Offense vs Defense

[The Warrant]

Hey Gang,
I consider myself a pretty good coach but, I was hoping some coaches with more experience would chime in on this subject.
I have a player on my men's amateur team that is a former Div I goalkeeper and forward. The problem is that we have two ties and a loss under our belts this season and I am having a he// of a time finding a place for this guy to play. His play in goal is what you would expect, he is virtually unbeatable in the level our league provides. He also has all but one of the goals scored for us this year. Our forwards are capable but, he seems to really provide a spark for us up front and has scored within the first few minutes of every half I've subbed him in. Our backup keeper has great size and range but, his inexperience tends to lead to bad late game soft goals (hence the loss and 2 ties). The goals scored by my good player have created somewhat of a monster now and he simply demands to play forward. I have kept his attitude in check but, his play has created a split in the team with many of the younger players wanting him up front and many of the older players wanting better goalkeeping. If I had a few wins under my belt I would be OK to stick him in goal all game and let my starting fwds work out the kinks but, our record and his late game heroics seem to point otherwise. Further problems, our backup keeper is also our best defender and in order to shore up my defense I may have to shift my central mid to the backline or D mid spot. This will surely cut down on the great service that super player has enjoyed when he subs in.

As it stands now, I am leaning towards stating him at forward and gambling on offense to win the game, not defense.


What are your thoughts???
The Warrant

[Ray Luca]

This is what your going to demand of him. He plays an attacker on the first half to try and help the team get the lead, and in the net in the second half to hold that lead.

That is what you need him to do for the team. That is fair in my eyes.

If he doesn't like that he can play in goal the whole game or he can sit on the bench the whole game. Then look for another keeper and another striker.

[usscouse]

This is what your going to demand of him. He plays an attacker on the first half to try and help the team get the lead, and in the net in the second half to hold that lead.

That is what you need him to do for the team. That is fair in my eyes.

If he doesn't like that he can play in goal the whole game or he can sit on the bench the whole game. Then look for another keeper and another striker.
About what I was going to say, then I got down to your post... :cool:
Sounds fair to me.


warrant, you're not allowed to say "hell"... :)

[spartanpele]

I'd ask your player where he would prefer to play.

If his heart is in GK, then play him there and work out the kinks on offense. To shift all the other players around for your 2nd GK doesn't seem to be the answer.

If your players heart is at fwd, then play him there, and leave him there.

Don't shift him around back and forth or he might get pissed off and decide to go to a different team. The big thing in the meantime is to find another GK and striker asap.

Best of luck...

[Ray Luca]

I'd ask your player where he would prefer to play.

If his heart is in GK, then play him there and work out the kinks on offense. To shift all the other players around for your 2nd GK doesn't seem to be the answer.

If your players heart is at fwd, then play him there, and leave him there.

Don't shift him around back and forth or he might get pissed off and decide to go to a different team. The big thing in the meantime is to find another GK and striker asap.

Best of luck...

What if everyone on the teams heart is playing a striker? Also maybe his talent is not at striker play him any way?

Cool no mids no backs no keepers just strikers good advice.

[spartanpele]

Ray...come on buddy...use your head. I'm not talking about a free for all in asking everyone on the team what position they want to play. Good lord. LOL

I'm talking about a mens team that has a GK with D1 talent, thats also the best striker on the team. Nothing more.

Theres no doubt that if you ask everyone, then everyone will want to play striker...unless its a girls team and then almost everyone wants to play defense. (Just kidding).

Seriously, if you want to take the approach of being a competitive coach with a competitive team, then obviously you're going to slot players into positions based on their natural abilities, tendencies, and your teams weaknesses and strengths.

But its sounds like we're talking about a rec mens team and the GK is the best scorer. I personally would leave him at GK, and work heavily on my strikers and if need be, change up my formation a bit to emphasize getting more players in on the attack to increase the chances of scoring, especially if you have a wall for a GK. But it doesn't hurt to talk with him and ask him his feelings about playing GK or striker.

But no...don't offer all the players that option! LOL!

[BTFOOM]

One issue to keep in mind is that he doesn't have to play with your team. It's not unusual for players to switch teams at that level and you certainly don't want to lose him. You need to evaluate your 'hold' on the team and how strongly the players want to play for you.

In a perfect world, I would ask you where the larger talent gap exists, between this player and your 2nd goalie or this player and 2nd striker. Play him where the larger difference exists.

You say he really wants to play forward and not goal so much. If you try to force him in goal, don't expect him to stay. Let him play forward and try to build a stronger defense. If you get a lead, see if you can slide him back to midfield to help out on D.

Keep in mind, men's leagues are notoriously up and down. A player here or there can make a big difference. See if he has any friends who play and get them on the team (makes it easier for him to play).

Lastly, maybe (hopefully) the 2nd goalie will step up w/o the pressure of this player stepping in for him after any mistake.

In any case, good luck.

[IASocFan]

A couple of thoughts.
- Have him work with and warm up the backup keeper. The more he can help his backup, the less he is needed back there.
- If you can get him to play keeper a half, try putting him there when the wind is more in his face.
- In stead of splitting by halves, switch in the middle of both halves. You can keep him and the backup more fresh, and the other team will have more trouble adjusting (hopefully, anyway.)

[Ray Luca]

Ray...come on buddy...use your head. I'm not talking about a free for all in asking everyone on the team what position they want to play. Good lord. LOL

I'm talking about a mens team that has a GK with D1 talent, thats also the best striker on the team. Nothing more.

Theres no doubt that if you ask everyone, then everyone will want to play striker...unless its a girls team and then almost everyone wants to play defense. (Just kidding).

Seriously, if you want to take the approach of being a competitive coach with a competitive team, then obviously you're going to slot players into positions based on their natural abilities, tendencies, and your teams weaknesses and strengths.

But its sounds like we're talking about a rec mens team and the GK is the best scorer. I personally would leave him at GK, and work heavily on my strikers and if need be, change up my formation a bit to emphasize getting more players in on the attack to increase the chances of scoring, especially if you have a wall for a GK. But it doesn't hurt to talk with him and ask him his feelings about playing GK or striker.

But no...don't offer all the players that option! LOL!

Most adult teams go by the three substitution rule just suppose this player playing striker is fit for only 35 minutes would you start him? Remember in his heart he wants to be a striker.

If I was his coach and he was not fit to go apx 65 to 70 mintues at striker you can't start him even if you wanted to.

[blech]

Most adult teams go by the three substitution rule just suppose this player playing striker is fit for only 35 minutes would you start him? Remember in his heart he wants to be a striker.

If I was his coach and he was not fit to go apx 65 to 70 mintues at striker you can't start him even if you wanted to.

i don't know if the three subs rule applies here, but it wouldn't have anything to do with him switching back into the goal during a middle of a half or otherwise. it doesn't require a substitution, just a reshuffling of the players on the field. (he goes to goal, the goalie returns to defense, the defender returns to midfield, and a mid shifts up front or you switch to a more defensive formation since he switching to goal is likely to hold a lead in any event).

in any event, did i miss something? where did his fitness come into this?

i agree that you wouldn't simply let all of your players choose their position, and you shouldn't let him PICK his position eaither, but you certainly can take his opinion into account when you, the coach, make the decisions. the guy has been playing D1 goalie and not finds he's having success on the field at this level of competition. makes perfect sense that he'd want to come out more, and might well view it as more of a challenge (as he's probably toooo good a goalie for this league) or might just be a little burnt out on the goalie thing at this point. i'd try to accomodate him (and everyone else for that matter) if i can do it without hurting the team.

if this guy really is your offensive spark, i also like the notion of starting him on the field and trying to get a goal or two, and then moving him back to protect it. if your substitution rules or personnel allow switches during the half, you might adjust this by starting him in goal for the first 10-15 minutes to make sure you don't give up a stupid one early, and then bring him out unless you've managed to get a lead anyway.

finally, all of this said, it really may depend some on how bad the clunkers are that the second goalie is giving up. especially if you're a weaker team in the league, it's easier to shore up defense first, and a strong goalie would do that. in more competitive games, i've always been reluctant to play weaker goalies, but sometimes you have to take risks. in your case, it sounds like the risks are: (1) to steal a goal early and the lead, (2) to come from behind to pull a game out, and (3) to make sure a talented player doesn't become so frustrated he leaves. good luck.