I'm a winger and I've noticed the biggest fault to my game is not passing quick enough, not knowing who to mark, where to run...etc. I know a lot of this comes with time and experience, but is there any way to quicken up that process by reading or watching game analysis? Anyone have any tips (especially for a winger)? Thanks.
Well where to run is easy. When the ball is on the flank on the other side of the field run to your near post. So if someone makes a cross to their far post you can put it in. No sense staying on your flank when the ball is on the other flank. When you see a team mate moving into your flank space with the ball get out of that space. Move back and pass him from behind him against the grain. Then if he has a brain in his head he can give you a takeover. Give you the ball now you will find yourself with the ball towards the middle of the field. From that position you can shoot on goal if your within your range. You can threw pass to someone up top. You can switch the field with a pass to the other wing or to a wing back. When you have the ball on your flank. Practice your crosses your a flank player they make crosses. If you are on the flank with the ball you are limited on the passes you can make. You can only pass to one side of the field right? Right flank you can't pass to the right side unless someone on your team makes an overlapping run. But they usually don't but that is a great run by a teammate. Why because your over loading your side of the field. You want to give the ball on a run like that to a player with no first defender on him easier to make a cross. You have to learn to be perfect on your crosses if you lose your first defender. We always worked on that. I had Gio Saverese on my team if you can make the perfect cross after losing the first defender Gio could put in goals all game long. Practice
One other thing I forgot to tell you. Let's say a first defender is on top of you when you have the ball turn away from him. So if your on a right flank turn away from him moving to your right away from goal if he follows you. Then you got him keep turning from that turn you can back pass to a team mate. Keep turning more you can still make your cross, or you can even shoot on goal from the flank. Try it under high pressure you will like it. The key is getting the first defender into following you. If he is a very aggressive player you got him.
Here is a rule of thumb in marking in general ball side when falling back after you lose the ball or when the team loses the ball ball side funnel Bach towards the middle of the field. Then you can mark someone from there. Stay outside and the dribbler or the ball gets inside of you. He has you, you will find yourself not playing defense just running accomplishing nothing but running for nothing. When the ball is close to the opponent the closer you should be to the player on defense your marking. When the ball is farther away the more room you can give that player on defense your marking. BUT this is a big BUT. When your opponent has the ball on the far side of the field Mark your man close enough that if a cross is made to that player it is not an automatic completion to that player. So mark close enough to turn the opponents pass into a 50/50 ball.