The Dangers of Buying at a FIFA World Cup
Remember Pablo Barrera? You may not, but West Ham United fans certainly do. (August 6, 2010 - Source: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Europe) He was their shiny new £4 million acquisition in the summer of 2010, fresh off the back of an impressive stint at the FIFA...
What are the Effects of Age Bias Within English Grassroots Football?
Following England’s premature exit from the World Cup, many have called into question the standard of English football compared to that of Continental Europe and South America. One of the most popular emerging claims is that the European and Latin penchant for close...
Women’s National Team Session #2
Drill 1. Structure: -Square was 30 by 50 yards. Rules: -This was a good old fashioned game of bulldog like the school playground. -All players (white) at end with two taggers in the middle (blues). -Whites must make it from one end to the other. -Blues have to try...
Why Winning Alone isn’t Enough for Lionel Messi’s World Cup Adventure
Heading into the World Cup is always a time of excitement and anticipation, but it’s also one which sees certain players come under extra scrutiny. Invariably, this applies to some of the world’s finest players; guys who at domestic level are demigods, at continental...
The Challenges Facing Grassroots Football
In the last year over 100,000 people have walked away from grassroots football. The England squad in Rio de Janeiro at the moment may be seeing the emergence of talented youth players such as Sterling, Lallana and Barkley – but can this develop into a continuous trend...
Turks and Caicos: Women’s National Team Session #1
Last month Louis headed off to the Turks and Caicos Islands to train the national football teams (men's and women's). For the next few weeks we will bring you the training sessions which saw an upturn in form for Turks and Caicos resulting in a win over the British...
Winners and Losers from Week One of World Cup 2014
The 2014 FIFA World Cup has been nothing short of extraordinary so far, with a number of big results, top individual performances and crazy matches delighting the watching public. After the first round of matches - and a sneaky early second for Brazil and Mexico in...
2014 FIFA World Cup: Zone by Zone Preview
The 2014 FIFA World Cup is upon us and 32 nations are ready to play their part, with ambitions of victory, progression past the groups or outright glory making up the emotion and anticipation surrounding the tournament. Gettty Images Every country’s team, complete...
Pressing Games
Game 1. Structure: -Set up the area as above suiting the needs of your players and numbers available. Rules: -Players can go wherever they like on the pitch just like the game. -Every time the ball goes out of play the game restarts from the keeper who is to play in....
USA Team analysis: Defence
When Jurgen Klinsmann abruptly announced his 23-man squad for Brazil, he left off a name that should have shocked many, but led to little fanfare. The decision to drop the MLS talent could come back to haunt a squad that is bereft of a solid, first-choice starter at...
Games Using Different Shapes
Drill 1. Structure: -Set up the area as above suiting the needs of your players and numbers available. It can be done with 3v3, 4v4 etc. Rules: -Players stay in the half they are in. -The white defenders try to get the ball to the whites attackers. -The white...
World Cup 2014: Under-the-radar Prospects Primed to Shine in Brazil
The 2014 FIFA World Cup edges ever closer, and with every day that goes by, 32 teams are stepping up their preparations for the world's biggest sporting event. But lost among all the glitz, the glamour, the Neymars and the Cristiano Ronaldos are the large majority of...
Liverpool Transfers: 5 Left-Backs for Brendan Rodgers to Consider
Aly Cissokho and Jose Enrique are not Champions League standard left-backs, and now Liverpool have qualified for the competition after several agonising years without, Brendan Rodgers can afford to set his sights a little higher in the transfer market. This summer...
More Position Specific Weekly Challenges
This week Louis Lancaster looks into position specific weekly challenges. These drills are designed for FW's, CM's, CB's, and FB's. These training sessions will help each player to develop in his respective role. The training equipment used in these sessions includes...
4 key factors in Liverpool’s Title Collapse
As Vincent Kompany lifted the English Premier League trophy, draped in light-blue-and-white ribbons to signify the Citizens' success, Steven Gerrard was busy applauding the Anfield fans in a subdued, beaten manner. Despite winning 3-1 against Newcastle United on the...
Scouting Profile: Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek
We need to talk about Chelsea youth prospect Ruben Loftus-Cheek. There are many in the Chelsea academy worth noting—reported £20,000-per-week Andreas Christensen and 16-year-old Danny Desilva chief among them—but no player moved more fluidly and more assuredly in the...
Oldies But Goodies
Drill 1. Structure: -Set up the area as above suiting the needs of your players and numbers available. Rules: -3 teams and can work with many different numbers. -Whites at one end and blues at the other. -Yellows in the middle. -The whites and blues have to make 6...
Sterling, Rodriguez & More: 5 Surprise Stars of the 2013-14 Premier League Season
We knew Aaron Ramsey, Eden Hazard and Luis Suarez would come in and perform this season, having had the summer to improve and hone their craft. We also knew Fernandinho and Nemanja Matic were world-class players, capable of settling instantly and excelling in English...
More Possession Games
The possession games below will help your team retain possession of the ball, even while under pressure. Drill 1. Structure: -Set up the area as above suiting the needs of your players and numbers available. -Good ball supply Rules: -Two teams battle in the middle....
Liverpool & Brendon Rodgers Tactical Analysis
Brendan Rodgers has masterminded a surprise Premier League title challenge this season, and after a weekend of results firmly in the Reds' favour, Liverpool appear on the cusp of a truly special achievement. For many fans and neutrals, the Merseyside club weren't even...
Attacking Under/ Overloads
Attacking under/ overloads are an important part of the modern game. These two fast paced training drills will help to give your team the edge. Drill 1. Structure: -Set up the area as above suiting the needs of your players and numbers available. Rules: -The 4 blues...
Missing Out/ Playing Through Midfield
Turn defence into attack with speed by missing out or playing through the midfield. These attacks can be devastating to teams, as a result these type of training drills are important for the modern coach. Tip: In this training drill you may need to use football...
Time for a change at Arsenal?
Jamie wrote this blog for Discount Football Kits before Arsenal's crushing 3-0 defeat to Everton. After that result will even more of you agree with the sentiment of this article? It’s coming to the end of Arsene Wenger’s 18th season at the helm of Arsenal, and it...
The Players’ #1 Session
This training session was inspired by Nick Levett. You can find out more about Nick on his Twitter page @nlevett. Drill 1. Structure: -Set up the area as above. Vary the size depending on numbers and ability. Rules: -Split your players into two teams. -Once you know...
PSG’s Visit to Chelsea Can Be Cavani’s Night of Redemption
It would not be an exaggeration to suggest that, had Edinson Cavani brought his shooting boots to the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night, Paris Saint-Germain could be even further ahead in this tie. At times, it felt like he was wearing clown shoes instead. The 3-1...
Who are the Top 5 Left-Backs in the Premier League?
The 2013-14 Premier League season has been one to watch for many reasons, and chief among those is the intriguing battle for the mantle of best left-back in the country. There are 8-10 superb players plying their trade in that position and fans routinely squabble over...
Product Focus: Slalom Poles
Here at Discount Football Kits we currently have an offer running on Slalom Poles. A the time this page was published you can purchase 10 Slalom Poles+ a carry bag for a special offer price of £19.99! You can view the offer if you click here: The Slalom Poles are 1.7m...
UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal Draw: Picking the Winner of Each Tie
The quarterfinal draw is in and we have four delicious ties to sink our teeth into over the next few weeks. To reach the last eight of the UEFA Champions League is a serious achievement, and it's very unlikely we'll be subjected to any abject, desire-less spectacles...
Possession Games With A Twist
Help your team learn to gain and retain possession with these training drills brought to you by the coach of Watford U15's. Drill 1. -Set up the area as above suiting the needs of your players and numbers available. Rules: -Two teams fight in the middle for...
In Defence of Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil
Back in September 2013 Sam Tighe and Louis Lancaster looked forward to the arrival of Messut Ozil. Sam's piece looked into how Ozil would change Arsenals tactics whereas Louis looked into why Ozil has been so successful. Sam now writes in defence of Ozil six months...