Score Like Suarez
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STRIKE PARTNERS xSturridge and Suarez in action together Attack Like The SAS IfyouwantyourstrikerstoforgeapartnershipasdeadlyasSturridgeandSuarez,getyour playerstomodelthemselvesontheSASandrunourattackingtrainingsessions n the modern game, where so many Sunderland centre-half pairing problems selfless player, happy to create goals for Words by: teams play in a 4-3-3 formation, strike all afternoon. One striker is tall and one his strike partner. Luke Nicoli Ipartnerships are a dying breed. If you is slight, but their speed, both physically With both players in the top three Activities by: look at Arsenal, they play with Oliver and mentally, will always create problems Premier League scorers at the time David Clarke Giroud up front, with their midfielders for opponents. Their fluid interchanging of Sturridge’s injury at beginning of supporting – likewise Chelsea with makes them difficult to mark but they December, Liverpool will be hoping Fernando Torres. But you don’t need to would be the first to admit that they rely to have the pair reunited as soon as throw away the idea of creating your own on good, accurate service from midfield. possible. And when Sturridge and Suarez strike partnership quite yet. To interchange so effectively, there is are finally back together, you can tell One club where two players have also the need for good understanding as your players to watch them closely in worked well in tandem is Liverpool, a pair, too. You will see them working in action. Then try running the activities on where the pairing of Daniel Sturridge and close proximity to each other; they won’t the following pages to make your strike Luis Suarez has flourished, leading to the be separated or stretched very often and partnership attack like the SAS. duo being nicknamed the SAS! this is imperative when scoring goals. In Suarez’s enforced absence due to Often there are short, sharp passes his early-season suspension, Sturridge between the pair, while other times you “They’re great players. They’re always led the line impressively in a 4-3-3 and will see Sturridge peel out wide to pick on the move and scoring goals and the big question was, “Where does up the ball, with Suarez quickly losing his Suarez fit in when he comes back?” marker before darting in at the near post I’m happy to play with them. They Well, Liverpool coach Brendan Rodgers for the return ball. Sometimes it will be make our work moving forward was one step ahead and switched to a Suarez who will ghost into areas behind 3-5-2 formation to accommodate both the back four, before teeing up his partner. easier because they’re always looking players. It was a strategy that worked to The pair’s flexibility means that they for space, and it’s easier perfection in their first Premier League can also adjust comfortably if Rodgers to pass them the ball” game back together against Sunderland, decides to change formation; Sturridge’s with both players on the score sheet. physical presence means that he can play – Liverpool midfielder Philippe With Steven Gerrard operating in the up front as a lone striker, with Suarez Coutinho sings the praises of ‘hole’ behind them, the pair thrived on playing just off his shoulder. He has the the SAS through balls from midfield and gave the hold-up play to do this and he is also a SoccerCoachWeekly.net Issue350 SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 3 STRIKE PARTNERS Parallel Lines Get your strike partners firing on all cylinders like Liverpool’s forward pairing Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge with this simple, unopposed shooting activity WHY USE IT The two strikers must Servers take it in stay in their half of the turns to pass balls Simple unopposed link up area and combine to into the strike pair play is an ideal way to start shoot from there at different angles your strike partners working together. Receive, look up, lay off, support – this is the way attackers should be behaving in the final third. SET UP 20yds Set up an area of 20x20 10yds yards split into two 10-yard areas. The strikers work in 10yds one half, the goalkeeper in the other. We’ve used six players including three servers. You need cones, The striker nearest the balls and a goal. ball must control and pass with two touches HOW TO PLAY Two strikers work in one half of the area and must combine and shoot in that half. The servers go in sequence to pass into one of the strikers, who with two touches must pass to his strike partner. The strike partner must shoot with his first touch. The shooting After receiving from striker must each server twice, swap the hit the ball first strike partners with two of time at the goal the servers and then with the keeper and the other server so all players get a chance. This should be a high tempo session as the game is unopposed, so get servers to play the next ball in immediately after the shot. TECHNIQUE Great to practise first touch and the movement of the supporting player. It’s a good workout for both shooting technique and the weight Here the receiving striker has chipped a and direction of the lay off. first-time pass to his strike partner, who has volleyed into the net Player movement Ball movement Run with ball Shot SoccerCoachWeekly.net Issue 350 SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 4 STRIKE PARTNERS Lose Your Marker If you want your forwards to work on their movement, this session will help striker partners shake off markers in the box and link up to create scoring opportunities WHY USE IT The game starts with a kick off in the centre zone This is about playing passes and players try to use the from midfield that the front neutral players to create two can latch onto and turn an attacking overload into scoring opportunities. The strikers are 2v2 up front but good possession can create space for a great pass out of midfield into the striking pair. 15yds 30yds SET UP 20yds Set up an area of 50x30 The attackers must yards split into three zones: 15yds move to receive the the centre zone is 20 yards ball and create chances Here the white attacker against the opposition wide and the outer zones has dragged the defender defence in a 2v2 are 15 yards wide. We’ve away and has played a used 20 players. You need good ball from the wing balls, bibs, cones and goals. into his partner HOW TO PLAY Split the players into two teams of nine including keepers, plus two neutral midfield players who play for the team in possession. In the middle zone is a 4v4 and the two outer zones are 2v2. The neutral players are in the As soon as the striker middle zone. All players are sees his partner has locked into their zones. good possession, he Here the midfield route Start with a normal must find space so to goal has been blocked kick-off and use the neutral he can receive a but a wide ball and long pass and score midfielders to create an pass allow the attacker overload that will allow space to run into and the team to get good balls fool the defenders through to the two strikers. TECHNIQUE Movement is vital to the session, with the overload in midfield giving the attacking team the advantage in the centre zone, but that requires the two strikers to make space so they can capitalise on the advantage. Player movement Ball movement Run with ball Shot SoccerCoachWeekly.net Issue 350 SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 5.