LCSFYL U9 SL 2025/2026 (London County Saturday Football Youth League) - Tooting Park Rangers

EFA played on 1-2-3-1 vs a 1-2-3-1

It was a tight match. The opposition was strong technically and tactically. We were physically stronger than them.
The match was nerve breaking, we had some chances to open the score, but in the end the opposition managed to score first.

The best compliment that I can give to all my players, was their mentality and dedication to turn things around. Every time we managed to do simple combinations one/two (pass and move), we managed to progress on the pitch and creating scoring situations.
That resilience and combination play led us to get our striker with space to go for a 1v1 and then shoot for the equaliser.

I will keep repeating, every play matters!! Despite if a player starts or is a sub!! We had a "sub" player, coming to the pitch to score the winning goal.

However, in these ages football is 7v7, so when we concede goals, we all concede, and when we score, we all score!!!

In training, I focused again on the process of building up with a back 2 + GK vs a striker (almost all teams play or try to play in a 1-2-3-1), so it is important the boys start learning the maths involved (2+ GK v1), to progress on the pitch! Then, the practice when reaching the half way line would move into a 4v2 back to to the goal, where the 2 defenders were initially in possession on the build up, would practice on how to defend their goal in inferiority, but mainly focusing on the 4 attackers (3 mids and 1 Striker).

I am not expecting to see them understanding and executing those plays in one or two sessions, nevertheless, even though in training, the players' focus is still something to develop, I have seen some of those behaviours on the pitch.

I saw the defenders, not forcing as much the pass (get rid of the ball), but first engaging the opposition and then decide if the best option would be a pass or driving. This didn't happen all the time, but I am not expecting that in such early time. They slowly start trying different scenarios and options, and then they will learn with them, with my input and their respective reflection.

In the offensive part, is more difficult, as we are talking about several aspects such as the technical ability of each player, their agility, balance and coordination (ABC), their decision making (the hardest part in football).

There were several plays where those aspects were seen that our boys need improvement, which is totally normal (they are 8 or 9 yo)!!
In the practice, we also did 1v1s where they needed to run, where the quickest would get the ball and eventually able to shoot!!

This drill, is extremely simple and keep the players engaged and also develop their mentality (run/fight for every ball), but also typical match scenarios, where under pressure, the player needs to dribble or try to shoot!

This was seen in the match, our boys thought for every single ball, helped each other, and created several chances.
I love to win, but as I mentioned to all parents, in these ages, is about developing each individual toward the team, then if we manage to win, better!
To the players, I mentioned the importance of me being "annoying" in training, and time to time they don't have as much fun as they wished. What I told them and will keep telling them, is in order to have fun playing the game, you need to understand how to play it!!

A huge congrats to all the players for this win, but mainly for their progress! A big thank you to all parents for your support!!

All for one and one for all,
Together we stand, divided we fall!!

Lets go EFA!!!