New Practice: Three v Three with Peter Prickett | Practice 8

Practice 8 is live for subscribers, shifting the focus to back pressure.

The session is designed to encourage shielding the ball before searching for a way to slip away from the pressure. A different angle again as the collection keeps building.

Available for subscribers now 

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/the-3v3-game-1v1-practice-8

Iliman Ndiaye signed for Manchester City this week for around £65 million. Six years ago, I signed him for Hyde United on £100 a week.

Full story's in the blog, but the short version: he was a squad player in Sheffield United's under-21s, we picked him up on loan on transfer deadline day because he'd run out of other options that January, and by the end of his first training session my assistant and I both knew we had something different.

There's a moment from that first night I still bring up. A skill game, groups of four or five meant to be keeping the ball up together on the way to a target on the halfway line. Ndiaye just scoops it onto his own head and sprints the length of half the pitch with it balanced there, drops it in the target, jogs back for another go. His group were in stitches making dolphin noises at him for the rest of the session.

Nine games, one goal, season cut short by the pandemic. Not a stat line that predicts £65 million. But watching him week to week, you knew. Scanning, supporting, securing the ball under pressure, all miles above the level. Supply was the part that had to catch up, and once it did, here we are.

Full story here: https://tactxcoach.com/blog/i-signed-iliman-ndiaye-for-100-a-week

New Technical Practice: Playing Around

The next practice is live for subscribers.

Eight minutes of technical patterns using a double pivot in midfield, building on the work from the previous sessions. Every pressing pattern is covered with clear solutions for playing around.

The building blocks are all here. Work through them and let us know how you get on.

Live Class: Chelsea | Xabi Alonso | Game Model & System Shifts 

We are back with classes and are going live this Thursday at 1.30pm UK time with a class on Chelsea's game model and the shifts in system that define Alonso's approach.

Free for everyone to join. The recording will be available for subscribers afterwards.

Pre-register at the link below. See you Thursday 👊

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/chelsea-xabi-alonso-game-model

New Technical Practice: Playing Around | Practice 2 

If you are serious about build-up play, this one is for you.

Get your head around what central progression looks like when playing through, and then start to work through these ten patterns for playing around when through is not an option. Simple technical repetition that will give you and your players a clear picture of both options and when to use them.

Available for subscribers now 👇

New Practice: Three v Three with Peter Prickett | Practice 7 

Another one is ready for you. Practice 7 builds on the side pressure work from Practice 6, adding the next layer for subscribers to work through.

Available for subscribers now 👇

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/the-3v3-game-1v1-practice-7

New Blog: Player Development in America | Michael Morton 🌍

Mikey has just returned from his latest trip to the US and has written a brilliant piece on what he observed and experienced working with coaches and players over there.

The three areas he covers, environment, individual development, and ruthlessness, are not just relevant to American football. They apply to coaching young players everywhere, and there is a lot in here that will resonate regardless of where you are working.

A really honest and thought-provoking read. Give it a go and let us know your thoughts below 👊

https://tactxcoach.com/programs/player-development-in-america