HOW DO YOU "MANAGE" A GAME?

You will never find the subject on any coaching course but, in my humble opinion, this is a crucial part of the game and is ignored by many currently!
 

Simply put, if there are 5 minutes left in the game and the score is 1-0, I cannot see how the two teams can take the same approach to how they play the last five minutes!

One team HAS to score and one team WANTS to score, but they cannot concede!
 

So, especially when coaching youngsters I make it a CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI FINAL SCENARIO (as they understand the Champions League).

I “give” one team a one goal head start (“the home team”) and tell them they are just 5 minutes from a Champions League final and that they cannot afford to concede.
 

As a result of this “ intervention” the other team automatically charge forward to get that crucial away goal and get to the final themselves.
 

I let them go for a couple of minutes then coach the teams (two coaches make it easier!!)
 

· For the team chasing the goal I caution against all “bombing forward” recklessly, as it only takes a second or two to score a goal, and they cannot afford to concede as this would mean them having to score twice in 5 minutes!

Instead I suggest keeping their quicker players (full backs?) back, to stop the counter attack, but will push the better headers (centre backs) up and then tell my wide players to get crosses into the box - not only hoping for a knockdown or loose ball, but also to play on the psychological worries, that the team that is defending a one goal lead, may have.
 

· For the team defending the lead, I use the reverse psychology!

The best way to make sure you defend that 1-0, is to make it 2-0, but with the focus being on the NIL! Use players to get forward and keep the ball as far from their goal as possible, and take the ball into areas in which they can either “waste time” (into the corner) or keep the ball (into open spaces), but wherever possible doing it in the opponents half. BUT if the chance to score is on, try to take it rather than run it in the corner - only do this (takeout into the corner) when a GOOD chance is not on!!

That second goal gives you breathing space!

 

So, in summary, you HAVE to have flexibility in your approach depending on the state of the game.

You should not drop too deep if you are leading, as this invites pressure and if your attackers drop back (to help) then this means the opponents’ defenders can move forward to create more havoc!

Open play and disorganisation are the enemy of holding on to a lead!

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To most teams who need to hold a lead it is crucial that they retain possession of the ball, fitness is crucial in this area and also technique, but most important is the need to use the brain to manage the situation.

And remember, the best way to defend a one goal situation is to make it a two goal lead, but in a controlled way, not to be reckless!!