Rapid Wien 9 - SNN 7 EPL Oct 11, 2009

This was a frustrating loss. An unregistered GK, poor connection for one player and ball ghosting through defenders. We can beat this team.

Things to improve;

Players need to be ready before the game.

If players are not ready or present there should be be reserve players ready to take their place.

We need to have regular, purposeful training sessions during the week.
I think that there should be a regular training session everyday at 12:00 (or another time)
for about 30 minutes.
Players should be required to spend one hour a week at purposeful training.
( It is not necessary to do training for dribbling, everyone can do that anytime at fun matches.)

Offense:

We need to have thought-out attack plans. From my vantage point it looks like the strikers
rely on individual dribbling skills to break through the defenders. That may work at first but
the opponents will get wise and concentrate on the ball handler and not worry about open strikers. Strikers need to be able to pass the ball quickly among themselves and to midfielders to force defenders to spread out. Strikers should work together in training to pass the ball around. I posted exercises on the other blog that I think will help.

Defense:

Rapien Wien was sucessful at taking advantage of the weakness in the SL defender animations.

They would complete a pass to a striker inside the penalty box and he would make a short quick dash into the goal. (On at least 2 of their goals I was right on top of the ball, I think Mola and Radu had the same experience). Tackling in the middle of the field is not too hard because you have time to set up and plenty of space and time to complete the tackle. Inside the penalty box the defender must tackle or knock the ball loose on the first try.

The opponents should not be allowed time to make an acurate pass. Midfielders especially and defenders should harass attackers and not allow them time to setup and aim a pass.

There must be training for intercepting passes.

Defenders should train for tackling inside the penalty box.


At least one day a week we should have a 30 minute offensive vs defense training session.