Prazan
27 Apr 2007, 12:11 PM
If you want to see the textbook definition of an organized defense, check out the picture below. This happened a few seconds after Freeman pushed forward and sent a cross in to Dema that he headed into the side netting. Hislop kicked a long ball up to Nunez who immediately attacked towards the center of the defense then passed the ball to Ruiz on the right for a cross. As the picture is taken, Ruiz has just sent the cross in as Nunez continued his run toward goal.
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/3043/defense1bg2.jpg
Six players in the box as the cross comes in from the right, plus two more at the top of the box to clear a rebound or mark any Dallas midfielders who try to make a run from a deep position. What you are looking at, then, is essentially how RBNY defended a counterattack after having players pushed up on their own attack. And it certainly isn't bunkering when you are throwing wingers and fullbacks up into the attack as we were.
If anyone out there who hasn't seen these games is wondering how Parke and Mendes have suddenly become a young Maldini and Costacurta, the answer is simple - they haven't. And they haven't had to. When you play team defense like this, the only way you are giving up a goal is if an attacker shows some Ronaldinho-like genius. And there isn't much of that in MLS.
As a teaching tool, you might want to print out that picture if you coach youth soccer. Or DC United. :D
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/3043/defense1bg2.jpg
Six players in the box as the cross comes in from the right, plus two more at the top of the box to clear a rebound or mark any Dallas midfielders who try to make a run from a deep position. What you are looking at, then, is essentially how RBNY defended a counterattack after having players pushed up on their own attack. And it certainly isn't bunkering when you are throwing wingers and fullbacks up into the attack as we were.
If anyone out there who hasn't seen these games is wondering how Parke and Mendes have suddenly become a young Maldini and Costacurta, the answer is simple - they haven't. And they haven't had to. When you play team defense like this, the only way you are giving up a goal is if an attacker shows some Ronaldinho-like genius. And there isn't much of that in MLS.
As a teaching tool, you might want to print out that picture if you coach youth soccer. Or DC United. :D