Tactics Corner – Regaining Possession of the Ball

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Messi and Ronaldo are indisputably the world’s finest attacking players but is Robin van Persie that far behind them? The flying Dutchman (warning: bad puns may continue) has scored 34 Premier League goals in 2011 from the same number of matches, and with two games left in the year he has every chance of setting a new league record. With fixtures against Wolves and QPR still to come he needs three goals to beat Alan Shearer’s total of 36 in 1995.

If you are looking for some great free soccer drills that will help to improve your team’s performance on the field, then you should do an online search. There are dozens of great websites out there that offer soccer drills of all types and they do not require you to buy anything. You get the advanced or novice you have been searching for, for Free! Here are some of the top Free Soccer Drills sites along with some information about what all they offer you. Take a moment to browse through these helpful websites so that you may gain more knowledge about this contact sport.

Last year FC Barcelona won the Champions League for the fourth time in its history and the third time since 2006. The Catalan club first won the trophy at London’s famous Wembley Stadium in 1992 when the so-called “Dream Team” assembled by Johann Cruyff beat Italians Sampdoria 1-0.

Coaching youth soccer can be the most rewarding or frustrating task you will ever attempt, depending on your approach and attitude toward the game and your players. It is not always about winning but the development of team spirit and having fun.

Shin guards, also known as shin pads, are essential safety-wear for everyone who plays soccer, football or hockey, even recreationally. Because the tibia bone lacks surrounding muscle for protection, it is particularly sensitive to injury. It can also be slow-healing, and so puts the player out of action for many months if they suffer an injury. Buying shin pads is therefore essential; these tips will help you find the pair that’s right for you, and includes information on size considerations and construction material.

Shin guards are essential safety-wear for many sports including football and hockey. They may appear to be modern inventions but in fact have their roots in ancient battles, when heavy infantry wore leg guards to protect themselves from attacks to the leg. These developed through the ages to become less cumbersome, and in the 19th century – as the extent of warfare lessened – they transitioned from a fighting accessory to one used predominantly in a range of sports. This piece explores the history of the shin guard, along with other interesting facts about their development and use in modern society.

The contentious fifpro nominations. Not on a par with the Ballon d’Or awards.

Running fast is a skill, however, very few of us were taught how to do it. Running fast in soccer is critical to becoming a great soccer player. To increase your speed, follow these critical tips to perfect the arm swinging action. It can be a soccer player’s greatest secret for running faster!

Premier League action comes to DW Stadium in match week 16 when Wigan clash with Chelsea, on Saturday, December 17, 2011. Wigan scored a commendable come-from-behind 2-1 win away at West Brom in match week 15. Chelsea handed Man City their first loss of the season at Stamford Bridge, in match week 15. With their win against Man City, Chelsea have smelt blood, and Wigan will have to be at the top of their game to be able to salvage any points from the match.

Loftus Road will witness football action when QPR clash with champions Manchester United in match week 16 of the Premier League on Sunday, December 18, 2011. QPR are coming off a 1-0 loss away at Liverpool, in match week 15. In match week 15, Man United registered a thumping 4-1 victory over Wolves, in a match hosted by the Red Devils at Old Trafford. Though QPR are likely to be out of their league against the champions, Neil Warnock’s side have shown sufficient glimpses of their potential to be able to salvage a point from the game. That said, the home side will have to be at the top of their game against a United squad who are just two points adrift of Man City and likely to go for the kill.

Mario Balotelli has become a legend of Premier League football in a very short span of time and not just for his on-field antics of which there is no dearth. For some unknown reason, fans love to see characters in sport rather than efficient automatons who perform on the pitch and are unheard of, off it. And that trend makes Balotelli all the more popular with followers of the game. In this article I take a look at the top five off-field controversies that Manchester City’s star Italian striker was involved in during the year 2011:

Match week 16 of the Premier League will bring football action to Villa Park, with hosts Aston Villa set to clash with Liverpool, on Sunday, December 18, 2011. Aston Villa are coming off a commendable 2-1 win away against Bolton, in match week 15, only their second win in eight league games. In match week 15, Liverpool registered a 1-0 victory over QPR, in a match hosted by the Merseysiders at Anfield. Aston Villa will have their task cut out keeping Liverpool at bay, with the Anfield squad keen to keep the momentum going after their hard-fought win last week.