Coaching the Fine Details of Central Midfield | Matt Walsh (Burnley Academy)

Register for MSC Online Global Youth Conference for FREE here: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/post/msc-global-youth-development-conference-13-international-speakers-confirmed-for-january-2-2027 In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary is joined by Matt Walsh from Burnley FC Academy to explore the fine details of coaching and developing central midfield players. Matt shares his passion for midfield development with Curneen and explains how he uses video analysis, individual coaching, and carefully designed training practices to improve players' technical ability, awareness, and decision-making. Using elite midfielders such as Vitinha, Andrés Iniesta, and Rodri as examples, Matt breaks down the movements, body shapes, scanning habits, and decisions that often go unnoticed during games. The conversation also explores the evolution of the midfield position, the importance of encouraging players to take risks, and how coaches can balance isolated technical work with game-based training. Topics discussed include: The technical details that separate elite midfielders Scanning, body shape, and movement before receiving Learning from Vitinha and other world-class midfielders Developing complete, box-to-box midfield players Using video analysis to improve individual development Why passing completion statistics don't tell the full story Balancing technical repetition with decision-making practices Encouraging creativity and risk-taking in young players Practical advice for coaches working with limited resources An insightful conversation for coaches looking to develop more intelligent, technically proficient, and adaptable midfield players.

Gary is joined by Joel Hansson, Head of Physical Development for U8-U14 at Hammarby in Sweden, to rethink how we approach physical development with young players. Joel challenges the idea that youth players should simply follow scaled-down versions of adult training. The conversation between Joel and Curneen explores traditional warm-ups, developing a wider “movement toolbox,” using games and play to develop physical qualities, wrestling and contact work, speed development, the role of the gym, GPS monitoring, and why fun and physical development don’t have to be competing ideas. Joel also shares practical ideas for grassroots coaches working with limited time and equipment, and explains why the early years provide such an important window for players to explore movement, solve problems and develop confidence in their bodies. A fascinating conversation for anyone working in youth soccer and asking a simple question: are we preparing young players for the future, or are we warming them up and training them like mini adults?

Check out MSC High School Online Course and use code MSCHIGHSCHOOL for 20% OFF: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/challenge-page/46214942-e036-4f32-afa6-8383d4608e2d Get involved in future MSC Panels below: https://forms.gle/EvaCiQcZetQQGr7i9 High school soccer is one of the most unique — and often overlooked — environments in player development. In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary is joined by four coaches currently working in the high school game to discuss the realities, challenges and opportunities that come with the role. From bringing together players from different club environments and experience levels, to establishing a culture in a matter of weeks, managing playing time, dealing with demanding schedules and deciding what actually deserves valuable training time — this is a practical conversation built around real experiences and solutions. Curneen and the coaches also discuss managing four games in a week, adapting training around fatigue, simplifying set pieces and restarts, using video analysis with young players, working with parents, and why sometimes doing less can actually have a greater impact. Most importantly, the panel makes the case for the value of high school soccer. Beyond results and pathways, it can provide players with belonging, relationships, development and experiences that stay with them long after their final game. ⚽ Real coaches. ⚽ Real challenges. ⚽ Practical solutions. If you coach in the high school game — or work with players who do — this conversation is for you.

Tony Colbert spent 20 years working alongside Arsène Wenger at Arsenal and is now a freelance consultant (FIFA Technical Expert), helping develop players and coaches around the world. In this conversation, Tony shares his philosophy with Gary on technical development and explains why he believes modern coaching can sometimes neglect the technical foundations players need to perform at the highest level. We discuss purposeful repetition, two-footedness, scanning, first touch, playing forward, technical activation and why the opening 10–15 minutes of training can become a powerful development opportunity. Tony also takes Curneen inside the Arsenal training environment under Wenger, explaining how speed, movement, technical quality and creativity were developed every day, and why those habits helped produce some of the most fluid attacking football of that era. A fascinating conversation for coaches working at every level who want to think more deeply about how we develop technique within the modern game.

In this episode of Modern Soccer Coach, Gary is joined by former England Rugby Head Coach Brian Ashton for a fascinating conversation on coaching, player development, creativity and decision-making. Brian led England to the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final and has spent decades working across elite sport, including experiences within Premier League football. He shares the lessons that have shaped his approach to developing players and why he believes great coaching is about much more than simply giving instructions. The conversation explores the difference between coaching and interfering, why players need freedom alongside responsibility and discipline, how coaches can develop better decision-makers, and why individual development should remain at the heart of the coaching process. From preparing a team for a World Cup Final to helping young players learn how to think for themselves, Brian offers Curneen a brilliant perspective on what genuine player development looks like. A must-listen for coaches who want to develop intelligent, adaptable and creative players.

Antal Vergeer is a Learning & Development Specialist with the KNVB (Dutch Football Association), working in coach development and education. Before returning to the Netherlands, Antal spent almost seven years working within U.S. Soccer, giving him a unique perspective on two very different approaches to developing coaches and players. In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Curneen sits down with Antal Vergeer to explore the ideas, culture and thinking behind Dutch coach and player development. Antal shares fascinating insight with Gary into the Dutch approach to the game — from the traditional desire to play attacking, dominant football to why coaches must ultimately adapt their philosophy to the players and environment in front of them. The conversation also dives into developing creativity and decision-making in young players, why coaches can become too controlling, creating better learning environments, innovation within academies, and why investing in coach development is essential if clubs want to produce better players. Antal also challenges some traditional approaches to coach education and explains why coaches should be held accountable for their own development in exactly the same way we expect players to be. A brilliant conversation for coaches, coach developers and technical leaders interested in Dutch football, player development and creating environments where both players and coaches can thrive.

In this episode of Modern Soccer Coach, Gary Curneen is joined by Jake Pickles for a fascinating discussion around one of the biggest questions in coach development: is there actually a right way to coach soccer? The conversation explores the different theories, methodologies and frameworks that influence modern coaching, from constraints-led approaches and tactical periodization to more traditional ideas around instruction and session design. Jake challenges the idea that coaches should be searching for one perfect methodology, arguing instead for greater adaptability, context and an understanding of how players actually experience the game. They also discuss the balance between structure and freedom, whether coaching environments can become too controlled, the relationship between efficiency and creativity, and why coaches must be careful that their own game model does not limit the solutions available to players. A thought-provoking conversation for coaches interested in player development, session design, decision-making and the continued evolution of coaching methodology.

Register for our FREE Players Webinar here: https://event.webinarjam.com/vm2mo/register/2454osm0r How do elite players see the game differently — and what can coaches do to develop better decision-makers? In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen is joined by Tomás Pereira, Football Analysis Specialist at the Swedish FA, for a fascinating conversation on decision making, learning and how players develop a deeper understanding of the game. Tomás challenges many traditional ideas around coaching and session design, exploring why repetition alone does not guarantee learning, why football cannot simply be broken into isolated phases, and why the best players recognize relationships and patterns earlier than everyone else. Tomás explains why elite performers often appear to have more time on the ball — not because the game is slower for them, but because they understand what is happening earlier. The conversation also explores how coaches can design more representative training environments, move away from simply providing players with answers, and instead develop players capable of solving problems they have never experienced before. Topics include: • How elite players process the game • Developing decision making in training • Why recognition matters more than repetition • Mental models and player learning • The limitations of coaching football in isolated phases • Designing training for adaptability • Coaching relationships rather than predetermined solutions • Why elite players appear to have more time • The role of variation in session design • Game-day communication and coach intervention • Preparing players to solve new problems An outstanding conversation for coaches interested in player development, session design and developing intelligent, adaptable footballers.

FREE MSC Players Webinar: Built to Adapt: Resilience That Survives The Season with Peter McDonnell https://event.webinarjam.com/vm2mo/register/2454osm0r In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary is joined once again by Joop Oosterveld, who recently took on the role of Head Coach with Lech Poznań II in Poland. Joop breaks down his approach to session design and explains how coaches can place individual development at the center of the training process while still working within a team environment. The conversation explores how IDPs can live inside game-based training, why Joop believes 85% of a session should include attacking, defending and transition moments, and how coaches can manipulate numbers, spaces, rules and constraints to challenge different individuals within the same exercise. Joop also discusses intensity, physical development, competitiveness, keeping session design simple and creating problems that allow players to find their own solutions. A fascinating conversation for coaches looking to connect individual player development with the realities of team training.

How do elite coaches actually teach a game model? In this episode, Gary sits down with Tyler Smaha, Assistant Coach at the University of Kansas, to explore how one of the top women's soccer programs in the country develops player understanding, decision-making, and tactical clarity. Rather than simply discussing principles of play, Tyler explains how Kansas connects its game model to every part of the learning process—from video analysis and positional blueprints to training design and individual development. We discuss: ⚽ How to build a game model from observation, not imitation ⚽ Teaching decision-making instead of memorizing movements ⚽ Creating clarity without restricting creativity ⚽ Connecting video analysis directly to training ⚽ Developing positional blueprints for every position ⚽ Using evidence and data to reinforce coaching ideas ⚽ Individual development within a collective game model ⚽ Lessons from the German UEFA coaching pathway Whether you're coaching youth players, working in the college game, or developing your own coaching philosophy, this conversation is packed with practical ideas you can immediately apply to your environment. If you enjoyed the episode, please Like, Subscribe, and leave a comment with your biggest takeaway. #soccercoach #footballcoach #gamemodel #coacheducation #playerdevelopment #decisionmaking #soccertraining #footballtraining #modernsoccercoach