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SET-UPAREAFull pitchEQUIPMENTBalls, bibs, cones,mannequins,1 full size gggoalNUMBEROFPLAYERSInitially 10 players + 1goalkeeper.But up to 20players + 2 goalkeepersfor thegggameSESSIONTIME

Attackingpatterns: 20mins

OverviewI oftenuse this typeof practicetoworkonour teamshapeandattackingpatterns inpreparation formatches. Thepatternsandmovementswerehearsewill vary greatly,dependingon thesystemweintend touse for thegameand thesystemweexpectouropponents touse.Peopleaccept that inprofessional football, teamsmustbeorganiseddefensively

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DavidMoyesAttackingpatterns

when theydonothavepossession.When theball isin certain areasof thepitch,playersneed tounderstandhowandwhere topositionthemselves in relation totheball, theopposition, thegoal and their teammates.It is equally important forplayers tounderstand theirpositioningandmovementwhenwehavepossession.Asacoach, youcanuse thissession toprepareplayerstoplay against specificopposition tactics. Theplayers canbecoachedonhow toexploitweaknesseswehave identified in theopposition’s expectedshapeandsystem.

Whatdo Iget theplayers todo?After awarm-upwith thefitness coachesandapassingdrill basedon the typeofworkwe intend todo [notshown],weset up for themainsessionona full sizepitch

withagoal andagoalkeeperat oneend. Thediagramsshow10outfieldplayers,set up ina4-2-3-1/4-4-1-1shape, but toensure that thefull squadunderstandwhatweareworkingon,weoftendoubleplayersup inmostpositions. For eachsessionwewill set up10mannequinsin theexpectedshapeof theforthcomingopponents.

Pattern1Play startswithapass fromthecentreback to the rightback,whocombineswith themidfielder topassback tothestartingplayer.When thestartingplayer receives theball back fromthemidfielder,the leftwingermoves infieldto receiveandpass in to thestriker.Whilst themove isdeveloping, the left backoverlaps to receiveapass fromthestriker andcrosses intothepenalty area,wherehisteammateshavemade runstomeet theball, as shown [1].

BallmovementPlayermovementDribble

KEY

PATTERN1

When the starting player receives theball back from themidfielder andpasses to the leftwinger, that is the trigger for the left back, the rightwingerand the striker tomake their attackingmovements

Theoverlapping left back receives from the striker andcrosses into the penalty area,wherehis teammateshavemade runs tomeet the ball

The leftwingermovesinfield toreceiveandpassin to thestriker

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DAVIDMOYES: ATTACKINGPATTERNS

PATTERN2

PATTERN3

Pattern2Play startswithapassbetween thecentrebacksand then to the right back,whopasses to thenumber10 who thenpasses to thesupportingmidfieldplayer.Themidfieldplayer then

passes into thepathof the rightwinger,whocrosses, as shown [2].

Pattern3Play startswithapassbetweenthecentrebacksand then theball is passed to the left back. The

left back receivesandpassesto thenumber10whopasses tothesupportingmidfieldplayerwhopasses to the rightwinger,whohasmoved inside. The rightwinger turnsandplays into thepathof theoverlapping right backwhocrosses, as shown [3].

BallmovementPlayermovementDribble

KEY

“Thepatternsandmovementswerehearsewillvarygreatly,dependingonthesystemweintendtouseforthegameandthesystemweexpectouropponentstouse”

The strikerholds his rununtilthe overlappingright backapproaches thepenalty area

When theright backreceives apass from therightwingerwhohas comeinside, hecrosses intothe area

The right backpasses to thenumber 10,whothenpasses tothe supportingmidfield player

The strikerholds his rununtil the passis on itswayto the rightwinger andtries tomeetthe cross

When theballis playedby thecentre back tothe left back, theright backmakesanoverlappingattacking rundownrightwing

The left back plays theball intomidfield and thenumber 10dropsdeep to receive. At the same time, the leftwinger andoneof the centralmidfieldersmake forward runs

Themidfield player passes into thepath of the rightwinger,who crosses

PATTERN5 The leftwingermoves inside to receive from the second centralmidfielder andpasses to the overlapping left back

The rightwinger’s pass inside to thefirst centralmidfielder is the triggerfor the left back tomakeanoverlapping runup the oppositeflank. The rightwinger then turns andmakes anattacking run into the penalty area

Thefirstcentralmidfielderlays theballoff to thesecond centralmidfielderandmakesa forwardrun into thepenalty area

The strikerholds his runto arrive latein the box andthe attackerstry tomeet thecross from theoverlappingleft back

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Pattern4Play startswithapassbetweenthe twocentrebacksand thentheball is played to the leftback,whopassesdirectly tothestriker. Thestriker lays theball off to thenumber10,whoplays theball into thepathof

DAVIDMOYES: ATTACKINGPATTERNS

the running leftwinger tomakeacross in thebox, as shown [4].

Pattern5Play startswithapass fromthecentreback to the rightback,whoplays theball to the

rightwinger. The rightwingerpasses inside to thefirst centralmidfielderwhopasses to thesecondcentralmidfielder,whopasses to the leftwingerwhohasmoved inside. The leftwingerpasses to theoverlapping fullbackwhocrosses, as shown [5].

PATTERN4

BallmovementPlayermovementDribble

KEY

When the left back receives andpasses over thehalfway line, that is the trigger for the twowingers andoneof themidfielders tomake their forwardmoves

The striker drops deepand receivesfrom the left back.He lays theball off tothenumber 10,whoplays the ball intothe path of the leftwinger to cross

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Pattern6The right back receivesandplays intomidfield, as shown [6]. Themidfieldplayer switchesplay to the leftwingerwhohasstayedwide. The leftwingerpasses to thenumber10who turnsandpasses to the rightwingerwhohasmoved inside. The rightwingerturnsandpasses into thepathof theoverlapping right backwhocrosses.

What are the key things to look outfor?Wewant to seeagoodquality of

passing, crossingandfinishing.Players shouldmakewell-timedrunsandshoulddemonstrateanunderstandingof their ownmovement in relation to themovement of their teammates.

What are the typicalmistakesplayersmightmake andhowdo Iavoid them?Things that can let down thesuccessful executionof anattackingpatternarepoor technique, poortimingandpoorunderstanding.

Howwould I put this into a gamesituation?Afterwehavepractised theattackingpatterns that Iwanttoworkon,wemaygo intoan11v11game [not shown]withone teamarranged inourformationand theother in theexpectedshapeof ouropponents.Whenweprogress into the11v11game, theplayers should showthat they recognise thepatternsfromthepracticeswehavejust done.

DAVIDMOYES: ATTACKINGPATTERNS

PATTERN6 BallmovementPlayermovementDribble

KEY

“Playersshouldmakewell-timedrunsandshoulddemonstrateanunderstandingoftheirownmovementinrelationtothemovementof

theirteammates”

The rightwinger cuts inside toreceive theball from thenumber10 andpasses to the overlappingright back

The right back receives thefirst passandplays intomidfield. He thenmakes anoverlapping rundown the right flank

Themidfield player switches play to the leftwingerwhohas stayedwide. Thewinger thenpasses to thenumber 10 andmakes abackpost run

The striker holds his rununtil he seesthe overlapping right back approachingthepenalty area to receive and cross