The Coaches' Room
11v11•Adult•In Possession

Coach wants me to come inside more but I don't want to lose what I'm good at

Asked by WhiteLineNoise
1216 views 3 replies
I've been told to make more runs into the half-space instead of always staying wide. I can see why, but width and 1v1s are probably my biggest strengths. How can a winger vary the movement without spending the whole game in areas that don't suit them?

VERIFIED COACH RESPONSE

Coming inside should add another threat, not remove the one you already have. Keep some moments where you hold the width and make the full-back defend the touchline. Then choose times to move inside when the ball, your full-back or the opposition shape gives you a reason. For example, if your full-back overlaps, moving inside can open the lane outside. If the opposition full-back is already narrow, staying wide may stretch them more. You can also start wide and arrive inside later rather than standing there permanently. The aim is to make the defender uncertain about where the next action is coming from. If they know you will always stay wide, they can prepare for it. If they know you will always come inside, the same thing happens. Keep your directness. Use inside movements to make your strongest action harder to predict.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

Join the football discussion. 3 replies

C

claireonline

Parent

From watching wide players, the biggest difference seems to be timing. Starting wide and coming in after the full-back moves is completely different from standing inside from the start.
S

sophie_p

Player-Coach

I'd keep the thing you're best at and add the inside run, not replace one with the other. If the full-back knows you'll come inside every time, you've just created a new predictable habit.
M

MayaOnline

Coach

Exactly. The goal is to give the defender two problems. Width still matters because it creates the space you're eventually moving into.

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