congratulations coach...Could someone find out what has been done differently that the coach can attribute these successes to. Just for our learning, can we get a couple interviews.
on the football discussion.. I'm of the school that in football the best form of defense is attack..You score goals and win games with the ball..thus in defending we must attack the ball, and everybody plays a role..not, ok, we defending now, that is dem fellas back dey job..is a team game...subsequently when we are attacking...that isn't them dem boys up dey job..at all... the whole team attacks..therefore there must be strategic planning and excution by everybody on the team...not just the forwards..and it must involve strategy for when the plan fails or is failing, counter-strategy or particular players not excuting the plan as they should..defensively and/or offensively .. for me, Football. just a current personal example..I have been asked to assist a team, U-16 Intercity..the defense, defends goaless for 60 to 70 minutes, and then the flood gates open...why ? Do they tire,no the are playing just as hard..Lose focus, don't seem so...2 things I observed for 2 games, the opposing goalie only get about 5 shots per game, forwards are allways 1 on 2 or 3, means to me, the defense so busy being careful and defending, they not getting involved in the attack...ok...So I spoke to the coaches and players..my first question, What's the general plan ? One guy said " Not lose the game", "Another said "win the game"..My next question, so what is your plan to achieve either of those outcomes ? They went huh ? so basically they just reacting to the ball...defending..I'm gonna see if I can cause them to act on the ball, basically attacking, at both ends of the field..I should have gotten involved before, as it's my son's team, but was crazily busy with swimming..will se how that turns out..10 practices, and 5 games left..I have done with Semi-pro players...tried with younger kids, with successful results...but I think this is a tuff age group..actuallymost of the boys are 15 playing up
sorry for being a little long winded..still understanding your points, cause that is football, yet I believe the next level..should be strategy...A National selected player should be on 90 % or more, whenever he's selected to play...else don't select him...so the biggest issue if we cannot get penetration is strategy is not being executed or is not pertinent for the game we are in.
btw, On the mexico goal..To me it wasn't soft, as much as it was a fluke. Both teams had way better chances that should have been goals, but due to good planning and excution, as well as individual performances were'nt..But it's them special goals, soft (sic) or beauiful, that makes this game so great..ent