How to spot if a player is “football-strong”

It has to do with maintaining balance on the move, and specifically keep the centre of gravity over the feet / ball even moving away

Strength to lay off

Darting from CB’s blind side to show up to that line breaking pass

Bracing himself from the challenge

So that the shoulders are still over the ball when laying off

Position of the left foot is excellent, pointing towards the outside to not shank the layoff and hit the other leg

Then changing direction to support the attack

Clean technical layoff

Many strikers would lean backwards, clip the ball from beneath and send the wall pass in team mate’s keee

Key is footwork to land the left (support) foot next to the ball

Go through in the middle (and not top, or underneath) the ball.

Layoff to spin immediately

The point to layoff back foot once you know there’s little pressure from behind

is that it’s easier to sort out the footwork to spin

Right pass, then lands to push

Left to run forwards

As opposed here to do left pass, land the right foot and spin, land the left then start pushing. An economy of one foot

Chizzy makes a lot of runs, but his propensity to play layoffs with good technical quality makes it a good outlet as well as a rarity for that cluster of running strikers

Kavuma-McQueen is through and draws a penalty

Up-back-through

Clean layoff with the laces

And a good follow through movement with the laces (pointing where he wants the layoff to go)

To find Ryan

Needle pass and hold up play

Difficult task to retain, but evidence team mates trust CE to stay on the ball

Stiff arm, there’s a big difference between the “Clothline” WWE arm swing, and having the arm to resist and push the chest away

Movement to receive

“There’s no space when teams sit deep”

There’s simply too many bad strikers and bad (opininated) coaches / fanalysts

Reading the space between the lines:

Genesis Antwi underlaps and wants to attack the space in behind

…And Then There Were Three…

Chizaram Ezenwata (CE) immediately reacts by going into feet, causing the Arsenal CB to glitch as to which player to pick:

Pass is screened, but these are some of the cues you want to look at : strikers perceiving where’s the space, and precisely reacting on cues to fill it up organically

Appear from blind side on second balls

Stay on the CB’s blind side, to only sprint when the ball is about to be challenged in the air. In case his team mates flicks it inside, CE would then appear and the CB react to it.

As opposed to leave the CB time and space to come closer in cover and use off the ball shenanigans

Chelsea however pick up the second ball

It would have been ideal to move back (into the green circle) to get to the blind side of the ball far CB, to manufacture the space to:

• get on the move

• ask into feet

• ask into space

Chiz gets on the move (which is the pre-condition to receive) but goes away from the interesting “pocket” in front of the CBs

Mostly a matter of optimising the starting point of the run (for the same movement, but different output as the angle created would exist to receive from the wide player.

Something he did well at Reading yesterday:

Coming from the ball far CB with a clear movement to receive into feet (he decides when to cut and come for the ball)

Which creates an issue for the “ball near CB” who doesn’t know where the striker is coming from (outside his field of vision)

Room behind the fullback

Chiz’s starting position is good: ball far CB, opposide side to the ball

Identifies the space behind the fullback and CB ; if Calvin Diakite (5) is able to clip a pass around the corner to find him in the awkward area when CBs and GKs have to decide whether to head it back or leave the GK pick it up

Spin

Calvin Diakité feeds Ryan Kavuma-McQueen (very peculiar and talented attacker, I don’t quite figure out anyone who plays like him)

How Ezenwata creates space for himself by baiting the defender

RKMcQ ? More like Flash McQueen amarite problem solves to find a way to drive diagonally

CE blocks his momentum firmly

Uses the left leg as a pivot to spin 180°

Ready to sprint in the other direction whilst the CB is still feet in cement

Football is essentially a series of challenges with decision making.

Situations are never identical (it’s a complex system) but can be clustered

LW cuts inside, 2v2 against 2 CBs is one of them

• If the CB stays in position, up-back with 9 for through pass

• If the CB steps up, slide it to the CF making the run

Arsenal’s CB does well to mitigate, make himself bigger than he is and blocks RKMcQ.

That’s why you train these situation (perception / affordance / action) in an opposed way, and not with a plastic mannequin who’ll never block that pass and give players a false degree of confidence

Something I developped in my UEFA A thesis in 2018

442 “diamond”. Where does the opponent fullback goes when the CM drops and the striker drifts wide?

On that goal (first win at Angoulême for a half a decade at U19 level in 2017-18), the left back gave a Barco to Emegha assist (for the second striker lurking between the CBs) – the striker drifting wide scored 6 goals in Ligue 2 in 2024-25.

Coaching courses teach you to break down and “modelise” situations with 3v2 / 4v3 and see what are the possible combinations (decision making tree basically)

We scored a few good goals.

Here are:

• “meh he’s a CB” (his own friends nickname him “Flaco” like Javier Pastore, so I’ll have him at 10 thank you, I appreciate it rattles you) delivering the backheel

• “don’t sign him” (can’t even write what I overheard) – now he’s professional in Ligue 2.

Player creativity > play der play der

Ligue 2 striker down the road. 2017 v 2025

Diagonal run for a straight pass

Ryan Kavuma McQueen finds a right foot pass through a needle eye

Finds Walsh between the lines, who tries a trivela pass for CE albeit he was probably looking for a pass across (the Arsenal RCB) does well to mitigate and defend the space (between

Box movement

Ball goes wide: Saratoga, ice bucket and penalty spot

Genesis Antwi, from the very start, going around to get in a crossing position

for CE, the point is to create the distance to gather speed, and a running angle that makes him connect with the cross in front of him (with the goal in front of him)

Going aound the penalty spot ball far is always ever the only good solution for strikers on crosses.

Still generates a decent enough “scoop” going backwards (that goes of target)

Thanks to the small nudge – or as Guy Roux said; “dire oui au ballon” (say yes)

Morning routine: chizz & crackers

CE sprints back to get around the penalty spot.

Some strikers get their decision making wrong; their bad movement leads to coaches telling them to get more involved, then they would run the channels (and sometimes being the one crossing for nobody) when the team mate is in crossing position.

Good 9 play to focus on getting in a good spot

Same moments later:

Genesis Antwi in crossing position, attack the near post

Players don’t need sock puppet hype accounts, tacticos or diagrams to see a dangerous striker

CE draws the two CBs at the near post because his running angle starts from the edge of the defenders’ field of vision, they see a moving shape and jump on

Box movement on crosses, and Rabah Madjer

Legit one of the best goals I’ve seen at Academy level this season.

Being a striker is a mindset. You need to think different

Everyone’s shuffling across towards the ball, not CE who stands still (to get into people’s blind side)

Good strikers give defenders torticollis (unrelated to Richard and Michael even if they frequently give their defenders one).

Blind side, defender can’t focus on the ball/crosser and the striker.

Go around the penalty spot

Benchmarking with the absolute best: Jamie Vardy

I was in the Holte End – witnessing that goal from the far end of the stadium

Vardy’s box movement was the most blatant “he’s gonna score” (made connection, Martinez spilled it, Mavididi tapped the ball in).

Go around the penalty spot

Dart near post when the cross is hit

The finish is absolutely outrageous

Especially generating that much power to actually shoot and not just connect / flick

In pickup football, we used to call it “La Madjer” .

No idea if English speakers do the same

Here’s the Original Gangster:

Great goal, incredible ball mastery, agility and creative thinking

---

There’s however people who are gonna waste bandwidth and be annoying with:

• Madjer is with the bottom of the foot, the backheel – so they say. Yes there’s always this “well achkually your pickup goal isn’t quite a Madjer because”. Bo ring

• Ezenwata got carried beyond the near post, hence the requirement for a creative solution to connect and hit goal. This one is me.

But also, speaking of; I’ve coached the best striker in French tiers 2, 4 and 5 ; the latters being top scorers in 2024-25

Wall pass then run in behind

The “You’ve got to write something” play.

CE showing up at the right moment, defender is reacting

Lots of average strikers get carried with momentum

CE blocks his run (right foot)

To cut and go around the penalty spot from the defender’s blind side

Box movement on crosses

For consistency purposes: CE starts from the CB ball far, 2/3 of the space between two defenders.

Calvin Diakité about to put a cross in, CE darts at the near post.

Doesn’t need a GPS

Nor a morning alarm

Second goal

Landon Emenalo on set pieces duties – superb footballer

Chizzy’s decision to smash the ball is spot on

as the ball gather speeds once it bounces, rebound depending on the pitch.

Harder to save (unless it’s a Drogba header) than a header below the crossbar, that the GK can tip or parry

Finishing skill

Half volley for (not) a half chance

Ball sent on the wide area, CE goes around the penalty spot opposite side

Chests it well

A good volley is hit when the ball goes down, not up which is what CE does

However, hits it before the rebound.

Ideally, this one is hit after the rebound, with the outside of the boot laces to get under the GK’s arm (and above his leg)

Where’s the line between “bait the press” and “this is Johnny Knoxville”

Arsenal CB leaning back time wasting on the ball, aaand welcome to Jackass

The way CE proceeds is to try to have a strong right to get the left leg in front to knocn the defender off the ball which he does

flipside of being able to carry the ball with the laces, is to keep the ball close to feet whilst this situation probably encourages to knock the ball in front (he’s strong and quick = powerful) to bait the GK into rushing out then shoot in the space

That touch stays in CE’s feet and the defender can make up ground

GK does well giving himself time to react without rushing, leaving little space on the ground or in the “triangle” (arms / legs). Probably easier to spread wings than lower spread arms (Martinez vs Kolo Muani)

As for gamemanship, the defender has no issue shoving CE’s shoulder, and CE could also use a stiff arm to get a clean shoot with space created for backlift.

Carries

Drop the shoulder

Look at the defender, look one way

Spin another way

Knock pass and draw a foul, having dragged the CB wider than the box

Get in front to draw a free kick

Seen vs Mertsham in the FA Youth Cup

Yes, Chizzy gave the ball away.

But for the first time watching him in the flesh, I noted the layoffs.

So it’s very unusual to have 9s who are already refined into doing back to goal, carries and runs. And he scored a header off a cross.

Getting across the run of the defenders is a good decision (he can then cut to his left to go at goal)

Priority is to get the right leg and arm in front for a guaranteed free kick

Shoulder vs shoulder vs a player keeping his centre of gravity over his feet only ends one way

In 2019-20, my U19s beat rival Le Mans 2-0 in a local derby under biblical wind and rain conditions (but with some fairly decent goals)

Goalscorer 1: Sofiane

Opening goal after three minutes, by Sofiane, new signing from Stade de Reims:

next to the goalkeeper

Far left of the picture

Sofiane is top of the league in Bordeaux’s seed with Saint Malo as of 2024-25

Gave the assist for St Malo’s draw vs Girondins de Bordeaux

Anyway that’s Sofiane’s first goal for my team in February 2020 for a 2-0 win.

Striker 2: Ibrahim

The two goals involve Ibrahim, signed by the scout who found Serhou Guirassy – also at Grassroots.

Second goal, wing back and striker linking up, cross for the other wingback

Goal scored by the U17 striker who replaced the new signing on his first touch.

I felt pretty smug

Ibra is currently out and about, was on the books at SPAL at some point. Will be there, waiting for some smart club realise what they’ve got right before them because he won’t give up anytime

Striker 3: Noa

Anyway, Le Mans had a striker who gave some impression

The weather was fucking atrocious for a 11am kick off in February 2020 but Noa moved like crazy upfront, we were all over them and won 2-0.

I was like “what the fuck, that’s Victor Osimhen, I need that guy upfront”

Even had the peroxyde hair

And he kept looking at me in the dugout after every play

The vibes were immaculate—despite the other coach boiling piss in the dugout.

Which brings us to summer 2020 when Noa calls me to say he wants to join my team, from arch rivals Le Mans – right in the middle of COVID lockdowns.

I guess my pitch was successful

So I prepared a 1h video session for his signing day with every bit of match footage I could find and how I’d make him better, I think the close circle was impressed.

Breaking down everything – Movement ball far – Channel runs – Central runs – Box movement – Back to goal – Link up play – Carrying – Mindset – Pressing

Here’s some tidbits

Noa’s movement on crosses

Noa’s short separation movement

Noa’s carries

Noa’s chances in the box

And chances from crosses

Talent ID is so difficult. Like what makes you think there’s something there?

I also knew I had a secret weapon (sort of) because Noa’s cousin Rafael (U16 in 2019-20) was turning U17 and I wanted to make him my left back at U19 level –

Slide 47 : come and join your cousin (who I was asking every now and then about it)

against everyone’s opinion, as usual.

Shit went political, because I wasn’t playing the local golden boy at LB.

But try harder, I can see a player

Rafael (the left back) was extremely good at timing runs in behind, good finisher as well. Reminded me a lot of Hassane Kamara (Udinese / Watford)

My idea was fairly straightforward: pair Noa with Ibrahim (background), both 2002 strikers. Ibrahim – signed from grassroots by the same scout who found Serhou Guirassy, at the same level.

That was similar to the Abraham – Solanke combo – levels permitting

Abraham / Ibrahim as the selfless striker sometimes playing wide, playing back to goal and good in the air

Noa / Solanke as the feline poacher (Solanke does more things in open play than Noa mind).

After a few matchdays, the team was working it’s way up with by far the best underlyings in the league.

Earliest leads, longest time ahead. And unhinged 20% conversion rate (funny what happens when you release strikers early) especially if you could survive the opening 20’ of halves (where we had the most shots and also scored 1in 3 as opposed to 1 out of 6 or 7 at top level)

Come opening day of 2020-21 I decide to give Noa the armband (for a wind up to keep the squad on edge) as we play away at Nantes (best team in western France) for a narrow defeat where he scored the first goal on penalty.

So comes the local U19 derby vs Le Mans in September 2020. I had three top strikers to pick from, so I start the two tallest ones to keep the quickest one as an option off the bench. Noa against his former club, and coach (who called me all sorts of names).

Referee affiliated to our next opponent (rival) in the league.

Decides to not send off (let alone book) the fullback doing a Liam Roberts / Mateta, high studs in the head for a U19 derby, on Rafael’s head.

10 minutes in. I knew from that point hell would break lose later in the game. Anyway.

Rafael on set piece duty, delivering on the EFL special (watch the EFL, you’ll find out what works) Ping the ball on the tallest player on the pitch rushing like a train at the far post, flick it near post for runners going around the penalty spot.

Boiling piss. Arguably the most intense game I’ve coached.

You could feel the tension. Albeit the ref (affiliated to our next opponent) sent of 2 and booked 7, gave +8’ added time, changed a corner in goalkick after +11’ where Le Mans equalised from.

I was beyond swallowing the venom, I was smirking at the idea – not being rock bottom after 4 matchdays (and a 4 week pre season with COVID policies – absolute shitshow) but knowing being able to get chances 9v11 was probably gonna get us somewhere

Somewhere like level of points after 4 wins in a row, ahead of Rennes where Ugochukwu or Mathys Tel were kicking the ball about.

Noa (2002) just scored two consecutive hat tricks and is currently the top scorer in National 2

Yes, Andrew Thomas Carroll is “Andy Carroll”

Striker 4 : Mamadou

Another striker I coached – at U12 level

Would be somewhat closer to Ezenwata from a playing style standpoint ; albeit more of a wide forward cutting inside but also quite fast with or without the ball

Down memory lane

Runs in behind from wide left was his bread and butter

I loved that 2016-2017 season. I coached the U12s in a U13 league to get my UEFA B

The competitive height disadvantage was kind of a thing.

Mamad with #7 and his grey boots.

Mamad was absolutely relentless to get into shooting position, would try over and over.

I think he had a preferential shooting location – at least based on my Data Drivel model

These charts are based on what players “do”, not “might do” or “should do”

And from there you have to lay out specific training to get them to improve their strengths – because nothing ever comes to people who don’t work.

Regression to the mean is a lousy concept – if your shooting mechanics are fucking tragic, so will be the output of your chances.

---

I was doing live notational analysis – Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

I only started filming games the season after (2017-18 as part of my UEFA A license)

This one, against the grassroots club sharing the facilities.

2-0 up with U12s often meant losing 2-3 in second half

Off target / on target / goal / Set piece / 6 boxes for shot location / shooter / assist

I reckon that’s the only game I’ve ever seen U12s numb and down after a game, somehow losing 3-2 in deep countryside despite 10 shots on target

We won a U13 tournament against a grassroots team with the U12s a few weeks later though.

Club was too broke or cheap to buy kits so they were waiting for Federation donations, that was a Credit Agricole nike kit we just received.

Probably a bit oversize but then again so was the opponent (mostly U13s)

Mamad scored the winner in the final for a 1-0 win ; which I started with my 3 best players on the bench – not playing a minute in a final isn’t fun so at least everyone played a bit.

They won a football, I won a pen and keychain from Shein and the ugliest trophy ever – which I brough back at the club who was like “who cares”.

Probably should’ve kept it. Or maybe not, to this day I’m still not sure

---

Looks like Mamad does well this season.

Age 19 and scoring 13 goals in 20 games in Tier 5.

Will be in a Ligue 2 squad whithin 8 months.

He bagged 4 goals against the reserve of a pro club – shall I hold my breath

---

Striker 5: Sofiane K

Speaking of Reims: in 2020-21, I signed the winger in the third row; third from the left.

A few weeks into the season; as he parted ways with his club.

Can you guess who was Sofiane K’s team mate ; top left.

Some will say he’s the only one who didn’t need a stool to look taller.

Who’s that tall guy serving the assist? (from 36’ )

---

The two Sofiane(s) I signed played a bit with Hugo Ekitike at Reims.

One striker I coached was signed by the scout who signed Serhou Guirassy

You’re alway ever one or two degrees of separation in Football.

Being aware of this makes you realise and benchmark players better

And listen or believe into what you see and do; because not everyone puts the hours in so why should their opinion matter.

Freedom of speech doesn’t mean opinions are equal.

Just like two shots from the same location don’t have the same value depending on who takes it.

Good strikers who score goals, will score goals.

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