EXPERIENCED DEFENDER WANTED (U/10) READ ON !!!!!! ...........................................

Another top performance on Sunday against a team who like us have only lost 3 games this season, it was just as thou we had continued from where we left off from the last league game .We was on the front  foot from the start with Tobi on the right and Hayden on the left destroying the right and left backs, some great link up play and double J found Hayden in space to put us one up on 17 minutes and well deserved as we had gone close on numerous occasions , we just couldn't find that finish. The passing and all round movement off the ball which has been evident all season was a joy to watch , adding that solidity at the back ,with Will playing only his 2nd game in defence with the more seasoned Joe Regan, we was always going to be hard to beat. Faith back in that holding midfield role holds it all together and all 3 know that if space allows they have licence to attack at Will. Faith's  confidence in attack  in recent weeks I think comes from trusting the boys understanding of there  defensive duties now, they seem to have finally realised the importance of defending, and when you have a team who all understand and can play in defence and add to that anyone can hit the back of the net, you are always going to be hard to beat. The midfield also work tirelessly supporting who was ever playing in the final 3rd and helping out the defence .Double j,s passing vision, Mitch,s tireless running, and when we had to bring players off, the players who came on ,  in this case the two Nathans were as good as the players you bring off . Coby had a few saves to make but was reasonably un troubled in the game . I have to give credit to the headed goal by the opposition , one of the best headed goals I have seen in youth football (mind you I havnt seen too many , and when I have they have probably been by our team #justsaying!!)Been a great season so far, far better than I expected, we trained pretty much all summer, added to the team well bringing in Will. We have a tight nit group which you will always get with a core of players who go to the same school, most train together twice a week and socialise together. Add to that when they play they play with no pressure or fear of making a mistake. Going forward it wouldn't be unlike me to pick a team to play who lets say may give us something to think about, like we did at the start of the season , a good whooping wont do them any harm, as we always seem to come out of it for the better.




NON COMPETATIVE LEAGUES


A few of you see the whatsapp post about a county FA talking up the value of no league tables /non competitive games . I have never met anyone who likes to lose,  man /women or child, but the result should never take precedent over development, we would of won shed loads more games over the last 4 years if I would of played the stronger defensive players every week  and our best goal scorers/ attacking players in the same positions . . From research and talking to highly qualified  coaches ,every player must have a defensive and attacking mind-set, be comfortable on the ball be dominant in 1 vs 1 situations and be able to play with both feet by the time they exit the foundation stage at 12.You definitely wont get all them skills  pigeon holing players at 9 years old . By being able to play in multiple positions at a younger age you will develop an all-round better player at 15. If you was great at maths at school would you only want your child to do maths but not English ??  Players will find their  better positions organically. I would never enter to into a league where I couldn't rotate players, that would go against everything I have ever been taught .The player should be at the centre of everything we do as coaches , but we see it all to often in the English game the " win at all costs mentality " .I was sent a tweet this week by Rudi at Belmont , a team looking for an experienced DEFENDER AT U/10 !!!!!! WTF. Only in England would that happen! .Why not coach one into being a defender "that's coaching " We will continue with the " total football " mentality win lose or draw, that will definitely give our players a better grounding to take into what ever they standard they end up playing. Back to non competitive leagues , every team will be placed into a league on ability, the teams struggling will be relegated and the teams winning will be promoted. But would you want to win games at u/10 by playing your best 7 players every week, no rotation ,  no equal playing time ? I personally wouldn't , I would rather make the players I coach better, because that is coaching. We have good players all of similar ability but with different strengths, 4 naturally left footed players, four players who scored 100 goals between them last year, every player can defend , most can play in goal,  We are probably at our level in league status, we are challenged every week and the kids are enjoying there football, having 2 teams at the club in leagues above us I would definitely want to repeat the friendlies over 20 mins we had at the start of the season , I think the two loses (one very heavy ) didn't do us any harm , caused me a few sleepless nights !!! but again its all about the kids