1. Jake Sykes
Unit Title : Coaching for Football
Unit Code :LEI1340
Assessment Title : Scouting Report
Assignment Title :Written
Year of Study : 2
Unit Leader : Clwyd Jones
Student Number : 10121943
Submission Date : Thursday 1st
May 2014
Word Count : 2,679
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Scouting Report
Saint Etienne 3 v 0 Milsami Ursidos
The objective of this assignment is to evaluate and produce a scouting report on the
performance of Saint Etienne forward passing against Milsami Ursidos in a 3rd round
qualifying Europa league match which was played on the 1st of August 2013. (Jankovic et al,
2010) stated that passing is the most important basic football skill, by having a precise pass
allows a team to keep possession of the ball and create a scoring opportunity. This outlines
how important passing is within football from a team’s perspective and this report will
evaluate how forward passing played a big part in Saint Etienne’s victory. The areas that will
be looked at within this report consist of all the passes from Saint Etienne whether that is
forward, sideways or backwards. As 3 goals were scored within this game the report will
also look at the build up to these goals, and in which area of the pitch the ball was regained
by Saint Etienne for the goals. The crosses in this game will also be evaluated to look for any
correlations in patterns of crosses, and how they were delivered, and also the entries into
the attacking third. The data that has been collected to help formulate this report will be
shown in a variety of graphs and charts alongside certain percentages that are relevant to
the match.
In order to complete this report there were certain aspects that had to be carried out.
Completing match analysis was one of these aspects. By carrying out match analysis of the
game this allows certain information to be collected. According to (Carling, Williams, Reilly,
2005) Match analysis refers to the objective recording and examination of behavioural
events occurring during competition, and may be focussed on the activities of either one
player or the team as a whole. In relation to this report the focus of activities would be to
monitor the forward passing and therefore primarily based around the team in order to find
out how many forward passes were successful and resulted in goal scoring opportunities.
However in order to evaluate the team as a whole the analysis required some focus on
individual players when they had possession. This is so that passes could be monitored from
which third they started in and where they travelled to. According to (Sarmento et al, 2014)
Match analysis has assumed a very important role within sporting games, in order to help
give a better understanding that promote sporting success. Within this report a
quantitative approach was taken as it is an ideal method for detailing analysis of a single
element (Carling Reilly, Williams, 2009), in this reports case that element was passing.
In order to help collect the detailed analysis based around passing, notational analysis, a
form of match analysis was used. Notational analysis is essentially a means of recording
events so that there is an accurate and objective record of what actually took place (Carling,
Williams, Reilly, 2005). This method requires key indicators to be present to enable
notational analysis to work effectively. Within this report a variety of notational analysis
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occurred. The data is recorded on a spreadsheet and then put into graphs and tables to
make the information easier to understand. As the spreadsheet shows below all the passes
were recorded and coded so that it was an easier process to categorise.
(Fig.1)
(Bate, 1988) carried out some
notational analysis within
football and found that teams
should pass the ball forward as
often as possible rather than
sideways or square, this would
increase scoring opportunities.
We can also look at the build up
play for the goals and see how
many forward passes were
used. A strength of using
manual notational analysis is
that the information can be recorded quickly and are easy to design (Carling, Williams,
Reilly, 2005). This is a strength as it enables information to be noted in a short period of
time. One of the weaknesses of using notational analysis is that human error can occur. This
is a weakness as the data may vary between different people due to different human errors.
Firstly the starting formation needed to be assessed. Saint Etienne was using a 4-3-3
whereas Milsami Ursidos were using a 5-4-1. According to (Lucchesi, 2011) having 3 central
midfields will provide solidarity in the middle of the pitch, and also reduces the opponent’s
striker’s chances of receiving the ball. Saint Etienne had 1 defensive midfielder and 2 central
midfielders. (Lucchesi, 2011) also states that the positioning of the 3 strikers favours
offensive pressing, especially when forcing the opposing defence to play sideways therefore
creating opportunity to shorten the distance to the ball. Throughout the match Saint
Etienne are pressing their opponents high up the field and using their 3 strikers to guide the
ball into certain areas of the pitch to give them the best opportunity in regaining possession,
and creating a goal scoring opportunity. However the attackers will be outnumbered and
will rely on the full backs pushing forward.
Within football there are a wide variety of styles of play. (Bangsbo & Peitersen, 2000) stated
that a style of play is the characteristic way in which a team uses a systemof play. The styles
of play are split into attacking and defending styles. In regards to Saint Etienne the attacking
style that they used within this match was Systematic build-up of play otherwise known as
possession play. (Bangsbo & Peitersen, 2000) stated that this style is characterized by a
meticulous build up consisting of many passes between defence and midfield. Therefore by
keeping hold of possession it allows the team to dictate the pace of the game and wait for
the opening to occur to enable a pass to split the defence. In relation to Saint Etienne
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throughout the game they passed out from defence and looked to keep possession until the
opportunity arise to move forward with the ball. In terms of the defending style that Saint
Etienne applied was pressure play. This style is an offence style of defending where the
team tries to win the ball back quickly and close to the opponent’s goal, which requires
speedy pressure on the player with the ball (Bangsbo & Peitersen, 2000).
In football there are specific principles of play which need to occur within a match that are
fundamental for a team in order to help them to become successful. There are 5 attacking
principles that need to be in place in order to help a team in a match. These principles are
support, movement, penetration, width or dispersal and improvisation. This report will
show how Saint Etienne applied all 5 of these attacking principles throughout the match.
Support allows a team to provide a variety of passing outlets for the player in possession,
and is dependent on outlets being at the correct angle and distance from the ball (The FA,
2010). During the match there were plenty of examples of where Saint Etienne showed
support for the player in possession. For example when the right back had possession
certain players showed support, the central midfielder that was closest to the ball came
short and so did the right attacking winger. This created an opportunity to pass the ball and
begin to move the ball up the pitch. The attacking left winger also created an option by
going long. This would allow the player in possession to hit a long lofted pass in order to try
and cut out the opposition’s midfield and try to create a scoring opportunity. By having 2
options available to the player in possession this will allow Saint Etienne to keep possession
and dictate the game.
(Fig.2)
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Movement is the intelligent movements of players to create opportunities to receive the
ball, and possibly dislodging the position of defenders (The FA, 2010). Within the match
players had to make clever movements in order to receive the ball which would therefore
draw a defender in field and would create space either out wide or behind the defence. An
example of when intelligent movement occurred during the game was when Saint Etienne
where around the penalty area and a player would come short and look to receive the ball
and this would lure a defender out of position. This movement then creates a space for a
through ball for the central striker or a pass to the wide strikers to cross the ball into the
box.
(Fig.3)
Penetration is the intelligent use of possession, support and movement to enter scoring
areas with accuracy and timing (The FA, 2010). An example of how Saint Etienne have used
penetration within the game is by making passes into the attacking third creating an
opportunity to get into scoring areas. According to (Hughes, 1990) there is a passing
checklist to consider that consists of 5 types of passes. These are passing into space behind
defence; pass to feet of most advanced attacker, pass beyond at least one defender, cross
field pass to switch line of attack and a backwards pass to supporting player. Below is a table
that shows which of the passing checklist occurred when Saint Etienne were passing into the
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attacking 1/3. The backward pass isn’t in the table as in this report the objective is to look at
forward passing.
(Fig.4)
Width of dispersal is the ability of a team to play out side to side to create as much time and
space as possible in which to pass to others (The FA, 2010). Within the match Saint Etienne
were playing the ball out wide which enabled them to get crosses into the box. According to
(Hughes, 1990) when delivering crosses there is a prime target area in which the crosses
should be delivered into. This target area is from 4 yards- 12 yards and the width of the 6
yard box. The reason being that the ball will be too far out for the goalkeeper and will fall
into the path of oncoming attackers. Below we have 2 diagrams that show the crosses that
were delivered within the match. From this data we can assess the crosses and see how
many of them were delivered into the prime target area.
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(Fig.5)
Within the 1st half 4 of the crosses were delivered into the prime target area one of them
being the assist for the 1st goal, this meaning that 100% of the crosses into the target area
was successful. There were 13 crosses within the 1st half this means that 30.77% of crosses
in the 1st half ended in the target area. (Fig.6)
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Within the 2nd half 10 of the crosses were delivered into the target area one of them being
the assist for the 3rd goal, this data shows that 30% of the crosses into the target area were
successful. In total there were 18 crosses in the 2nd half, this means that 55.55% of the
crosses ended in the target area. Overall in the whole game there were 31 crosses of which,
14 ended in the target area. This means 45.16% ended in the target area, 7 of the crosses
were successful making 50% of crosses into the target area successful.
Improvisation is the combined activity of players to perform unexpected skills that often
eliminate opponents at appropriate moments in a match (The FA, 2010). Within the match
Saint Etienne use improvisation by making quick 1-2 passes which would enable the players
to get in behind the line of defence, or enable a cross into the box by passing round a
defender.
(Fig.7)
There are also 5 defending principles that Saint Etienne use whilst defending within the
game. These principles are delay, depth, concentration, balance and control. Saint Etienne
are able to delay their opposition by pressing the ball high up the pitch when in balance.
When out of balance they attempt to slow down the play, this enables the players to
regroup and reposition themselves.
Saint Etienne applies the principle of depth well throughout the game, as whilst out of
balance the central midfielders drop back. This creates a numerical advantage within Saint
Etienne’s favour, and therefore can deal with the attacks more controllably.
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Throughout the match Saint Etienne apply concentration in the defensive areas. They
achieve this by staying within their formation and players shift their positions in relation to
where the ball has move to. This enables the team to reduce the passing options that their
opponents have available to them.
In the match Saint Etienne display balance through all areas of the pitch. They do this by
having individual roles when they don’t have possession. The player’s closest to the ball
press and try to guide the play into manageable areas where they can disposes their
opponents. Other players will be marking opponents to prevent a pass being made, and
others would be tracking runs of the opposition to prevent them getting in behind the
defence.
Saint Etienne displays the principle of control within the game by being composed whilst in
possession of the ball but also staying in formation when the opposition have the ball. The
team are aware of players making runs as they are balanced in all areas of the pitch, and
each player understands their responsibility within the game which makes them as a team
more organized.
There were 3 goals that were scored in this match. Below is a bar chart showing how many
passes were prior to each goal. As you can see the 1st & 3rd goals are built up of 10 passes
which links to the possession play in which Saint Etienne where playing. Whereas the 2nd
goal came from a throwing and then a backwards pass.
(Fig.8)
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It was also important to establish where the ball was regained to give an insight into how
close the regain was to the opponent’s goal. Below is a pitch map of where the ball was
regained before the goal was scored.
(Fig.9)
The 1st & 2nd goals were scored in the 1st half when Saint Etienne where attacking from left
to right and the 3rd goal came in the 2nd half when they were attacking from right to left.
Below are 4 bar charts that show the type of passes within the match and whether they
were successful or unsuccessful. Within the match there were 591 passes of these 335 were
forward passes, 92 were sideways passes and 164 were backwards.
(Fig.10)
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The pie charts and bar charts below will show all the throwing’s and headers within the
match. (Fig.14) (Fig.15)
(Fig.16)
(Fig.17)
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Below are 4 pitch maps that show which zones the forward passes were made in and how
many passes were successful and unsuccessful.
(Fig.18)
(Fig.19)
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(Fig.20)
(Fig.21)
By looking at the notational analysis we can see some strengths & weaknesses appearing.
Some of the strengths that Saint Etienne have are that they are very successful at passing
the ball beyond defenders, as they have a 90.90% success rate when passing into the
attacking third. Another strength is that they are looking to play the ball forward as this will
better their chances of creating a scoring opportunity. Within the zonal passing maps you
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can see that they never misplace a pass within the defensive 1/3 or passing into the middle
1/3. This could be due to the fact that the opposition are not pressing the ball up the pitch.
This allows the players to move forward from defence with the ball and look for a forward
pass to move closer to the opponent’s goal. This is backed up by the fact that 56.68% of all
passes throughout the game were forward passes. A weakness that the notational analysis
highlights is that throughout the match there were 31 crosses, however only 8 of these
crosses were successful. This means that only 25.80% of the crosses were successful. This
could be due to players not getting into the box and more importantly into the prime target
area which could creating an option, or that the cross was either hit too long or intercepted
by an opponent.
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References
Bangsbo., J, B., Peitersen, 2000, Soccer Systems & Strategies, p.39-41, Human Kinetics,
United States
Bate, 1988 cited in Hughes., M, M., Franks, 2004 , Notational Analysis of Sport: Systems for
better coaching and performance in sport, 2nd edition, p.65-67, Routledge, London
Carling., C, M., Williams, T., Reilly, 2005, Handbook of Soccer Match Analysis: A systematic
approach to improving performance, p.2-3, Routledge, Abingdon
Carling., C, T., Reilly, M., Williams, 2009, Performance Assessments for Field Sports, p.35,
Routledge, London
HUGHES, C., 1990. The Football Association Soccer Skills & Tactics: The Winning Formula.
Collins: London
Jankovic et al, 2010, Analysis of passes of Serbian football (soccer)team in qualifying for the
World cup 2010, Proceedings of the Faculty of Physical Education, Vol 2, [online], [viewed on
21/04/14], available from:
http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=3&sid=ff35ed2a-d4c3-442d-
99b9-3d0215ad2c69%40sessionmgr4003&hid=4104
Lucchesi., M, 2011, Coaching the 4-3-3, Kindle Edition, Reedswain, (09/06/2011- Publish
date)
The FA, 2010, The Future Game, p.103, FA Learning, London
