Adding analytical strings to your bow

“It was watching many games many times. What’s the system? How do they move when they’ve got possession? How do they look to attack? How do they look to defend? And I think how we can take advantage is the really important bit.

“It’s one thing to say Manchester City invert the full-backs and have five in the attacking line. Okay, but what are we going to do to stop them? Or what are we going to do to hurt them? That’s the key piece, certainly when you’re coaching.

"It’s one thing to say, ’here’s what’s happening’. It’s another thing to say, ’and here’s what we’re going to do about it’.

SCW: Often when we watch games, they’re high-level games. We can analyse plays, but how do we make sure we’re taking those learnings and adapting them so they are right for the players we’re working with?

CM: "As you introduce players to analysis, there are two things I would encourage.

"Firstly, can we look for role models? It might be a story of perseverance - I’m thinking of [Liverpool and Scotland full-back] Andy Robertson, who was released by Celtic and worked his way through the leagues. We had a lot of that for the Scottish women’s national team’s girls academy. 

“Secondly, look in terms of how they’re playing. Look at the way they’re scanning, or look at how they receive the ball on the back foot, or pressing and trying to win the ball back and working hard for their team. 

“We can take clips from that elite context, but what are the lessons we’re taking? Is it realistic? Because if our players at 8, 9, 10 [years of age] are not falling in love with the game, or can’t manipulate the ball when they get it, there’s not so much point in teaching them about those 11v11 pressing structures, when it’s not what they need at that time.

"It’s nice to teach about those things. Sometimes as a coach, you feel ’I’m more of a proper coach now, because I’m coaching at this level, and talking about these things’. But a proper coach is someone who delivers what the players need in that engaging, appropriate way.”

SCW: For any coaches who want to get into analysis, what tips have you got for them about how they might start?

CM: "Getting started is one of the key things, just give it a go. When I look back at some of my stuff from two and a half years ago, it was pretty rotten. But it’s a starting point. If you don’t start, you’re not going to improve. 
"Watching as much football as possible is a big help, at a range of different levels.

"Get a really good angle. TV footage isn’t geared up for you to see the whole game..."

"I would start small. You might start working backwards: ’I’ve heard Manchester City play in this way, so I’m going to watch and see if I can spot that’.

"Or it might be a team you don’t know and say: ’I wonder if I can work out within the first 10 to 20 minutes what system they are playing? Are they building that with a three or four? Is it a single pivot, one sitting midfielder? Is it a double pivot? What’s the role of the wingers in the build up? 

“Then ask for feedback. You’ve got to be open to learn. And to learn, you’ve got to be open to criticism and feedback.

"As much as it’s nice when people say, ’This was really good,’ it’s very rare that anybody is the finished article. So you’ve got to be willing to get feedback and get a bit of criticism.

“The other big thing I would say is to try and find footage with a really good angle. Lots of TV footage is not geared up for you to see the whole game. It’s for you to see the action.

"I know that Carlon Carpenter on Twitter - and I’m sure there are others - has his own Google Drive file. He’s got lots of tactical camera footage so you can dip in and out of that and see the bigger picture, see how the teams and players are moving and see what’s happening across the whole pitch, which is a big help as well."