The Coaches' Room
11v11U17In Possession

Their left winger never tracks our full-back. Do we keep attacking that side or use him as a trap?

Asked by EM_92
0 views 7 replies
We can overload him, but it also means he is always ready to counter.

VERIFIED COACH ANSWER

VERIFIED COACH RESPONSE

UEFA A Coach

11v11 matchday • performance

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I’d keep attacking that side, but prepare properly for the counter. If their winger never tracks your full-back, you can create 2v1s consistently. That is an advantage worth using. The trade-off is that the winger is already high when you lose it. Your nearest centre-back, 6 and opposite-side defenders need to understand that the weak-side counter is the first danger. You might allow the full-back to go more aggressively when the 6 is positioned to cover, and be more cautious when the team is already stretched. I’d also vary the attack. Sometimes use the overlap, sometimes let the full-back’s run drag a defender while the winger comes inside. Opponent weaknesses are useful only if exploiting them does not create a bigger problem for you. At U17, I would tell the players both parts of the picture: yes, attack the space he leaves; no, do not forget why he is able to stay high.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

Join the football discussion. 7 replies

J

JordanR

Community Member

As a winger I would keep attacking him, but I want the coach telling me who is covering if our full-back goes past me. Otherwise both of us just see the opportunity.
N

NJ59

Community Member

That shared picture is the answer. Exploit him, but decide the protection before the ball is lost, not after.
G

GrassrootsGaz7

Community Member

We had a game where their winger looked lazy for 20 minutes, then scored twice on counters because we treated his lack of tracking as completely positive.
L

LewisM

Community Member

Exactly. His weakness without the ball is also the reason he is dangerous when they win it.
S

SevenSideSam2

Community Member

I agree in principle but not every attack. If the 6 has already moved high, sending the full-back can leave a huge counter lane for that winger.
J

JulesJ

Community Member

I would keep sending the full-back. If their winger refuses to go with him, we have a repeatable 2v1 and I want to use it.
S

ScouseP84

Community Member

That is where our far-side full-back stays. We are aggressive on the ball side and conservative on the opposite side.