Defensive Tendencies
When the opposition losses possession of the ball how do they establish defensive structure and what do they do to win the ball back. In this area of scouting we need to understand when the team losses possession of the ball, how do they establish defensive structure and what do they do to win the ball back. We need to understand the basic defensive framework of the opposition and do they demonstrate flexibility in this general framework? What area's can we isolate and exploit? How do the players cover each other and restrict the opposition time and space? Where are their restraining lines? Do they get pulled out of position or do they have a tight inner shell or do they break out of that shell? What is the defensive will of each player and the cohesiveness of the team defense?
Defensive Formation
Number of back players
a. Playing with sweeper
Mid field Make up
a. Number of mid fielders
b. Defensive mid fielders
Forwards Role in defending
a. Do they track back
b. Do they direct the play inside or outside
c. Defending teams breaks their pressure, where and what do they do
d. Do the strikers work in tandem
Team Defending
1. High pressure or low pressure
2. Where are their pressure points and lines
a. All over the field
b. Edge of the middle third
c. Half field
d. Defensive third
3. Who are the hard tacklers and ball winners
4. Man to Man, zone or combination marking
5. Will they defend our key players
6. Who is there communicator
7. Defending attitude
Defensive Restarts
1. Slow or quick to organize
2. Zone, man to man or combination
3. Weaknesses we can exploit
4. How can we match up
5. Do they counter attack quickly
6. Are there defenders behind the wall? How far out will they set up a wall? Who sets the wall?
Off sides
1. Do they force off sides
2. Who pushes the defenders out
3. Do they move collectively
4. How far do they push out
5. If beaten do they recover quickly
Goalkeeper
1. Stature
2. Positional tendencies
3. Shot handling abilities
4. Distribution, how and where
5. Communication skills
6. Crosses, what is his comfort zone
7. Psychological make up. How does he react after a critical mistake
Goals
1. Time of goal
2. How was is scored
3. Who scored
4. Where scored
5. Why was the goal conceded
6. How could have the goal been prevented
7. Average number team goals per match
8. When do they tend to score, first half or second half
9. How do react after they score. Do they settle in or aggressively come forward to attack again