Possession

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s overrated now. Teams should play much more directly with balls over the top.

As the kids age direct play becomes less and less productive. The defenses are easily able to deal with direct play. The teams have to be able to break down a defense that has stopped forward runs or has packed it in. If you can’t do that you do not score. Watch what happens to your forwards when they are stops in the final third. Let me give you a hint- nothing happens.

I actually agree with everything you said except the premise.

Passing for the sake of maintaining possession is much more valuable for U-littles for their development. Learning to create scoring opportunities through direct ball AFTER learning short passes for maintaining possession is much easier than the other way around.

As they get older, exploiting opportunities and counter-attacking through direct ball is an absolute necessity. But if they don’t have proficiency in short passes, it becomes moot.

Nonsense!
No top soccer country, club, academy, team in the world focus on passing for young players

Ball handling, technique, 1v1 skills, dribbling all take priority over passing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From Pep

"I loathe all that passing for the sake of it, all that tiki-taka. It's so much rubbish and has no purpose." He emphasizes that passing should always have a clear purpose, aiming to create scoring opportunities, rather than just maintaining possession.

Guardiola's approach is not about mindless passing, but rather about creating an attack by overloading one side of the field, drawing the opposition in, and then attacking from the other side. He believes that the team should have a clear vision and a plan for how to exploit weaknesses in the opponent's defense"

Yawn. Teams always have a purpose. You as a viewer may not like the purpose. A team can maintain possession to shorten a game or denying the other team from developing a rhythm. The boring soccer is a team loading the box and look for one or two counter attacks for the whole game. If you load the box against a direct team they will pass the ball a lot(though not well) because the defending team will not challenge till the final third. They are lost if they can not play direct.

I have seem many direct teams with no purpose. Fullback gets a ball with no pressure and kicks it long to no one. The whole game is long balls to no one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From Pep

"I loathe all that passing for the sake of it, all that tiki-taka. It's so much rubbish and has no purpose." He emphasizes that passing should always have a clear purpose, aiming to create scoring opportunities, rather than just maintaining possession.

Guardiola's approach is not about mindless passing, but rather about creating an attack by overloading one side of the field, drawing the opposition in, and then attacking from the other side. He believes that the team should have a clear vision and a plan for how to exploit weaknesses in the opponent's defense"

Yawn. Teams always have a purpose. You as a viewer may not like the purpose. A team can maintain possession to shorten a game or denying the other team from developing a rhythm. The boring soccer is a team loading the box and look for one or two counter attacks for the whole game. If you load the box against a direct team they will pass the ball a lot(though not well) because the defending team will not challenge till the final third. They are lost if they can not play direct.

I have seem many direct teams with no purpose. Fullback gets a ball with no pressure and kicks it long to no one. The whole game is long balls to no one.

You're yawning at the quote from one of the greatest coaches of all time, then you go into a bunch of ice hockey type references

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s overrated now. Teams should play much more directly with balls over the top.

As the kids age direct play becomes less and less productive. The defenses are easily able to deal with direct play. The teams have to be able to break down a defense that has stopped forward runs or has packed it in. If you can’t do that you do not score. Watch what happens to your forwards when they are stops in the final third. Let me give you a hint- nothing happens.

I actually agree with everything you said except the premise.

Passing for the sake of maintaining possession is much more valuable for U-littles for their development. Learning to create scoring opportunities through direct ball AFTER learning short passes for maintaining possession is much easier than the other way around.

As they get older, exploiting opportunities and counter-attacking through direct ball is an absolute necessity. But if they don’t have proficiency in short passes, it becomes moot.

At the older ages speed of play and playing in tight space makes things happen. A possession team will not pass up a long, medium or short pass that leads to an opportunity. It is a false argument to state possession teams pass for no purpose and never pass long.

Watch a good possession team and they will get out of pressure with 1-2 passes and 2-3 passes later are outside your box. You turn the ball over against a possession team and in 1-3 passes they are outside your box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s overrated now. Teams should play much more directly with balls over the top.

As the kids age direct play becomes less and less productive. The defenses are easily able to deal with direct play. The teams have to be able to break down a defense that has stopped forward runs or has packed it in. If you can’t do that you do not score. Watch what happens to your forwards when they are stops in the final third. Let me give you a hint- nothing happens.

I actually agree with everything you said except the premise.

Passing for the sake of maintaining possession is much more valuable for U-littles for their development. Learning to create scoring opportunities through direct ball AFTER learning short passes for maintaining possession is much easier than the other way around.

As they get older, exploiting opportunities and counter-attacking through direct ball is an absolute necessity. But if they don’t have proficiency in short passes, it becomes moot.

Nonsense!
No top soccer country, club, academy, team in the world focus on passing for young players

Ball handling, technique, 1v1 skills, dribbling all take priority over passing

The point was short passes are more important than direct ball at U-little. But yes. I do agree that those things you listed are priority over passing at U-little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s overrated now. Teams should play much more directly with balls over the top.

As the kids age direct play becomes less and less productive. The defenses are easily able to deal with direct play. The teams have to be able to break down a defense that has stopped forward runs or has packed it in. If you can’t do that you do not score. Watch what happens to your forwards when they are stops in the final third. Let me give you a hint- nothing happens.

I actually agree with everything you said except the premise.

Passing for the sake of maintaining possession is much more valuable for U-littles for their development. Learning to create scoring opportunities through direct ball AFTER learning short passes for maintaining possession is much easier than the other way around.

As they get older, exploiting opportunities and counter-attacking through direct ball is an absolute necessity. But if they don’t have proficiency in short passes, it becomes moot.

At the older ages speed of play and playing in tight space makes things happen. A possession team will not pass up a long, medium or short pass that leads to an opportunity. It is a false argument to state possession teams pass for no purpose and never pass long.

Watch a good possession team and they will get out of pressure with 1-2 passes and 2-3 passes later are outside your box. You turn the ball over against a possession team and in 1-3 passes they are outside your box.

Don’t know if you’re agreeing or disagreeing. If you’re disagreeing, I don’t understand. I am in favor of maintaining possession, and it does serve a purpose including long passes. I’m saying learning to be proficient at short passes should come first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s overrated now. Teams should play much more directly with balls over the top.

As the kids age direct play becomes less and less productive. The defenses are easily able to deal with direct play. The teams have to be able to break down a defense that has stopped forward runs or has packed it in. If you can’t do that you do not score. Watch what happens to your forwards when they are stops in the final third. Let me give you a hint- nothing happens.

I actually agree with everything you said except the premise.

Passing for the sake of maintaining possession is much more valuable for U-littles for their development. Learning to create scoring opportunities through direct ball AFTER learning short passes for maintaining possession is much easier than the other way around.

As they get older, exploiting opportunities and counter-attacking through direct ball is an absolute necessity. But if they don’t have proficiency in short passes, it becomes moot.

Nonsense!
No top soccer country, club, academy, team in the world focus on passing for young players

Ball handling, technique, 1v1 skills, dribbling all take priority over passing

The point was short passes are more important than direct ball at U-little. But yes. I do agree that those things you listed are priority over passing at U-little.

Accurate and properly weighted are important factors regardless of the distance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s overrated now. Teams should play much more directly with balls over the top.

As the kids age direct play becomes less and less productive. The defenses are easily able to deal with direct play. The teams have to be able to break down a defense that has stopped forward runs or has packed it in. If you can’t do that you do not score. Watch what happens to your forwards when they are stops in the final third. Let me give you a hint- nothing happens.

I actually agree with everything you said except the premise.

Passing for the sake of maintaining possession is much more valuable for U-littles for their development. Learning to create scoring opportunities through direct ball AFTER learning short passes for maintaining possession is much easier than the other way around.

As they get older, exploiting opportunities and counter-attacking through direct ball is an absolute necessity. But if they don’t have proficiency in short passes, it becomes moot.

At the older ages speed of play and playing in tight space makes things happen. A possession team will not pass up a long, medium or short pass that leads to an opportunity. It is a false argument to state possession teams pass for no purpose and never pass long.

Watch a good possession team and they will get out of pressure with 1-2 passes and 2-3 passes later are outside your box. You turn the ball over against a possession team and in 1-3 passes they are outside your box.

Don’t know if you’re agreeing or disagreeing. If you’re disagreeing, I don’t understand. I am in favor of maintaining possession, and it does serve a purpose including long passes. I’m saying learning to be proficient at short passes should come first.

Passes are almost always short at U-littles no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s overrated now. Teams should play much more directly with balls over the top.

As the kids age direct play becomes less and less productive. The defenses are easily able to deal with direct play. The teams have to be able to break down a defense that has stopped forward runs or has packed it in. If you can’t do that you do not score. Watch what happens to your forwards when they are stops in the final third. Let me give you a hint- nothing happens.

I actually agree with everything you said except the premise.

Passing for the sake of maintaining possession is much more valuable for U-littles for their development. Learning to create scoring opportunities through direct ball AFTER learning short passes for maintaining possession is much easier than the other way around.

As they get older, exploiting opportunities and counter-attacking through direct ball is an absolute necessity. But if they don’t have proficiency in short passes, it becomes moot.

At the older ages speed of play and playing in tight space makes things happen. A possession team will not pass up a long, medium or short pass that leads to an opportunity. It is a false argument to state possession teams pass for no purpose and never pass long.

Watch a good possession team and they will get out of pressure with 1-2 passes and 2-3 passes later are outside your box. You turn the ball over against a possession team and in 1-3 passes they are outside your box.

Don’t know if you’re agreeing or disagreeing. If you’re disagreeing, I don’t understand. I am in favor of maintaining possession, and it does serve a purpose including long passes. I’m saying learning to be proficient at short passes should come first.

Passes are almost always short at U-littles no?

Short passes are not necessarily attempted passes that went short. A lot of “passes” at u-little do not count as passes. More like getting rid of the ball. This is why I think they need to be proficient at short passes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s overrated now. Teams should play much more directly with balls over the top.

As the kids age direct play becomes less and less productive. The defenses are easily able to deal with direct play. The teams have to be able to break down a defense that has stopped forward runs or has packed it in. If you can’t do that you do not score. Watch what happens to your forwards when they are stops in the final third. Let me give you a hint- nothing happens.

I actually agree with everything you said except the premise.

Passing for the sake of maintaining possession is much more valuable for U-littles for their development. Learning to create scoring opportunities through direct ball AFTER learning short passes for maintaining possession is much easier than the other way around.

As they get older, exploiting opportunities and counter-attacking through direct ball is an absolute necessity. But if they don’t have proficiency in short passes, it becomes moot.

At the older ages speed of play and playing in tight space makes things happen. A possession team will not pass up a long, medium or short pass that leads to an opportunity. It is a false argument to state possession teams pass for no purpose and never pass long.

Watch a good possession team and they will get out of pressure with 1-2 passes and 2-3 passes later are outside your box. You turn the ball over against a possession team and in 1-3 passes they are outside your box.

Don’t know if you’re agreeing or disagreeing. If you’re disagreeing, I don’t understand. I am in favor of maintaining possession, and it does serve a purpose including long passes. I’m saying learning to be proficient at short passes should come first.

Passes are almost always short at U-littles no?

Short passes are not necessarily attempted passes that went short. A lot of “passes” at u-little do not count as passes. More like getting rid of the ball. This is why I think they need to be proficient at short passes.

They need to be proficient at ball handling skills
Passing can come way later

Why teach them to treat ball like live grenade instead of having creativity?

[Anonymous]

Possession is great for defense and the ball can be FASTER any player, ball handling or creativity. Superior passing/tactics can negative size, athleticism/direct play. What makes teams the best is when they have both.

[Anonymous]

EDIT: Possession is great for defense and the ball can be FASTER than any player, ball handling or creativity. Superior passing/tactics can negate size, athleticism/direct play. What makes teams the best is when they have both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:EDIT: Possession is great for defense and the ball can be FASTER than any player, ball handling or creativity. Superior passing/tactics can negate size, athleticism/direct play. What makes teams the best is when they have both.

Teams don't get scouted or recruited for higher levels

Players do

Passing as tactics is for the scoreboard.
Your kid's U10 wins a game with tactics and nobody can dribble or has decent touch and can't beat a defender 1v1
Hooray

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:EDIT: Possession is great for defense and the ball can be FASTER than any player, ball handling or creativity. Superior passing/tactics can negate size, athleticism/direct play. What makes teams the best is when they have both.

Teams don't get scouted or recruited for higher levels

Players do

Passing as tactics is for the scoreboard.
Your kid's U10 wins a game with tactics and nobody can dribble or has decent touch and can't beat a defender 1v1
Hooray

This is an interesting argument. Ball control and comfort with the ball are certainly important at any age, but I would NOT dismiss passing and receiving as a worthwhile training endeavor at young ages. As the kids get older and the levels get higher, very few players can get away with trying to dribble out of trouble and/or attack with long dribbling runs. Ironically, maybe, only the most athletic kids can depend on this. Practicing passing at a young age also means practicing receiving. By U15/U16 at the higher levels, where defenders are fast, strong, and skilled, the most important attributes for most position players are first touch, turns, moving without the ball, and passing to feet. I don't see how working on these things as early as possible would be bad. And I don't buy that they are easily learned later. If you've trained solely dribbling and 1v1s until U13 you're going to be behind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:EDIT: Possession is great for defense and the ball can be FASTER than any player, ball handling or creativity. Superior passing/tactics can negate size, athleticism/direct play. What makes teams the best is when they have both.

Teams don't get scouted or recruited for higher levels

Players do

Passing as tactics is for the scoreboard.
Your kid's U10 wins a game with tactics and nobody can dribble or has decent touch and can't beat a defender 1v1
Hooray

This is an interesting argument. Ball control and comfort with the ball are certainly important at any age, but I would NOT dismiss passing and receiving as a worthwhile training endeavor at young ages. As the kids get older and the levels get higher, very few players can get away with trying to dribble out of trouble and/or attack with long dribbling runs. Ironically, maybe, only the most athletic kids can depend on this. Practicing passing at a young age also means practicing receiving. By U15/U16 at the higher levels, where defenders are fast, strong, and skilled, the most important attributes for most position players are first touch, turns, moving without the ball, and passing to feet. I don't see how working on these things as early as possible would be bad. And I don't buy that they are easily learned later. If you've trained solely dribbling and 1v1s until U13 you're going to be behind.

The problem is, people see the passing/possession of Barcelona, Ajax and Man City etc not realizing all their players have high individual technical skills and can beat people 1v1