Ajax vs. PSG

Ajax set the tempo early by pressing and almost caught the keeper who took and extra touch. PSG. however, via Cavani, Ibra and Veratti began to take control of teh game due to their physical strength and pace. PSG scored on a defensive error from the #5 Boilesen who tried to shield the ball from Cavani but lost control and gave up a soft goal.
Ajax tried to find Boilessen via overlapping runs created by #16 tucking in when the ball was with Veltman or Viergever ( hold mid) The Ajax U19 had the same plan on both flanks, but had more success with better timing and earlier diagonal balls.
Ajax had better ball circulation the second half and started to push the game. A great freekick by Schone put them back in the game and in turn picked up the speed of play and intensity. Ajax controlled the last 15 minutes of the game but could not find the net and the match ended 1-1.

Ajax Pressed PSG. Ajax has good ball circulation but failed to penetrate PSG's midfield line. PSG was physically strong and was to able to counter at will the first half. Ajax set the tempo the second half and pushed to win the game in the 80th minute.

Ajax Youth System and Ajax vs PSG

I arrived in Amsterdam  Tuesday and have  been  immediately immersed into  the soccer culture of Amsterdam

Pic. with Stanley Menzo, Former GK for Ajax and Frank Rijkaard













The first impression I had from watching the u10 to U18 training was that the coaching staff works in unison and that each coach is specific in regard to technical and tactical coaching points. The players are constantly reminded about the technical demands, speed of each pass, of the game all wrapped into the philosophy of Ajax

Meeting today with Stanley Menzo and observation of the Super Liga Youth game. Ajax vs. PSG

Stay tuned for more information

Trip to Amsterdam and Oslo, Norway- Interplay-sports Headquarters

Hello all,

I am leaving Atlanta today for Amsterdam and Oslo, Norway. Oslo is the home to Interplay-sports video analysis software. Joining me on the trip is Luis Roberto Sibaja. Luis has been and is currently a "builder" of soccer in Costa Rica.  His work as head coach of the Tico U20 national team in 95 and 97 saw many players have long careers in the top domestic league in Costa Rica and many others under his guidance gained opportunities to play in other parts of Central America and Europe. A few on the list include, PauloWanchope, Harold Wallace, Steven Brice, Jervis Drummond, Wilmar Lopez,  and  finally Brian Ruiz who grew up in the youth system of  Alajuelense. Luis recently retired as GM of Liga Deportiva Alajuelense after many years of service as youth sport director, assistant coach, head coach, and his last role as a General Manager.

For those new to my blog, I am an assistant coach/video coach for the Atlanta Silverbacks of the NASL. I also coach at Oglethorpe University and United Football Academy. I have been a Manager for Interplay-sports North America for 7 years and I supported a contract  with US Soccer and currently support the USL Pro League contract  for continued education and support of Interplay-sports video analysis software.  http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/801730.html

We start the trip with a visit from Stanley Menzo, former GK for Ajax when Cryuff was the head coach. Stanley will introduce us to the Ajax youth system and offer his ideas on player development.
Stay tuned for updates, interviews and lots of pics and videos  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Menzo

 

Scouting via the net

 In order to get footage form the net that can NOT be imported for various reasons, you need to be a bit creative. While seemingly old fashion, filming a TV screen and importing the footage into the Interplay analysis computer can be a good solution. Here I have 2 laptops, one to  view the the footage of Real Salt Lake vs. Portland and the other laptop I use for the analysis.  I set up a camera with tripod at an angle such that the image is cropped into the viewfinder screen of the camera and is level. I then film the footage of the game projected  to the TV and take the stream out via the A/V port of the camera.  I then use a Canopus Media Converter to connect the camera into the media converter via composite cables or the yellow, red, and white cables; yellow carries the video signal.  The next step is to use a fire wire cable connected from the converter box and into my Interplay analysis laptop with a a built in fire wire port. I see the game in both laptops and now I am ready to tag the game and do my scouting. The video quality is actually good enough for the player's to see key situations.

Tagging the Real Salt Lake match via Interplay-sports software while filming my TV screen.

The analysis is running time of the game which always saves me a lot of time and offers more time for me to show player's and the coaching staff tendencies and key patterns that we need to prepare for.

Scouting the Opponent

Scouting can be a very tedious and arduous task. The obvious part of scouting is getting set plays, defensive and offensive corners and freekicks that were shots or crosses into the box. For my latest scouting on Carolina Railhawks, I wanted something more in depth that would help me learn the names of players and their personalities. I decided to tag most of the individual touches of each player for Carolina and link those situations to a grade- O+ ( offensive positive) D+ Defensive positive and O- (Offensive minus) and D- and defensive minus.  I also drew key passes for attacking players. This gave me a lot of information their attacking tendencies and team shape.

So how long did this process take: tag all touches by Railhawk players, draw key passes, and of course tag all goals, shots, crosses, and all set plays? Well, thanks to the genius of Interplay-sports software, running time of the game. The import from  the server took longer than the analysis itself.  I was surprised at how well I knew the Railhawks team by tagging most of their player's involvements on the ball.  By right clicking on a player I was able  to sub a player in and out of the game.

The last step was to choose the clips I wanted to show the coaching staff in showroom and make a presentation for them.  I have drawing tools in Presentation mode to highlight areas of the field and make some pictures to show attacking and defensive team shape.

Next team up, Edmonton.....  Stay tuned for how to see key situations of individual players of  opponents in multiple games.  The process takes seconds with the "Match Selection" feature in Presentation mode. Also, hear from the technical director of the Atl. Silverbacks and Fox Sports 1 analyst, Eric Wynalda.  How does he see the practical use of video analysis within a team and insights into the Champions League final..

The Atlanta Silverbacks introduce the "Video Coach"

The Atlanta Silverbacks of the North American soccer League, NASL, introduce the role of the
"Video Coach"
http://www.atlantasilverbacksfc.com/team/coachingstaff

The Professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, The Atlanta Silverbacks, have taken a huge step in video technology by introducing a "video coach" to the full time coaching staff. Technical director,  Eric Wynalda has quickly discovered that a video coach is an essential role for any professional team.

 Bert Leonard is no stranger to video analysis technology and some say he has been a pioneer for practical use of video technology for  soccer in the USA at all levels and has also put his stamp on Mexico and Costa Rica.

For the Atlanta Silverbacks, Bert, not only films training sessions, but he also imports and analyzes/codes all components of the training sessions live such that immediately following a training session, assistant coach Ricardo Montoya, can go into the office and say, "show me the 3rd progression of the match related part when the attacking team was was numbers up ." Bert clicks Match related, progression 3 in the Interplay-sports software and there it is. Also, "show me the goals we scored today in all phases of training." Bert presses goals and there they are as well as the position of  where the shot occurred on the field.

But is this information practical and useful? Bert says, "Absolutely.  It is all in how video is transferred from the coaching staff to the players. What player would not want education on correct attacking and defensive team shape. Also, my latest project is goals scored in training. This is the ultimate goal in the match, but we do look at how we score goals in training and compare those to the matches. What was the shot position of the goal on the field and from where are we generally scoring goals in training and are the forwards actually the ones scoring them in training?  It is one of those out of of the box things that needs attention.  The comparative of goals scored in training in all phases and the actual matches will give a lot of information about the demand and effectiveness of the training sessions. 

So talk to me about Live analysis and why?

That's an easy one. Why not? The interplay-sports software I use is made for live analysis. Why do the analysis after the game when I can have it right away for the coaching staff and players. I often show Eric Wynalda and the coaching staff key clips at halftime of matches. It could be that showing the build of a great chance or goal could lead to an important tactical change or reveal a tendency from the opponent.  Also, it is fun to read the game and tag video live. It challenges me to find key sequences and even grade individual players when they did well or grade them on plays that need improvement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRkhtU33FJU&list=UUqCtUpRwi3uUx_Z3fAZJiOQ

Need we say more!!! 

Check out Bert's next blog and hear quotes form  the coaching staff of the Atlanta Silverbacks on 

Bert's role as "Video Coach" .....

Bert Leonard, Interplay-sports, USA talks with Teitur Thordarson in Oslo, Norway

Bert Leonard,Manager of Interplay-sports, USA traveled to Oslo, Norway headquarters of Interplay-sports video analysis software.  During the trip Bert sat down with Teitur Thordarson, former head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps, to talk about video analysis and the influence video analysis feedback is having on the modern game as well as new directions for Teitur in India.

Leonard: What experiences do you take with you from your coaching role with the Vancouver Whitecaps
and how will those experiences influence you in your new coaching position in India?


Thordarson:  I gained a lot of experience the years that I was the head coach for the Vancouver Whitecaps especially when the club was playing in USL and NASL Leagues.  When we learned the Whitecaps were moving into the MLS, it was a great learning experience for me to prepare the team for the promotion. 
Franchise based soccer is very different, but at the same time very interesting and I guess that my experiences from Vancouver will help a lot when I come to India as the league there will be franchise based.


Leonard:  What are your thoughts on Interplay-sports video analysis software and do you think
professional clubs in Europe will follow the lead that Norwegian clubs have done via "Live" video analysis of matches?

Thordarson:  I think that Interplay-sports video analysis is very good and I am sure that clubs in 
Europe will follow the lead of the Norwegian clubs regarding "live" video analysis.

Leonard:  Do you think the "Video Coach" role will continue to be a new staff position for professional clubs in Europe and do you think this type of position will emerge in India?

Thordarson:  Yes, I definitely think the "Video Coach" will continue to be a new staff position for the professional clubs in Europe as this is the best way of learning the game and to correct mistakes made on the field. Regarding whether this position will emerge in India, I think so.  Football in India is at the beginning of an incredible step towards developing a good professional level and I am sure that at one point or another in that development there will be a place for the "Video Coach" as an important part of it.

Read more about Teitur's role within the new professional soccer franchise in India from this link:

http://www.cassiusmanagement.com/news/Teitur-Thordarson-Selected-For-Indian-Premier-Leag