Max football tips

When i was playing football in Seattle i asked Max for some advice on how to be a good striker because he was such a good footballer...this is what he wrote to me and i thank him very much for it. Cheers pal.

how to be the best striker in the world written by max (velcro foot) O'C

POSITIONING-well first of all u wanna live in between the oppositions back four and their midfield. if ur team are trying to get out of ur half- when the midfield are advancing with the ball then try and drop back (facing the ur goal obv) a wee bit and collect the ball- hold it up and get it out to the wingers, if their quick, drop a wee ball past just behind the wingbacks so they can charge up the flank, then u make a quick ass run down the middle to recive it for a header/thru pass... if u are camped out in their half and the play is quite static try and recieve the ball to feet from the centremid, hold it so he can run forward and either lay it off to him for a shot or lay it off to him and turn and make a run thru the defence to recieve and bang one in! or just play a thru ball to the winger for them to cross, or if theyve cut in to have a go at goal.

RECIEVING-when holding the ball up under pressure from the centre backs stand side on (facing either wing) with ur hand/elbow outstrethed in his chest so u can feel where he is and block him from the ball with ur arm and one leg (the other leg obviously is controlling the ball). once u've succesfully done that a few times (ie controlled the ball and sprayed to the wing or given it to the cntrmid) he will expect it and u can then turn him first touch (instead of stopping the ball,) turning with the ball and flying thru towards the goal, or touch it square and have a wee longshot! also u can feel him coming round one side of you to cut out the pass- so u take a couple steps towards the ball and turn the other way! also if u've got ur arm on the centre back if one comes over the top u can turn and give him a nudge out the way as u scarper onto the long pass.

LINKUP-to link up with ur strike partner its good if u recieve the ball a bit deeper in the space between the defense and midfield. move towards ur goal with the centre back behind you then turn so facing the goal and as the centre back comes to tackle u, u play a one two with ur partner and run into the space the centre back has just left and fly towards the goal. ideally ur partner will drop a bit to recive the one then plays the ball behind the centre back who's coming to get u thus creating the ever so sought after triangle whicjh leads to u being top scorer!

RUNSONTOTHRUBALLS-most good runs are diagonal as oopsed to straight so look to run (on to stright thru balls which usually go between the wing backs and the centre backs not usually thru the two centre backs) either from outside (the wing or near the left/right back) to inside (sneaky lil runs behind the centre backs). similarly runs from the centre to the wing(or straight down the wing on counter attacks) like ur bumbuddy thierry henry always does work well- cut in and shoot, cross it, or play a one two with the advancoing centre mid and run behind the defesnse and ping one! balls right down the middle usually occur on the break in my experience so all u need to do is outpace them fat scottish centre backs u told me about!

HEADING/VOLLEYING-getting on to crosses- timing is obciously the key, and masking the direction of ur run until the very last minit. so if ur wanting to make a nr post run then stay in line with the far post or even further away, wait til u reckon the winger's pulled his finger out and is about to put one in and dart diagonally towards the front post. obviously u need to make sure the winger is ahead of u to make sure ur not offside, to give u the space to run into and to hit ball running and get full power!!!!! for corners i always run near post cos usually the big strong centre backs attack the far post- what i do is stand on the the corner of the six yard box next to the far post, run to the penalty spot (thus drawing the defender out) and then dart to the near post corner of the six yard box and nod one!

hope that helps i didnt realise i had that much to say to be honest! if only i could draw diagrams i'd love it! lemme know if it makes sense or not, happy striking bash em up! max