How to coach ‘man-to-man’ marking

Many youth coaches opt for a "man-marking" or player-to-player marking scheme, as they deem it easier to teach than a zonal marking scheme. Spaces on a pitch can be more arbitrary, whereas opposition players are right there in front of you.

Canadian Premier League Scouting Database – Massimo Ferrin

One of the HFX names that's stood out since the start of the season has been Massimo Ferrin, coming out of Patrice Gheisar's League 1 Ontario winning team in Vaughan. He doesn't necessarily have the high number of goals or assists to show for what he's accomplished this season, but Massimo Ferrin should definitely be proud of a great first-season so far in the Canadian Premier League. Here is why the 24-year-old is one to keep an eye on in Canadian football.

FC Cincinnati – Tactical Analysis – 2023

As Lionel Messi has grabbed all the headlines this summer, FC Cincinnati have quietly gone under the radar again. Pat Noonan's Cincinnati currently have eleven points on the next best team in the East, and ten on the next best team overall in the entire MLS. Despite their league-leading status, they've kept fewer than 50% of the possession this season. So what have they done so well this campaign? Here is a tactical analysis of Pat Noonan's Cincinnati in 2023.

How I analyze defensive midfielders for pro clubs with Role Continuity

In 2022, I established my 'Role Continuity Evaluation System', on the basis that players should be assessed by the metrics and traits important to their specific role on the pitch. Through this understanding, players are then classified into what is now 20 different roles, and assessed accordingly to see how they stack up to other players fulfilling the same player type. Here is an explanation of my scouting & analysis system, why I've coined it 'Role Continuity', and how I use the system to analyze defensive midfielders.

Game of Numbers #26 – James Ward-Prowse & West Ham on the break

Despite Brighton's high-flying start to the season, I worried about what would happen when faced with a truly great counter-attacking side, given the space out wide in their shape. Well, in came West Ham United, one of the best counter-attacking teams in the world. Here is Game of Numbers #26, starting with how West Ham perfectly exploited Brighton's greatest weakness.

How I analyze centre-backs for pro clubs with Role Continuity

In 2022, I established my 'Role Continuity Evaluation System', on the basis that players should be assessed by the metrics and traits important to their specific role on the pitch. Through this understanding, players are then classified into what is now 20 different roles, and assessed accordingly to see how they stack up to other players fulfilling the same player type. Here is an explanation of my scouting & analysis system, why I've coined it 'Role Continuity', and how I use the system to analyze centre-backs.

How I analyze fullbacks for pro clubs with Role Continuity

In 2022, I established my 'Role Continuity Evaluation System', on the basis that players should be assessed by the metrics and traits important to their specific role on the pitch. Through this understanding, players are then classified into what is now 20 different roles, and assessed accordingly to see how they stack up to other players fulfilling the same player type. Here is an explanation of my scouting & analysis system, why I've coined it 'Role Continuity', and how I use the system to analyze fullbacks.

How I analyze goalkeepers for pro clubs with Role Continuity

In 2022, I established my 'Role Continuity Evaluation System', on the basis that players should be assessed by the metrics and traits important to their specific role on the pitch. Through this understanding, players are then classified into what is now 20 different roles, and assessed accordingly to see how they stack up to other players fulfilling the same player type. Here is an explanation of my scouting & analysis system, why I've coined it 'Role Continuity', and how I use it to analyze goalkeepers.