Build up: Attract to create space ahead

More and more teams (or coaches) are losing their fear of building up with security, short passes using the goalkeeper as a sweeper, but few have the guts to really use the goalie to attract an oponent to create a 2v1 situation and build from there.

In this video, see how many times the opponents are drawn to the ball, compelled to pressure higher and leaving space in their back.

Ter Stegen vs Leverkusen

Goalkeeper Evolution!

Ter Stegen from Football Hunting on Vimeo.

It already begun. The future is here.

Some had tried in the past, but Victor Valdez, Neuer and Stegen are the recent ones.

How can we work during training to "produce" more goalkeepers like this?

Masterpiece of David Alaba 1x1 Defending

Principles of Defending

 understanding of Delay, Depth, Concentration (Compaction), Balance, Discipline/Patience in the defending phase.

1. Delay - The ability to prevent the ball from being played forward quickly. A pressuring player needs to reduce the time and space of the attacker to prevent the ball being played forward. This is especially important when outnumbered to allow the team to re-shape to a loss in possession appropriately.
2. Depth - Reduce the space behind the pressuring player. Provide support in defence. These players do not provide pressure on the ball but instead support the challenging player. Their relative position to the pressuring player is dependent on the situation and part of the field they are supporting the player in. Defensive support is generally much tighter than attacking support.
3. Concentration/Compactness - The movement of players to concentrate into an area of the field vulnerable to scoring opportunities. Most teams generally drop on loss of possession and recover towards their own goal. Players should make runs back towards their own goal and goal side of the ball if desired.
4. Balance - In order to cancel the threat of mobility provided by the offense, balance is required by the defending team to retain defensive shape. Balancing is an extension of delay and support. Balancing players provide additional support. Be prepared to leave weak side attacking players unmarked to balance the strong side of the field.
5. Discipline/Patience - Defending players need to be patient and assess the risk involved in challenging for the ball. A well structured defending line can quickly become disorganized with one rash challenge. Players need to exercise control and restraint and re-adjust their shape to changing scenarios. Players also need to be alert to their surroundings at all times (switched on!).
6. Predictability - Defensive movements should encourage/force the attacking team to play into certain areas of the field. Channeling play into particular well defended areas or less important areas of the field makes play predictable and increase our chances of regaining possession or decreases goal scoring threats.

This is David Alaba........not your usual Lateral Esquerdo!

Defending Outnumbered

Costa Rica Vs Greece

5v2 and no goal! 

Good defending or poor decision from the attacking side?

Let me know your thoughts!

Effort IS NOT negotiable!!!

Tevez -Work Ethic

For all the trouble off the pitch, he offers you this!!!

Liverpool Diamond shape out of possession

Brendan Rodgers

Impressive the way that Liverpool work without the ball. The transitions/recovery process  make them a really threat with the pace and skill from their strikers. Notice Ballotelli defending the Tottenham Full back and how hard Ryheem Sterling work without the ball!
Is it enough to  win the barclays premier league? I think he will need to have a plan b for when they play against teams that sit down and defend deep. But there will be plenty of goals this season!!!

Liverpool- Diamond shape in possession!

Brendan Rodgers