The Individual

Player Development Magazine Difference Makers

The Individual

Contents Page 3 - Welcome Page 4 - Subscribe on YouTube Page 5 - Subscribe for Monthly Releases Page 6 - The Difference Maker Page 15 - Bruno Fernandes Page 16 - Harry Kane Page 17 - Follow us on Page 18 - This Month's Training Page 19 - Three Shooting Drills Page 20 - Session for Wingers Page 21 - Becoming Both Footed

Welcome Welcome to the latest edition of the Player Development magazine. This month brings us great optimism, with the return of training in the UK and hopefully matches. With training allowed, we can now work on a huge amount to help our players, or yourself, develop.

Since the restart of the Premier League we have seen a number of players who hit the ground running, being difference makers straight away. How can we as coaches, or players, help develop difference makers, players who can create opportunities or change a game in an instant?

We love seeing difference makers, players who can change the game in an instant, but how can we help develop them and why are they difference makers?

We’ll take a look and find out how these players can be the difference.

Elliott Everson Owner, OpportunityElite

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THE DIFFERENCE MAKER

Just imagine, the score is nil nil heading in to the last ten minutes of the game. It’s been a slow match, the team are looking tired, without the energy to make an impact and decide the fixture. You’re in need of a win though but that looks very uncertain at this moment in time.

Then, all of a sudden, your player gets on the ball and plays a beautiful pass into the striker for a tap in. One nil with the points in the bag and the game has been won by one key action, all from the difference maker.

What is the difference maker?

How can we help develop players, allowing them to become that player?

What would we class as a difference maker though? Are they players who wow those on the sidelines with skills, trick and flicks?

Is it a goalscorer, a goalkeeper?

In reality, it can be all of these, but what we are looking at is those players who can win you a match in an instant.

Someone who can create something out of nothing, or be clinical when they are needed the most.

There are many players out there who seem to have had a quiet, at times ineffectual, game. But, when they are needed the most, they pull something out of the bag, creating a goalscoring opportunity.

Since the Premier League’s return we have seen a number of these performances, allowing us to see that at the very top level there are some very significant difference makers.

One of the most obvious difference makers at the moment is Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes. Since joining the club Man United haven’t lost a Premier League game, signficantly improving the team and becoming a clear difference maker, especially in matches where Man United are struggling to break the opposition down.

Fernandes brings the ability to change a game and make a difference, at the most crucial of stages.

To be a difference maker players such as Fernandes are prepared to take a risk. They may see a pass that others don’t, or take a shot that others wouldn’t be prepared to take.

Difference makers are prepared to take a risk knowing that there will be great reward, but it won’t always work and mistakes will be made. Chances will be missed and possession will be lost but to be a real difference maker, in an attacking sense, the player will need to play with risk, knowing that they can make a mistake.

It can be a risky business, but how can we help develop a difference maker?

Developing a Difference Maker We love to have them in our teams, providing us with great confidence that they can change the game in the blink of an eye. But is it a trait that we as players, or coaches, can develop ourselves, or do players just naturally have that instinct?

Someone such as Harry Kane is a player that can score goals out of what seems barely like a chance. He is so confident in his ability to score that he can take shots on his left and right feet from all angles. There are many times where other players may be screaming for a chance, but he shoots instead. But, in the very last minute of the game, he is the very player you want on the ball. Making the difference with a clinical finish is everything Harry Kane is about.

Practise...

In my opinion, a player like Harry Kane will spend hours upon hours of his time practising his finishing technique, more so than many other players. To become a difference maker Harry Kane has trained so hard that he is completely confident in his ability when it really gets to the crunch time.

His ability to dedicate a lot of time to his technique on the training field has allowed him to develop such confidence in his ability that he can take the ball under pressure and score vital goals.

However, if he hadn’t practised like this he would not be the same player, scoring far fewer goals and definitely being less influential.

So one area to work on in order to become a difference maker is practice. Practise and develop your technique to help your feel physically and mentally confident when those big moments come to you, or your players.

Encourage Creativity...

I think we’ve all been there, seeing a player try a skill that goes very wrong. But, as a player, or coach, what is our reaction to that? Do we encourage the player to try and think outside the box, or criticise them, leaving them fearing to try that again?

If we can encourage creativity, especially at the right times, then we can start to see players become key in making a difference. We must make sure that we attempt things that can create. If our play is predictable, with sideways and slow passes then we are only going to make it easier for the opposition. Encourage your players to take a risk in the attacking thirds. Give them the freedom to try something different and encourage them for their thoughts, even if the application was off. The more that we can do this, the more that we will see creative players who are prepared to do something different and become a key difference maker within the game.

Allow players to dribble Not everyone will agree but, in our opinion, allowing players to dribble is one of the key aspects to helping create players who are difference makers. Players don't become difference makers because they are able to dribble, but the confidence that players can develop from dribbling will allow for players to feel more comfortable in taking risks.

Dribbling is a risk, you can lose the ball and it can be only your fault. Players learn when to dribble and when not to, which makes their decision-making improve. If you're prepared to take the risk and try to beat an opponent, then that is a great show of faith in your own ability. As the players become older they will then start to realise and have the confidence to try a tricky pass, or take the ball in the last minute to try and earn something from the game.

Dribbling takes a lot of responsibility. The more that we can get the young player to dribble, the more chance that we will help develop the young player into one that takes risk, and potentially becomes a difference maker who takes responsibility on the ball in the tightest of games.

Bruno Fernandes: The Risk Taker

Harry Kane: The Ultimate Finisher

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This Month's Training Ball and a Wall Workout

Three Shooting Drills

Session for Wingers

Becoming Both Footed