Defence Coach

[CC11]

The defence coach left along with the pass the ball forward coach in the summer

also the set pieces coach

 

[deipnosophist]

...and the heading coach...

 

[toffeejack]

you would think alcaraz, distin and jagielka are all old enough to not need a coach anymore. as well as barry. they've all been utter cack at defending though.

 

[AaronTheBlue]

you would think alcaraz, distin and jagielka are all old enough to not need a coach anymore. as well as barry. they've all been utter cack at defending though.

Bit silly to think that. Nneed coaching at any age when you are playing at any pro level

 

[Harryflashman]

How does a defence coach work exactly ? If you're coaching a side surely they all have to be part of a system & defend/attack together ? What if the defensive coach wants everyone to press high up the pitch whilst the manager doesn't ?

The entire coaching ethos starts & finishes with the manager surely and every coach has to fit into his system . Obviously keepers need a specialised coach and I can see where additional finishing training a couple of days a week might be an asset but breaking it up into areas of training seems like something that would cause more problems to me .

Edit : ive probably explained that badly but I just think the idea of specialist defensive coach seems a poor idea .

 

[PhilM]

How does a defence coach work exactly ? If you're coaching a side surely they all have to be part of a system & defend/attack together ? What if the defensive coach wants everyone to press high up the pitch whilst the manager doesn't ?

The entire coaching ethos starts & finishes with the manager surely and every coach has to fit into his system . Obviously keepers need a specialised coach and I can see where additional finishing training a couple of days a week might be an asset but breaking it up into areas of training seems like something that would cause more problems to me .

Obviously all different positions and aspects of the game, which can be taught separately, should be united through a harmonious approach.

The manager may then obviously want the defence to work in a specific way, but how this is conveyed or adopted can be delegated.

Here is when the defence coach (or a coach of any other position: keeper; attacking etc) can earn their worth as part of the overall plan.

They apply the overall ethos chosen by the manager, yet also providing specific knowledge, experience and coaching skills to get the best result.

They may have particular skills regarding how best to defend set pieces, tackle or simply work as a defensive unit that is effective.

It doesn't require a completely different routine as most the training will be generic and team orientated, but a bit of focus can't be harmful.

Nor does it have to be their entirely designated role which requires all their time; just a few hours week making sure they fulfil their roles.

What is the difference between Ferguson teaching Lukaku purely because he was a striker and a skilled defender teaching the back line?

It's not just about being specialised, however if you're not experienced in defensive tactics how are they expected to mentor the defence.

 

[Harryflashman]

Obviously all different positions and aspects of the game, which can be taught separately, should be united through a harmonious approach.

The manager may then obviously want the defence to work in a specific way, but how this is conveyed or adopted can be delegated.

Here is when the defence coach (or a coach of any other position: keeper; attacking etc) can earn their worth as part of the overall plan.

They apply the overall ethos chosen by the manager, yet also providing specific knowledge, experience and coaching skills to get the best result.

They may have particular skills regarding how best to defend set pieces, tackle or simply work as a defensive unit that is effective.

It doesn't require a completely different routine as most the training will be generic and team orientated, but a bit of focus can't be harmful.

Nor does it have to be their entirely designated role which requires all their time; just a few hours week making sure they fulfil their roles.

What is the difference between Ferguson teaching Lukaku purely because he was a striker and a skilled defender teaching the back line?

It's not just about being specialised, however if you're not experienced in defensive tactics how are they expected to mentor the defence.

Helping a striker with finishing makes sense to me but separating defending from other aspects of play does seem a bit more difficult for me to follow . That's not to say I don't take your point but defence and attack seem part of the overall system whilst extra work on finishing seems to make perfect sense . For me west brom , prior to them palace , are a top defensive unit because they are drilled to death on working as a unit & set pieces . Now I can see how you can seperate set pieces on training but not the defence .

 

[bitter-no-better]

Was thinking the same earlier. Much needed.

 

[Blue Cheese]

To an extent I agree. These aren't young, inexperienced players but rather experienced internationals who've played to a relatively high level.

Nevertheless, no matter how good you may actually be there is always the chance of complacency or a lack of cohesion - not working as one.

I'm not excusing the players as they're partly to blame purely through abysmal personal performances, yet lack of support may also be an aspect.

Sometimes you need someone to mentor and coach: offering reassurance; providing objective insight; focused training on specific aspects.

Martinez clearly does not see defence as a priority (in fact is just a waste of four players?), therefore I doubt they're getting the required training.

Without that specific work which is tailored to defence, it is quite easy to lose focus on the task at hand and become dysfunctional.

If you're predominantly working on aspects such as passing, moving and attacking play, it's easy to become less effective in other areas.

Even an hour or two a week away from the main squad, practising key skills and analysing performances could rekindle some unity between them.

The whole formation and our mentality obviously will not help, but we showed last season that a reliable defence is possible.

A defence coach may rekindle this, or at least stop them being so bloody useless at doing the basics which at the moment seem so laborious.

Chelsea can be immense going forward, however Jose still ensures his team are extremely strong at the back. Doesn't have to be one or the other.

Maybe someone regularly in their area may remind them of this.

agreed, and actually read it because it wasn't wall of text, small things n all that x

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

A defensive coach, a goalkeeping coach, a set - piece coach, a pass the ball forward coach, and a 'how not to talk gibberish in post match interviews' coach.

 

[kenada_blue]

To an extent I agree. These aren't young, inexperienced players but rather experienced internationals who've played to a relatively high level.

Nevertheless, no matter how good you may actually be there is always the chance of complacency or a lack of cohesion - not working as one.

I'm not excusing the players as they're partly to blame purely through abysmal personal performances, yet lack of support may also be an aspect.

Sometimes you need someone to mentor and coach: offering reassurance; providing objective insight; focused training on specific aspects.

Martinez clearly does not see defence as a priority (in fact is just a waste of four players?), therefore I doubt they're getting the required training.

Without that specific work which is tailored to defence, it is quite easy to lose focus on the task at hand and become dysfunctional.

If you're predominantly working on aspects such as passing, moving and attacking play, it's easy to become less effective in other areas.

Even an hour or two a week away from the main squad, practising key skills and analysing performances could rekindle some unity between them.

The whole formation and our mentality obviously will not help, but we showed last season that a reliable defence is possible.

A defence coach may rekindle this, or at least stop them being so bloody useless at doing the basics which at the moment seem so laborious.

Chelsea can be immense going forward, however Jose still ensures his team are extremely strong at the back. Doesn't have to be one or the other.

Maybe someone regularly in their area may remind them of this.

All in all we don't know what they do on the training field, but you are correct in that its not working as a team.

For all the shocking goals we've conceded this season, there has been games where we have defended superbly against in form/better sides.

Chelsea, United, City, RS home and away (mainly away with Chelsea) we defended superbly.

Which always brings me back to as a team, if one or two players aren't performing, the whole thing falls apart.

You've got forced errors from the keeper to the defence. An old defensive midfielder who hasn't got the legs anymore. And no midfield link up player due to injuries/form.

You can hammer as much coaching as you like. It gets to 3pm on a Saturday and someone doesn't track a runner/misplaces a pass/drops the balls...you're done.