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STOKE CITY Tony Pulis attacking throws in the final third Attacking Key Ball movement Player throws in movement the final 1 Dribble third Overview: This session looks predominantly at the tactical versatility of the long throw in the final third (although also highlights the use of the short throw). The technique The long throw – 25 behind ‘going long’ six-yard box A throw that arrives in the six-yard is practised with the box is designed to pressurise and emphasis on quality, worry a defensive line that we may backed up by good judge as fragile immediately in front movement and a of goal. desire from players to attack the ball and score. It’s important to 2 practise attacking throws, but particularly the long throw, as this provides us with a guaranteed method of gaining free entry into the penalty box.
“The long 35 The long throw – penalty throw has spot and beyond When the delivery is aimed further out given us towards the edge of the box, we are looking either to entice the centre-backs out, or to something play out the sort of attacking movement that that teams we’d normally expect of a cross into the box. are genuinely When practising will be on the backfoot, great opportunity to player will have a afraid of. attacking throws, we and panic then arises score. bespoke training Opposition can break the process in the penalty box. Training plan programme designed down into a number Any element of panic to enhance the On a Friday we’ll players are of different parts, in the box gives us throwing technique. devote a lot of time both physical and the opportunity to It is a simple yet fully aware to our set plays. This psychological: create goalscoring effective art, but it’s involves repeating that they will chances where considered that the Psychology movements and otherwise they might tactical arrangement be on the The long throw has covering the areas not arise – through of players is the given us something where the ball will backfoot, and poor communication, important element, that teams are fall – these are very a mis-kick, or not the technique panic then genuinely afraid of. important parts. something else. We itself. Opposition players are However, neither arises in the need the players to fully aware that they Rory nor any other penalty box.” realise that this is a
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Despite other teams attacking throws in the final third now being aware Key and ready for the Ball movement threat, it remains an Player movement extremely valuable 3 Dribble tool. It also provides a useful diversion tactic – when teams think we’re going long, we’ll often go short. The long throw has provided us with rewards on numerous The short occasions - notably, throw When teams see a player 25 when knocking – be that Rory Delap, Ryan Arsenal out of the FA Shotton or anyone else – winding up Cup in 2010. Ricardo for a long throw, they organise accordingly, getting players back into the box. Fuller scored a This provides a simple and effective distraction to header to give us the enable us to throw short instead. Frequently, we can lead – we went on to create overload situations on the wings as a result of teams anticipating a long throw and pulling men into win the game 3-1. the box accordingly. 4
“The most common Making fault is when 25 attacking runs players do The key element for any delivery, be it a short or long throw, is the ability for not cover the players to attack space and get goal-side of defenders. We will instruct players to back half make diagonal, decoy, near- and far-post runs. These are what create panic and of the goal confusion inside penalty boxes. when the ball is flicked Signals and set plays with commanding and a nervous keeper or also gives the players We do not use any aggressive centre- defenders with less the belief that what on, which it specific signals for backs who relish the presence. Here, the we’ve been working on might be by long or short throws. chance to hold their obvious option is to in training really does Rather, prior to line and clear danger. throw the ball deep come to fruition. an attacker matches, we will In this instance, we into the box, maybe All set plays should or a defender. rehearse set plays, would prefer to throw even aiming it under be done as a team or each adapted to the the ball towards the crossbar. squad, so everybody That can defensive habits of the the edge of the box, It’s always satisfying knows their jobs if often lead team we are about to potentially pushing when a set play works called upon for the face. defenders out of as it’s fitting reward game. position. to a golden For instance, some for all the preparation chance being teams have a brave, Other teams may be we put in during the missed.” powerful goalkeeper identified as having lead-up to matches. It
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attacking throws in the final third
Key Ball movement Player movement 5 Dribble Tony Pulis STOKE CITY Tony Pulis has made Stoke City one of the toughest teams to beat in the Barclays Premier League, with a brand of football that is uncompromising and fierce, yet highly tactical and innovative. An FA Cup final Positioning appearance in 2011 is The most common fault is when players do not cover the back half arguably the highlight of the goal when the ball is flicked of his time so far at the on, which it might be by an attacker Britannia Stadium, or a defender. That can often lead although guiding the to a golden chance being missed. club into the Premier League in 2008 – following a 23-year absence – had also seen Pulis endear himself to 6 fans of the Potters. Pulis has now clocked up over 300 games as manager of the club across three spells. He has also taken charge at AFC Bournemouth, Gillingham, Bristol City, Portsmouth and Plymouth, displaying coaching versatility by leading teams Inswinging and successfully away from outswinging Rory Delap has the ability to relegation danger, make inswinging or outswinging as well as onto new deliveries – these create extra challenges in higher confusion for defenders. In addition, the divisions. position on the touchline can often determines whether the ball is delivered towards or away As a player, he made from goal. The furthest point along the touchline from over 300 appearances which we would launch a long throw into the box is before hanging up his approximately the 35-yard mark. boots in 1992. Trajectory Attacking the throw Protecting from As a side-effect to our Rory Delap and others The player we choose counter-attacks attacking throw, this have the ability to to go up for the throw Some teams take the event also means change the trajectory must have a mindset decision to bring back we’re less susceptible of a throw. Similar that we have a great all of their tall players to an opposition to the arrangement chance of scoring into the box in order counter-attack, of set plays, so too on every occasion. to give themselves since one of their key will the trajectory of The desire to score the best chance of attacking players is the ball be altered and belief that it will defending the long back in his own penalty depending on the happen becomes very throw, and that can box. perceived skills and important. often mean a striker abilities of opposition has to come back into keepers and the box. defenders.
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