Following on from the last article we are looking at five more ways in which your team can improve aspects of their attacking play. Relevant sessions from the platform are then provided for each point, so you can use them with your players.
1. Attacking Quickly
Attacking with speed and conviction can be so effective in game situations. Encouraging players to attack and get up the pitch as quickly as possible when they win the ball back is great practice.
Not only does it improve the players’ speed of thought when on the counter-attack but it also improves their technique when playing quick passes, dribbling and running with the ball.
The sessions below focus on getting your players to the point where these types of attacking transitions are quick and smooth so that your teams can ultimately score more goals.
Attacking Quickly Masterclass with Alan Irvine (13+)
Transition to Attacking Quickly (13+)
2. Attacking in Balance
Getting forward in numbers and making supporting runs for the player on the ball is a key part of general attacking play.
In many instances, a player can win the ball back and play a great pass to a teammate to put them in a good attacking position but then they just admire the pass and don’t follow up and support them.
Players need to recognise these moments and make supporting runs to create more options off the ball, give the opposition defenders more to think about and ultimately increase chances to score.
However, it's also important to not commit too many bodies forward and leave the defence exposed in case the opposition wins the ball back and starts a counter attack.
These sessions will help teams to attack with balance and will also work on developing their decision-making in general attacking areas.
3. Counter Attacking From Deep
In the last article we touched on how to counter attack more effectively and you can check that out here.
However, this section focuses more on how to transition to attack from within your own half. Upon winning the ball back a player’s next move should be to go forward as quickly as they can and, if possible, to the furthest player forward.
Check out this useful session so you can coach your players on how to counter attack with speed from within their own half.
Counter-attacking from deep positions (5-8)
This infographic is also useful for showing your attacking players so they can develop their 1v1 play and get more success in the final third.
4. Attacking with numerical inferiority
As we touched on before with 'attacking in balance’, it’s also important to focus on getting success when your teams are outnumbered in attacking situations.
These practices will help your teams to deal with underloaded scenarios to replicate game realistic situations.
Numerical inferiority in Attack (5-8)
5. Crossing
How often do we see corners and crosses from wide areas whipped into the box aimlessly and end up coming to nothing? It's important to train your wide players and playmakers to focus not only on picking out a player in the box but also on choosing the right type of cross depending on where they are on the pitch.
Similarly, it's important to focus on different types of finishes such as headers, volleys, side-footed shots etc for the attacking players arriving in the box so they can convert the crosses into goals.
Check out these sessions so your teams can improve in these areas.
Crossing and Finishing: Attacking Crosses (13+)
This guide is also useful for utilising corners and set pieces.
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