a little advise.....meant with good intentions

[leagueplayer]

I think your team spirit is fantastic and you take it very seriously. your team has alot of potential and i think you should definately stick with your new forward and the 2 quick lads in midfield. however i do feel that your team needs a quality defender whom not only plays well but commands other players so that they are aware of their defensive duties at all times. I already play for a team on a sunday night and every season we have one of the best defensive records and consistantely finish in the top 5 or 6. This is because like us, the top teams have 1 defender whom stays back and dictates the plays. if you watch on a sunday, top teams teams have a man always a the back. Real leisure use to before he got injuried and fc bullbrook both have a brilliant defender playing for them.one of the new teams does as well, but i cant think of their name.(i will get back to you on that) they dont do anything flashy. they tackle and lay off simple passes. The 1 thing they do, do is organise every body. The defender may be a fantastic player, but will never stand out because he will do the boring but vitally important things which allow a great attack to do what they do best with out worrying about conceeding. be simple and effective,
You watch them on a sunday night and you will see how crucial they are to their teams.
there are afew others with players like this.....all teams which finish high up the league.

For example: when the opposition goalkeeper has the ball. Have your centre back central and behind every one else. This way he can view all angles. get him to encourage your players to squeeze the opposition and keep them in your half. Look around and tell them who to mark. instruct them quickly and loudly and tell them to get tight. I garantee you that this will result in two of your players to the left of you and two to the right of you. this allows you to then take the forward, who will either be central and move towards his own keeper, or move towards your goal, towards the wings.

simple harsh instructions will stop you from conseeding so many goals. do this and with your attack you will be better than you already are.
And another thing.......make sure it is a good defender whom has this responsibility.....to be honest with you....if you find a decent defender they will automatically do this for you.


I look forward to playing your lot in the league, because as usual, i think defending how you do, it will be very hard to stop us from scoring goals........but you never know, you may prove me wrong lol

p.s......i dont want you to think i am be cocky! that i why i am not saying who i play for.......i just like the fact that you want to become a better team and put alot of effort in. if you want to respond to me........go on your comments forum, and start a new subject called defending.......if you put a reply or comments in their, i will be happy to replpy on your forum......................as i said before....i dont want to sound cocky.......if you think what i have said is alot of shit and you dont want any help then that is far enough.....go on the forum and tell me.......dont want you to fink i am being a wanker.......hopefully see a reply from you soon as i have another helpful tip.

[Coley]

Who is the Alan Hansen wannabee?

No he does make a good point, that we can work on, but i think that his view on distributing the ball is easier said than done, we do try and mark up, but with 10 players in one half room is at a minimum and we sometimes, well usually roll it out to the side of our goal, not even 10 yards from the by line, we need to open up the middle, draw players away and create space for Darren to throw into, that way our attaking options are increased, and it makes us less easy to read, and therefore be defended against. the benefit of Si, was a man in the middle, we have alwasys tried to play down lines, and its good, but we then lack someone in the middle.

So many views today eh.

[TC]

i take most of it on board but i don't necessarily agree with everything you say.

your right that we do take it seriously, but the players we have are with us because we're mates, and as one of our two defenders, and manager i wont be chucking out myself or gaz because someone better comes along.

that said we did used to play with one defender and one further forward, but it has steadily reverted to a flat back two, which is more about myself and gaz's style of play than team tactics. and apart from anything else at the moment we have three wins out of four games so why change anything?

i personally think we are doing fine for the time being as we are still settling in the new guys and just working on improving ourselves as a team. so far i think i've got the tactics pretty much spot on, but if we can improve by taking your comments into account then fair play to you. i just think that for the time being we are playing the system best suited to the players we have available.

[Coley]

Agree, we play our style and on its day it works and sometmies it doesnt.

I think if you ask anyone in our team, the difference between this year and last, for me is we are having a laugh again and having some fun. It all stemmed from the Untouchables game last season and its still going.

TC for England.