IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
PRESSING DEFENDERS John Coleman
ACCRINGTON STANLEY
John Coleman is the third-longest serving manager in the professional game – behind Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger – having first taken charge of Accrington Stanley in August 1999.
The club’s rise under his stewardship has been phenomenal, given their climb of three divisions from a Northern Premier League Division One side to an established npower League Two outfit.
The 2010/11 season saw Stanley achieve their highest ever league position when they finished fifth, thus qualifying for the end- of-season play-offs.
As a player, Coleman was a prolific non- league marksman who turned out for Kirby Town, Burscough, Marine, Southport, Runcorn, Macclesfield Town, Rhyl, Morecambe and Lancaster City.
What are the key things to look for technically/ tactically?
The game is to be played at a high tempo and, for the team of six players, being on the front foot and pressing the ball is essential. And when not pressing the ball, players should be pressing the man. If they fail to, their opponents have what amounts to a free shot at goal given that there is no keeper to protect it.
How doI progress the session?
A simple progression we use is in altering the size of the pitch – the bigger the pitch, the more difficult the task for the team of six.
Then, we might take these principles into an 11v11 game with the halfway line acting as an offside line. This means that players can only pass the ball out of their half. While unrealistic in a game situation this set-up condenses play in one half to display the real benefits of pressing the ball.
“When not pressing the ball, players should be pressing the man.”
www.elitesoccercoaching.net
If possession is turned over play switches to the other half. Players must pick up men behind, and need to recognise when to drop back if there are not enough players to press high up the pitch.
KEY
Ball movement
Player movement
Dribble 2c KEY
Ball movement
Player movement
Dribble
Blues fail to get tight and the yellow chips the ball over for a one-point goal
2d KEY
Ball movement
Player movement
Dribble
Again blues fail to press and the defender is forced to retreat to prevent the goal
3
Keeping a high line panics the keeper into a clearance meaning the ball will come back again
Elite Soccer: The Collectors’ Series Volume 1 49
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