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When I played in goal fear was never far away; fear of making a silly error. It is a shame that more games are decided on a mistake, than a Maradonna slalom of genius. My zany idea is to prey on the nightmare of all goal keepers in making a silly mistake.
One of my zany themes is to cross fertilize ideas from different sports. For example in rugby, the American football style torpedo throw into the line-out is no common place, it was not so in the 1960’s. Warming to this American Football theme, I advocate special teams players for your football squad, after all you are allowed 5 players on the bench.
Guy’s Zany Idea
When you go a goal behind, statistically you have lost the game, so you need drastic measures. I have noticed that the team who goes ahead, often plays keep ball and back passes to their goalie, come in Guy’s Kamikaze footballer. As soon as he sees the the back pass is on he rushes the goalie, not half heartedly, but full bore, culminating in a diving header at the ball.
Going back to American football, they have a special teams player who specialises in charging down kicks, the football equivalent would do the same thing but with his hands at his side. Such a player would be built like Emile Heskey or Duncan Ferguson, with the speed and agility of Thierry Henry. It would not matter if he did not win the ball, the disruption may be enough to force a mistake from the goalie, then the other striker could pounce on any scraps.
Say what you like, pressure causes mistakes and goal keepers with ball at feet are very unpredictable and so vulnerable to attack. A Fabian Bathez or Bruce Grobballar would try and beat the Kamikaze forward and that’s where is fellow striker would nip in and steal the ball and slip it into the empty net.
| The 1972 winners had G. Muller as their leading goal scorer, who were they? |
| Holland |
| USSR |
| Yugoslavia |
| Czech Republic |
| Germany |
| Free sample quiz |
Zany Ideas for Soccer – Corner
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As a player, I felt it was a real feather in our cap when we won a corner. When I played in the outfield I was useless on the ground but could hold my own in the air. What surprises me is that in top class games 98% of corners anti-climaxes with lots of pushing and shoving but the defence well on top.
What is needed is some lateral thinking and a zany idea. I call it the starburst. 9 attackers assemble at the halfway line, the captain calls the play, say red 18. The corner taker then drops the ball on the left hand corner of the 18 yard box. Firstly all the attackers know where the kick is going; to the casual observer this is not always the case with a corner. On the signal 5 attackers overrun the 18 yard box forming a human shield for the remaining 3 behind them. If all goes to plan the defenders cannot physically get near where the ball drops and one of the 3 volleys or heads the ball into the net. While the first 5 double back and defend, did you spot that I kept one player back – just in case of a quick break.
This ‘ 18 Red’ is but one of about 10 set plays that all attackers know where the corner is going, whereas the defenders are clueless and powerless to stop a free shot.
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Zany Ideas for Soccer – Donkey Kick
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Terry Venables in his QPR days was the best I saw at this trick.
Flick up the ball with two feet, then your mate blasts the ball into the net. Especially good for indirect free kicks. As you probably know the Donkey Kick was banned, but surely your average footballer could find a work around and produce the same effect with a quick stab.
| Which of these countries lost at least one game in their qualifying matches? |
| England |
| France |
| Italy |
| Czech Republic |
| Portugal |
| Free sample quiz |
Zany Ideas for Soccer
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Here are a selection of special tactics or Zany ideas to improve the game. Over my time, it has seemed as though defending has got more organized, what soccer needs is a few more attacking ideas.
One of my central themes is cross fertilization of ideas from other sports.
Star Burst Corner – Predefined call, decoy runners
Kamikaze – Charge down the goal keeper
Long Throw – Time for a come-back
Donkey Kick – Spice up indirect free kicks
Do send in your ideas for mad, zany ploys, tactics that teams should try.
Ξ
| Svehlík and Dobiás both scored in the final. Victor was in goal who were they? |
| France |
| USSR |
| Holland |
| Czechoslovakia |
| Germany |
| Free sample quiz |
Zany Ideas for Soccer – Long Throw
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Where has the long throw gone?
Another job for the special teams coach. See who of the 22 can throw the ball the furthest, and develop the skill.
Could it be that the different flight of a throw compared with a kick catches out the defenders?
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