Frustrated for the 54956th time

The time of the last two weeks have been filled with last minute studying on uni exams and getting back into regular club training. As I analyze my position again in the team, I’m frustrated about how the current season has gone and how things have gone with me in the team. I’ve always been fully fit and knowing that no matter what I do or how well I play, the coach is not letting me get a starting spot. Sometimes it’s the coach and the politics in a club which make things difficult. I mentioned that before in previous posts, but now the transfer window is closing aswell, and unless you’re transferring to a professional team, you’re going to be stuck at whatever club you’re at. It was probably stupid of me to think that things were going to magically change when I got back from Australia and I should have started the search for a new club a long time ago. Maybe my mindset is wrong.. I still have to believe that my current position is going to change if I work differently and I have to keep communicating with the coach about that.

Whatever happens with the club situation, the goal is always to improve and it’s time to finalise some schedules and parts of my training plan. For example, sneaking in to watch Ajax train and game analysis to keep improving game intelligence aswell as inspiration for new training ideas. Next week I’ll come back with those.

You can now view what I’m up to in training by viewing the random clips I upload to my Giveit100 channel. Giveit100 is getting you to try something for 100 days, because reaching your goals takes action and persistence. It can be a great way for you to to look back on how far you come through video.

This week I’ll be in Switzerland for a few days and I’ll be training with a semi-pro team called FC Breiterain in Bern. This will be the 6th country I will have trained in with a club. Hopefully it will be good fun and I’m interested to see what the level and professionalism of Swiss football is like.

Ever visited Switzerland? How do you think 7th place ranked Switzerland will do in the World Cup?

• 1-on-1’s
• Receiving with back to ball
  & become a more valuable player by..
• Looking for more ways I can get on the ball

Notes

– Getting better at 1-on-1’s, and find that I have a key advantage as I can shoot with both feet well and so the defender doesn’t know which direction I’ll go. Also learning not to stop or slow down as I’m approaching the defender.
– Getting on the ball more by positioning oneself on edge of box for 1 touch, shot.
– Making inside runs, you can get on the ball so much more as I found in training this week.
– Coach pointed out to me whilst playing, don’t be static, move & move. I think he was right and just maybe the answer to getting on the ball more.
– Receive ball on touchline, rather than in the middle.
4/8/13 – Confidence definitely improving in one on ones as I practice them more and more with the out of contract guys.
12/8 – going inside more as a winger to make those cross field runs, I do get more touches on the ball that way.
25/8 – go inside, but don’t crowd other peoples space.
1/9/ – trying to make more actions. Really trying to turn on that confidence.
15/9 – does better improvement with confidence come from playing with other more and taking risks, or doing individual training?
15/9 – if I compare myself now to this time last year, I definitely go inside more and lose the ball less often with my back to goal.
22/9 – definitely taking more players on in training. More shooting and dribbling. Final ball is lacking at the moment.. which is strange because it is my strength.
1/10 – Hints from coach Jermaine

• Go inside when making that move, that’s the fastest way to goal.
• wait for the eye contact and then make the run.

9/10- When to make the run across the defence and when not to. Pic here
21/10 – When there’s low anxiety coming into a match, you play more confidently. Taking on players, etc.
21/10 – Felt completely natural to go 1 on 1 take on and beat my opponent on the left wing. Did very well in that aspect. What I’ve been practicing in training is paying off and becoming natural.
21/10 – Hint from coach Jermaine about Defending positioning: Go in and help your team win the ball back if the man you leave unmarked is not dangerous.
?/12 – Making an angle (instead of straight) for a pass helps tremendously in getting on the ball more.
27/1 – Started this goal in June and there’s no doubt I’ve improved. Is it time to say goal accomplished?

5/1/14 – this past month I’ve been doing boxing sessions with my brother. I’m trying to get the technique right, but once you do, you can have a real good workout.

5/1/14 – Making sure any drills I do are done at a high tempo and pushing limits.
27/1 – Have to get back into spinning each week.

General comment: Improving, and I really want to shine more out of tight positions. Getting better, but so difficult to make this a habit. Still making sure I’m purposely scanning in personal training’s and club training drills.

5/1/14 – feel like this is becoming more second nature now

3. Ongoing – Find out what makes great players, great. What separates the “great” from the “good”

This kind of stuff usually gets posted on the Facebook page

accomplished: be stronger off the ball, quicker plays, don’t let attackers run inside, play long ball forward instead of risky passback, be more explosive, plan better, defend better(1/9/13), build linkedin network (14/10/13)