I watched a couple of PL games from Round 2 and the variation in opinions following each game were amazing - they ranged from the emotionally affected to unfathomable. Players play and they are always cetral to performance, just as they must always be first in line to take responsibility. Few opinions seeemed to be supported by any vestige of game analysis based a recording and recounting of elements of play acroos the game. Most were based instead on a mish mash of the old player not playing well, the odd massive error, criticism of coaching decisions and an unfounded bias against the playing system employed during the game. As though one thing is ever the answer - about as credible as the "lone gunman'" on Delaley Plaza!
But its a tricky business and people see the game differently and have different playing preferences and prejudices. Removing the subjectivity is linked very precisely to the careful observation and recording of match statistics. At the very serious end of Football, game analysis is an intergral part of coaching, team and player development, aided as it is now by technology.
I'm not sure how many clubs in our Premier League conduct game analysis in a coherent fashion, but it must surely be a development that's time has arrived.
Game analysis assits in bringing clarity to the game just played and informs the next.
This item (extract) is sourced from:
http://www.nscaa.com/
Observation - Match Analysis
To discover what the players need to practice, the coach must observe them play in a game. The game tells us what the players need. The observations the coach makes during a game will give the practice session a focus. Consequently, the soccer coaching model on game day is quite different from football, basketball or lacrosse, which encourages a high degree of interaction between players and coaches. Possibly baseball or ice hockey are better models for soccer, wherein the coach quietly observes the game, writes notes and occasionally exhorts players to perform.
Match observation and analysis
This is a very difficult skill. Some useful tips to develop this skill include:
• Watching a lot of soccer games.
• Sitting quietly with a pad and pen to note observations. Some coaches have an assistant do the writing while they observe.
• Developing the ability to look away from the ball. This is difficult, because the ball is a magnet for attention.
Here are three classic scenarios where looking away from the ball might be important:
- If midfielders get caught in possession, you may accuse them of indecision. Had you looked away from the ball at the forwards, however, you would have seen that they had not checked, made runs, etc.
- Your forwards have the ball outside opponent’s penalty box. Are your backs pushed up to the half line to compact the team defensively?
- Your team plays a 4-4-2. When the right flank has the ball, does left flank come inside to become a third center forward, or does he/she stay wide? This has implications for getting into penalty area if a cross is delivered or leaving space for overlapping left back.
Compartmentalizing observation into categories:
Individual
• Evaluation of your players’ technical, tactical, physical and psychological performance.
Small group
• Observation of backs, midfielders, forwards, etc.
• Observation of vertical thirds, left flank, central, right flank
• Observation of players within 12 yards of the ball
• Observation of first and second attackers
• Observation of first and second defenders
Team
• Does team exhibit ability to apply principles of game?
Attack
- Penetration
- Support
- Mobility
- Width
- Creativity
- Cover
- Balance
- Compactness
- Predictability
The scope of match analysis is far beyond the limits of this article.
Match analysis provides the delineation of the themes that must be developed in practice.