IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
BACK FOUR UNDERSTANDING
Iain Dowie LMAAMBASSADOR
Iain Dowie is a vastly successful English football player and manager who, most re- cently, was in charge of Hull City in the Barclays Premier League.
The 46-year-old was a talented striker in his playing days, although he joined the profes- sional game late, land- ing at Luton Town as a 23-year-old in 1988.
He went on to play for Fulham, West Ham United, Southampton, Crystal Palace, West Ham United and QPR – plus clocked up 59 caps for Northern Ireland – before having up his boots in 2001.
Management roles followed at Oldham Athletic, Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic, Coventry City, QPR and Hull. Memorably, he led Palace into the Premiership in 2004 despite inheriting a team battling against relegation. The Eagles went up via the play- offs, finishing sixth after winning 17 of their final 23 games.
Dowie was also as- sistant manager at Newcastle United under Alan Shearer before accepting the job at Hull City. He departed the KC Stadium in 2010.
blocking defender so as to cover all other passing angles. The attitude of the backline in staying alert, keeping organised and communicating well is essential. Distance and angle are crucial – if either of these are wrong then the whole back four set-up is compromised.
Defenders must move with the ball, squeeze, hold shape and be ready to drop onto the back foot, without ever going to ground.
How would you put this into a game situation?
We play on a half-pitch extended lengthways by 20 yards. A team of 10 attack 8 (plus a goalkeeper) with the aim of scoring in a central goal. The team of 8 must attack two goals, 5 yards wide, marked out by cones in the corners of the pitch.
If in producing wing attacks, the reds force a full-back into a covering position away from the back four, look for a white defensive midfielder to step back in to reform a solid organised backline.
This small-sided game is challenging because both teams are creating alternative angles of attack, given that one team is aiming at a central target while the other is directing play towards the flanks.
2 KEY
Ball movement
Player movement
Dribble
With the full-back called out wide, a defensive midfielder drops back to reaffirm the back four's line
1 KEY
Ball movement
Player movement
Dribble
The same defensive line operates well in the small-sided game to stifle attacking progress
3 KEY
Ball movement
Player movement
Dribble
www.elitesoccercoaching.net
A tackle and break forward ends with the red defence similarly reactive to the threat
Elite Soccer: The Collectors’ Series Volume 1 69
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