Preparation vs. Reaction

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Hello and a warm welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter! In this issue, we focus on the following topics:

1. ⚽Preparation vs. Reaction

2. 👉3 New Exercises for You!

3. 📺Video Recommendation: Will Still - Coach of Stade de Reims - A Day in the Life of a Coach

⚽Preparation vs. Reaction

After an eventful Sunday, the intensive preparation for the next game starts no later than Tuesday. For a professional football coach, it's crucial to constantly consider how to best prepare the team. A thorough analysis of the opponent is of great significance to instill confidence in the players that they are well-prepared. However, even the most meticulous analyses and preparations can quickly be disrupted during the game. Today, we want to delve deeper into these two aspects: the preparation and decisions before the game, as well as the decisions made during the game, which are equally vital.

Pre-Game Analysis

Before the game, there's plenty of time to prepare and study the opponent's strengths and weaknesses. While there's some guesswork involved in predicting how the opponent will play, teams usually stick to a clear style that's easy to identify. Smaller teams, with fewer star players, are simpler to analyze compared to big teams like Manchester City or Real Madrid, who have quality players in every position. This gives the coach more freedom to try out new tactics and surprise the opponent. In short, when analyzing the opponent, it's important to consider these key points:

• What is the opponent's game philosophy?

  • For example: Does the opponent play from the back or rely more on long balls?

• How does the opponent behave in the four phases of the game?

  • In possession

  • Transition after losing possession

  • Out of possession

  • Transition after regaining possession

• How does the opponent act in set-piece situations?

  • Corners, throw-ins, goal kicks, penalties

• What is the opponent's individual tactic?

  • Are there any key players to watch out for? Are there any weaknesses?

• What is the opponent's group tactic?

  • For example, how does their defensive backline operate? Are they tall and slow or small and agile?

• What is the opponent's team tactic?

  • How quickly or slowly does the entire team transition? How precise is their shifting, or is it more hesitant?

Live Analysis

Analyzing the opponent is time-consuming, yet only a part of the whole picture. Analysis during the game is equally important, but in my opinion, it's also more challenging. Everyone knows the feeling: a week filled with fantastic training sessions doesn't always translate into a great performance on match day, or conversely, a disappointing final training session can be surpassed by a strong team performance on match day. Football is a sport that cannot be controlled 100 percent, and that's what makes it so fascinating and beautiful. There are numerous factors that can alter the dynamics during a game:

• Players can have a bad day

• Refereeing decisions can change the course of the game

• Fans can make a difference

• Injuries can have an impact

• Goals can alter the dynamics and tactics

• Adjustments / changes by the opponent (coach)

• Weather conditions and more...

The coach's mastery lies in exerting influence during the game where possible and necessary, despite often facing limitations. Even on match day, when emotions run high, the coach must remain composed, making real-time decisions on the field to guide the team effectively.

Another challenge that adds to the coach's role is their restricted field of vision. Coaches essentially have the least advantageous viewpoint in the stadium, positioned at ground level alongside the players. This limits their ability to oversee the field compared to an aerial perspective, which offers a comprehensive view of the team's movements. Consequently, top teams now utilize live videos with bird's-eye views to provide the coaching staff with enhanced visibility from the sidelines. Furthermore, during training sessions, some coaches employ specialized setups to adjust their perspective and gain a clearer view.

Therefore, it's crucial for a coach to develop their own game principles that are independent of the formation or system. While these principles may also be analyzed and known by opponents, they provide stability and clarity to the team during the game.

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👉3 New Exercises for You!

3 new exercises are out. Get unlimited access to all existing and upcoming videos with our monthly or yearly subscription.

Exercises:

• Third man with a finish on a small goal

• Finishing drill with crosses

• Finishing drill with transition play (1vs1, 2vs1, 2vs2)

📺Video Recommendation: Will Still - Coach of Stade de Reims - A Day in the Life of a Coach

The Ligue 1 Uber Eats followed Will Still, the coach of Stade de Reims, for over 30 hours. "Will Still On Fire" gives you a behind-the-scenes look into the professional life of the 31-year-old coach.

⚽If you enjoyed this post, we would appreciate your support by sharing it with other football enthusiasts who might also find it interesting.👍

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