Tom Pell updates on the Development Squad tour to Holland
Following our tour to Belgium a week previous we ended the season with our Development Squad tour to Holland over the weekend of 4th - 7th June.
For those people reading who are unaware our Development Squad's, this our group of players that we run from U7 - U15 who are tiered below the Centre of Excellence within the pyramid and who are working extremely hard to try and gain a place in their respective COE squad.
Although not all the players who are in our Development Squads were able to attend the tour, I would like to congratulate all those players offered places in the Squads for the 2010/2011 season from their application, hard work and technique from the season just finished. They have been a credit to themselves and the system throughout the whole season and we are really looking forward to helping them develop again over the next 12 months at least.
The boys and families who did attend the tour were up early to get the coach from the R Costings Abbey Stadium at 4am and head off to Holland via Dover - Calais where they could grab some breakfast and stretch their legs.
We arrived at our Centerparcs accommodation, Eemhof 40km outside Amsterdam at around 4pm European time. After a little confusion with checking in, the boys parents and family members took upon themselves to enjoy the fantastic weather and facilities but also realising that they needed sufficient rest for some tough games the following day.
It was an 8.15am departure time for our U12 squad and U14 squad on the Saturday morning and again we were blessed with terribly hot weather, which all spectators were ready to make the most of.
We arrived at our host teams training ground OZC, in the blazing hot sun at around 9.15am for a 10am kick off. Upon arrival you can't help but feel jealous of the facilities that some clubs have in Europe and how far in advance they seem to be than ourselves in the UK. What seem to be a 'football village' had fantastic changing rooms, bar area for spectators, four full size grass pitches and 2 full size 3rd generation astro-turfs. And that was just one club! There were 5 clubs within about 200 metres from each other. This seemed to inspire the lads as they look round knowing that they had to come to a place where they had to try and perform as best they could in conditions we were certainly not used to.
The U12 squad was coached by U11 COE Coach Nigel Hurrell and after some team photos wasted no time in setting their standards for the weekend. Playing 11v11 on quite a big pitch the lads were able to keep the ball (which was imperative in the heat) effectively and utilised the space to be 3-0 up going into the break at half time. At no stage is the score line important to any of our younger sides but by being 3-0 up at half time, throws another good learning curve into the mixture for the boys to try and accomplish. So many different things can be learnt and the task was to try and keep the ball moving at a high tempo to wear the other team down who will be chasing the game and then try and pick them off. The boys had to try and be a little more patient with their play which is something that comes with maturity and trying to enforce that with this group of players at their age is full credit to them and gives them something else to learn from and have experience in performing like it. They came off at the end with a lot of credit and lots of positives to talk about as well as things they can look to improve on for the tournament on the Sunday.
The U14 squad had the joy of myself being their coach for the two days. Having spoken to the boys about the way in which we were going to try and play, the most pleasing thing for me was that they were not only able to take it on board but do it on the pitch where it counts. When the boys get to this age and they have been in the system for a few years they tend to have good knowledge and know the game well but being able to do it a high enough tempo, effectively in and out of possession is more difficult. Fair play to the lads, they dominated the game from the first whistle and the 35 minute first half was enjoyable to see the lads work the ball into good areas through hard work on and off the ball and moving it quickly but also having that bit of flair in and around the box to try and create as the hosts sat in deep after conceding so much possession to ourselves. The lads took the finishes very well and similar to the U12s could use the second half as a way to be patient with our play, keep the ball and save as much energy as possible for the tournament on day 3 although that was proving difficult in the heat. After a sloppy first 5 minutes to the half the lads then dictated the play and kept it efficiently and professionally to end the game on a high.
The U8s and U10s had a tournament on the Saturday and had a nice leisurely start to the morning before jumping on the bus at 11am.
Justin Short was in control of the U8 squad and the boys seemed really excited to get started. It goes to show that the opportunities we are trying to give all of our young players are their considering 5 of our 7 players had been on tour before to play foreign opposition and they are only U8.
The lads were initially supposed to be playing 5v5 which we had organised for them although on arrival it was switched to 7v7 on very large pitches. The lads could have worried about it and although physically it was very demanding for them, considering some of them were playing a year up on large pitches in soaring heat. However, the lads showed really good character and work rate to perform well. Although their results were maybe a goal or two shy of what they would have wanted they performed the technical and tactical aspects of the game very well and this is what we have worked on all year so all we can ask of them. Again it gives them a different aspect to their game to try and learn and how the importance of ball retention and ball protection is against more physically imposing players. Justin was pleased with the way in which the boys played and the travelling support expressed their feelings with a large round of applause at the end of the games.
The U10 squad were under James Cutting's wing for the two days. This group took a while to get to grips with the speed of play from the opposition and in the heat found it difficult to then step up a gear and physically it was very draining when they conceded possession. The lads then started to play quicker and keep the ball better but lacked cutting edge in the final third to add to their improved play. James had a chat with the boys after each game about how to improve their performances on and off the ball and in and out of possession and the longer the day went on the boys seemed to get to grips with it. They must have been saving themselves considering some of the football they played on day 3.
The early start for the U12 & U14s meant they could go back and enjoy the rest of the afternoon to themselves which I think all started with cooling down in the pool and down the rapids, which by the way were fantastic!
The U8s and U10s picked up their trophies and headed back to base to chill out for the evening and could stay up that bit later as yet again they got another lay in of which Justin and James the respective coaches were gutted about! Yeah right!
Day 3 saw a reverse from the previous day with our U12s and U14s entering in a tournament and the U8s and U10s playing a friendly against the host club in the afternoon.
The games for the U12s and U14s were 11v11 and 15 minute straight through games, which meant a clinical approach in both penalty areas, strong mentality and composure in possession.
The U12s were slow to start but as the day went on proved to put that behind them and with some great passing moves and individual bits of brilliance and went through the group sailing through to the semi finals.
The U14s started bright and moved the ball well against a team who eventually lost in the final but unfortunately for all of their possession couldn't quite carve out a clear cut opening and the other team made them pay for it on a counter attack and they lost their first game 0-1. The reaction from the players for the next game was positive and they had a bit more cutting edge in front of goal and took their chances (as well as 3 being disallowed, which we don't see very often).
The lads let themselves down in the third game through a bit of complacency and this proved critical in qualifying for the latter stages of the competition. After a few stern words and a positive reaction the boys performed in their final two games really well and showed the level that they have to try and reach on a more consistent basis. As the lads are getting older they are starting to realise that a lot of what they have to do to be successful is not actually the technical side of the game but the bits off the ball and how they are able to do this physically, mentally and tactically. Although disappointed for the boys to miss out on the next stage of the competition I was very pleased with the reaction they gave and how they performed in the last two games showing great spirit application and the ability that lacking in some of the previous games that we know they have. This was again a great learning curve for the boys and how important it is to play at your maximum all the time or else you will get punished.
Back to the very impressive U12 squad and with growing confidence came better, quicker and more consistent performances.
The semi final was against a team who had won their group earlier in the day like ourselves. Surprisingly the quality of opposition was not what we expected for a semi finalist team and had faced tougher opposition in the group stages. That said what they did do was put a lot of bodies behind the ball and try and make it as difficult as possible for us to break them down.
Some patient build up led to a 25-yard half volley from Patrick, which was enough to see the lads through to the final. A very mature performance from a team growing in confidence.
The final bought the biggest crowd of the day, which added to the excitement for the boys. During all of the games, the coaches don't overload the players with information and try and assess the level at which they are able to perform at against decent opponents. Through this we were keen to see who would step up to the plate and relish the challenge of the final and who may take a backward step. Needless to say that the lads all stepped up to the plate and played a good tempo and dominated possession.
Yet again Patrick scored a superb goal, which rattled into the stanchion following a great team move. No more than a minute later but the opposition pulled a goal back from a counter attack to put the game level again.
Again, great opportunity for us to see the boys reaction and again we were not disappointed as they continued to play in the right way and to their strengths and with a minute to go Jack latched onto a great through ball and curled it over the keeper into the top corner. Pretty much straight away after the kick off the whistle went for full time and the boys celebrated their win!
It was great to see the way in which the lads celebrated with dignity and not forgetting about the losing side after the final whistle.
The lads were announced as winners by the hosts to great applause and finished off the weekend in style.
Our U8 side were first up on the Sunday to play their friendly fixture and from playing together the day before you could see the confidence that they had gained.
Justin's side were playing with a great mixture of good team play by moving the ball, making angles off the ball to keep it and being patient on another big pitch and also glimpses of individual skill that always gets a cheer from the side.
The boys started to look very threatening and created lots of opportunities and were on top for large portions. The lads ended the game on top and it was a real joy to watch. The lads ended the game with a penalty shoot out which is what the host's do after each game regardless of the score and let's say that it was a good chance our boys finished their chances very well in the game as they did a good job of keeping the English tradition of being shocking at penalties going!! Sorry boys!
The U10 side were similar to the U8s on the Sunday in the fact that they seemed to have now grasped the strengths of team mates and were more on the same wavelength with little moves off the ball, their passing and general build up play.
Watching from the sideline, we saw flowing move after flowing move rain down on the hosts and but for slightly better finishing the score could have been emphatic. A much improved performance and again a lot of plus to come out of the group and individuals within it and again very pleasing that information given from the day previous was put into practise at the first opportunity.
After all the games it was time for everyone to go back to Centerparcs and enjoy their last evening of the tour of which I know they did. Some of the lads were even beaten at the ice hockey game in the arcade that night as well by one of the coaches (I won't mention any names but it's at the bottom of the article, oh yeah and he did also lose to one of our U9s as well but we won't talk about that).
Following a leisurely Monday morning we headed back to Cambridge on the bus which involved a few games and a tasty quiz of which the Skindogs were the winners and went home with a trophy.
I would like to say a massive thank you to Sports Travel International who helped organise the tour and for the family members of the players for their co-operation.
Tom Pell
Technical Development Manager
Cambridge United: YOUR CITY - YOUR CLUB
