Dear Noel,

I’m in third year managing my local team. We’ve narrowly avoided relegation over the last two years. But now I’d like to push things on a bit. The other night it came to me – bring a corner-forward out to play as third midfielder? Have you ever heard this done before?

-          Eoin, East Timor (emailing you on my holidays, I actually live in West Carlow.) 

Noel replies – Very clever, Eoin. No, I can’t say I’ve ever heard anyone bring out the corner-forward before. Might I suggest you sit him in front of the half-back line (if you have such a thing) and let him win breaks behind your midfield. He can secure possession and stop the opposition from bearing down on your goal.

Have you a corner-forward who can actually win breaks? Start with a corner-forward who knows what breaks actually are, and mould him into the role.It’s a smashing idea. Try it out in a few early-season games, and if it works, immediately put it back into cold storage. The last thing you want is another team cottoning onto it, and before you know it, every team in the place will be pulling a corner-forward out the field.

Get this right, and chalk it down you’ll manage an average of 0-8 or 0-9 in every game, and, last time I looked, that wins most games these days. Genius, Eoin. Safe journey home. 

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment