The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #145317   Message #3368747
Posted By: alanabit
27-Jun-12 - 02:15 PM
Thread Name: BS: UEFA EURO 2012 (football)
Subject: RE: BS: UEFA EURO 2012 (football)
I was being a bit cheeky there, but I am with both Mike and GSS on the need to raise skill levels among our younger players from the very beginning. Above all, they have to learn how to work with the other players in the team. England's off the ball running was dreadful to non-existant at times. Players need to know if their colleagues want the ball played to feet or played into their stride, for instance. This can often make the difference between starting a passing movement and dooming it to failure on the first pass. Players need to learn these skills early on. At the moment we are producing very fit, strong young men who end up chasing shadows against international opposition, because they have not learned to retain the ball.