CB Center Back *In the way that I run the 4-2-3-1 the Center Backs should be the lowest risk takers on the team but they are also in the most dangerous place on the field because a mistake in CB will often lead to a goal scored against us. *Timing and placement on the field are the most important things for Center Backs. *Vertically on the field, I see the two Center Backs and the two Holding Mids as being a 2x2 block of Four that control the middle of the defending half. *The Center backs also must coordinate with the Goalkeeper and the holding Mids in order to protect the defensive half of the field. 1. Knowing how far to push up the field. 2. Knowing when to push up the field 3. Knowing when to retreat on defense 4. Knowing when to lap back and cover for the keeper when he pushes up 5. Knowing when to push up into the area that the holding mids normally cover and communicating with the holding mids to come and lap back to cover the space that is now empty. * Horizontally, the Center backs must slide along with the back Four to the side of the field where the ball is. *The Center Back on each side should be the primary inside outlet for a controlled pass from the outside back if we are in possession of the ball. What the CB does with the ball from there will depend on the opposition and the situation. Some clear options are: big clearance (with or without switch), controlled pass back to the OB who has run up the field past the opposing forward, or drop to the keeper for clearance with feet, controlled pass to holding mid or to attacking mid if possible. *The Center Back on each side should be the cover for the outside back if we are not in possession of the ball particularly for a battle on the wing of the defensive third. BATTLE ON THE WING DEFENSIVE THIRD EXAMPLE: 1. In this case, the other Center Back will need to slide across to cover Near Post and 2. The opposite OB will need to slide to cover Back Post. 3. The Holding mids will need to pick up extra runs being made on the box. 4. The attacking mid will need to come back to somewhere between the 18 yard box and half field in order to be the outlet pass option in the center of the field. 5. The opposite fwd should push the offsides line and draw the opposing outside back deep and wide both to become a threat on offense and to draw the defender away from the middle of the field in order to create space for other players making runs toward the goal. 6. The ball-side forward should check back to the ball and become like an outside midfielder. If the forward, who has checked back, gets the ball, then he can switch it, pass to the middle, dribble forward himself or pass the ball as an underlap (inside pass) or an overlap (outside pass) to his outside back who is running up behind him
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 02:38:32 +0000
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