Building on our first two counter attacking blogs we now start looking at the technical breakdown of the counter attack. Using our definition of a counter attack Kelsey Byrne talks us through Boreham Wood’s counter attacking goal against AFC Wimbledon from the FA Cup 3rd round.
Using data to drive insights
A robust data collection process provides a great starting point for identifying which areas may be of interest and worthy of further exploration. To do this it is important to understand some of the common themes that have been highlighted from the data before starting to use “the coach’s eye”, along with your experiences and observations to delve deeper into what’s actually happening.
Counter attacking with the FA’s six core capabilities
Scanning – What information do I need to make an effective decision of when to counter-attack or retain possession?
Timing – Can I find the right moment to play my pass in a way that allows the striker to run onto the ball, rather than require a touch and delay the attack?
Movement – Can I be flexible with my movements and recognise when I might need to bend my run to stay onside, before quickly attacking space behind?
Positioning – How can I move my body into a position that allows me to receive and play forward quickly?
Deception – Can I disguise my intention with my movement or pass to create space for my team-mates?
Technique – Can I finish off one touch or do I need to manipulate the ball into a better position to score?
If you've missed our previous two blogs where we delve into the counter attacking data from last season's FA Cup check them out below:
The importance of transition: FA Cup Counter Attacking Case Study 2020/21
Counter attacking: Number scenarios on transition
Image credit - Catherine Ivill