By Soccer Coach Albert M. Luongo
Premier League Soccer/football: The FA Cup game was played on January 29, 2008. The final score was Arsenal 3, New Castle United 0. New Castle United could not compete effectively against Arsenal, as they frequently could not get out of the midfield to launch concerted attacks. Both teams used an identical formation of 4-4-2. Only one goal was scored in the first half. At 39 minutes into play, Arsenal’s Emmanuel Adebayor headed a cross past the United’s goalkeeper Given, making the score 1-0.
At the beginning of the second half, New Castle United got off to a good start and held their own for about ten minutes. After that they had difficulty mounting concerted attacks. Some long balls and flicks up field indicated that they were getting desperate. For the most part, they were enervated and their defense seemed to be scrambling in disorder. At minute 71, Arsenal’s Mathieu Flamine put in a long shot taken about 10 yards outside the penalty area. This was a fantastic long shot. At the 79th minute, Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas was unimpeded by United’s defense—they were scrambling as Fabergas got the third goal.
Review
The outcome of the match was predictable since Arsenal had good effective passing, they were more aggressive than United for winning the loose ball and overall they appeared to have more energy. This was apparent from the middle of the second half on. They played a good short ball game and their strong defense generally prevented coordinated New Castle’s attack buildups.
Except for a short period at the beginning of the second half, it was apparent that the the coaching of Arsene Wegner was showing its merit. In order to compete against strong teams, all players need to be in peak physical form. This is needed to prevent mistakes in everything—dribbling, passing, applying pressure to force the opponents to make passing mistakes. When a team has superior endurance, with matching skills of the opponent, they are most often the winners.
All of the above information is the author's opinion. This article in no way is meant to degrade, discredit or defame any team or person. Its sole purpose is to improve the skills of young soccer players, coaches and the game itself.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
No. 45—Italian Soccer—Inter Milan vs. Roma for the Coppa Italia—Roma’s had a Superior Passing Game
by Soccer Coach Albert M. Luongo
The final score of the game played in Rome on May 24, 2008 was Roma 2 to Inter Milan 1. Roma’s superior passing and aggressive play allowed them to maintain possession and control of the ball for a greater percentage of the game while Milan had difficulty in maintaining accurate constructive passes. Often Inter sent long balls or head flicks up-field (Hail Mary passes) that only amounted to ball recovery by Roma.
The first half was a clean game played mostly in the midfield with few good chances for scoring for either side. However at minute 35, Roma’s Mexes received the ball from a corner kick and kicked it passed Inter’s goalkeeper Toldo, who had no chance to save the shot. Mexes was completely unmarked, showing a problem with Inter’s defense. The score at the half was Rome 1 Inter Milan 0.
The second half got progressively rougher as time went on. Near the end of the match, players were going down left and right. At minute 9, Roma’s Perrotta passed the ball to a teammate at the left side of the goal. The ball was returned to Perrotta who scored with no chance for Milan’s goalkeeper Doni to save the shot. This gave Rome the lead of 2-0. However, several seconds before the goal, Roma’s Cassetti appeared to foul Milan’s Cesar. It is my opinion that this was a foul, but the referee allowed the play to continue.
At minute 15, Pele` (Vitor Hugh Gomes Passos) took a long shot from over 30 yards and off to the right of the goal. He scored with this amazing shot making the score 2 to 1.
Discussion
Roma certainly deserved to win the match. Their passing skills were accurate and they pressured Milan to get repossession of the ball. It seems to me that Milan’s endurance training could be increased to give them better timing and control of the ball.
Not discussed above, but worth mentioning was the positioning of Roma’s players near the end of the match. At around the time of 35 minutes into the second half, Roma appeared to retain all players on defense to hold their lead. While defensive play is the best strategy, playing all players in defense can upset the defensive team, be an overkill and a mistake. A few minutes later however, Roma went back to normal offensive and defensive play and held their lead.
All of the above information is the author's opinion. This article in no way is meant to degrade, discredit or defame any team or person. Its sole purpose is to improve the skills of young soccer players, coaches and the game itself.
The final score of the game played in Rome on May 24, 2008 was Roma 2 to Inter Milan 1. Roma’s superior passing and aggressive play allowed them to maintain possession and control of the ball for a greater percentage of the game while Milan had difficulty in maintaining accurate constructive passes. Often Inter sent long balls or head flicks up-field (Hail Mary passes) that only amounted to ball recovery by Roma.
The first half was a clean game played mostly in the midfield with few good chances for scoring for either side. However at minute 35, Roma’s Mexes received the ball from a corner kick and kicked it passed Inter’s goalkeeper Toldo, who had no chance to save the shot. Mexes was completely unmarked, showing a problem with Inter’s defense. The score at the half was Rome 1 Inter Milan 0.
The second half got progressively rougher as time went on. Near the end of the match, players were going down left and right. At minute 9, Roma’s Perrotta passed the ball to a teammate at the left side of the goal. The ball was returned to Perrotta who scored with no chance for Milan’s goalkeeper Doni to save the shot. This gave Rome the lead of 2-0. However, several seconds before the goal, Roma’s Cassetti appeared to foul Milan’s Cesar. It is my opinion that this was a foul, but the referee allowed the play to continue.
At minute 15, Pele` (Vitor Hugh Gomes Passos) took a long shot from over 30 yards and off to the right of the goal. He scored with this amazing shot making the score 2 to 1.
Discussion
Roma certainly deserved to win the match. Their passing skills were accurate and they pressured Milan to get repossession of the ball. It seems to me that Milan’s endurance training could be increased to give them better timing and control of the ball.
Not discussed above, but worth mentioning was the positioning of Roma’s players near the end of the match. At around the time of 35 minutes into the second half, Roma appeared to retain all players on defense to hold their lead. While defensive play is the best strategy, playing all players in defense can upset the defensive team, be an overkill and a mistake. A few minutes later however, Roma went back to normal offensive and defensive play and held their lead.
All of the above information is the author's opinion. This article in no way is meant to degrade, discredit or defame any team or person. Its sole purpose is to improve the skills of young soccer players, coaches and the game itself.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
No. 44—Soccer—Huston Dynamo vs. Colorado Rapids: Teams Where Skills Could be Improved Upon
by Soccer Coach Albert M. Luongo
The final score of the game played in Houston on May 6, 2008 was 2 to 1. The game in the first half started off poorly as there was little control of the ball most of the time. Colorado in particular had poor trapping, very little continuity in passing and teamwork, and sent up field long balls that went essentially to no one. It seemed that they did not know what to do with the ball when they got possession of it. Furthermore, the ball was constantly going over the touchline for one reason or another making it uncomfortable to watch. However, toward the end of the game, Colorado began to look more professional.
The first half was also dominated by Houston. At Minute 17, Houston's Brian Ching had a breakaway (high school style). He approached the goalkeeper and chipped the ball over the Colorado goalkeeper Coundoul and also over the goal. A good effort on Ching’s part, but where was the Colorado defense? At minute 39 Ching had another similar breakaway. This time he passed the goalkeeper and easily pushed the ball into the net making the score 1 to 0. The Colorado defense was way up field.
The second half allowed for better and more professional play. As the half went on, both teams seemed to get the rhythm of the game and played a more settled game. But Houston still dominated much of this half. The major part of the game in this half was played in the midfield and so the defensive teams were not on display too often until the remaining part of the game where more action occurred near the goals.
At minute 68 Colorado’s Christian Gomez sent the ball to Cummings. Cummings was flanked on both sides by Houston defenders giving chase, but had a clear shot on goal while dribbling. His shot made the score 1 to 1. At minute 85, Colorado’s Ugo Ihemelu’s handball in the penalty area allowed for a penalty kick for Houston. DeRosario took the kick and scored making the final score 2 to 1.
Finally, in the last ten minutes of play, Colorado came alive, as they became more soccer-aggressive and looked more professional. They could not score however.
Discussion
Both teams , but especially Colorado, need more practice at the basics of trapping long balls, shielding, passing and team work. At times they looked good, but at other times they were sloppy with kicking the ball constantly over the touchline to save it from being in a dangerous situation. Several times the ball was flicked upfield, headed with no receiver in mind and also kept in the air for many touches to the ball with no attempt at settling it.
I liked DeRosario’s demeanor after scoring: He showed no victory display as is so often the case today when a player scores.
All of the above information is the author's opinion. This article in no way is meant to degrade, discredit or defame any team or person. Its sole purpose is to improve the skills of young soccer players, coaches and the game itself.
The final score of the game played in Houston on May 6, 2008 was 2 to 1. The game in the first half started off poorly as there was little control of the ball most of the time. Colorado in particular had poor trapping, very little continuity in passing and teamwork, and sent up field long balls that went essentially to no one. It seemed that they did not know what to do with the ball when they got possession of it. Furthermore, the ball was constantly going over the touchline for one reason or another making it uncomfortable to watch. However, toward the end of the game, Colorado began to look more professional.
The first half was also dominated by Houston. At Minute 17, Houston's Brian Ching had a breakaway (high school style). He approached the goalkeeper and chipped the ball over the Colorado goalkeeper Coundoul and also over the goal. A good effort on Ching’s part, but where was the Colorado defense? At minute 39 Ching had another similar breakaway. This time he passed the goalkeeper and easily pushed the ball into the net making the score 1 to 0. The Colorado defense was way up field.
The second half allowed for better and more professional play. As the half went on, both teams seemed to get the rhythm of the game and played a more settled game. But Houston still dominated much of this half. The major part of the game in this half was played in the midfield and so the defensive teams were not on display too often until the remaining part of the game where more action occurred near the goals.
At minute 68 Colorado’s Christian Gomez sent the ball to Cummings. Cummings was flanked on both sides by Houston defenders giving chase, but had a clear shot on goal while dribbling. His shot made the score 1 to 1. At minute 85, Colorado’s Ugo Ihemelu’s handball in the penalty area allowed for a penalty kick for Houston. DeRosario took the kick and scored making the final score 2 to 1.
Finally, in the last ten minutes of play, Colorado came alive, as they became more soccer-aggressive and looked more professional. They could not score however.
Discussion
Both teams , but especially Colorado, need more practice at the basics of trapping long balls, shielding, passing and team work. At times they looked good, but at other times they were sloppy with kicking the ball constantly over the touchline to save it from being in a dangerous situation. Several times the ball was flicked upfield, headed with no receiver in mind and also kept in the air for many touches to the ball with no attempt at settling it.
I liked DeRosario’s demeanor after scoring: He showed no victory display as is so often the case today when a player scores.
All of the above information is the author's opinion. This article in no way is meant to degrade, discredit or defame any team or person. Its sole purpose is to improve the skills of young soccer players, coaches and the game itself.
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