The Counter-Attack: Boring? It Won a European Championship.

Somebody will tell you counter attack tactics are negative, that proper teams take the game to the opposition. That somebody usually finished second.

The counter is simple and ruthless: you don't have the ball much, you defend in a solid block, and the moment you win it you go forward like the clappers before the other lot are set. You let a better team have possession and you punish them on the break. There's no shame in it. There's a trophy in it, often.

Greece won the whole European Championship in 2004 doing exactly this — out-organising prettier, richer teams and nicking it on the break. Leicester won an English title much the same way in 2016. Two of the great underdog stories in the game, both built on "let them have it, then hurt them." Romance lost. Organisation won.

The trade-off is honest: you concede possession and territory, you'll spend long spells defending, and your players need the discipline to hold their shape while the other team knocks it about. It also needs pace up top — someone to run in behind when you break. No quick outlet, no counter.

This is the right plan when you're out-matched. Don't have your under-12s "have a go" against a team that's miles better and get picked apart. Set them up to defend deep and break.

Monday: a game where one team must score within six seconds of winning the ball. Teaches them to go fast and direct the instant possession flips — the heart of the transition.

Ask the Gaffer whether Saturday's a counter-attacking day for your lot. We go again.