Pre-season preparation can make all the difference.
For the opening weekend, we’ve rounded up the friendlies each club has played and taken a look at which stars they’ve bought during the summer transfer window.
We also have some useful Coerver Coaching tips and drills for you modelled on the playing style of 5 Premier League teams that we think will have a great season. Use these drills through the season, but especially in your pre-season to improve these important topics in the game.
Team: Chelsea
Chelsea’s pre-season started with a resounding 6-1 win over Peterborough, then continued with wins away at Bournemouth and Arsenal before a home draw against Spurs. They finished by winning their UEFA Super Cup final on penalties against Villarreal. They’ve also signed Lukaku over the summer, who was excellent at the Euros and will help with Chelsea’s team strength, scoring goals.
Team Strength: Scoring Goals
“Three things to tell your players”
This drill will help your players improve their goal scoring ability:
SET UP
A 30 x 30 Yard area with 4 small goals on each side.
Red team plays E & W and has two players positioned either side of their two small goals.
Yellow play N & S and also have two players positioned by the side of their two goals.
ACTION
The perimeter players by the goals only have one touch each time they play the ball and try to set up their team mates to score. Receiver can take up one touch or finish first time.
Team: Manchester City
Last season’s champions had a brief pre-season: they played just two friendlies – home wins against Preston and Barnsley – before their Community Shield defeat against Leicester. Don’t think that means they won’t be a force to contend with this season though, as their squad looks as strong as ever and their big signing, Jack Grealish, will help them continue playing great possession football.
Team Strength: Possession Football
“Three things to tell your players”
This drill will help your players practice keeping possession:
SET UP.
A 12 yard square, one end player of each team north and south, one east and west on end lines.
2 v 2 in area.
ACTION.
End players have only one touch, middle players two touch. Goal is to create space for end players to play a “Killer Pass” to their opposite team mate.
Team: Manchester United
United kicked off their pre-season with a win against Derby, before two difficult fixtures against West London clubs QPR and Brentford. They finished up with a resounding 4-0 win over Everton to get ready to take on Leeds on the opening weekend. Their most exciting summer signing, Jadon Sancho, adds more pace to their already frightening counter attack.
Team Strength: Counter Attacking
“Three things to tell your players”
This drill will help your players practice counter-attacking.
SET UP.
A 40 x 30 area with two 5yd passing zones at each end of the 40yd length.
Teams of 6 or 7 players.
ACTION.
Teams have one player in each of the passing zones and the rest play 3 v 3,4v4 in the middle 30 x 30yd zone.
The Middle players combine and try to pass to end zone player and switch with that player and the released player tries to take the ball or combine with team mates to release team mate in opposite passing zone. Balls going out of play go to the pressing team.
Team: Leeds United
Leeds’ pre-season started with local opposition, as they faced Guiseley, Blackburn and Fleetwood, before taking on Spanish clubs Real Betis and Villarreal, and journeyed to Amsterdam to play against Ajax. They’ve had a fairly quiet transfer window, but have brought in young Barcelona full-back Junior Firpo and turned Jack Harrison’s long-term loan into a permanent deal. They’ll both have to work hard to fit in with Bielsa’s high-intensity pressing tactics.
Team Strength: Pressing
“Three things to tell your players”
- The key to good defending is to be good at individual and group pressing.
- The player nearest the ball presses quickly to get near the ball.
- The first presser triggers his/her team mates to then support within a good distance and shape.
This drill will help improve your teams pressing ability:
SET UP
A 20/23×20/23yd field.
Two teams of 6/7 players.
ACTION
Attackers play 6/7 v 3 defenders according to the players abilities.
Defenders can change on the fly when they get tired.
The coach counts the time it takes for the Defenders to get 10 touches on the 10 balls coach plays in. They don’t have to control the ball. Just touch it while attackers use the whole area to keep possession, teams change roles.
Team: Liverpool
Liverpool have had an interesting pre-season, as they’ve not faced a single English club this summer. They played four matches in Austria and two in France before facing Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. Their only signing this summer has been French Under-21 centre-back Ibrahima Konaté from Red Bull Leipzig, to sure up their defence – but their attacking threat remains high as Mane, Salah and Firmino excel at fast finishing.
Team Strength: Fast Finishing
“Three things to tell your players”
- Work on finishing on the run.
- Try for accuracy as much as power.
- Follow up your teammates’ shots.
This drill will help your players practice fast finishing:
SET UP
30 x 20 yard field with a 10 yard shooting line.
The Defenders (Reds) start in the corner, the Attackers (yellows) start behind the 30yd start line.
ACTION
Coach starts by passing the ball and calling a number, the Defenders send the number called, the Attackers send one more player than was called. If the Attackers score they can jog back over the start line. But if the defender touches the ball, or the GK saves, or the shot goes wide, the attackers have 4 seconds to sprint back to the start line. Attackers get two points for a goal from outside the 10yd shooting line. Coach keeps score.
The Goalkeeper cannot advance beyond the 6-yard box to begin with.
If the attackers get clever and start to shoot from over 10 yds. and so have a short run if they miss demand that they must shoot inside 10yds to score. Change the attackers and defenders regularly.
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