West Ham goal analysis

In these highlights from West Ham v Tottenham in the Premier League watch the West Ham (in the claret shirts) goal, what do you notice about it?

The goal comes from a quickly taken throw in, 7 seconds after it is taken the ball is in the net. Watch again, keep your eyes peeled for the West Ham’s right back, the number 5, who runs over and takes the throw in quickly before the Tottenham team are set up. As the player takes the throw in the Tottenham player in front of them has their back to the ball, they have no idea the throw in is about to be taken! From this we can learn, when it’s our throw ins look for opportunities to get the play restarted quickly to catch the opposition off guard. When we’re defending get set quickly and try to always face the ball.

Fullbacks compilation

In this short compilation of clips from Southampton’s fullbacks note the intercepting the ball, blocks and tackles made by reading the game. By reading the game we mean anticipating the play, so you are in the right place, at the right time to halt an attack.

Tips on how to play in central defence

This video covers tips on how to play in the centre of defence. It covers both the attacking and defensive phases of the game, positioning, anticipation, communication, and dealing with the opposing strikers.

Ignore the bits about heading that isn’t relevant just yet, but pay special attention to the parts about positioning from goal kicks, dropping deep to create an angle to help your fullback and communication.

A preventable goal…

Nottingham Forest (in the bright yellow) took an early lead against Sheffield United (red and white stripes) with this goal, watch the clip and think how could the defending team have prevented this goal? Scroll down after you’ve had a think…

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What did you think? Here are my thoughts… as the ball is crossed the Sheffield United number 23 slips, leaving 2 Forest players free to eventually score. This is unfortunate but accidental things like this can happen, the chance could have been prevented much earlier in the play. Watch from the very start of the clip, the Sheffield United number 4 dives into a tackle, this allows the Forest player to ‘chop’ past them, before playing a lobbed through ball over the defence for the forward to chase. The Forest forward timed their run well to stay onside. Now watch the Sheffield United number 6 who is marking the Forest player who is running towards the by line, they’re more focused on pushing the player than what is happening with the ball. They end up pushing the Forest player but don’t block the ball. Had they not close as close and focused on getting them self between the ball and the goal they would have probably blocked the ball and conceded a corner instead.