Monthly newsletter - Feb 2023
Hi there,
Welcome to the second edition of my monthly newsletter, where I’ll be keeping you updated on what’s happening with Strive, my thoughts about the prem and other cool stuff I’ve seen.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF 1-2-1 TRAINING…
So far this year I’ve been doing lots of coaching, but the client has been a bit different to those I normally teach. At the beginning of the year I got a Goldador puppy (Golden Retriever crossed with Labrador Retriever), called Nelly. She’s very cute but also incredibly cheeky! Since I can take her out of the house for walks that definitely helps with burning off excess energy - though I think that I’m more tired than she is!
WHAT I’M LIKING AT THE MOMENT
I spoke a little about Arsenal and their incredible form and fluid play style last month, so other than them - I have been really impressed with Brighton & Hove Albion, who currently sit 7th in the Prem (2 games in hand on 6th). Amongst their most impressive players are Alexis Mac Alister, fresh off lifting the World Cup with Argentina, Solly March, the teenage sensation Evan Ferguson and the ridiculously impressive Kaoru Mitoma.
Mitoma, who signed from J1 League team Kawasaki Frontale in 2021, has racked up 7 goals and 2 assists so far this season including stand out goals against Liverpool and Everton.
Mitoma’s ability to drift in from the left, beat multiple players and get shots away at goal is any wingers dream, but how does he do it? Well, while at university he wrote a thesis on dribbling! Here’s what he found: “I learned that the good players weren’t looking at the ball, they would look ahead, trap the ball without looking down at their feet. That was the difference. I was one of the better dribblers at that time, but not exceptional. I am conscious of shifting the opponent's centre of gravity. If I can move the opponent's body, I win.".
Mitoma’s comments feed into the 3 point ‘recipe’ that I talk about in my sessions:
Disguise, to shift the defender to one side.
Change direction, to push the ball away from the defender.
Change speed, to get away from the defender.
To learn a more about my coaching approach or to book a 1-2-1 elite session, click the button below.
You’ll have seen VAR has been back in the press after the mistakes made by Lee Mason at Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brentford. Mason, as the Video Assistant Referee, has since left the referees' body PGMOL by mutual consent and admitted human error in the incident where he forgot to draw the guidelines to check for offside. Arteta was understandably furious, which spilled over into the Aston Villa game where he was captured mocking the referee Simon Hopper.
In this regard, football feels miles behind other sports, which have evolved to effectively incorporate new technologies into the game. In rugby for example, refereeing staff now wear headsets throughout the game. Not only can fans hear any VAR discussion and debate, dialogue with players can also be heard. This undoubtedly increases visibility and accountability on decisions, and also helps increase respect - as players are discouraged from swearing and shouting at refereeing staff.
We can all get hot-headed during a game (watching or playing) but it’s important to remember the person behind the referee. This comes at the same time as a BBC 5 Live survey of 9000 referees revealed that nearly all respondents had experienced some form of verbal abuse, with many telling of physical abuse such as spitting, punching or headbutting. The majority of these referees are at a grassroots level, which should speak to all of us in how we communicate with referees. It’s easy to roll our eyes at Arteta but the responsibility is with everyone in football (parents, this goes for you too!) to be respectful. Only then can we really see football evolve and adapt to the times. I think rugby is a good example of how referees can be treated in a fair way!
WORTH A WATCH
Mbappe shines and Messi scores added time winner from a free kick! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTZks07S35E
Jan Vertonger wears a microphone during a competitive football match for Anderlecht - very interesting to hear!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vecb_CETAi0
That’s it for February! Please let me know if you’ve got any feedback or comments!
Thanks,
Jesse