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The Attacking Patterns videos from the Seattle sessions are even better than I imagined they would be! Highly informative and so helpful! I “see” how you’re doing it. Thanks for sharing, Gary. I just had a few observations and questions regarding the wingers:
1. it appeared that the group (new as they are to the patterns) often played the ball to the winger’s feet, and I was wondering how much you would suggest playing the ball into space for the winger to run onto? even in Pattern #3 where we are trying to get behind the defender, it seemed like we were playing to feet during most of the sequences.
2. just as you instruct the outside backs to get to the touch line when playing out of the back, how do you feel about instructing the wingers to get to the goal line before crossing the ball? I know this was a new group you were working with in Seattle, but I was just curious if this was or should be a point of emphasis at a later session?
3. depending on how you felt about 2. above, how much do you encourage the wingers to attack and take on their man on the flanks when they are 1v1 by dribbling to the goal line? it appeared to me that the intensity and pace of the wingers was a bit lacking as they often only took a touch (maybe two) before making a cross. seems like getting to the goal line could help with timing runs into the box among other things. just a thought!
Great stuff all the way around. And I’d appreciate your helping to round out my understanding of expected winger play. Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Hi Simon,
- When the intent of the pattern is to get in behind the defense, the ball should be played into space for the winger (so yes on pattern #2 & 3).
- I don’t like that as a rule. All these patterns (and in fact, all this ‘choreography’ that constructs the ‘style of play’) act as structures – or containers – from which a player can then be creative and express themselves. With that in mind, we allow the winger to then ‘create’ what he does next. Maybe he’s in straight on goal and should not cross. But if he’s going to cross, he should be picking out a runner and trying to hit that target (that’s the next layer of detail). I understand the value of the goal line, but in the moment there could be greater value of serving before the goal line. We choose not to be so rigid on dictating what the winger should do. Establishing the general framework / structure / container is the priority.
- Kind of the same as how I ended the answer above. Establishing the general pattern and having it performed consistently in matches is the priority (that’s hard enough!). Everything else is gravy and layered in formally later, or can be done informally by verbal instruction during matches to specific players.
Excited to have you here Simon!
Excellent! Very helpful. You guys are world class in my view. Thanks again!
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