The Gaffer's Blog
Drill Library
Attacking

Combination Finishing — Overlap and Cutback

Three attacking stations run simultaneously: (1) RB overlaps outside RW, crosses to near post; (2) LB or LWB underlap, square ball to arriving CM; (3) CF lays off to CAM arriving from deep

Theme

Attacking

Duration

30 min

Players (min–rec–max)

18–18–18

Equipment

cones, balls, poles

Set-up

Three attacking stations run simultaneously: (1) RB overlaps outside RW, crosses to near post; (2) LB or LWB underlap, square ball to arriving CM; (3) CF lays off to CAM arriving from deep. Groups rotate between stations every 8 minutes. Goalkeeper in goal for each station.

Coaching points

  • Forsyth on overlaps: cross early — do not wait for the perfect moment that never arrives
  • Cruz: near-post movement before the cross; don't wait on the penalty spot
  • Moreno arriving late: hit the cutback first time — any hesitation and the keeper's down

Progressions

  • Add a passive defender to each station to increase decision pressure
  • Station 1: Forsyth must serve before reaching the byline — early cross variation