welcome to the December issue of Elite Soccer.It’s with great pleasure that, this month, we bring to you a soccer coaching session from one of the

most inspirational, innovative and charismatic characters in the modern game – Real Madrid manager José Mourinho.

His success – in his homeland, in England, in Italy and in Spain – has been well documented, and in producing a brilliant and exclusive practice for Elite Soccer, he reveals some of the deep defence-minded thinking that has, over the years, helped make his sides so difficult to beat.We are proud to be able to present a session from someone who has had a major impact on the modern game, and I’m sure you will take a number of meaningful elements from the session.Back on home soil, MK Dons manager Karl Robinson – one of the youngest in the professional game – has given us a multi-activity session that offers a number of different pressing elements, perfect for players looking to close down opponents with maximum effect. And moving to npower League Two, Rochdale coach Jimmy Bell presents for us a practice on defending shapes, movement and cover.Blackburn Rovers first-team coach Iain Brunskill works on passing patterns with a positive end result, while Stevenage’s Darren Sarll explains how to create solid defensive overloads when dealing with attacking threat.To complete the set, LMA Ambassador Lee Johnson offers a fascinating technique-driven blueprint which explains the art of pinning an opponent. This is a great way to buy space and time for your team, and Lee’s guidance really helps to master what remains an underused technique, in the British game at least.As usual, we hope these brilliant soccer practices will offer new paths to success for your team, and we look forward to seeing you again next month.

Best regards,

Howard Wilkinson, LMA Chairman

Elite Soccer is a monthly publication for professional, semi-professional and aspiring soccer coaches and is available by subscription only. £97 for 12 issues.To subscribe email [email protected] or call on +44 (0) 1483 892 894

2 DECEMBER 2012 www.elitesoccercoaching.net

3 MANAGEMENT MATTERS Our review of the past month

17 EXTRA-TIME:... with manager Alan Curbishley

19 BOOKED Elite sports book review

11IAIN BRUNSKILLBlaCkBurn rovErs

Passing functions

9JIMMY BELLroCHDalE

Defending shapes

4JOSÉ MOURINHOrEal MaDrID

13DARREN SARLLsTEvEnaGE

Creating overloads in defence

15LEE JOHNSONlMa aMBassaDor

The art of pinning

7KARL ROBINSONMk Dons

Pressing

Defensive organisation

In partnershIp wIth

www.elitesoccercoaching.net

management matters

MANAGER OF THE MONTH AWARDS

CAREER PATH... with Keith Curle, manager of npower League One side Notts CountyQ. You enjoyed a long and successful playing career, but was coaching and football management always something you wanted to explore?A. In the latter stages of my career it was definitely something I wanted to do, so I started taking my coaching badges. Due to the physical condition that I was able to maintain during my career I managed to continue playing until I was almost 40, and I think playing remains important when you set out on the path to coaching because you are still learning things right the way through.

Q. What’s the secret of being a good coach or manager?A. For me, it comes down to being prepared to make decisions – sometimes tough ones – and doing them for the right reasons. I try to make sure that every decision I make is the best thing for the football club. That way I am never fearful of making tough decisions because I know they are made with the team in mind.Q. Was the player/manager role a difficult one to balance whilst at Mansfield?A. To be honest it was almost impossible to combine the two roles. The physical aspect wasn’t a problem because I was used to looking after myself having been a professional for almost two decades. But it was more the added pressure of watching and scouting teams, setting your own team up, doing the coaching, then having

to make managerial decisions whilst on the pitch. Personally, I don’t see how the role can ever work, and that’s maybe why you don’t see many player/managers any more.Q. You’ve also worked as a first-team coach under Neil Warnock - first at Crystal Palace, then QPR. Did that help develop your skills as a manager?A. I was lucky enough to coach at the highest level with Neil. One of the biggest things that I learned from him was to give really strong direction and leadership – that’s what he does so well. Unless you can communicate with your players, you have no chance.

3 DECEMBER 2012

In the Barclays Premier League, Manchester

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson took the October Manager of the Month award after three wins out of three. United scored three at Chelsea, four at home to Stoke City, and a further three goals at Newcastle United, to land their long-serving boss his first Manager of the Month award for over a year.The run of results saw United join great rivals and current Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City at top of the table.ManCHEsTEr unITED: W3 D0 l0(lEaGuE only)

In the npower Championship, Middlesbrough

manager Tony Mowbray took the monthly award as his side took 13 points out of 15 in October. Beginning the month with a 2-2 draw against Derby County, Boro won away from home at Watford and Brighton & Hove Albion, before scoring home wins against Hull City and Bolton Wanderers. They also defeated north-east rivals Sunderland away in the Capital One Cup.MIDDlEsBrouGH: W4 D1 l0

In npower League One, Sheffield

United’s climb into the automatic promotion places saw Danny Wilson take the Manager of the Month award. Blades fans have quickly warmed to Wilson, despite the 52-year-old having played for and managed their city rivals Sheffield Wednesday. But five league wins and a draw in October was good enough to cement the club’s tag as League One title favourites.sHEFFIElD unITED: W5 D1 l0

And in npower League Two, Cheltenham

Town boss Mark Yates oversaw his team’s continued improvement after a slow start to the campaign. In a busy month, they won four of their six league matches in October, and also played a Football League Trophy fixture. Their only league defeat came at promotion rivals Bradford City, but victories over Exeter City, Plymouth Argyle, AFC Wimbledon and Bristol Rovers – plus a home draw with Fleetwood Town – made it a happy month for Yates.CHElTEnHaM ToWn: W4 D1 l1

In partnershIp wIth


rEal MaDrID

José MourinhoDefensive organisationoverview:This session is about defensive organisation, and specifically two points: depth control and double marking. Its importance depends on the principles contained within a team’s tactical model. The session is important for teams with a high defensive block, who allow space in behind the defensive line – this is a familiar situation in defensive transitions.Ultimately, the coach has to work what he feel is right into the team dynamic. While this organisation is simple in terms of training method, the complexity comes through the fundamentals of team tactics.In the session, we go from a smaller area to a larger one in the final exercise – giving a global application of the principles we train.

What do I get the players to do?Each of the principles we rehearse is practised in the same way.The ball starts with an attacking central midfielder and is played out wide.When the ball goes dead play restarts with the central midfielder. If defenders win the ball they aim for the target goal on the halfway line.

defensive organisation

4 DECEMBER 2012

Principle 1:Depth control by defenders

Principle 2: Controlling defensive areas

Ball movement Player movementDribbleOptionalrun

kEy

The defenders control depth by holding their line at a predetermined distance relative to the perceived threat from opponents.

Defensive midfielders must be aware of the space between themselves and the defence. They should try to compress the area so that the distance between themselves and the defenders is 10-15 yards, as well as denying attackers space to receive passes between the lines.

Reading the cross from deep defenders make a collective decision to retreat as a unit – in this way offside is a collective decision.

One of the central midfielders drops to cover the pull back and any late breaking midfielders. They are also well positioned to collect any second balls and launch counter attacks.

The full-back nearest must decide whether to press the wide player or drop back to cover. He will get the call when the central defender’s line of vision to the ball is disturbed, at which point he presses the winger. If the winger has moved past this line, the full-back retreats.

The defenders must anticipate the strikers’ movement and move to cover all finishing areas. They must expect a striker to make a run across the near post and one central, as well as being aware of the possibility of the opposite winger moving in on the far post. They cover the areas accordingly.

sEssIon TIME

90mins total:15mins warm-up, 15mins for each defensive principle, 15mins game, plus 15mins cool down and individual feedback

The defenders must communicate at all times, moving closer together where necessary but never stretching more than 10 yards apart.

In partnershIp wIth


José MourinhorEal MaDrID

José Mourinho is the enigmatic manager of Spanish league champions Real Madrid.

During a seven-year professional playing career, Mourinho appeared for Rio Avenue, Belenenses and Sesimbra in his native Portugal. But it was as a coach that he caught the eye, initially at Vitória de Setúbal in the early 1990s.

In 1992, he worked at Sporting Lisbon alongside Sir Bobby Robson, before the pair moved on to Porto, then Barcelona.

His first chance to take on first-team manager duties came at Benfica in 2000, before he switched to União de Leiria and then Porto. Arriving at Porto signalled the start of an incredible coaching success story. There he won the Portuguese Primeira Liga and Champions League, while moving to Chelsea in 2004 he clinched the Barclays Premier League in his first two seasons and the FA Cup in his third.

In 2008 he moved to Inter Milan where in his second season he won the Champions League for the second time in his career as part of a superb treble of domestic league, domestic cup and European honours.

In 2010 he moved to Real Madrid, where he won the Copa del Rey in his first season and La Liga in his second. The title success was record-breaking in that Real Madrid achieved 100 points, scoring 121 goals in the process.

defensive organisation

5 DECEMBER 2012


kEyPrinciple 3:Press the man on the ball

a

b

We use the same pressing and collective movement on both wings. Having successfully forced play backwards and as the opposition switch the ball to the other wing, our movements are mirrored.

The third man closes the simplest passing line.

When the ball moves wide we press as a team. The nearest defender presses from in front, the nearest midfielder presses from inside.

Double marking forces the opposition to play backwards – away from danger. Now we reorganise.

In partnershIp wIth


defensive organisationApplication of principles trained beforePlay 11v11 on a full-width pitch from box to box. Players must put into practice the elements rehearsed up until now.Attacking moves must come from the flank, with defenders showing depth control, the skill and organisation to double mark, and the confidence to move across in closing down the threat from the flanks.This is a continuous game played for 15 minutes. All normal laws and restarts apply.

6 DECEMBER 2012


kEy

Play 11v11 and look for the application of principles previously trained

Double marking

Depth control

Reading passes

Anticipating movement

Press or retreat?

Cover passing lines

Application of principles trained

b

a

c

In partnershIp wIth


What do I get the players to do? Pressing warm-upTo start, we place mannequins in a 20x15-yard area. Players run into the area, jockey a mannequin staying high or getting low in their stance, then run to the top edge, before coming back the other way (1). This is a simple pressing drill that rehearses approach and technique. After a while we remove the mannequins and give balls to half the players. Now opponents press the man without tackling, before moving on to the next target.Mannequin formationGauging the likely formation of upcoming opponents, we set mannequins in that shape – I have used 4-2-3-1 in the example. Players enter individually from the other side of the pitch with the instruction of approaching and pressing the mannequin relevant to the man they will be marking (2). With individual instruction, we rehearse showing inside or outside, angles, threats and general approach.7v7 gameIn a 60x30-yard playing area, the ball is played into one team, who pass it between themselves. Five opposition players now come across to

Mk Dons

karl robinsonPressingoverview:This session looks at the value of pressing in all areas of the pitch, with an emphasis on turning over possession and creating onward goalscoring chances.In it, we look at pressing technique, the relationships between players, and the value of winning the ball in different areas.It’s vital we practise pressing technique because, on average, the ball is turned over 360 times in a game – that’s four times per minute. Barcelona didn’t make their name through possession football, they made it through transitions and how quickly players can react to the possibilities brought about by a turnover, and that is at the heart of this session.

pressing

SET-UParEa

Up to 76x44 yardsEquIPMEnT

Balls, cones, mannequins, goalsnuMBEr oF PlayErs

Up to 14sEssIon TIME

Pressing warm-up 15mins, Mannequin formation 10mins, 7v7 game 4x4mins, 11v11 game 15mins

7 DECEMBER 2012

30

60

30

50

1520

30

60

1

2

3a

3b

Ball movement Player movementDribble

kEy

Setting up in an appropriate formation enables individual instruction in how players should approach and press opponents in an upcoming match situation

Players move through the area, approaching mannequins and practicing pressing technique, before moving off

When the transition occurs, team mates move back to support, while five blues now enter their opponents’ half to press

In the 7v7 game, five reds press their opponents in the other half, win the ball, then return it to the remaining two players

In partnershIp wIth


press the ball. When possession is turned over, the ball must be passed back to the waiting pair (3a). Speed of transition here is important – the five working players must return to their half to help defend the ball, while five of the other team also move across to press in a new 7v5

(3b). Which team can react quickest? If the ball goes dead always restart with the team last out of possession.11v11 gameThis is a played on a narrowed half-pitch plus penalty area. Each area requires players to play and behave in a certain way. The ability

to press remains important, albeit whilst exploring other tactical qualities (4).

What are the key things to look out for?Players need to understand who is around them - recognising the trigger and how play develops from that – as well as

learning when to pass and when to go alone.We also want good technique, communication and bravery. And, naturally, players must enjoy the session if they are to make the most of what it teaches them.

karl robinsonMk Dons

Despite having never played the game professionally, MK Dons boss Karl Robinson enjoyed an eventful career in the non-league game, scoring goals for a variety of clubs in the north-west of England, and Wales.

Hanging up his boots in 2007, he joined the Liverpool Academy as coach, soon moving on to Blackburn Rovers, before the chance to work alongside manager Paul Ince at MK Dons presented itself. He quickly impressed in the role of assistant manager, and when Ince departed in April 2010, moved into the hotseat at Stadium MK.

An honest and outspoken manager, Robinson guided the club to successive fifth-placed finishes in his first two seasons as manager, and this year the club again have promotion in their sights.

pressing

8 DECEMBER 2012

44

18

30

18

SHAPE AREA

COUNTER AREA

OPPORTUNITY

TO SCORE

PRESS TO SCORE

4


kEy

Press to score areaIn the top area, the emphasis is on pressing defenders on the ball at every opportunity. Winning possession in this area will always offer a great opportunity to create a goalscoring chance

Opportunity to score areaThe second area is the space in which the greatest goal danger arises. Defenders must not give the ball away in this space, while attackers should always be looking to shoot if the ball comes to them here

Counter areaThe Counter Area represents the space where our intention is to catch the opposition out of position. When turning over the ball here, we want to see only two or three touches before it is moved forward into the Opportunity to Score area

Shape areaThe fourth area is where, when defending, we must never give the ball away

In partnershIp wIth


What do I get the players to do?2v2sWe place an attacker and a defender in each of two 20x5-yard channels (which are side by side). Attackers advance forward, moving the ball between channels. Defenders jockey but cannot tackle in retreating back (1). The responsibility of pressing the ball always falls with the defender opposite the man in possession, but a team mate must always be covering. Once at the baseline, roles are reversed as the sequence comes back the other way.4v4sWe now progress to a 4v4 (2 ). Again, each time the ball is moved, the working defender drops back while his team mate goes to press (3). Work to the baseline then reverse once again.Pitch gameWe now work in the space between the penalty boxes, extended out to the touchlines. Using three teams of eight players, the ball begins on the baseline (4a).

roCHDalE

Jimmy BellDefending shapesoverview:This session is looks at defensive structure – movement from side to side, pressure on the ball and cover from supporting players.Good defensive organisation is obviously called upon throughout matches, so these are principles that must always be practised. We believe that the unity of defenders and a shared knowledge of how to deal with attacking threat provides a solid base on which the rest of the team can build.

defending shapes

SET-UParEa

(Up to) the space between penalty areasEquIPMEnT

Balls, cones, goalsnuMBEr oF PlayErs


2v2s 10mins, 4v4s 15mins

“Shared knowledge of how to deal with attacking threat provides a solid base on which the rest of the team can build.”9 DECEMBER 2012

20

20

10

20

20

20

1

2

3


kEy

But when the ball is transferred, the working defender drops back and the covering player moves in to press his man

We replicate the movement in a 4v4 – the nearest man to the attacker always presses the ball

In the 2v2, blue attackers move forward playing left and right while red defenders jockey and cover

In partnershIp wIth


Red attackers attempt work the ball through the zones, looking to thread a pass to their team mates on the next line (4b). Defenders aim to prevent this by pressing the ball, making a tackle or forcing a misplaced pass. Reds are successful if they manage to pass the ball through two lines of defenders to the blues. If this happens, yellows retreat, and from the top touchline, play comes back the other way (4c).If defenders are successful in intercepting, or if the ball goes out of play, the game restarts at the baseline.To win, attackers must make six transitions from one half to the other, while defenders require three interceptions.What are the key things to look out for?Make sure players pressure attackers, drop and cover quickly, always looking to stop gaps appearing in defence. Defenders can become lazy, not pressuring quickly enough nor communicating properly, and you must ensure attackers always play with their heads up, not being afraid to pass sideways if no forward pass is available.

Jimmy BellroCHDalE

When Jimmy Bell and first-team manager John Coleman departed Accrington Stanley in January 2012, they ended a 13-year association with the Lancashire club during which time they’d transformed them from Northern Premier First Division also-rans to an established npower League Two side.

The re-emergence of Stanley as a competitive force – as a result of four promotions – had seen the duo become extremely well regarded in the north-west.

And Bell, as assistant manager, has now applied that experience to a new challenge at Rochdale – in the first instance returning the club to League One.

defending shapes

10 DECEMBER 2012

“Defenders can become lazy, not pressuring quickly enough nor communicating properly, and you must ensure attackers always play with their heads up.”

4a

4b

4c


kEy

In the Pitch game, the principles practised are applied to a game environment with the man on the ball being pressed

Right-sided yellows are too slow to press their men, and two passes in quick succession see reds successfully transfer to the blue team

Now yellows retreat and the move comes back in the other direction

In partnershIp wIth


What do I get the players to do? Perfect passingWe set up two passing patterns that see the ball moved from one side of the pitch to the other (1). Once the sequence has been performed we reposition players and run the move again coming back in the other direction

so that each player gets to take on a different position. If the sequence gets broken up, simply restart.

What are the key things to look out for?We want to see pace and accuracy of pass and good touch, plus good movement in receiving the ball. Players should check

over their shoulders for other players while the ball is travelling towards them, and must consider body shape throughout. Finally, we need good communication – the ability to demand the ball and inform when passing.

How do I progress the session?We now link the two

passing set-ups by playing diagonal passes across the area (2). Again, players reposition and the move comes back in the other direction.

BlaCkBurn rovErs

Iain BrunskillPassing functionsoverview:This session examines the intricacies of passing moves, with a positive end product.Passing is at the heart of every team’s set-up, and the practice coaches how to use pace, accuracy, movement, body shape, communication and touch in negotiating a route through the opposition.We’ll run this practice each week in the day or two before a game to ensure that players stay sharp and switched on to the value of good passing.

passing functions

SET-UParEa

Space between penalty areasEquIPMEnT

Balls, cones (or mannequins), goalsnuMBEr oF PlayErs

18sEssIon TIME

Perfect passing 10mins each, 3v2 attacking combinations 10mins, 4v3 10mins

11 DECEMBER 2012

Perfect passing

A

B

1

2


kEy

The sequence runs continuously from end to end with players changing positions as directed. The left-hand sequence, A, shows the move from the start. The right-hand sequence, B, shows the positions players move to when the ball comes back in the other direction

In the progression, all that differs is the final pass, which is now made diagonally to the front of the other group

1

1

3

3

4

4

2

2

In partnershIp wIth


3v2 attacking combinationsNext, in the space between the two penalty boxes we use the principles practised earlier in the session, but add an end product – a

shot on goal in a 3v2 attacking overload (3). Once one goal has been attacked, the move comes back in the other direction. If the ball sequence gets broken up, again restart.

What are the key things to look out for?Players need to display good forward passing, at pace, with clever angles of support and attacking combinations. Offsides apply in this practice.

How to I progress the session?We can advance this by making it a 4v3 attacking combination (4). This makes the challenge more difficult for the attacking team.

Iain BrunskillBlaCkBurn rovErs

Iain Brunskill is first-team coach at Blackburn Rovers.

Working under new manager Henning Berg, Brunskill is responsible for the day-to-day development of players at the npower Championship club. That includes improving and helping to bring through the younger members of the Rovers squad, as well as nurturing the skills of established stars such as Jordan Rhodes and Nuno Gomes.

As a player, Brunskill came through the Liverpool Academy, moving on to Bury, before dropping into the non-league game with spells at Leek Town, Hednesford Town and Runcorn.

passing functions

12 DECEMBER 2012

“We’ll run this practice each week in the day or two before a game to ensure that players stay sharp.”

3

4


kEy

Player 1 passes to player 2 (who has made an

angle of support as the ball has travelled)

Player 2 sets back to

player 1 Player 1

passes up to player 3

Player 3 sets back to

player 2

Players 2, 3 and 4 now play 3v2 against the defenders until the attack finishes

The keeper feeds a

defender, who passes to

player 1

Players 1, 2, 3 and 4 now play 4v3 against the

defenders (reds) until the attack finishes

Player 2 passes up to player 3

Player 1 sets to player 2 (who has made an angle of

support as the ball has travelled)

3v2 attacking combinations

4v3

1

3

4

2

6

5

1

3

4

2

In partnershIp wIth


20

20

20

20

What do I get the players to do?Defending 1v1This is a series of 1v1s in a 20x20-yard square. In pairs, one tries to win the ball back off his opponent, who can use neutrals inside the squares to play off and retain possession (1).1v1 up to 2v2 defendingThis is a simple 1v1 in a 20x10-yard area. Two servers link up before playing into the first or second 1v1 box (2). Attackers look to score in the goal in their channel, though only the player receiving the ball, and his opponent, are active. Defenders must win possession and pass back to the servers.We can progress this game in two ways. First, defenders in the first area can recover and make a 2v1 in the deeper square. Then, defenders and attackers both join in the deeper square to make a 2v2 (3).6v6 game with floatersOn a 60x40-yard pitch, this game is played 6v6 with teams lining up 2-2-2 (4). Boxed players (yellows) act

sTEvEnaGE

Darren sarllCreating overloads in defenceoverview:This is a variable defensive session that looks at creating 2v1s at the back in restricting attacking threat.It’s vitally important our players know how to efficiently and effectively close down opponents in winning the ball at the back, particularly given that this is an area where space between the lines is a vital target for opposition attackers.And if your team is one that likes to operate with a counter-attacking strategy, or plays short and quick, then this allows this to happen with greater regularity.Introducing a new role or responsibility will see the session start slower than before, so be prepared for this. In time, you will definitely see that players ‘want’ to defend and are prepared to work hard for the good of the team.

creating overloads in defence

SET-UParEa


Balls, cones, goals (full-size and target)nuMBEr oF PlayErs


Games 20mins each

13 DECEMBER 2012

1

2

3


kEy

In Defending 1v1, the player on the ball links with boxed neutrals in retaining possession

Servers play into either the first or second box, where a 1v1 situation occurs

In the second progression, both defender and attacker can move on, thus creating a 2v2

In the first progression, a defender can move back into the space to support

In partnershIp wIth


as servers and targets for either side to attack or defend – passes can be grounded or floated. Three floaters (greys) play for the team in possession and can also score, but their main role is to create 2v1 attacking situations for defenders to deal with.Central goal/wide goalsStill 6v6, one team defends the two smaller goals and the other the main goal (5/6). With the teams attacking different central and wide targets, the game is stretched, meaning defenders have to organise to repel attacks coming from different areas.

What are the key things to look out for technically/tactically?It’s vital players understand what you want from them individually. I am a ‘mark players not space’ coach and am determined players can deal with all 1v1 defensive scenarios. Once players understand individually what you want from them, you can evolve their roles accordingly. So we’re looking for defending 1v1 from behind, the front and the side, watching angles and distances from the ball, balance, body position, and ensuring players can see the ball at all times. Good tackling technique, patience and anticipation is also required.

Darren sarllsTEvEnaGE

When Darren Sarll returned to Stevenage at June 2012 it saw the experienced youth coach come full circle, having started out at the Hertfordshire club as a community coach

Sarll progressed through the ranks – from coaching Under-16s, to the Centre of Excellence, the Under-18s and then reserve team manager before departing for Brentford in June 2008 where he worked as Youth Team Manager.

Moving on to Rotherham United in a similar role, he guided the direction of the Academy, before taking the decision to return to Stevenage at the start of the 2012/13 season. As Head of Youth, he is responsible for the next generation of player coming through at the npower League One side.

creating overloads in defence

14 DECEMBER 2012

“This session is great for helping players use the ball in small and compacted areas.”

4

6


kEy

Here, in the 6v6 game with three neutral floaters, the attacker and neutral player link in close quarters in a 2v1 and a ball is threaded through for the attacker to run onto

In supporting a fellow defender, the last man uses quick reactions to block a shot on goal

As blues concentrate play on the wing and switch play, a red forward drops back to create a 2v1 in defence

5

In partnershIp wIth


lMa aMBassaDor

lee JohnsonThe art of pinningoverview:This session is about coaching players - of all shapes, sizes and abilities – to use their bodies to peg back, pin and manipulate a defender in order to gain more time and space, for both themselves and the team.I think it’s important to coach this because, in my experience, young British players still have some way to go in perfecting this skill compared to their European counterparts.Essentially, the better we are in tight spaces, the more we will retain possession. The master of this was Kenny Dalglish – brilliant at stretching play, thus leaving room for others to exploit.

the art of pinning

“This session is about coaching players to use their bodies to peg back, pin and manipulate a defender in order to gain more time and space.”15 DECEMBER 2012

Pinning technique

SET-UParEa


Balls, cones, goalsnuMBEr oF PlayErs


Two-channel practice, three-zone game and 8v8 game - 20mins each

What do I get the players to do? Two-channel practiceSetting up as shown, the ball is rolled in to the striker. He must

pin the defender, using his body and skill to manipulate a shot on goal. If the defender wins the ball or out-muscles the striker, he must move into box two and put his foot on the ball to score a point (1).

What are the key things to look out for?There are two common mistakes. The first is when a small player comes to meet the ball and gets

bundled over. In this instance, his weight is probably on his toes and his centre of gravity is too high. The other mistake is when the player touches the ball too early, thus not being able to let the ball’s momentum help him turn. Here, he must get his body position right and take the line of the ball when looking to turn.

How do I progress this?We can progress by

varying the speed and type of pass, and by changing the angle of entry into the box. Also allow the striker to pin and then move the ball forward out of his feet in looking for the next pass.Three-zone with winger gameSet up 8v8, as shown, in a 40x30-yard area (2a). The coach serves to a midfielder who must find one of his strikers in the end zone, for a 2v2 situation.

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8

1


kEy

In the left channel, the attacker pins and rolls in order to find a route to goal, while in the right channel the defender has stolen the ball and moves into the other box to score a point

Realise where the space is, and shield the ball away from danger in order to buy time for team mates to make a receiving option

Use the body and skill to roll the defender where possible

Get the body low (using a low centre of gravity) to hold off the defender

Put weight on the heels, forcing defender back towards his goal

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lee JohnsonlMa aMBassaDor

Footballer Lee Johnson has over 400 senior appearances to his name, and has recently taken his first steps into coaching.

Son of prolific Football League manager Gary Johnson, the 31-year-old midfielder came through the ranks at Arsenal and then Brighton, but it was at Yeovil Town that he really flourished, clocking up 191 appearances for the Glovers during a golden period for the club, which included two promotions.

Lee moved to Bristol City in 2006, making a further 174 appearances, before joining Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock in February 2012. A month later he set up the winning goal for Killie as they defeated Celtic 1-0 in the Scottish League Cup final.

the art of pinning

16 DECEMBER 2012

“The striker must get his body position right and take the line of the ball when looking to turn.”

The striker must pin defenders with the option to turn and shoot, interlink with a team mate for a shot, or set back for the midfielder to shoot in his zone (whilst being alert to rebounds).

He may also play wide into the winger’s box for a cross (2b).If the keeper wins possession, he throws the ball directly to one of his strikers, otherwise restart from the coach.

8v8 game(not illustrated)On a 60x40-yard pitch, teams set up 1-3-3-1 and 1-2-3-2. Use cones to mark offside lines, which should be set deep.

We want to see the type of individual brilliance and technical detail practised earlier in the session, with strikers always encouraged to buy time for their midfield runners.

40

30

40

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In this instance, pinning enables the ball to be sent wide to the winger, as players reorganise for a cross into the middle

From the serve, the midfielder pins and rolls, feeding his attacker who pins and receives, before laying a pass into his fellow frontman

Three-zone with winger game

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extra-time

17 DECEMBER 2012

elite soccer speaks to alan Curbishley about management, advice he would give to up-and-comIng managers, as well as highlighting his future ambitions within football.

W hat was your proudest moment

in management?I think possibly taking Charlton Athletic into the Barclays Premier League and keeping them there for eight years. When I first took over the club we were playing our home games at Upton Park and we had no ground, so we started off there in front of 3,000 fans. When I left, we’d gone back to the Valley, built a stadium, and we were playing in front of 27,000 every week. So that’s really got to be my greatest achievement.

W as it always a plan to do that or did it

just evolve?Well when we first took over, I was a joint manager with Steve Gritt and I think we had 13 players at the time. In that first season, because we were successful as we finished seventh in the equivalent of League One, we attracted the people to the club who ended up buying the club, funding us to get us back to the Valley, which is what we desperately had to do. It was great credit to the board, the chairman and for the people really putting the money in. They were holding their

end up and we were holding our end up on the pitch.

W hat has been your most

important decision as a manager?When I took over at Charlton I agreed with the chairman and the board the way forward; we actually had a plan. We had to sell players to raise the money to get back to the Valley, so we sold Robert Lee who was obviously one of our best players and a couple of the youngsters to raise around £1million.

Add that to what the board were putting in to get us back to the Valley - essentially the site was condemned. But the plan was obvious: we needed to get back to having our own stadium, having been away for seven years.

If you can imagine, the seven-year-olds who used to support us when we were originally there were now 14 and supporting other clubs. So we had to work to regain the fan base that we’d lost

over those seven years. Most importantly of all is that the

chairman and I were singing from the same hymn sheet. We had the plan that in the first couple of years any money that we raised really went back in to the club to develop the new stands. And then once we’d got

alan CurBishley

“One manager in particular said to me ‘the only bit of advice I can give you is to win matches.’ he said ‘if you win more than you lose then you’ll be okay’ and basically that was right.”

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the stadium up to scratch, then any money that was available went into the team, and that’s when we really started to take off.

W hat about your biggest change in management, and what

advice would you give to young managers?Well obviously the finances have been the biggest change. When the Barclays Premier League was formed the influx of money that came in to the game through Sky and other sponsors was just fantastic, and I think that a little bit of regret is that a lot of the money has gone out of the game.

Perhaps we should have kept more in; I know we’ve built great stadiums but there should have been something else specifically with grassroots; but I’m sure that’s going to come.

I just think that the whole evolution of the Barclays Premier League has been a fantastic success. I think a lot of managers talk about change and you have to go along with that. I mean, when I started off with the Bosman ruling coming in, there was always something coming along that perhaps changed the way we had to manage. But I think now the most difficult thing is the players and the agents. Maybe the power that they’ve got at the minute is too strong. It’s too much in their favour and you have to deal with that as a manager.

But for any young managers coming through, I think the biggest relationship has got to be with his chairman, making sure that everyone is going in the same direction; trying and ascertain the expectation level. Managers need to sit down and say, ‘What do you expect in the first year... next year?’ because I think the expectations are the reason that so many managers leave their job, because they’ve not met them or they’ve pushed them too far. Possibly it may also be because people expect a bit more. So I think the relationship with the chairman has got to be the strongest one.

W ho were your mentors?Well I do remember that I

phoned up the ‘big four’ as they were then and said ‘can you offer me any advice?’ and they all said some nice things. But one manager in particular said to me ‘the only bit of advice I can give you is to win matches.’ He said ‘if you win more than you lose then you’ll be okay’ and basically that was right.

I’ve looked at what Sir Alex [Ferguson] has done over the 25 years he’s been at Manchester United, and Arsène Wenger too, and for a long while I was perched in between them because I’d been at Charlton for so long. I’m amazed at how long they’ve lasted at one club and I don’t think we’re going to see it again.

At the moment football is focused on the short-term; you’ve got to be instantly successful. Those two managers, Arsène Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson, have earned the right

to perhaps think longer term in all the things they’re doing, especially when they’re buying players.

Another good example is David Moyes because he’s coming up on their tails, having now done 10 years at Everton. When you’ve been at the club for so long your planning can be for the long-term. I’ve seen managers going in to football clubs now and I know they’re thinking ‘well I’ve probably got 18 months to be successful because if I’m not there’s going to be a change’ and if I could change anything it would be that. It would be that when people employ managers they give them a three- or four-year contract that they have to stick to.

H ow satisfying is it being the fifth longest serving Barclays premier

League manager?Well, considering I haven’t worked for three years, I’ve had Sam Allardyce on my tail (and perhaps next year he might overtake me) but I’m so pleased that when I got in to management it was in the Premier League era. It was the big one and my chairman at the

time, Richard Murray, always said that the club hit the Premier League at the right moment and we were able to go along with it. So I am proud of the fact that that for a long while I was up there with Alex [Ferguson], Arsène [Wenger] and Harry Redknapp who have obviously been around for a considerable amount of time. Obviously to be in that company is a great achievement.

I n terms of management style what has been key to your

success?I think the relationship you have with the players has obviously got to be the most important thing. They’ve got to respect you and you’ve got to be honest with them. You may have 30 or 40 conversations during a day with different people but the one you had with that player is the one he will remember. So you’ve just got to make sure you are honest with them and that they understand where you’re at.

But when you’re at a football club, the next thing is obviously the player recruitment side, and that is so important in today’s game. Too many bad signings are going to go against you. Everyone at the football club has got to know where they stand and where the parameters are as discipline is a major factor now. Certainly in the Premier League, a major part of the task now is effective man-management.

D o you miss management and would you like to make a return?

Yes I do miss it and I would like to come back, and perhaps I’ve pitched too high. I’ve had opportunities in the npower Championship which I’ve declined. I’ve had opportunities too in the Barclays Premier League where clubs were perhaps already on their way out of the division, and I was maybe waiting for bigger and better things. But if the right Premier League opportunity comes up then I would look at that very, very seriously.

extra-time: alan CurBishley

18 DECEMBER 2012

“I think the relationship you have with the players has obviously got to be the most important thing. they’ve got to respect you and you’ve got to be honest with them.”

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booked: this month’s ChoiCe

19 DECEMBER 2012

In Black and WhiteThe Jake White StoryJake WhiteZebra Press 342pp

Jake White had a childhood dream to play for, or coach, the Springboks rugby team. Nothing unusual about that in a South African schoolboy. But White was different. His passion for leadership shone through in an essay written at the age of 17. “I have seen how you can make people believe in themselves; how you can show people that every single person can be a winner if you want it.” He wasn’t good enough to get near playing for the Boks, but was a coach at 18, leading his school 1st XV, and followed his vision all the way to the top, starting as a PE teacher. The difference was his determination and sheer commitment. “I think about rugby when I wake up, and I think about it before I fall asleep. Sometimes I dream about it. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I wasn’t part of rugby, but I’m sure I would be a miserable person.”

In Black and White is a slightly sad book in that White’s reward for complete commitment to a goal is a bittersweet one. It dives deep into the divided and conflicting culture of South African rugby, but is as relevant for soccer as it is for its sporting cousin.

It documents how White won the ultimate prize in the sport, a World

himself and to others pursuing a goal: “Just be yourself…and run like crazy.” White emerges as someone who always tries to be positive and makes a big effort to understand the other point of view.

At the beginning of this book, written with journalist Craig Ray, White says he didn’t want his story to come across as whingeing. But the difficult circumstances in which he succeeded in winning make this particular desire an uphill struggle.

His narrative leaves the reader in no doubt that, to put it mildly, the people running South Africa Rugby are a rotten bunch of interfering so-and-sos. They appeared never to be straight with him about his contract, and White claims this became an ongoing distraction. The rancour over his employment terms, stories that he had approached the RFU for a job, plus a spate of injuries, are blamed by White for the 49-0 trouncing inflicted by Australia on the Springboks in the Tri-Nations in 2006 – the second worst defeat in Book history.

White, like other post-apartheid Bok coaches, was under pressure to meet the “transformation” agenda under which it is intended that more black players are selected. White was initially criticized for not picking enough despite having very few choices from Super 14 teams,

Just be yourself... and run like crazy

Cup, but was unceremoniously booted out of the job he had wanted all his life. It’s tough at the top, and particularly so in politics-riven South African rugby.

White overcame hurdles growing up. He “never really had a father”. His parents split up when he was 13 and he was forced to change his surname from Westerduin to that of his wife’s new husband. This left him “angry, upset, scared and shocked.” But he learned to accept the change and didn’t let it get in the way – there were more important things to worry about. In his schoolboy essay he wrote: “I believe I was born with a talent for coaching.” His advice to

“I believe I was born with a talent for coaching.”

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reveals little about his style, however, there are some flashes of inside knowledge.

Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones in the foreword says Jake White is a “people person”. Jones realized how much time White was prepared to invest in a range of people. No aloof leader, White “goes out of his way to make himself available to his staff and his people in general.” White made a habit of writing pre-match notes to players before big games.

White regularly admits he continues to learn. He discovered that certain players have to be treated differently from others and that they all need to be treated as individuals. Schalk Burger was “not the best gym-goer”, doesn’t like stretching, and did not have the work ethic that White expected. However, that doesn’t mean he stopped trying to improve Burger. “He’d be an even better player if he did all those things too”. Winger Bryan Habana’s star quality meant he was another player White had to handle in a special way.

Overall, there’s a sense that White doesn’t really want to give much away about tactics – they are too important to winning perhaps. However, he explains about how he developed an “umbrella” defence in place of blitz or drift methods “because my players just wanted to tackle to player in front of them.” “We’d press from the outside (the wings) and ensure that after two passes, the opposition had nowhere to go. They’d have to come back inside, where we’d have players such as Schalk Burger, Juan Smith

arguing that the structure of the game was having most influence on racial balance not his selection policy.

The media seemed always to be reporting that he had or was about to resign, with the suspicion that he was being briefed against internally.

And there was a distinct lack of harmony between head coach and employer. He was grilled for two hours on his selection policy by the President’s Council, who, he claimed, asked questions based on what they had read in the papers.

White was unceremoniously dumped out of his office without notice to make way for new SA Rugby managing director Jonathan Stones.

He came under fire for resting players in the pre-world Cup Tri-Nations – a decision that arguably led to the South African victory and winning the Webb Ellis trophy.

But there was worse. Demonstrating their inability to stop meddling, SA Rugby forced flanker Luke Watson into White’s squad, despite the head coach believing he was a mediocre player.

To cap it all, SA Rugby invited applications for his job during the actual World Cup 2007 tournament, as if he didn’t have more important things to worry about.

In a chapter entitled “Hung out to dry” White has a wholly justified moan. “I always knew that South African rugby was riddled with people who had no interest in the game, only in what they could siphon from it.” The pressure of dealing with these people, of being undermined by them, made it seem to White that sometimes the role wasn’t worth the emotional and physical strain it caused. Some would say that goes with the territory.

A reader could hope for, but shouldn’t expect, much coaching detail in such an autobiography. White

booked: this month’s ChoiCe

20 DECEMBER 2012

and Bakkies Botha to hit them.”

When White was appointed in coach development for the Transvaal Rugby Union he met Afrikaans-speaking guys suspicious of an Englishman from Joburg

trying to tell them how to understand the game. In 1997 was given a full-time position with SA Rugby, joining Nick Mallett’s coaching team as a technical analyst, but was fired after some kind of turf war with Mallett’s No 2 Alan Solomons. Job insecurity goes with the job description. White is still looking for a new job in rugby.

JakE WHITE’s FaCT FIlEBorn 19 March 1963

1986-1994 PE teacher and coach Jeppe Boys High School.

1995-1997 Director of Coaching, Transvaal Rugby Union

2000 Assistant Coach, Natal Sharks

2000-2001 Springboks Assistant Coach

2003-2007 Springbok Head Coach

2004 Won Tri Nations

2007 Won World Cup

2003 - 2007 Took South Africa from 6th in IRB World Rankings to 1st

2004, 2007 IRB International Coach of the Year

JakE WHITE’s TEsT rECorD as Bok CoaCHPlayed 53Won 35Drawn 1Lost 17Winning ratio 66%

“The people running south africa rugby are a rotten bunch of interfering so-and-sos.”

defensive organisation · Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City at top of the table. ManCHEsTEr unITED: W3 D0 l0 (lEaGuE only) In the npower Championship, Middlesbrough

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