Last year I came to Northern Ireland to watch the Dale Farm Milk Cup. Historically a great place to see bright young players on the way up and spotting how modern football trends translate into high level youth football.
This year it has been renamed the Super Cup Northern Ireland but it remains a fantastic destination to see how football might shape up in the next few years.
Local Culture
There is a grassy bank at The Warren in Portstewart. It is raised just enough to give you a wonderful vantage point to watch the match. This was my position for County Antrim against GPS Bayern in the youth section.
Antrim started the game brightly, bringing a double save from the GPS goalkeeper. The initial opportunity came from a pass slipped into the channel between central defender and fullback. This would turn out to be the key to the game.
Antrim dominated the ball early on. GPS struggled to retain possession as they were lacking width throughout the half. Antrim used their full backs well in order to create their own width. GPS looked most threatening following the longer periods of Antrim possession. When these moves broke down high up the pitch GPS were able to play forward quickly and create moments of concern for their hosts.
To counter this Antrim adjusted by making sure they kept a number of players deep, ensuring that any player breaking away would be outnumbered. From then on GPS offered little attacking threat.
Deep into the half the Antrim midfield broke up a GPS attack. Two Antrim forwards made runs towards each other, attracting both GPS central defenders towards the ball. The Antrim midfielder passed forward quickly and a little touch from one of the Antrim forwards took out both central defenders, allowing his team mate to run onto the ball and roll it into the bottom right hand corner.
In the first half both teams played in a style that could be best described as short to long. Making a relatively small number of short passes before firing a ball forward. This may have partially been down to the noticeably long grass that slowed passes.
At half time the Antrim coaches had clearly picked up on the length of the grass. They looked for low forward passes between the GPS left back and central defender. Forwards constantly making early runs to get onto these threaded balls. Twice in the first 5 minutes of the half Antrim got in with tidy play. The first time a good intercepting challenge preventing a goal, the second time the GPS defender cleared the ball off of the line after the Antrim forward took the ball round the goalkeeper. On the third occasion the Antrim wide player had drifted infield and clipped pass held up on the grass allowing it to be flicked once over the defenders head, then checked back onto the left foot, unfortunately a moment of hesitation allowed the defender to recover.
A similar pass over the GPS left back led to goal number two. A simple touch to kill the ball, followed by a low finish. Antrim fully deserved their two goal advantage. Yet from no where GPS hit back immediately. A ball played into the box from GPS’ right hand side was beautifully cushioned by the GPS forward’s chest before hitting a left volley high into the Antrim net. The goal was technically excellent as it was surprising.
This did not prove to be a way back into the game as Antrim created more opportunities, particularly through use of through passes into channels. One of which put an Antrim forward clear 1v1 with the goalkeeper. His low left foot finish gave the goalkeeper little hope.
The Antrim performance hinged upon their use of low through passes. Especially on the GPS Bayern left. Whether they deliberately targeted this area or if Antrim were just particularly strong on their right, I do not know, but the game certainly swung on it.
International Culture
The game between Club America of Mexico and KV Mechelen of Belgium in the premier section promised much. At last year’s tournament Club America excited with their emphasis on 1v1 attacking play. While I hoped that Mechelen would display the attributes that have been prevalent in the successful Belgian youth development programme.
Mechelen began the game controlling much of the possession, with their players looking assured and comfortable on the ball. Notably the right sided Mechelen central defender when he nutmegged on an oncoming forward in order to keep the ball in play. When Club America gained possession they looked to play forward quickly with one and two touch play.
Mechelen split their central defenders and pushed their full backs high to create a large space. Doing so left large spaces and Club America completely opened Mechelen up by intercepting and attacking the space. Mechelen were fortunate that the attack amounted to nothing.
As the half progressed the game became far more physical. Central midfield was a battle. This was Sunday League football, just with a better first touch. Club America sharp to press individually while Mechelen had a far more organised, swarming pressing style.
The Club America forwards looked witty and sharp in their play but their reward was little more than free kicks. No goals in the first half but the players with dribbling ability began to grab the game in the second half. Yet again the reward for their individual expression was to be cut down as a litany of free kicks overtook the game.
Then the Mechelen number 7 had two minutes that cost his team. Giving away two needless free kicks. Each resulted in a booking, the second followed by the inevitable red card. Club America had the psychological advantage.
Soon after they had the advantage on the scoreline as well. What can only be described as an athletic yet speculative bicycle kick from the edge of the box looped over the Mechelen goalkeeper. The celebrations were understandably boisterous.
From here Club America were happy to sit and counter attack. The ebbing quality of the game summed up by one sweeping counter attack that led to a powerful shot well saved, then a second counter attack in which two Club America players got in each others way and went into reverse.
Club America would finish the first phase in 9th position and Mechelen 12th. Based on the disappointing quality on show this is no surprise.
Tomorrow, we hit the trophy rounds.