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Need a breakthrough in my game
| Posted: 20 Jul 2008, 21:43 | |
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Over the summer, I've found that I've improved alot in terms of ball and physical skill (I react more quickly to the ball, I have better endurance, my control's gone up, my right foot technique is alot better), but somehow, I seem to be hitting a limit in my game. This is ironic, cuz out of all my training, game experience is what I get the most. Right now, I'm playing 5 days a week, 2 sessions of indoor gym soccer (kinda like futsal and indoor soccer combined), 2 sessions with adults (very technical), and 2 sessions of rec league (fast paced, lots of running).
Ever since I've gotten back into my outdoor form (I played indoor for well over half the year), I haven't been making any improvements. I haven't been able to create anything from the possession I have, nor have I been able to score goals in a game. My mentality is strong, and I've always been confident that I can do the things I do during practice and stuff in my game, but it never works out. I think it's my style, because even though I have all these balls skills, I'm a very technical player and I always play the pass first. But the problem I'm finally realizing is, I usually play to the closest target, and sometimes not the best (like I don't have all around team vision like most playmakers do), and I'm not pushing myself for chances of my own. I can't find any way to improve my game using the skills I learn from my experiences, and every team I play (in each respective place I play in), my performance is always the same, whether it be a really strong team or a really weak one. I need to find a way to break my limits, and move "to the next level". |
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| Posted: 20 Jul 2008, 22:06 | |
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well tbh i kinda had the same problem about a year and a half ago when i stepped up my game to high school level (previously i only played rec league, which sucks here in red deer)...i made the school team, i think, mainly because our tryouts were mainly techincal skills, and the coach didnt really bother with how good ur vision and ur playmaking abilities were...this was a big achievement for , as 90% of our team is grade 12, and i'm in grade 9....but , after several training sessions, i was able to learn from the good players and how to work better with the team, and basically, read each others minds...
so what i'm trying to say is that it all comes down to experience and how u learn from each game and training session...u have to be a careful observer and try new things and visualize things in ur mind...and that's what i've been doing lately.... i hope u kinda understand what i'm trying to say here, and i sincerely hope u can learn from it and fix your "issues"... 
p.s. it's kinda funny how u make rec league sound so "pro":D EDIT: i tried to find it before , but i couldn't....found it now though...it helped me out some when playing for my school team... http://expertfootball.com/coaching/combinations.php 
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| Posted: 21 Jul 2008, 03:59 | |
Veteran Member Joined: 20 Jan 2007, 20:26 Posts: 2921 Location: Vancouver |
Ok first of all, why aren't you scoring the goals you scored before?
Is it because the opportunities just aren't presenting themselves anymore? Is it because you just seem to be missing a lot lately? etc etc. Secondly why does the stuff you do in practice not work out. What are you doing in practice? If you're doing elasticos in practice then that's your problem right there, don't ever do a move you can't end half way. As for the passing, that's common, I used to do that a lot, that can be a result of panic, or just an attempt not to be the one to lose the ball, if you're passing to the close man as an outlet that's not a problem. But if you're passing to that man because that's the first guy you see then you'll have to work on vision. So like I've said before, that means that the instant you get free of someone or have time to look around (you don't even need to put your head up, just scope it out consciously with your peripheral vision) you do it, even if only for a second. Trust me though, if you're playing soccer that much, you are improving. Your touch is getting better and better and you're probably learning which moves work and which ones don't, you're just not improving as fast as you did when you started which is also common.   www.mission-control.tumblr.com |
| Posted: 21 Jul 2008, 04:48 | |
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lol I see through my peripherals, but if I want to see the whole field, sometimes I gotta take an extra few seconds or so and an extra touch to look around the field. That's why sometimes I tend to not pick out the runner but just the safe pass. But I never tend to pass to a "dead" player, or a player who's trapped and would just cough the ball up.
I know I'm improving, but I don't see it much in a game. It seems that I'm always in the same level in relation to the guys I play with (and that shouldn't be happening, because I'm also comparing rec league guys here and they're just rec league guys after all). I've never been much of a goalscorer, but I'm known to be a guy who cares about how many shots are on target, and lately I haven't been hitting any, let alone hit a shot. I'm always played the ball in a position where I should pass/cross it off, and I'm not skilled enough yet to capitalize off that position (dribble around a defender, etc.), to move into a shooting opportunity. Basically, my mindset when the ball comes to me is: "I see this player doing _____, I'm gonna give the ball to him", and in 1-3 touches, I'll send it to him. I only change my mind when either I see my player is suddenly marked or I'm closed down by a defender, in that case, most of the time, I shield and pass it safely backwards. Clearances are not part of my game. I don't do the classy stuff, just the regular cuts and stuff and the stepovers I usually practice. I don't even use it to get around defenders, I use it so I can get a step ahead to make the right pass. Even though all this makes me sound like a playmaker, I think I'm lacking something to do so. That's what I'm needing to be next level and to meet my goals and prove to everyone who doubts me that they're wrong and I can shine when I need to. My priorities in a game basically: 1) Pass (80-85% of the time, within 3 touches) 2) Shoot (10%, either in the air from a side footed volley or straight volley, or one touch for control, then shot) 3) Dribble (5%, only when there's space, I don't try to take on defenders, unless I'm pushing myself to do so; it doesn't come naturally) |
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| Posted: 21 Jul 2008, 15:24 | |
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It sounds like you play exactly the way I play actually... hmmm. lol.
Honestly, I solved this by realizing the potential you have if you play in the middle of the park. You're the link to everything which means you have to constantly be looking up and to your sides. If you want to play a CM position (I'm just guessing because your style of play suits it) you should be checking to your wingers for the ball, and before you get it look back for your options and be able to turn one touch. Basically, what will take you to the next level is that ability to turn, to shield, and be able to find your man before you get the ball. But don't be afraid to challenge a defender if no one shows up, take him on, get a shot off, if anything the strikers will get the rebound and your the assist (kinda). What will make you shine though, that's a different story. For people to just sit back and praise you you have to have a flair for the game no one else has, you have to love it like it is life. And be creative, be almost Ronaldinho like in providing one touch passes, get the crowd angst up with excitement over your creative potential. That's how you take it next level. Shut Up, I am Here...  - Goals "The ability to succeed requires the realization of what one wants and the passionate desire to attain it." |
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| Posted: 22 Jul 2008, 03:15 | |
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Veteran Member Joined: 20 Jan 2007, 20:26 Posts: 2921 Location: Vancouver |
As far as shots go, maybe you need to put yourself in a position to get that shot off, it's always possible that your opponents have simply adjusted to you and are just closing you down more. Feel free to be selfish, if you receive the ball close ish to the net with some space then take on a man and try to score. Don't try to get in close, just give yourself some space and get some shots off, if you're missing consistently that's a problem, but you shouldn't be.
As for passing, congratulate yourself on not passing to dead people, but also when you're receiving the ball think about where people are probably going right now. Generally people will be moving forward, and it's just up to you to take a look and figure out how forward they are right now. When you receive the ball just think: What side of the field am I on right now? Where should the ball be going next? What is the most likely run that my players are making right now? And then just check that you're right and make whichever pass you think you'll need. And as for your mindset when you receive the ball, if you want to take it to the next level it sounds to me like you've just got to start playing dangerously. What I mean right now is that you're playing very safe soccer, which is commendable, but sometimes not encourage able. If I were you I'd concentrate on pushing the envelope next game, don't be a ball hog, but try to do things you wouldn't normally do. Try to take that extra touch, try to thread the needle with your passes, try to burn a defender and all that stuff. Your teammates won't mind unless you spend the entire game going coast to coast, but if you see even the slightest opportunity for a dangerous pass, or a risky shot or a run at goal just take it. It's pretty much like when you began at soccer, you weren't much good at crossing, but you got better by attempting it even though you couldn't do it well, right? What's limiting you right now is that you don't think it's good play to try and do all the dangerous and somewhat selfish plays that you want to improve on, but you can only improve on them by doing them, so next game try to play a bit more dangerously. If that doesn't work we'll big in the big guns and ask expert. www.mission-control.tumblr.com |
| Posted: 22 Jul 2008, 16:23 | |
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man you sound to conservative
ok most times you have to be playing DMF but just remember: Risk = Reward and if you don't take more risks, say fully beating someone instead of getting a step by them... you will only get very limited and rushed half-chances playing the way you are a good playmaker does something that no-one expects something no-one expects is something that seems to difficult to sucessfully pull off a good playmaker is so good he can pull off some of the most difficult things this is what gives them there flair: they are un-predictable they are not afraid of trying something you need to first get the skills, then get the courage to 'try' new things and if you need an extra second on the ball, take the extra second! just try your best to keep possesion! unless your being adventures |
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| Posted: 25 Jul 2008, 02:58 | |
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Alright I'm doing unpredictable stuff, making good passes and stuff, but I'm still playing terribly. The first touch I developed from practice hasn't helped me in my game, and my shots in the last few weeks, all of them have either been straight at the keeper (they were driven hard though so the keeper always fumbles it and someone picks off the rebound), or sliced wide. This is starting to piss me off, cuz everybody around me seems to be getting better (they're doing stuff they usually don't/can't do), and I'm still stuck where I am with inconsistency.
Today at adult pick-up, my first touch and my shots really let me down. I did many split defense passes, but many of my short passes were slightly off the mark (they were a bit too "short"). My dribbling's improved, I'm willing to take that extra step against defenders, but usually against more experienced ones I end up where I started and pass it off anyways. My vision hasn't improved, and this might start affecting my mental confidence sooner or later. For rec league, I was playing more two touch footy. My first touch often involved a fake then getting a step ahead, and then because I could hear my coach screaming at me saying "kick the ball up!" all the way from across the field on the bench, I was forced to hit long balls alot (they were relatively accurate). For adult pick-up, I tried to be the transitional point again (the centre of the midfield and the game), but even when I was relatively open, I didn't receive passes. I made dangerous ones when I got the ball, but I was playing how I usually played. I'm not the fastest player on the pitch, honestly, a relatively in-shape 40 year old can beat me to the ball, and since I'm skinny, I get pushed around when I don't have it (when I have it I can shield it). My knees are limiting me in the way of speed training, sooner or later I'm gonna have to pay a visit to physio to see what's wrong. Maybe it is time for expert's arrival, cuz I'm not finding my breakthrough here. |
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| Posted: 25 Jul 2008, 03:04 | |
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Maybe you just need to focus. Get back to the basics, run through your head what you are doing as you do it. I know this is not the best way to play if you aren't having problems, but it sounds like you aren't doing the easy things you used to be able to do...so just make sure you focus on the moment and do everything right.
ZIDANE THE LEGEND  Check out my Anaerobic Fitness Guide |
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| Posted: 25 Jul 2008, 04:34 | |
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Veteran Member Joined: 20 Jan 2007, 20:26 Posts: 2921 Location: Vancouver |
Sounds to me like you're making great progress, all you have to work on now is placement and spatial awareness. I can't really give you much more detailed advice than that, just keep on truckin.
www.mission-control.tumblr.com |
| Posted: 31 Jul 2008, 11:28 | |
Site Admin Joined: 13 Sep 2004, 16:40 Posts: 2463 |
Look, man, you can't just go out on the field and play for the sake of being there, you have to make a difference. You have to make something happen. CM's job is to move the ball FORWARD, hold the ball up when you have time/space, dribble to produce shots and run your ass off to give support. Forget about techniques and playing it safe, your job is to produce goal-scoring plays. Most importantly, don't sit back and let your teammates take all the credit.
I would say more, but I'm away right now and won't have internet access for the next few weeks. |
| Posted: 01 Aug 2008, 02:40 | |
Alright expert, thanks for the tips (for now). I'll be expecting more from you after you're back though 
and I'm still trying out different styles right now, haven't found one that's completely suited for me yet. |
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