02 / ON THE PITCH
Outplay. Outrun. Outfight.
I want teams that play with intelligence, run with purpose and compete for each other. That means progressing through or around pressure, working to regain the ball high up the pitch and responding together when possession changes.
The identity has to be visible in what players do, every day.
The playing identity
Outplay. Outrun. Outfight.
01 / Outplay
Find a way through
Recognise where the spare player or favourable contest is. Create and exploit superiority; progress through or around pressure before going over it when the moment demands.
02 / Outrun
Act again
Sprint to affect the game, recover with urgency and repeat the work when tired. Score the behaviours in training so effort has a clear purpose.
03 / Outfight
Win the contest
Win individual battles, protect teammates and make the opponent's next action difficult without losing discipline.
Game model
Control with
intent.
I want teams that build with purpose, move the opponent and progress through the pitch. We seek to win the ball as high as possible, then act quickly when the advantage appears.
I use principles that go beyond formation, providing clear relationships and roles while allowing the shape to serve the principles. Players must recognise when to create space, find a spare player, break a line or secure the ball so the next action can succeed.
Training makes these demands visible through representative games, clear scoring and reflection on the decisions behind the outcome.
How it shows up
Principles into decisions.
With the ball
Find the advantage
Build from the goalkeeper, create space and find the spare player. Progress through or around pressure, break lines and accelerate when an advantage is ready to exploit.
Without the ball
Win it high
Press together to direct play into a trap, contest the next action and regain as high as the situation allows. Keep defensive security behind the press.
First six seconds
React together
After a loss, apply the fury press when a regain is on; otherwise recover shape. After a regain, recognise whether to exploit immediately or secure possession.
The training ground
Make it visible.
Representative games put players in the decisions they will face on match day. Clear scoring rewards purposeful possession, repeated running and fair, competitive duels. Reflection connects the score to the choices that produced it.
FROM PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE
What would this look like in your environment?
My experience spans player development, coach development and academy leadership. At Bradford Park Avenue, I connect recruitment, coaching, and the academy’s football identity.
For a club considering a first-team appointment, I can discuss how I would assess the squad, establish the playing principles and build the training week. For a coach, the starting point might be one practice, one player or one recurring problem.