4th Oct 2022
Winning doesn’t always tell the true, full story of a fixture. As much as we enjoyed getting three points against Sleaford Rangers recently, it wasn’t the most commanding of performances. We didn’t concede, which was excellent, but unfortunately we were unable to dominate possession and create further opportunities to score more goals. Our press wasn’t as effective because we didn’t need to use it as often as we have done previously. This disrupted our flow and we needed to learn to accept the long ball and build from the knock-down. We spent a lot of time chasing and trying to force passes which in turn resulted in throw-ins, off-sides and further goal kicks against us. Some of our younger players fed back that they didn’t feel that they got on the ball enough. This was true but also a key milestone in their development. At step 7, and above, football doesn’t give a player as much time on the ball as it does in the junior fixtures they are more used to. The game is often rushed and it takes maturity to dictate tempo and pace. Much like the Moorlands loss, individuals within our group need to evolve from being teenagers and become men. This coming-of-age process can be easier for some than others. It requires some trial and error as they test boundaries and gauge reactions from peers. Rarely is this related to what they do with the ball instead it tends to happen in those moments when conversations are taking place and instructions being given. For one player, being asked to go in goal feels like an embarrassing thing to do whereas another says “give me the gloves, I’ll take the challenge!”. Neither is wrong but one is significantly easier to manage!
So, now we are asking “how do we make ourselves more time on the ball?”. Morgan has been looking statistically at how many interactions our midfield players have been having with it: such as short passes and dribbles, and we’ve used this to inform our training sessions where Isaac and I have been looking at the team shape and how, within certain moments, we can better place the players to create options and opportunities. One of our methods looked at what happens immediately after three one-touch interactions. Finding spaces to exploit and creating overloads meant players can get on to the ball and have more time. We haven’t always given them the answers as finding their own way is key to their maturity. We have made it clear what our expectations are and provided a framework to build upon. However, it is one thing to model it in training and for us to teach the principles in a safe environment but a completely different ask to expect it on a Wednesday night in Skegness. It requires bravery, maturity and discipline which will all be beneficial to the lads that make the step-up into the first team environment.
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