Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Team Training - Playing through MF in a diamond

Screen 1

Set Up : As pictured 11v11 Team Training 

Coached Team : Red : 1-4-4-2 (Diamond MF)

vs

Managed Team : Blue : 1-4-3-3 (1:2 MF)

Problem 1: Blue team defend from a Mid-Block and the 9 does not allow our CDM to get on the ball. Blues allow the CBs to have the ball and make the next decision.

Solution 1: CDM takes the 9 away from the ball which allows and opens up passing lanes into the middle of the pitch and the ball side 8 can receive on the outside shoulder of the opposition and play out through the near side FB who can then travel forward and try to link play with the 10 who will play behind the opposition CDM and try to find pockets of space.

Problem 2: Blue team rotate their MF unit and try to lock on 1v1 in the MF unit with the 9 dealing with the CDM. Wingers shall press from out to in and try and force the CBs to play long.

Solution 2: In this situation players would rotate their diamond shape into a box to try and tempt the opposition to continue to lock on. If they do not then the 2xCDM shall be live to play and face forward and be creative. In the event that the opposition continue to be aggressive and stay tight the what if would be for one of the split 9s on the highest line to roll inside and overload the MF unit in a 5v4. It is for the Red team to then find the spare MF player. Key detail for this to happen is for the box MF4 to open up passing lines and not play too tight or central.

Coaching detail:

Starting positions, movements and double movements to create time and space to get on the ball in good areas

Effect players furthest away first within each of the blocks

Rotations of rolls within the unit, who, what, why, when and what if

Blue team are managed with the challenge of forcing play wide or long and try to prevent the CDM in both blocks receiving the ball facing forward in the middle third of the pitch.

If they win the ball back, they have 10 seconds to get a shot off at goal.

This should hopefully manufacture the restarts for the red team from goal kicks. Blue team are on double goals so that if they do score their goal counts double which should incentivize them to work hard all be it they might not have the ball in their possession for very long.

2 9's split the CB and FB of the opposition and play on the highest line to stretch play and allow for pockets of space to be opened up in MF unit.

10 to play off the shoulder of the CDM for the same reasons.

2x 8s to play wider than the center circle and can they play beyond the opposition and play on different lines where and when possible. Be hard to mark.

6 to try and move the 9 away from the ball and if he cannot get on the ball in the first phase can his movements be such that he can get into the ball facing forward off the 2nd pass from the MF unit.

FBs to play beyond opposition wingers to be the option for the bounce pass from the ball side 8 in MF and play forward quickly. Can they link play with 9 and 10.

CBs provide the defensive balance and communicate well in case of breakdown and transition.

Consider the transition for Reds that when they loose the ball, they are to apply fast pressure on the ball and show the opposition away from goal.