First of all. I want to say you’ve really impressed me with your midfield performance. I was wrong, you can and should play midfield for High School.

This analysis is a trend I want to start and work on. I’ll be focusing on more pragmatic skills rather than foundational skills (pass weight, agility, ball control etc). I am not going to be commenting much about those because I am sure your coaches are working on that. (and I feel like it’d be an insult to you).

But I’ll be watching the game, and analyzing things that come to mind as I see the play unfold. 

1. 

Whole sequence is beautiful. You are in control of the entire play. I like the fact you seem like, in almost all your plays while actually on the ball, you are thinking ahead. 

I liked the pause, because it wasn’t advantageous to pass to Jakob, and it allowed you to get a better access to the box. I like the scans too. Very aware (my favorite genre of players btw, I love me a player with top awareness). Allows you to think ahead, and also like the quick adjusting to be able to win the foul.

I also really like your intensity ON the ball. It’s very top.

This I don’t like. Throughout the game, your intensity was not as constant/present. It’s like you decided play by play, “hmm do I wanna engage or nah”. And I get it, it’s High School Soccer, you don’t want/need to be at 100%. But there are players your age that are competing in Champions League Knockouts and a constant variable in ALL their traits is, they’ll give 100% EVERY GAME. And that’s the level I want you to be competing at.

It sounds harsh, but I am pushing you to try at least, if it doesn’t work or you think it doesn’t suit you (your body, style, mental aspects etc) then it’s completely fine. But I think you can hack it.

3.

This is hard to analyze. I don’t know what you were thinking at the moment, but you ended up turning after receiving this pass and played a long ball to Jak that almost resulted in a goal.

But when you vs tougher opponents, they won’t let you turn, scan, carry, and play a pass with no pressure. So an alternative is to think ahead. When the player on the ball has lifted his head up to look for a pass, that’s your cue to sprint and become an option. Here, you could’ve done a nice little 3rd man combination and find Kelly (I think) behind the opponent’s midfield line. Make 3rd man combinations your best friend. 

When the ball is being rotated around the defense, every new ball position, you should be scanning and reading the game forward to determine what the best options are. 

4. 

This is just one example, and I am sure you do this too, but I want to encourage you to communicate with your teammates. Tell Kelly to make that run. I saw you look for it but Kelly saw it too late. I also would like to see your passing potential, haven’t got to seen a lot of it from the little I’ve seen you play.

5.

This is just another example of what I was pointing out in point 3. When you are walking around, you should be scanning and thinking of ways to progress the ball. 90% of the backwards diagonal pass to a FB are usually a pressing trigger for opponents. As the ball is being shifted and the opponent has engaged to press the player on the ball, that’s your cue to sprint (to leave your marker) then play a 3rd man pass combination with the player on your right (Jak or Kelly). In MY ideal world, you would be the person at the end of the 3rd man combinations. I think you are at your best between opps mdf and defensive lines, turning and driving at the defense. In those scenarios, you still need to be aware of your positioning, and how to help your teammates complete the combination.

The timing and communication aspect is very important. Know the cues to sprint and distance yourself from your marker. Communicate with your teammates. Point to your 3rd man receiver on where you want him at. Shout at the player on the ball that you are open. Whatever it takes. 

Conclusions

In this part I want to mention something that you do well and may not be aware of. It is important you keep it up.

In your other report, the other coach told you to watch more of Federico Redondo at Inter Miami. He does these things that circle around the concept of “where is the nearest opponent?” and “how is he pressuring me?”. Some examples of this:

• Receiving with standing foot against the opponent (creates shield)
• Making the pass right before pressure reaches you, taking time if the pressure is not approaching you.
• Consistently taking an extra touch AWAY from the pressuring opponent rather than towards them
• Waiting until the ball reaches you before taking a touch in a direction or before starting the motion for a pass. This disguises the pass/movement so the opponent cannot know your next move until the last moment.

How to take it to the next level:

• When shielding from the pressure with any of the methods I mentioned above, easily earn a foul by falling when the pressing opponent touches you from behind.
• When you have the ball with no pressure, always have an immediate passing option ready (make sure your body positioning is appropriate to make that pass in an emergency). If the passing option is suddenly covered and you get pressured, quickly turn around and shield the ball.
• If there is no pressure again, do not commit to a dribble or run with the ball because the opponent will move to stop you. Wait for the opponent to move, and then make the dribble.
• While you think about the opponents and the space, also think about your teammates. Where are they? This will help you apply the principles from point 3 and 5 (3rd man passing and creating space for teammates). Train yourself to think through 3rd man options.