mario

...d the match ended in a bad tempered draw. Kevin Nolan gave Bolton a shock lead after 12 minutes and the Trotters almost held out for an 11/2 win until Gilberto levelled the match in injury time.

Evertons moved up to tenth with a 1-0 victory over Blackburn. Goalkeeper Iain Turner was sent off after nine minutes and was replaced by another debutante in 19-year-old John Ruddy. However, the 10-men of Everton took the lead through James Beattie after 33 minutes and held on to win at 5/4.

Newcastle made it two wins out of two for caretaker manager Glenn Roeder with a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa. Shola Ameobi gave the Magpies the lead after two minutes but in-form Luke Moore levelled for Villa with his fifth goal in three matches. Charles NZogbia netted for the second succ...more

Soccer Team Position, Soccer Team Players Position and Set up, 5-4-1 Team Set up

...prepared to defend as opposed to attack.
This team is an opportunistic attacking team and will usually attack against the run of play.
This happens when the opposing team has made a mistake.

This system and idea can also produce and utilize the positions and concepts known as "wing back".
These are the players who can make over-lapping runs from their defensive ends right to the opposing goal lines.

When communicated properly the following happens.

1) A full on attack has been launched.
At least 5 are attacking simultaneously.

2) The outside midfield has now become support, over lapping and or cutting in and out when and where necessary.

3) Positons have changed to reflect those areas (space) not covered.
The attacking team has changed the zonal aspects and created a player mis-match numerically.

4, mid-fielders are usually arranged as outside left, inside left, inside right and outside right.
The outside players are ...more

Soccer Systems of Play, Team Formation and Positional Set up, 4-4-2

...g play. They usually play from side to side rather than up and down the field.
These defenders are involved in shutting down any play and play making.
These players really read the game well. They need to, or they would be doing all the running.

Midfield

4, mid-fielders are usually arranged as outside left, inside left, inside right and outside right.
The outside players are called, wingers or flank players and are also involved in striking at the goal.
This would make this line up have a possibility of 4 strikers at any given time.
These wingers usually have the bulk of the running to do as they could carry the ball from the defending third and into the attacking third.
This also depends on the team strategy as outlined by the coaching staff.

The two inside midfielders are supposed to be the "play makers". These are the individuals who are responsible for ca...more

those Crazy Football Rules

... years of the Korean war. When I was there, the losses were lower than before I got there and after I left.)

The above is called by football commentators a sidelight. I don't like sideline sob stories (or human interest stories) while watching television football any more than you liked the above sidelight.

Anyway, my wife has taken up football. After resisting for 70 years she finally gave in. She cant believe that she now likes football. What I mean is: She has not suited up yet. She likes to watch it on television. Therefore we now talk about the game.

Im usually reading a book or doing a logic puzzle during the game, but she gives it her full attention and she gives me a steady stream of chatter that actually gets me interested in the game.

today she asked me about penalties and how they are applied. The penalty she was talking about was when Seattle had Carolina on the one yard line. It was a 5-yard procedural penalty. That meant the ball would be put half the distance to the goal. I said, I think that should be an automatic safety. The ball should be placed on the minus 4-yard line. Now I know...more