1. GOAL POACHING
Luis Suarez
proving he’s a
constant threat
in front of goal
Deadly At Close Range
While goal poachers are not prized as much as they once were, lethal finishers like Luis
Suarez and Jermain Defoe have shown the role can be adapted for the modern game
M
odern football has a tradition
of lethal goal poachers, those
players with an uncanny knack
for sticking the ball in the back of the
net when opportunities go begging in
the box. Shearer, Fowler, Owen, van
Nistelrooy and Inzaghi have all been
poachers in the classic mould. Indeed,
despite only retiring last year Filippo
Inzaghi can lay claim to being one of the
great poachers of all time, even though
Johan Cruyff once famously said of him:
“he can’t actually play football, he just
always seems to be in the right place”.
Today poachers are less frequently
found in leading sides because all-round
play is now judged to offer more to
teams than the selfish talents of the
poacher. Yet there are still players who
can snatch a goal from nothing and who
are adaptable enough to survive the
changing trends of football. Just look at
the form of Luis Suarez.
With 21 goals and counting and far
more touches in the opposition penalty
area than any other player in the Premier
League, Suarez has clearly been at his
goal poaching best for Liverpool this
season. Gary Neville calls him “one of
the most skilful players in the Premier
League”, while Steven Gerrard says
Suarez is the “best centre-forward” he’s
ever played with. “He can score fantastic
goals, tap-ins,” says Gerrard. “If he gets
you in the box you’re in trouble.”
Quick feet, clever movement and
unpredictability are the three attributes
that make Suarez such a dangerous
penalty area player, but two things in
particular reveal why he has been so
lethal in the box this season. Firstly, he’s
shooting 25 per cent more than last
season; secondly, he’s shooting twice as
much from central areas. That offers a
clear lesson for your strikers to learn –
don’t stray wide too often and don’t be
afraid to have a shot.
Another poacher in prime form is
Jermain Defoe, averaging almost a goal
every other game this season. While
he may lack the all-round brilliance of
Suarez, his approach is an exercise in
brilliant simplicity, perhaps more typical
of a natural goal scorer. “The most
important things is to hit the target,” he
explains. “What makes it much harder for
the keeper, though, is if you aim for the
bottom corners.”
Defoe’s other top tips are to get your
shot in early, before the keeper can set
himself, and to stay calm and confident in
front of goal. Demba Ba, meanwhile, who
has carried his goal scoring form from
Newcastle over to new club Chelsea,
encourages strikers not to look at the
goal: “just look at the ball” and “focus on
hitting the target” he says.
It all sounds obvious but how often do
your strikers panic and sky their chances
over the bar or wait a split second to pick
their spot and find the chance has gone?
Just have your players work through the
following four drills until poaching like a
pro becomes second nature.
Words by:
Louis Massarella
Activities by:
Michael Beale
& David Clarke
POACHING TIPS FOR YOUR PLAYER
When goal poachers are on the prowl, they must focus
their attention on receiving the ball to shoot. Tell your
players to take notice of the following tips…
> Try to know what’s around you before getting the ball
> Try to face forward before receiving the ball
> Try to recognise the time to shoot
> Try to shoot to the most vulnerable part of the goal
> Try to time runs to avoid being offside
Issue 307
SOCCER COACH WEEKLY
3
2. GOAL POACHING
Strike Zone
If you want your attackers to have that killer instinct in front of goal, this drill will teach
them to turn incoming low crosses into the back of the net
WHY USE IT
s
yd
30
This unopposed session gets
attackers scoring with balls
coming in from the wings.
All players get balls played
hard and low onto both
feet as they attack at either
end of the pitch. It includes
build up play for a thorough
attacking work out.
Play starts in the
crossing alley with a
server passing to the
central crossing player
SET UP
Set up an area of 40x30
yards. You need balls,
cones and two goals.
We’ve used ten outfield
players and two goalkeepers
for this session.
HOW TO PLAY
s
40yd
The crossing player
sets up the ball for
the server to play
down the line
The attackers must
react to the ball
down the line and
move quickly to get
to the strike zone
Players combine in the
crossing alley and play low
hard balls into the areas
just in front of goal. It is
unopposed but two players
will be vying to finish in
the goal. Players rotate in
the alley with the passers
taking the central crossing
role after their pass. Play
six balls then switch
attackers and crossers.
The crossing player
follows and hits a low
cross into the area in
front of goal
TECHNIQUE
This exercise is all about
finishing from low crosses
into the box. It requires
concentration and a
good first touch. Get
players to try two-touch
shooting before going
for the one-touch shot
as it’s quite hard to
get the timing right for
one-touch shooting.
Now play goes up the
other end with build
up play resulting in a
cross for the opposite
attackers to try and score
Activity by: Michael Beale
Player movement
Ball movement
Shot
Run with ball
Issue 307
SOCCER COACH WEEKLY
4
3. GOAL POACHING
Poacher
Work your players through this effective attacking drill to encourage their composure in
the box when presented with a gold-plated goal scoring opportunity
WHY USE IT
A drill that gives quickreacting strikers plenty
of chances to score from
defensive rebounds or
miskicks in the box.
Create three
positions so servers
can vary the angle
and speed that the
ball comes to the
attacker
2
3
1
SET UP
Use the penalty area of the
pitch you normally play
on or set up an area that
is the same size. We’re
using four players for this
session but you can set up
at each end of the pitch
and have players taking
turns. You need balls,
bibs, cones and a goal.
The attacker takes
a touch and then
fires in a shot
HOW TO PLAY
The working player is on
the penalty spot, with two
servers next to the goal. The
player receives a pass from
one of the servers and has
to take a touch and fire off a
shot. As soon as the shot is
struck a second ball comes
in, so the attacker must
react quickly. Servers move
between three positions to
vary the angles and speed.
TECHNIQUE
Composure is the most
important thing, as the
best finishers are very
relaxed when they get
a scoring opportunity.
Players learn that striking
through the ball and
keeping their head over
it keeps shots low and
accurate. Power is not as
important as accuracy.
Immediately the
first shot has been
taken, a second ball
is hit at the attacker
from the opposite
side of the goal
Progress the session by
adding pressure – once
the server has passed
the ball he can follow
the pass and pressure
the attacker
The quicker the attacker
gets the ball out of his
feet, the more time he
will have to pick a shot
Activity by: David Clarke
Player movement
Ball movement
Shot
Run with ball
Issue 307
SOCCER COACH WEEKLY
5
