4 years ago, I was playing semi-professional football as a left-back in South Africa, under coaches with a particular structure and vision. I knew when to move up for my centre-backs, when to make a sprint along the flank, when to play the horse-shoe, when to shift in for cover, etc. Now, I've tried playing again, on beautiful synthetic pitches in Korea, with guys that have nice tiki-taka skills...but they seem to have no idea of playing as a unit. It's as if holding a defensive line is foreign to them. I felt like I was being pulled apart by average wingers, because of the lack of structure. Now I am not a very skilled players technically, but I make up for it in terms of positioning and discipline. But now, I'm starting to question my ability... THoughts?
Why there the ones who can't play. They don't understand about proper spacing and positioning when they don't have the ball. When you don't understand these things your players better be real fast because they are going to make a lot of mistakes because they don't know how to play smart. My suggestion to you is work on your ball skills. You can't play the game the right way for them. So just play the right way for yourself. Maybe you might want to think of being a player coach. Or work with them on the practice field. Sounds like you might make a good team captain. They need discipline work with them and help give them that player discipline,
If you want to play defense, play man to man. Follow your winger. Team defense doesn't work with the type of players you mentioned. I've been there.
I think the explanation is semi-pro vs. rec. Just a guess though based on good on-the-ball skills but poor team tactics. I assume you don't have a coach to discuss his vision of the system of play and how you are supposed to defend and transistion. Whatever the cause of the disorganized defense, the solution is to build on the pairs you are making around you. Develop an understanding with your CBs. This depends on your system of play. Assuming its 442, then with the wide mid in front of you and CM next to you. Once that is worked out so that your area of the field is secure, start looking for how you can contribute more offensively.
Thanks for the great advice guys, I appreciate the useful feedback. Actually I was captain back in the days, but there is a major problem for me now... I am not fluent in Korean, and definitely not in football terminology. Also, these guys are a few years older than me, and in such a society that has an emphasis on age, I don't think they're going to want to hear much. It's all rather frustrating. Perhaps I'll just work on my fitness and ballskills alone, and wait until a better opportunity arises. The frustration is a killer though. Anyways, yes, I would like to coach younger kids one day.
Man, I know how you feel. I play in a team that conists of Africans, and other European folk. We train structure and the coach explains it but come game time, we fall apart because players don't have that discipline to follow the structure, or probably didn't understand it to begin with. It's frustrating, and I'm really looking forward to leaving the team and trying out for a more disciplined team.